Charter broker Air Partner has seen a particular rise in the popularity of Iceland and Croatia for automotive events in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) group sector. Reykjavík's state-of-the-art infrastructure, scenic roads and rugged terrain make it very popular with car manufacturers promoting 4x4s. Meanwhile, Croatia's pleasant climate, attractive landscape and range of venues have made it increasingly fashionable for automotive customers. Commercial charter is particularly beneficial for travelling to Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Split, as these cities are serviced by less frequent direct scheduled flights, especially in the off-peak months.

However, Spain, Portugal and Italy remain the most popular destinations for MICE. Faro, for example, has seen a big increase in groups flying for corporate events. The surrounding region of the Algarve is fast becoming a key destination and has an excellent array of hotels with meeting facilities suitable for all sizes of groups. These facilities are complemented by an excellent array of leisure facilities, including renowned golf courses. The year-round mild weather and short flight time are also big factors in the increasing popularity of the destination.

Olbia, Italy has less frequent scheduled flights from London, particularly in the off-peak season, so group charter is the best way to get there. It provides the gateway to Sardinia's Costa Smeralda and the airport is conveniently located a 10 minute drive from the centre of the city and 40 minute drive from the prestigious Porto Cervo. The island boasts a range of hotels, including many four and five star options with good meeting facilities. It is a good location for both incentives and small conferences, as the short flight time makes it a good destination for a one or two night event.

Tenerife is well known as a leisure destination but is also increasing in popularity for groups flying for business. The excellent weather makes it a year-round destination for all types of events. The island is home to many large resorts which are ideal for hosting company events and conferences. For larger scale meetings and exhibitions there is the Magma Arte & Congresos centre. Although it is a longer flight than other popular European destinations, group charter offers many time saving benefits at the airport itself.

Air Partner is experienced at dealing with the unique demands of MICE travel, where time and price efficiency are key. For instance, the ability to fly large groups in a time-efficient manner ensures a greater turnout at important events. In addition, MICE customers value the convenience and flexibility of chartering, as well as the ability to tailor their travel to suit specific needs. Air Partner can even offer its customers various branding opportunities: the company's ServicePLUS programme offers a range of ways of communicating a customer's brand when travelling, from customising the headrests onboard to showcasing brand logos on the aircraft exterior.

Managing director charter Kevin Macnaughton comments: “At Air Partner, we support a range of leading brands and ensure that we are providing a high level of flexibility and convenience. We are able to respond to requests for flights to a huge variety of destinations and carry our customers in comfort and style wherever they want to fly for their MICE events.”