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MEETINGS IN EMBRACE OF ALPINE BEAUTIES

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Over the last decade tourism in Styria has undergone a swift development. Schladming is a big skiing centre, the scene of the best slalom races of the season as well as other internationally renowned sports competitions. Besides that it is now also an excellent congress venue and a place that will stay fondly in the memory of every guest. We can say without a doubt that the tourist development of Schladming is a success story and we are certain that that will also be the case in the future. Sporting events, on which they have built extensively, have contributed mostly to the success and with this event organisation the destination has gained a lot of experience that can now be transferred into the congress field. The constant investment in tourism and tourist infrastructure, which has been mostly private and because of that well thought through and pointed in the right direction, is a definite recipe for success.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 2,251
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 48
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 800
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 1,400 m2
  • Destination population: 4,402
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 1,200

MTLG CATEGORY

M – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host up to 1000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

SCHLADMING INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 3.96
Natural and cultural factors: 4.74
General and transport infrastructure: 4.77
Tourist infrastructure: 4.62
Meeting infrastructure: 4.53
Subjective grade: 4.61
Marketing Buzz: 4.25
ICCA index: 1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.70
Numbeo Safety Index4.81
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.57

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CONVENTIONLAND

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Klagenfurt is a likable and pleasant alpine congress destination that is reminiscent of Gorenjska region in Slovenia in many respects. Not surprisingly, cooperation between regions has been developing lately, however, we also note some competitiveness in the field of the meetings industry. It is interesting that closeness to the border represents an advantage and an opportunity for the majority of meetings industry suppliers. The key advantage of Klagenfurt is definitely fairy tale like well maintained and pleasant environment and quality offer and professionalism of suppliers. In this respect, Carinthia and Klagenfurt are slightly ahead of other destinations in the region. But most important is touristic culture and good cooperation between suppliers that qualitatively round up standard meetings offer.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 525
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 11
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 500
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 6,400 m2
  • Destination population: 99,110
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 668

MTLG CATEGORY

M – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host up to 1000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

KLAGENFURT INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 3.98
Natural and cultural factors: 4.73
General and transport infrastructure: 4.72
Tourist infrastructure: 4.70
Meeting infrastructure: 4.52
Subjective grade: 4.67
Marketing Buzz: 4.52
ICCA index: 1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.70
Numbeo Safety Index4.81
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.43

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PEOPLE MAKE MEETINGS

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Glasgow has realised an urban transformation and has become the congress city in which people want to organise events. This is supported by excellent infrastructure and the connectivity of all players. In the field of infrastructure the King is the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre. It is an events hub that can’t be compared to any other venue in Europe, as it combines a comprehensive range of hotels, special venues and excellent accessibility. It is not surprising that on the ICCA scale last year, if we look at the number of participants, Glasgow surpassed destinations such as New York, Munich, Washington, Dublin and Beijing. Looking at the number of events, Glasgow is even ahead of cities such as Melbourne, Geneva, Chicago, Florence, Cape Town and Los Angeles (of 400 cities, Glasgow was ranked in 28th place in 2015). Within the UK, only London has surpassed Glasgow. Destinations in the region of New Europe can learn a lot from Glasgow, especially on how to get congress tourism among the sectors, which can transform the city and provide a breakthrough in development.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 7,230
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 89
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 6,000
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 10,965 m2
  • Destination population: 603,080
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 10,000

MTLG CATEGORY

XL – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host more than 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

GLASGOW INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.40
Natural and cultural factors: 4.70
General and transport infrastructure: 4.82
Tourist infrastructure: 4.82
Meeting infrastructure: 4.96
Subjective grade: 4.88
Marketing Buzz: 4.99
ICCA index: 4.40
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.53
Numbeo Safety Index3.04
ACI Airport Connectivity Index:3.88

