How Production Pros Unlock Local

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Have you ever watched Anthony Bourdain’s award-winning TV shows…

No Reservations, The Layover, or Parts Unknown? If you have, you know that Bourdain’s co-producers do an excellent job of enlisting well-versed locals to build show itineraries in cities around the world from New Orleans, Louisiana to Tehran, Iran. These local experts lead Bourdain’s team to the hidden gems of the city from food trucks to private estates. “We understood very early on that if you’re really going to get to know a location well, it’s got to be through the characters that live there. Many scenes live or die by a good sidekick” says Executive Producer Lydia Tenaglia in this Fast Company article. The BBC team could not agree more, Lydia.

Similarly, we know that corporate programs, meetings, and incentive trips live or die by a good DMC. Bourdain’s shows, advertisers, network, and the livelihood of his crew, rely on the expertise of these local navigators to design authentic experiences and create a logistically smooth operation, which allows his team to focus on getting that perfect shot and forming a story for the viewers at home. Our clients’ boards, sponsors, bosses, and brands rely on the expertise of BBC to design authentic experiences and smooth logistics, which allows them to focus their energy on attendee experience.

Bourdain’s Peabody Award-winning production team knows that the key to a great program is a strong local comrade, just as good meeting pros know the key to a great program is a strong DMC. When asked about their local partners, Bourdain says, “We’re looking to have as close to a local experience as we can get, and have a good time and do something interesting that hasn’t been done before.” Anyone can scour the internet to find the “Best New Orleans has to Offer,” but to get to the heart of a city in award-winning fashion you need a native partner to unlock local.