BackItalian Palazzo Health-Tech Adventure
On July 7 to 10 2022, VOYAGERS took 50 people working in health-tech on an Italian Palazzo Adventure. Based in a historic palace in Petritoli, Le Marche, we spent three intense days truffle-hunting, mountain-biking, snow hiking, pasta-making, wine-sampling, clock-tower climbing, Werewolf-playing, speakeasy-embracing, town-square dancing, opera-house performing, storytelling and generally building a warm friendship group.
WHO DID PARTICIPANTS TRAVEL WITH?
This was an adventure open to people working in health-tech — as startup founders, advisers, investors, regulators, researchers or senior executives. Participants in our 2021 health-tech adventure attended from 19 countries, from Argentina to Israel. They included founders, venture investors, research scientists, board members and clinicians, from companies ranging from Google DeepMind to AstraZeneca.
Feedback from our July 2022 Italian Palazzo adventure
We took 50 VOYAGERS to the Palazzo for an adventure in 2019. Afterwards, participants gave the adventure an average rating of 9.3 out of 10. You can read some feedback here. Some examples:
“It truly felt like I found my tribe and that I could just be myself and let down my guard. I realised that these incredibly interesting/accomplished/motivated/smart people had many of the same insecurities/vulnerabilities as me and that they were open about it all.” —SI, US
“The pace was incredible; the shift from one mini-adventure to another. There were real and different opportunities to meet new people. The people were from a variety of backgrounds/cultures/areas of expertise. The last hike, with those tremendous sea-views, was spectacular. I made what I think are rich and lasting friendships.” — SH, UK
“It felt like everyone was up to something interesting in the world and was there to have meaningful conversations and to give. l loved the feeling of getting ’real’ experiences that were well curated and done with heart.” — MW, ISRAEL
WHAT DID THE PROGRAMME LOOK LIKE?
Our formal schedule began on Thursday afternoon, with welcoming drinks and canapés at the palazzo’s outside pool. We then broke into groups for a village bar hop and wine-tasting, before returning to the palazzo for a gastronomic tasting buffet in the dining hall. After dinner, the palazzo speakeasy was open and the late-night games sessions began.
Friday began with early-morning runs and yoga, and then after breakfast in the palazzo we experienced a full-group hike with a storytelling difference. Friday activities included pizza classes, and pottery lessons. In the evening, we took over the village’s own opera house for our own entertainment.
Saturday was for mountain adventuring through a range of challenging sports activities – high in the beautiful, mystical Sibillini Mountains of the Apennines. On Saturday night we took over a historic winery for a series of wine tastings and a candle-lit dinner. And our final day, Sunday, included a stunning hike up Monte Conero before our farewell lunch on the coast.
Amazing four days of my life. Bringing home a container of new ideas, deep and meaningful conversations, and most importantly new friends from all over the world.
WHAT WAS INCLUDED
We took care of participants from the moment they arrived in our palazzo in Le Marche, until the moment we closed our farewell Sunday lunch. Participation included:
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Three nights’ accommodation in Palazzo Mannocchi
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All meals taken as a group between the afternoons of July 7 and 10, including all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, welcome cocktails and opening dinner, wine tastings, Saturday party, farewell group lunch
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All drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, taken with the group
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The full schedule of group activities, including sporting and cultural activities, gastronomic experiences, and local cooking lessons
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All transport for the duration of the scheduled adventure (not including airport transfers)
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The VOYAGERS gift pack
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The services of the VOYAGERS production team on site
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Advance curation by the VOYAGERS team, including two extended site visits
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A few extra surprises we announced nearer the event.
Airport transport: Low-cost airlines fly to nearby airports. The palazzo is located 90km from Marche (Ancona) Airport (around an hour’s drive away), 110km from Abruzzo International Airport (around 90 minutes’ drive), 150km from Perugia Airport (around 1h 50 minutes’ drive), and 285km from Rome International Airport (around three hours – but it’s a spectacular drive on good roads).
CANCELLATION POLICY
We collected a €200 deposit to hold each place. You could cancel your place, for any reason with no questions asked, for a full refund until May 26 2022. Our refund policy is as follows:
UNTIL MAY 26, 2022 (Midnight GMT): All fees paid were refundable in full, NO questions asked.
UNTIL JUNE 15, 2022 (Midnight GMT): You could receive a refund of all fees paid, minus a 50% cancellation fee.
AFTER JUNE 15, 2022 (Midnight GMT): No refund was payable to you. You could however be given a €250 non-transferable and personal credit towards a future VOYAGERS event or adventure valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation.