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PROUD CITY

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Of all the Polish cities Krakow is the one with the greatest soul and is the most fraught with history. Being the main tourist city it has excellent conditions in place for the development of congress tourism. With the construction of the new convention centre it has also received a real affirmation. In Poland Krakow will be the destination of the new generation, which will soon be recognised as a high quality, compact and most versatile meetings destination in Poland due to the cultural heritage, new meetings capacities and because of its huge scientific potential. The activities of the Convention Bureau are a good indicator of what the destination is capable of and what expectations it can meet. Krakow’s recipe is successful and a case of good practice for other more traditional central European destinations. I expect a fierce fight among the leading Polish destinations, which is moving into its next phase. Poland boasts 17 Nobel Prize winners and considering the size of the country it has a numerous scientific community. A large part of it is concentrated in Krakow, with more congress Ambassadors working around the world. This is another plus for the future of the destination.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 3,037
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 42
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 2,200
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 4,500 m2
  • Destination population: 762,448
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 2,100

MTLG CATEGORY

L – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host up to 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

KRAKOW INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.23
Natural and cultural factors:
4.73
General and transport infrastructure: 4.63
Tourist infrastructure: 4.81
Meeting infrastructure: 4.65
Subjective grade: 4.68
Marketing Buzz: 4.60
ICCA index: 4.20
Numbeo quality of life Index: 2.69
Numbeo Safety Index3.91
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.37

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MEETOSLAVIA

One of the smaller and very likable European capitals is compact and you can explore its beautiful parts by foot. The old town is closed for traffic.Administrative and economic centre of Slovakia is currently a fast growing Slovakia’s congress brand. Bratislava is a modern city with a developed congress infrastructure with key international hotel chains such as Sheraton, The Luxury Collection by Starwood, Crowne Plaza, Radisson Blu, Austria trend hotel and Falkensteiner. The offer is surprisingly rich and very colourful and includes a number of interesting special venues. We are all impressed with Slavic spirit influenced by Germanic organization. As the new centre of European automotive industry, as it is considered for European Detroit, pins great hopes on the presentation of new cars as one of the specializations. All this is packed into affordable yet very effective and attractive package.

DID YOU KNOW?
Before it’s contemporary name, Bratislava was mostly known by its German name, Pressburg, as it was long dominated by Austrians and other German-speakers. The name Bratislava, which had been used only by some Slovak patriots, became official in 1919.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 5,094
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 73
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 600
  • The largest hall in the city: 2,500 m2
  • Destination population: 432,801
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 2,500

MTLG CATEGORY

L– MEETING DESTINATIONS

Destinations that can host up to 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

WHAT'S HOT IN 2017

1. 53rd Bratislava Music Festival (15. Oct 2017 – 30. Nov 2017)
Organized for the 53rd year, Bratislava Music Festival is one of the most important and most prestigious international festivals in Slovakia. It showcases some of the best world-renowned orchestras, conductors, soloists and local artists.

2. Bratislava White Night (1. Oct 2017 – 15. Oct 2017)
White night is the largest and most visited festival of contemporary art in Slovakia. It is one of the most beautiful autumn events in Bratislava, where you can experience an untraditional artistic walk through the night city, full of experiences and new perceptions.

3. Bratislava Jazz Days(20. Oct 2017 – 22. Oct 2017)
The international jazz festival Bratislava Jazz Days is a traditional 3-day event full of jazz and it’s many genres, from traditional to the very modern. Every year it hosts world famous names like Jack de Johnette, Esperanza Spalding, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling, Snarky Puppy and many more.

4. Bratislava Christmas Market (26. Nov 2017 – 22. Dec 2017)
The Christmas market in Bratislava has a long tradition and is a great place for people to get together, eat some traditional dishes or maybe do some shopping. Over 100 booths on the Main square, Františkánske square, Courtyard of the Old Town Hall, Hviezdoslavovo square and Primacial square are open each year.

5. Hyperloop (by 2020)
Hyperloop is a futuristic transportation project allowing passengers to travel at the speed of sound – around 1200 km/h. The Hyperloop company announced that the first ever cities to be connected are Vienna – Bratislava – Budapest. While it currently takes 1 hour to get from Bratislava to Vienna by bus or train, we should be able to cover this distance in 8 minutes by 2020.

