Welcome
Letter from the editor
Thought Piece
AI conversations at WEF
Destination focus
Japan
Hospitality
FIFA 2026
Guest Feature
Türkiye
Meet the team
Rosie Littler
A Destination Focus
Vietnam
AI LEARNINGS
AI Learnings
Welcome
Letter from the editor
Tom Oliver
As we move into 2026 we have curated articles for you ranging from FIFA, through to the importance of collaboration, and Vietnam to Türkiye. We’re also introducing a new regular section on the implementation of AI, how we are using it in practice and exploring the opportunities on harnessing the power of AI as the tools develop at pace. We hope you enjoy, if there are any topics or destinations you are interested in, or would like us to explore, please just let me know.
Thought piece
AI conversations at WEF
This month everyone has been talking about Davos. Over the last 12 years, Ivory has delivered WEF programs for several of the world’s largest corporations.
Where a lot of the important conversations happen is on the periphery, and this year we tuned into Demis Hassabis (Co-Founder & CEO, Google DeepMind) and Darop Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), two of the most influential minds in artificial intelligence. See the insightful, sometimes differing views on the direction and impact of AI here.
If the epoch-defining change that Hassibis and Amodei discuss is really on its way, it’s going to affect everything. So how will it transform brand experiences?
Here’s our perspective:
- The importance of in-person events won’t change. In fact, in a digital world that’s harder to grasp, the importance of meeting face-to-face grows exponentially
- Humility is important – the willingness to try new things and use new tools, even if that means getting things wrong, because we’re all figuring this out together
- And when you’re speaking from the main stage, the most vital question to ask your audience is no longer ‘what will happen next’ but ‘who will you become?’
- In-person events need to be considered, hands-on spaces that where people can bring real workflows and reimagine them with AI, guided by experts and peers
- It’s not about slapping an ‘AI logo’ on your event and assuming that will draw the crowds. You must embrace what makes this new technology powerful
Brand experiences can be a crucial way of bringing people together to make sense of new AI capabilities. A space where they can build the AI skills they’ll need. And a forum to connect on a personal level, as job roles and businesses evolve in this new world.
Destination focus
Japan
As we look ahead to spring we can’t help but think of Japan – both with ‘that hotel’ from Lost in Translation, recently reopened, as well as the natural beauty of cherry blossom season just around the corner. An ancient country that looks to the future, a destination that is truly unlike anywhere else, and contains worlds within it.
Japan is a land where the beauty of traditional crafts and customs lives alongside the frenetic pace of the city – from the skyscrapers of Tokyo to the serenity of Mount Fuji and the history of Kyoto.
Located in the Otemachi business district with sweeping views of the Imperial Palace Gardens, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi offers contemporary luxury in one of the city’s most prestigious locations. The hotel features 190 elegant rooms and suites, refined dining venues, and a panoramic spa and pool on the upper floors. Its modern design and privileged setting create a serene retreat in the heart of Tokyo.
For any Lost in Translation fans, the celebrated hotel from the Sofia Copola classic – the Park Hyatt reopened in December 2025 to great acclaim. A great place to stay, of course, but the bar is there too for a drink and those views.
Take the iconic bullet train to Kyoto and stay at The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto. This is a luxurious, 134-room boutique resort situated by the Kamogawa River with the Higashiyama mountains as a backdrop. It is noted for its blend of historic and modern luxury. The hotel features seven treatment rooms rooted in Japanese traditions, and the esteemed Japanese restaurant, Mizuki.
While there, celebrate Kyoto’s iconic sights, with visits to the Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kiyomizu-dera, and historic temple lanes. As night falls, gather for an unforgettable evening at Funatsuru, a beautiful riverside venue overlooking the Kamogawa River.
Hospitality
FIFA 2026
In a World Cup year we look at the importance of these big cultural and sporting moments.
There’s something electric about the World Cup, whether an avid football fan or not, the buzz is infectious – the stadium, the collective energy, that split second before kickoff when anything feels possible.
This shared excitement is also where relationships deepen and people come together. Often, it is also where business opportunities take shape, wrapped in experiences people actually remember.
Ivory has spent fifteen years perfecting this craft of building experiences around major international spectacles. We’ve partnered with major corporations, executive teams, and high-profile clients to deliver experiences that leave an impression – from small, carefully curated thoughtful moments to full-scale hospitality programmes.
What sets us apart is perspective and experience. It requires international expertise with on-the-ground cultural insight, bringing together professionals who’ve mastered marketing, hospitality, logistics, and complex project delivery.
