GIN DOBRY CLUB – 60th anniversary
We believe in the power of meetings, which is why we have been organizing them continuously for over 100 years, connecting people from all over the world. It is the joy of meeting, and openness to other views, cultures, and customs, that constitute the essence of the Gin Dobry Club.
2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of this unique Club, which brings together an international group of trade fair guests who attend trade fairs organized by the MTP Group and joyfully celebrate the tradition of meetings within the Gin Dobry Club.
In 1996, as part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the GDC and the 75th anniversary of the Poznań International Fair, John Cash took over as President from Bill Kirton, one of the Club's founders.
The history of the Fair is inextricably intertwined with the history of the GDC, so this year we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Poznań International Fair, the 60th anniversary of the Gin Dobry Club, and the 30th anniversary of John Cash's assumption of the Club Presidency.
The tradition of toasting "GIN DOBRY – FIRST TODAY" was born in 1966, during the 35th Poznań International Fair. This custom was initiated by British exhibitors William Kirton and James Lindsay, for whom the greeting "Dzień Dobry" (Good Morning) often heard in Polish people was associated with gin. It was at their stands that Polish visitors first learned about the custom of drinking a glass of gin at 12:00 noon to celebrate international meetings and business talks. These gatherings attracted crowds of guests, so to establish the festivities, the toast began to be announced with a bell and the cry "Ladies and gentlemen! Good Gin!"
Today, the Gin Dobry Club has nearly 1,000 members from around the world. They include representatives of government, science, and culture, politicians, the diplomatic corps, corporate executives, and international industry organizations.
Meetings of Gin Dobry Club members and supporters take place during selected trade fair events at noon in Pavilion 10 – the headquarters of the GDC. New members, guests of the Poznań International Fair, are accepted into the club. Each member receives a certificate and a special badge during the initiation ceremony. Only the President or Vice Presidents of the club can accept new members.
The highest position in the club has been held for 30 years by John Cash – a long-time organizer of trade fair appearances by British companies at the Poznań Fair and a fan of the Poznań International Fair.
Insignia and ceremonies of the GIN DOBRY CLUB
The proceedings of the Gin Dobry Club are closely connected to its traditions. A brass bell, a personal certificate, a club badge and a glass filled with original British Gordon’s gin and Schweppes tonic are all important attributes of the club meetings.
A personal certificate confirms the admission to the prestigious, international Gin Dobry Club. The certificate’s originality is acknowledged by a decorative seal of the club and the signatures of John Cash, the club’s president, as well as one of its vice-presidents.
The badge is a mandatory emblem of all members of the Gin Dobry Club and is worn on the days of meetings. The badge and certificate are awarded during a formal induction ceremony. The badge's colors, which include the letters GDC, an abbreviation of the initials of the Gin Dobry Club name, and the number 12, representing the club's meeting time, refers to the colors of the Gordon's gin label and Schweppes tonic, used in the club's "First Today!" toasts to successful business meetings at trade shows.