NATURE

A. Natural and cultural factors: 4.38

City of four rivers defines the Danube river with its tributaries and with the mighty Renaissance castle above the intimate and compact old town. Although is in the shadow of the more notorious cities Vienna, Budapest and Prague it still offers rich experience. Modern metropolis, the centre of cultural and artistic life with rich architectural heritage creates high eventful diversity.

GENERAL

B. General and transport infrastructure: 4.84

The infrastructure has in the recent years became better. Bratislava is practically in the suburbs of Vienna and has many advantages with its strategic location. A big potential represents airline accessibility with two airports in the courtyard of the city. Vienna is a major regional aviation hub, but the local is attractive for low-cost carrier. Relatively good quality of life. Public transport is organized with German precision. No problem with the safety.

TOURISM

C. Tourist infrastructure: 4.79

The city centre is full of pubs, restaurants and shops. Thanks to the mad New Year’s and other parties, Bratislava has acquired the title Partyslava. The hotel offer includes the best-known hotel chains. 11 hotels fall under the categorization of 4 stars and 5 hotels under the categorization of 5 stars. In the last few years, Bratislava has become a new European tourist hub. It currently offers 17.500 hotel rooms.

MICE

D. Meetings infrastructure: 4.67

In addition to the large convention centre Incheba Expo Arena and a completely new conference hall Slovak National Theatres, the holders of the congress offers are international hotel chains which all have superbly equipped conference centres. Many special venues like Eurovea city centre are the ideal choice for larger and scenic demanding events.

SUBJECTIVE

E. Subjective grade: 4.71

Slovakia is one of the most dynamic countries of Central Europe. With all the friendly people you feel very welcome and just like at home. Slovaks take hospitality and beer very seriously.

BUZZ

F. Marketing buzz: 4.73

BRATISLAVA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.20
Natural and cultural factors: 4.38
General and transport infrastructure: 4.84
Tourist infrastructure: 4.79
Meeting infrastructure: 4.67
Subjective grade: 4.71
Marketing Buzz: 4.73
ICCA index: 3.52
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.08
Numbeo Safety Index3.80
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.51

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

Bratislava Post-Socialist City Tour
A funky retro tour in a legendary 70’s Czechoslovak car Škoda or a crappy 8-seater van Škoda 1203. The journey will take you through the off-the-beaten-track places of the communist past as well as recent transformations in Bratislava. You will visit a vast concrete housing estate area, the Soviet monument Slavín, abandoned factories, riverside developments, 1930’s bunker line, the former Iron Curtain border zone and loads of communist architecture. Local insight guaranteed!

COMPARISION WITH THE REGION

Bratislava is an undiscovered European congress capital which is slowly and steadily penetrating into the congress market. It represents a novelty for the international congress market which impresses due to the kindness and sympathetic outlook of the city centre, but also because of the not excessive commercialization. Bratislava has long lived in the shadow of neighbouring Vienna and Prague but today, fresh and full of new energy invites international congress organizers. It is close to them mainly due to a more personal congress experience – the city is very friendly for the congress organizers and participants.

COOL MEETINGS

Bryndzové Halušky – Halušky, is one of the most popular national dishes of Slovakia. This hearty meal is made of potato dough noodles or dumplings (halušky) with sheep cheese (bryndza) cooked bacon sprinkled on top, and some versions have sausage. Easily speaking, halušky is similar as Italian gnocchi.

GET IN TOUCH

Bratislava Tourist Board / Bratislava Convention Bureau
Primaciálne námestie 1
814 99 Bratislava
Slovakia

Ms. Nina Erneker,
E: erneker@visitbratislava.com
T: + 4219029858056,
www.bratislavaconventionbureau.com

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PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

Congress geography of the former Yugoslavia recognized city locations of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade, and Adriatic locations Portorož, Opatija and Dubrovnik. These cities are still by some accounts seen as locations from the olden days.