We’ve been behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest sporting events. The Olympics, where we’ve coordinated full hospitality programs. Formula E, managing Renault e.dams’ global sponsorship presence. Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, crafting experiences for major sponsors. The Dubai World Cup, designing an immersive VIP weekend for royalty. The UEFA Champions League and Formula 1 at Ferrari’s Modena headquarters – each requiring precision, creativity, and flawless execution.
When you’ve done this work long enough, at this level, you learn what truly matters: the details that transform a great event into an unforgettable one.
Guest feature
Türkiye
From Eda Özden, MEP
When Luxury Stops Being a Thing — and Becomes a Story You Can’t Repeat
We work with people who have seen everything. Private jets, presidential suites, tables at impossible restaurants, museums opened after hours — for this group, those aren’t aspirations. They’re routine. So when they came to Türkiye the question was never how to impress them with cost or scale.
The question was: how do you create something they couldn’t have imagined for themselves?
Redefining Luxury at Sea
The journey itself was already exceptional: a small, historic 12-cabin steamship cruise tracing the Mediterranean coastline from Antalya to Göcek. Along the way, guests enjoyed private dives to some of the world’s oldest known shipwrecks and exclusive access to the Church of St. Nicholas — believed to be the working place of the figure we now know as Santa Claus.
These were remarkable experiences. But they were still, in a way, expected.
The group asked for a final-night celebration themed around the origins of Mediterranean piracy — a concept rooted deeply in these waters. We proposed private venues, historic takeovers, beautifully produced locations.
They declined every option.
They weren’t looking for polished.
They were looking for unknown.
It was the kind of anecdote you share for color, not something you seriously propose. Yet when we mentioned it — almost jokingly — the group approved it immediately. No photos. No site inspection. No hesitation. For a group whose surnames read like a Fortune 500 list, that decision alone was extraordinary.
Preserving the Rough Edges
Our challenge became clear: elevate the experience without ‘sanitizing it’. We brought in Türkiye’s most celebrated private chef.
We created a standing menu worthy of any fine-dining restaurant. And yet, we left the generator humming. We kept the deck raw. And we honored the owner’s one condition: only the homemade shots he poured would be served.
No marble floors. No velvet ropes. Just the sea, firelight, music, and a group of people momentarily unburdened by their own worlds.
A Year Later, Even Further
The following year, the group returned — and asked us to push the boundaries again.
This time, the setting was Gemiler Island, a small, hauntingly beautiful island near Fethiye. Early Christian pilgrims left behind the ruins of stone chapels that still cling to the hillsides.
There is no electricity on the island. No water. Not even a toilet. Everything would have to arrive by boat — and then by foot.
Carrying a Feast Up the Mountain
The only usable space was a small plateau high above the shoreline. We sourced lamb and wild boar from a modest restaurant in the nearest bay and cooked it the most primal way possible — slowly turning it over open fire.
From local nomadic families who still inhabit the region, we gathered Turkish kilims and carpets. Guests sat on the ground, surrounded by ancient ruins, looking out over the Mediterranean as dusk settled.
Every single item — plates, glasses, food, cushions — was carried by hand up a rocky, uneven path. A 20–25 minute climb.
The First — and Probably the Last
It was the first time such an experience had ever taken place on Gemiler Island.
And yet, that evening became another defining memory. Guests didn’t talk about the lack of comfort. They talked about the firelight on stone walls, the silence between conversations, the feeling that modern life had stepped aside for a few hours and the total & true privacy
What These Two Nights Taught Us
Across two years — first in a smuggler’s cove, then on a deserted island — the same truth emerged: Luxury is not about excess. It is about rarity. It’s about being part of something that cannot be replicated, packaged, or sold twice the same way. Experiences built on trust, risk, and a willingness to leave perfection behind.
For people who can buy anything, the only thing left to seek is the unforgettable!
Meet the team
Rosie Littler
Project Coordinator
Hello, my name is Rosie and I’m a Project Coordinator at Ivory. I graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Geography, but quickly realised my true passion lay in events. I began my career in the events industry in January 2025 at Ivory, making the move from the North of England to London to pursue this path.
I enjoy every aspect of event delivery, from day-to-day logistics to travel, but my favourite part of the role is working on site—seeing months of hard work come together and experiencing the events we produce come to life in real time. It’s hard to choose a favourite event, as I’ve been lucky enough to work on so many exciting projects. A real standout was the Coca-Cola Global Meetings & Events programme held in London, a jam-packed week of entirely bespoke activities and dinners that showcased the true flavour of the city. I especially enjoyed my role on this event, which gave me the chance to play tourist in my new home.
