SPIRIT OF THE DRAGON
Ljubljana has congresses written in its genome
Long before the emergence of the meetings industry as we know it today, in 1821 Ljubljana hosted the Congress of the Holy Alliance, which brought together important sovereigns, politicians, and diplomats of the time to draw a new political map of Europe after Napoleon’s downfall.
Then a provincial centre in the Austrian Empire, Ljubljana was chosen to host the event because of its strategic location and adequate accommodation facilities, thus stepping on the stage of European diplomatic history. Chronicles report that during the four months (!) of the Congress many concerts, theatre performances, balls, parades and fireworks were held for the illustrious guests, much to the delight of the local residents, too.
The legacy of this historic event is the central Congress Square, which is surrounded by some notable buildings and has been transformed, following a recent extensive renovation, into one of the most attractive open-air event spaces in the city, with the Ljubljana Castle as a backdrop.
Due to a natural passage through the Ljubljana basin, the Slovenian capital has always had a linking role between South East and Central Europe. Ljubljana has many attributes of a big city, while creating the impression of a smaller and friendly town, which makes it so relaxing. A comprehensive urban renewal plan that has won several international awards and is an ongoing project, has contributed to redesigning the city’s image with its sustainable development at the forefront. Over the recent years, traffic-free areas in the city centre and the Old Town have been visibly expanded, which made a positive impact on the quality of life of locals residents and visitors alike. With this, a number of public spaces have acquired a new functionality, now being also suitable for events. The city is compact, picturesque, attractive and friendly to delegates attending conferences, corporate events or incentives. Ljubljana is the major congress destination in Slovenia and the highest share of (international) meetings take place in the capital due to the well-developed and diversified meeting infrastructure and its accessibility.
MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION
DESTINATION CAPACITY
- The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 1,610
- The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 18
- Banquet hall maximum capacity: 1,200
- The largest hall in the city (in m2): 2,456 m2m2
- Destination population: 279,756
- Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 2,200
MTLG CATEGORY
L – MEETING DESTINATIONS
Destinations that can host up to 2000 attendees.
Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.
| LJUBLJANA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 | |
|---|---|
| DESTINATION MARK: | 4.33 |
| Natural and cultural factors: | 4.89 |
| General and transport infrastructure: | 4.68 |
| Tourist infrastructure: | 4.62 |
| Meeting infrastructure: | 4.85 |
| Subjective grade: | 4.68 |
| Marketing Buzz: | 4.52 |
| ICCA index: | 4.42 |
| Numbeo quality of life Index: | 3.32 |
| Numbeo Safety Index | 4.13 |
| ACI Airport Connectivity Index | 3.16 |
BEST INCENTIVE IDEA
The Taste Ljubljana Food Tour is a new themed experience suitable for groups of up to 35 people. Tasting sessions of traditional Ljubljana dishes, the city’s culinary offerings and their historical background are the “fil rouge” of this enjoyable programme.
COMPARISION WITH THE REGION
Based on its conference and accommodation infrastructure, Ljubljana belongs to the group of capitals suitable for medium-sized and smaller meetings (up to 2.500 participants). It is positioned side by side with the new EU member states and geographically in the region of the Western Balkans. Thus, according to congress stakeholders in Ljubljana the most competitive destinations are Zagreb, Belgrade, Prague and Budapest. Compared to the newer EU capitals and countries of South East Europe, Ljubljana is ranked in the second half. It is preceded by Budapest and Vilnius, and we should also highlight the rapid growth of Belgrade. While most countries and cities in Europe, including New York, recorded a minimal decrease in the number of congresses, the cities in our immediate vicinity, mainly from South East Europe, recorded a fall on a smaller scale or record growth. At the end of last year in order to give Ljubljana a new sales and promotional momentum, a partnership called Ljubljana Strategic Bidding Team (LSBT), was established; it is composed of interested partners from both the private and public area.
COOL MEETINGS
ODPRTA KUHNA
On Fridays from mid-March to October, a square at the Ljubljana Central Market is literally occupied by a street food market that has in two years established itself as a true city hot spot. The Open Kitchen is wrapped up in the scents of delicious Slovenian and international dishes freshly prepared by chefs and cooks right there, on the market stalls. Locals mix with visitors from around the globe enjoying a wide array of flavours in a convivial atmosphere. Many people check the weather forecast on Thursdays, hoping it will not rain…