I was first turned to Dubrovnik by legendary professor Ignacij Voje, one of the experts on SE Europe and the Dubrovnik Republic, which used to dictate the faith of the entire region. With each visit I remember his comparison of Dubrovnik to some sort of renaissance Hong Kong. The republic peaked in the 15th century. For twelve centuries it defied the pressures and threats of superpowers with trade skills and diplomacy. The character of the people of Dubrovnik can be summarized by the inscription above the entrance to the Lovrijenac fortress: “Freedom is not for sale for all the gold in the world”.

I’ve been visiting Dubrovnik on a regular basis since 1996, when the city was wounded by a brutal Chetnik attack. In 1998 I was one of the few guests of a conference on Project Management in Cavtat. At that time Hotel Croatia was the only serious convention hotel and it didn’t look too bright. Hotels at Babin kuk still looked pretty grim and were mostly abandoned. Where the Radisson Blu stands today, the former Dubrovački vrtovi sunca were full of refugees. The Dubrovnik of that time was replaced by new convention hotels, the insufferable summer crowds and a feeling your at the centre of the world. On a random visit to Stradun you can run into John McEnroe, preparing for a tennis match against veteran Goran Ivanišević in front of the Duke’s Palace. Many celebrities visit the city. As a sign of complete tourist renovation the Srđ funicular was finished this year, finally putting an unpleasant era of the city behind it.

DID YOU KNOW?
That Dubrovnik, back then an independent state, was the first nation to formally recognise the United States as a nation when it declared independence from Great Britain.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 4,165
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 29
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 700
  • The largest hall in the city: 900 m2
  • Destination population: 42,615
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 1,200

MTLG CATEGORY

M– MEETING DESTINATIONS

Destinations that can host up to 1000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

NATURE

A. Natural and cultural factors: 4.94

Stone Palace, which hides many stories, will greet you in all its splendor as it has for centuries greeted travellers from around the world. The magnificent city is one of the tourist icons of the Adriatic and justifiably the most painted tourist skyline with unprecedented experiential diversity for conference guests.

GENERAL

B. General and transport infrastructure: 4.56

Among Croatian destinations, Dubrovnik depends the most on the availability of flights. Hence this year’s forecasted record number of flights is gratifying for congress organizers. The city is safe, as evidenced by the current analysis of the portal Trip Advisor. The city is logistically regulated solidly, it is only necessary to avoid the largest tourist crowds in the middle of the season.

TOURISM

C. Tourist infrastructure: 4.90

Dubrovnik is once again well established on the world tourist map as a leading tourist destination in the region. Given the extensive tourist infrastructure, locals would want to stretch the summer crowds on the rest of the year. In addition to the legendary and iconic hotels like the Excelsior, the city offers a variety of hotel accommodations and is regarding restaurants and entertainment lively day and night.

MICE

D. Meetings infrastructure: 4.80

To have convention completeness Dubrovnik is only missing a modern multifunctional convention centre, which has been planned for a long time. So far, it is successfully replaced by modern and well-equipped centres at hotels such as Dubrovnik Palace, Excelsior, Bellevue, Grand Villa Argentina, Importanne Resort, Dubrovnik President, Valamar Lacroma and Radisson Blu. Well-developed is the entire conference infrastructure including management and the creative agency scene.

SUBJECTIVE

E. Subjective grade: 4.77

The world destination is again attracting well-known names and world class events. It is the strongest brand of the region in the meetings industry, which hardly disappoints or leaves indifferent. Dubrovnik ignites love at first site.

BUZZ

F. Marketing buzz: 4.39

When you’re a recognised tourist icon, the marketing tends to take care of itself. This is not quite the case for the meetings industry, although it can help quite a lot. The great advantage of Dubrovnik is that the director of Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Romana Vlasic, actually comes from the meetings industry and therefore well understands the multiplier effect. Further helping this, Dubrovnik is excellently organised and promoted, ensuring that it is the leading light among the regional offices.

