Nov / 20 / 2022
In mid-November, the Grand Tours Project team came together for our first annual off-site gathering and to also celebrate the 2022 season.
The Head Office in Villars-Sur-Ollon in Switzerland hosted everyone, and for two days we had the opportunity to meet each other, share anecdotes, review the season, and above all, focus on delivering a 2023 cycle season full of opportunities for both our guests and our team members.
On Day 1, we held a review covering all important aspects of GTP in 2022. Uri prepared a detailed presentation that addressed all of our tours, the feedback from guests - what worked and where we can improve; who were our guests; bike sourcing; GTP efforts to be as sustainable as possible; and much more. He also announced that Grand Tours Project now had B Corp certification; that VeloNews named our Giro Week 3 Tour as one of the top ten tours for 2023; and listed several new destinations for tours in 2023.
Each team member was invited to introduce themselves and were encouraged to offer their opinions. There was even a fun competitive Kahoot game testing everyone’s knowledge! And not forgetting a photography lesson from Michiel to help each team member take great photos for our guests in 2023 and beyond. The meeting ended with celebratory champagne and prosecco before dinner at a traditional and favourite Swiss alpine restaurant.
The next morning, some of the more energetic members explored the rural alpine setting around the head office before breakfast, (no stopping these guys) and then everyone regrouped at the UCI, where GTP held a 2.5 hour velodrome track initiation session. We all successfully rode the walls of the velodrome and finished with a friendly (and competitive) six a side team race.
The GTP gathering finished with a UCI lunch and we inspired each other with our favourite climbs or rides, and our dream cycle destinations - ideas for future tours.
And the outcome of our first Off-Season gathering? That the Grand Tours Project has survived the COVID years and become stronger; that our team is family and has grown; and that our ever expanding list of guests are satisfied, happy and returning in 2023 - an outcome that we could only have dreamt of in 2021!
So, much gratitude to our passionate and loyal team who have dedicated so much to help make Grand Tours Project what it has become, and for helping to sustain and promote the passion for cycling …for travel, for health, for the environment and for life.
We now invite you to read our beautiful and inspiring blog from one of our guests of the iconic and unforgettable Tour L´Eroica & Chianti. Next year, our 2023 Off-Season Annual Gathering will take place in L'Eroica and on the roads of Tuscany, don't miss it!