Connecting the technology community in the heart of Tuscany

How ATPI Events designed a corporate incentive trip to Tuscany for Ingram Micro  

How do you bring clients, vendors and colleagues closer together without making networking feel like work? 

For Ingram Micro, the answer was four days in Tuscany, built around the things that bring people together naturally: great food and wine, memorable experiences and time to talk away from the usual business setting. ATPI Events turned that ambition into an incentive where conversations could happen without being forced. From lunches around the table to a drive through the Tuscan countryside in Fiat 500s, the program gave guests plenty of opportunities to get to know each other beyond business as usual. 

The client: Ingram Micro 

Ingram Micro operates at the heart of the global technology ecosystem, connecting technology manufacturers and cloud providers with businesses and technology partners worldwide. In an industry where partnerships and relationships matter. Ingram Micro’s annual incentive creates an opportunity to bring clients, vendors and colleagues together away from the usual meetings, calls and emails, and spend meaningful time together. For 2026, the ambition was clear: strengthen existing relationships, create new ones and make it easier to work together. 

The challenge: making networking feel anything but corporate 

Getting the right people to Tuscany was one thing. Creating an environment where they would genuinely get to know each other was another. The group brought together clients, vendors and Ingram Micro colleagues who don’t often have the opportunity to spend time together. The program needed to encourage interaction without feeling forced or overly structured. 

Wine was an important part of the brief, making Tuscany a natural setting. Vineyards, local producers, long Italian lunches and the Tuscan countryside offered all the right ingredients. ATPI Events’ challenge was to design those ingredients into four days that felt effortless, with plenty of opportunities for conversations to happen naturally. 

“We wanted the program to bring people together without making it feel like networking. Give them a great setting, something memorable to experience, and enough time to talk, and those conversations happen much more naturally,” said Kaylee, Project Manager, ATPI Events 

The solution: designing every experience around connection 

ATPI Events brought the whole journey together, from the group flight and transportation through Tuscany to two handpicked places to stay, restaurants, activities and on-site event management. Once in Tuscany, the setting did much of the work. There were no assigned seats at lunch or dinner, so guests naturally mixed around the table. From renowned wine estates to small local producers, each visit revealed a different side of the region. An olive oil tasting and shared lunches brought more local flavor to the program, while staying in two different locations gave the group the chance to see more of Tuscany along the way. 

There were surprises along the way too. With Mother’s Day approaching, every guest received a bouquet of flowers to take home,  a lovely reminder of Tuscany to share with someone special. And importantly, not every moment was filled. There was time around the table, time between activities, and time for conversations to continue without anyone watching the clock. Even getting from one stay to the next became part of the experience. 

Turning transportation into an experience 

That’s where the Fiat 500s came in. Instead of a standard transfer between the two accommodations, Ingram Micro wanted their attendees to experience the Tuscan countryside behind the wheel of one of Italy’s most iconic cars. Rather than following each other in an organized rally or convoy, each pair had the freedom to make the journey themselves. For the attendees, it was simple: pick up the keys and drive. 

Making that freedom possible took careful preparation behind the scenes. Multiple cars and drivers came with individual rental, liability, and license requirements, all coordinated by ATPI Events in advance. 

Who shared a car mattered too. Clients took to the road with an Ingram Micro colleague or vendor, giving them time to talk as they made their way through the Tuscan countryside. No formal networking. No set agenda. Just two people, a Fiat 500 and the road ahead. What could have been an ordinary transfer became one of the highlights of the trip. “We wanted the attendees to have the freedom to enjoy the drive at their own pace, rather than following each other in a convoy. Seeing everyone head off in their Fiat 500s and simply enjoy Tuscany was a great moment,” said Kaylee. 

The experience: knowing when to change the plan 

One of the highlights was a wine tasting and lunch at Antinori nel Chianti Classico. But another memorable moment came from something that wasn’t planned at all. 

During the trip, it became clear that two wine tastings in one day was a little too much for some guests. Rather than sticking to the itinerary simply because it was there, ATPI Events changed the plan with the group. The second tasting made way for some downtime by the pool. There was one thing Ingram Micro didn’t want to lose, though: the wines had been carefully selected. So, they travelled to the dinner restaurant instead, ready to be enjoyed later that evening. A change of plan, without losing what made it special. “A program should work for the people experiencing it, not the other way around. The group needed some downtime, so we changed the plan. And because the wines still made it to dinner, they didn’t miss out.”  

The result: stronger relationships, created naturally 

By the end of the trip, the group had shared far more than an itinerary. There had been conversations around dining tables, discoveries inside wine cellars, downtime by the pool and miles of Tuscan countryside behind the wheel of a Fiat 500. The reactions were very positive, with all the attendees enjoying not only the program but also the conversations and new connections that happened along the way. 

And while plenty had been happening behind the scenes, the four-day journey itself ran smoothly from start to finish. For Kaylee, seeing that preparation turn into an experience the group could simply enjoy was the best result of all. “Seeing everyone enjoying themselves and hearing how positive they were afterwards was the best part for the rest of the ATPI Events team and me. Everything came together just as we’d hoped, and the group could simply enjoy being there. That’s when you know all the preparation was worth it.”  

The takeaway 

The strongest business relationships aren’t always built around a meeting table. Sometimes they grow over lunch, through a shared experience or during a conversation on the road. That’s what Tuscany offered Ingram Micro: the right setting, memorable moments and, most importantly, time to really get to know one another. Because the best connections aren’t scheduled. They happen when people share something worth remembering. 

Ingram Micro’s experience 

“The Tuscany incentive brought together everything that makes an event memorable: exceptional food and wine, stunning scenery, and most importantly, the opportunity to connect with customers, vendors, and colleagues in a relaxed setting. Over four days, conversations happened naturally, relationships grew stronger, and everyone had the chance to experience a different side of Tuscany through a carefully curated program of activities and shared experiences. 

While the vineyards, local cuisine, and iconic Fiat 500 drive through the Tuscan countryside were clear highlights, what stood out most to us was how effortlessly the entire journey unfolded. From the moment we arrived until the trip came to an end, every detail had been carefully considered and flawlessly managed by ATPI Events. Their team ensured everything ran smoothly behind the scenes, allowing us to focus entirely on our guests and enjoy the experience ourselves. We never had to worry about logistics or planning, because everything had already been taken care of. That level of organization and attention to detail played a significant role in making this incentive such a success.” 

Lauren Flederus, Marketing Specialist, Ingram Micro