DUBROVNIK INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.27
Natural and cultural factors: 4.94
General and transport infrastructure: 4.56
Tourist infrastructure: 4.90
Meeting infrastructure: 4.80
Subjective grade: 4.77
Marketing Buzz: 4.39
ICCA index: 3.35
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.44
Numbeo Safety Index4.79
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.81

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

Down the old city walls
When you visit Dubrovnik, the first thing you will notice are magnificent stone walls that surround the city. Make an entrance, abseil down the walls to the main city street, the popular Stradun where the hosts will await you with the welcome drink. All of that will be spiced up with music performed by a street performer.

COMPARISION WITH THE REGION

Dubrovnik is the flagship of regional tourism and is the first association of meetings organizers we meet daily. It has still not reached its full potential. It is the closest in the region to renowned Mediterranean convention destinations Cannes and Monte Carlo. It has the biggest potential in the area of corporate and other incentives; after the completion of the convention centre also in the area of international associations conventions.

COOL MEETINGS

DUBROVAČKA ROŽATA – The dessert of Dubrovnik’s nobility. Cream eggs with caramel sauce served most often with the sweet liqueur of fruit. One of the Croatian versions of the world-famous cream with caramel.

GET IN TOUCH

Dubrovnik Tourist Board & Convention Bureau
Brsalje 5
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Ms. Romana Vlašič
E: romana.vlasic@tzdubrovnik.hr
T: +385 20 312 015

www.tzdubrovnik.hr

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WHITE ZAGREB TOWN

Zagreb is a great small place in terms of accessibility and transport. A lot of it is because of its traffic location, as it connects Central Europe with the Mediterranean, at the same time it is an important road corridor on the main routes to South-Eastern Europe. Zagreb is not only the cultural and political centre of Croatia. As the metropolis, it is also in terms of meetings industry among the best-developed parts of Croatia. In Zagreb is the largest concentration of international hotel chains with congress facilities in the region.

Zagreb generally makes a good impression on the visitor. The impression is sometimes interrupted by ragged facades and sporadic traffic chaos, which is the result of the size of the city. Generally, the city is safe, clean, comfortable and friendly to congress participants. The good ratio between price and quality is especially attractive; this has a positive impact on the competitiveness of the destination. It is not surprising that in the last year Zagreb has become a true hit on the Croatian tourist scene and no longer just a transit stop on the way to the Adriatic. With proper marketing and the development of network of partners, Zagreb will continue to position itself as the leading Croatian and regional convention destination. As its main advantage, I would highlight the compactness and high quality of hotel accommodation, which combined with cultural and historical heritage, is the formula for success. Everything is seasoned with the right dose of metropolitan character and friendliness of the locals.

DID YOU KNOW?
Zagreb is the only capital city in the world that hosts one of the races in the Alpine Ski World Cup. The Snow Queen Trophy is being organized annually since 2015 on Medvenica mountain where famous skiing champions Janica and Ivica Kostelić, both born in Zagreb, made their first ski steps. Janica is a winner of five World Championship gold medals and three overall Alpine Skiing World Cup titles, while her older brother, Ivica is a winner of three Olympic silver medals and was the overall World Cup champion in 2011.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 2,666
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 20
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 1,600
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 2,360 m2m2m2
  • Destination population: 799,556
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 1,851

MTLG CATEGORY

L – MEETING DESTINATIONS

Destinations that can host up to 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

NATURE

A. Natural and cultural factor: 4.76

Its rich natural and cultural heritage and the position of the Croatian capital have enabled Zagreb intensive development in tourism. Recently, Zagreb has profited as a destination of culture with individual museums that have the potential to become world attractions, such as the unique Museum of Failed Relationships.

GENERAL

B. General and transport infrastructure: 4.81

In the last ten years, Croatia has radically improved road infrastructure and thus its accessibility. Significantly improved is also air accessibility via Zagreb Airport, which accepts over 40% of all air traffic in Croatia. We would, however, like to see an early construction of the new airport building as the existing one is strongly outdated. Currently, Zagreb is lagging behind in rail infrastructure the most. Accord- ing to municipal infrastructure, local transport and sense of security, Zagreb can be classified into a golden class among competing European cities.