Another favourite project of mine is Mobile World Congress with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which I’m lucky enough to be working on for a second time. My role on this event has allowed me to explore different aspects of my position at Ivory and continue developing my skills across a large-scale, fast-paced programme.
A destination focus…
Vietnam
Vietnam is renowned for its cuisine, idyllic landscapes and a high–end wellness industry.
But this is also a country that aspires to be the next Asian Tiger, boasting one of the region’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving economies.
Vietnam stands for growth, resilience and transformation. An incentive or meeting here is a chance to balance authentic cultural depth with world–class luxury.
From exclusive visits to UNESCO–listed sites to unparalleled culinary, wellness and nature encounters, they will find themselves experiencing more than one once–in–a–lifetime moment here.
One of our favourite venues here is the Intercontinental Danang, one of Vietnam’s most extravagant beach resorts located on one of the country’s most picturesque bays. Located just 30 minutes from Danang Airport and 45 minutes from the world heritage site of Hoi An, the hotel offers 184 rooms and 13 villas, several fine dining options like the acclaimed La Maison 1888 which is helmed by world-acclaimed chef Pierre Gagnaire.
Head out to Hoi An Old Quarter, a basket boat and cycling tour, or a trip out to explore the countryside by Vespa. Later, experience Teh Dar – a traditional performance that blends narrative, circus and live music.
Want to give something back? Working with carpenters from Au Lac Wood Village, learn how to make recycled bookshelves, linen bags and soap. They will then donate these finished items to local children’s centers in Danang.
How about dinner at Bamboo House, spectacularly located within a rice paddy? An evening that is a journey back in time, vividly recreating a 19th century rural market where you can immerse yourselves in the lively ambience of a traditional village, discover traditional dishes and artistic performances.
We know it well and have delivered, if you’d like to hear more then please let us know.
AI Learnings
AI Learnings
The world’s most prominent AI researchers are telling us that transformative change is being measured in years, not decades. The opportunities and challenges ahead are upon us. In 2026 one of our missions is to focus more on how this will impact our industry.
We don’t pretend we can answer all the questions. But as we work with AI, and work for the companies developing this new technology, we’ll share our findings on how it can be genuinely useful to marketers in the pages of Dispatch. So stay tuned.
Insights
From Vendor to Partner: Rewriting the Rules of Collaboration
by Alana Dvorak, Houston office
What True Partnership Looks Like in High-Stakes, High-Touch Programs
In the world of enterprise events and experiential marketing, the difference between a vendor and a partner isn’t just semantics—it’s seismic. As programs grow more complex, global, and emotionally resonant, the need for true collaboration becomes non-negotiable. At Ivory Worldwide, we’ve seen firsthand how re-writing the rules of engagement—from transactional to transformational—can elevate outcomes, deepen trust, and unlock value that spreadsheets alone can’t measure.
Partnership Is Built on Transparency.
In high-touch programs, where every detail matters and every moment is curated, transparency becomes the foundation of trust. According to Harvard Business Review, traditional contracts often undermine collaboration by focusing on obligations rather than shared goals. Instead, “relational contracts” that prioritize mutual success and flexible governance foster stronger, more resilient partnerships. At Ivory, we embrace this mindset—whether it’s being upfront about costs, surfacing risks early, or co-creating solutions with our clients. We don’t just deliver—we align.
Accessibility, Empathy, and the Power of the Network.
True partners show up when it counts. With global teams across time zones, Ivory offers near 24/7 support, ensuring that high-stakes programs move forward without friction. But it’s not just about availability; it’s about empathy. We understand the internal pressures our clients face because many of us were clients ourselves. That dual perspective allows us to anticipate needs, speak corporate fluently, and build bridges between creative ambition and enterprise reality. And when the unexpected hits, our vast vendor network and seasoned teams know how to pivot with grace.
Collaboration Is Emotional, Not Just Operational.
Neuroscience tells us that emotion drives decision-making and memory retention. That’s why the best partnerships aren’t just efficient, they’re emotionally intelligent. McKinsey research shows that companies who collaborate deeply with suppliers outperform their peers in growth, profitability, and resilience. At Ivory, we invest in the human side of collaboration: remembering birthdays, celebrating wins, and lifting each other up. Because when teams feel seen and supported, they create experiences that do the same for guests.
In high-stakes programs, partnership isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. And when you find a team that listens like a stakeholder, thinks like a strategist, and delivers like an extension of your brand, you don’t just meet your internal teams’ expectations… you redefine them.
Let’s build something unforgettable – together.
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Ivory Dispatches
issue 01
Nov ’24
issue 02
Feb ’25
issue 03
Jul ’25