TOURISM

C. Tourist infrastructure: 4.78

The hotel infrastructure with new acquisitions fully satisfies modern congress guests and is perhaps at this moment the best among regional capitals. The fact that the tourist infrastructure is good and that the marketing of the destination also works well is also confirmed by the good results, which show a 5% growth despite the global recession.

MICE

D. Meetings infrastructure: 4.74

In Croatia, Zagreb has a dominant image of a business as well as a major congress destination. This has also been adapted by the offer of hotels with excellent congress facilities. A somewhat worse score than competitive cities of the region is due to the fact that Zagreb is without a convention centre, construction of which has been heralded since the public tender, which was completed in 2007.

SUBJECTIVE

E. Subjective grade: 4.75

In the region, Zagreb managed to best maintain the Central European culture that is reminiscent of Vienna and creates a special atmosphere. In addition, it is a ‘pocket-friendly destination’ that offers a lot for reasonable money. It is the ideal combination of a metropolis with charm and a small town atmosphere.

BUZZ

F. Marketing buzz: 4.38

The traditional connection between congress providers in one of the oldest convention bureaus of the region is now also connecting through its marketing. Zagreb has a well-developed marketing infrastructure and is patiently and progressively breaking into the major convention destinations league. Intensive marketing has triggered a positive response that has placed Zagreb on the list of fresh congress destinations.

ZAGREB INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.31
Natural and cultural factors: 4.76
General and transport infrastructure: 4.81
Tourist infrastructure: 4.78
Meeting infrastructure: 4.74
Subjective grade: 4.75
Marketing Buzz: 4.38
ICCA index: 4.00
Numbeo quality of life Index: 3.25
Numbeo Safety Index3.96
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.64

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

Old tram, new view
while you’re enjoying an exclusive Old Tram ride together with Zagreb delicacies, the guide will introduce you to the Zagreb Down town and its beauty, which will take you to Zagreb’s illustrious past.

COMPARISION WITH THE REGION

I predict a great congress future for Zagreb. It is well established in the international congress market and in addition to Ljubljana and Belgrade it represents the future backbone of the continental meetings industry of the region. All three cities are progressing steadily on the charts of developed meetings destinations; the final breakthrough of the entire region is intertwined and dependent on the marketing of major regional cong ress cities in the international market.

COOL MEETINGS

PAPRENJAK – is a traditional biscuit, which you’ll find only in Zagreb, slightly spicy and goes excellently with the morning coffee, but it can also be a unique souvenir of the visit or a Congress in Zagreb.

GET IN TOUCH

Zagreb Convention Bureau
Kaptol 5
10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Mr. Zlatan Muftič
E: zmufic@meetinzagreb.hr
T: +385 1 48 98 555

www.meetinzagreb.hr

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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.

DID YOU KNOW?
In the warm season you can refill your bottle for free at a number of public drinking water fountains around the city? And there is a shortcut to them! The Tap Ljubljana Water application helps users find the nearest one among 17 locations by detecting their current location and displaying a map with a plotted route to point out the right direction. Set all worries aside while quenching your thirst, as the drinking water’s quality is being constantly monitored.

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.

NATURE

A. Natural and cultural factors: 4.89

These are rated highly since Ljubljana is an appealing and attractive tourist destination with a developed infrastructure and cultural offer as well as high experiential value. The focus of this is the Ljubljana Castle and the medieval town. Given the size of the city, it has an exceptional cultural and historical diversity with over 15 museums, 41 galleries, 10 theatres and experientially diverse and varied natural hinterland.

GENERAL

B. General and transport infrastructure: 4.68

Through history the city has expanded organically and, consequently, the overall proportion of infrastructure and transport is solidly regulated. Among the major shortcomings are still the bad airline availability, the unused railway infrastructure and poorly controlled stationary traffic. The city is extremely safe and in the region one of the most sustainably-oriented.

TOURISM

C. Tourist infrastructure: 4.62

In the past the tourist offer developed around business tourists, so in Ljubljana hotels are missing a truly superior luxury hotel and recognisable international hotel chains. In the range from 2 to 4 stars, the offer is wide and attractive enough. The restaurant offer is solid, especially in Ljubljana there are many green spaces that offer plenty of opportunities for sports and recreational activities and incentive programmes.

MICE

D. Meetings infrastructure: 4.85

Most of investments in the tourism sector in recent years were aimed at improving the congress infra- structure. With two top-level convention centres and a very well developed hotel meetings offer, Ljubljana is the region’s leading congress destination. Also positive is the operation of the Ljubljana Convention Bureau. Among weaknesses we could count fluctuations in the quality of service and lack of hotels availability in the largest peak times.

SUBJECTIVE

E. Subjective grade: 4.68

Ljubljana makes a good first impression, which is partially due to the consequence of the burden with ”apriority” conceptions in the light of the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Instead they find a congress destination which is friendly and favourable to the meetings industry while being competitive in terms of price and quality at the same time. Among all regional capitals it also has a very good image that has also been strengthened thanks to the Conventa Trade Show.

BUZZ

F. Marketing Buzz: 4.52

Ljubljana is very successfully promoted through the Slovenian Convention Bureau, and notably so through the very successful Conventa Trade Show project that has brought the regional congress scene together and which would otherwise not be possible without the support of the city. The Project Ljubljana Strategic Bidding Team, which will this year undertake the start of the ambassador programme with the aim of strengthening the market position on the international associations market, is also highly praised.

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 Index4.13
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.16

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…

GET IN TOUCH

Ljubljana Tourism/Convention Burau,
Krekov trg 10, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ms. Tatjana Radovič,
E: tatjana.radovic@visitljubljana.si,
T: +386 1 306 45 84,

www.visitljubljana.com

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PARIS OF THE EAST

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Bucharest is a city of contrasts in the field of congress tourism. Great palaces and the latest congress hotels but on the other hand poorly recognized brand and unrelated congress offer. These are the main disadvantages compared to the much more active cities such as Belgrade and Sofia in the vicinity. But at this moment it is certainly the most affordable major European Congress Capital. With a little effort you will find everything you need for any events. Even the friendliness of the staff in the hotel and congress sector deviates from the average. It appears that the city is missing a little bit more energy so it can be placed alongside big cities, where it actually falls depending on its situation and the conditions for the congress industry development. On a scale of ICCA in 2012 occupied 85 place with 28 congresses, and depending on the conditions it could be ranked much higher.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 3,640
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 91
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 800
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 5,110 m2
  • Destination population: 2,106,144
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 2,100

MTLG CATEGORY

XL – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host more than 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

BUCHAREST INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.03
Natural and cultural factors: 4.31
General and transport infrastructure: 4.55
Tourist infrastructure: 4.59
Meeting infrastructure: 4.34
Subjective grade: 4.48
Marketing Buzz: 3.42
ICCA index: 4.00
Numbeo quality of life Index: 2.46
Numbeo Safety Index:3.96
ACI Airport Connectivity Index:4.14

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A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

COMPARISON WITH THE REGION

Belgrade bases its congress story on the rich culture at the crossroads of East and West, the central position in the South-East Europe and a lively social life. It is a city with remarkable cuisine, world-class nightlife, world events and positive vibrations, which makes it a very dynamic and attractive tourist destination. Belgrade is a city on the rise and a rough congress diamond, which has enormous development potential. With the establishment of the Serbian Convention Bureau in 2007, co-operation and promotion has thoroughly improved and now Belgrade has in terms of management a unique opportunity to take advantage of its benefits, provided so the complete infrastructure can be thoroughly renewed.

MTLG INDEX / 2017 EDITION

DESTINATION CAPACITY

  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotel rooms: 4,158
  • The number of 4* and 5* category hotels: 54
  • Banquet hall maximum capacity: 1,500
  • The largest hall in the city (in m2): 48,000 m2
  • Destination population: 1,233,796
  • Maximum hall capacity in theatre style: 3,672

MTLG CATEGORY

XL – MEETING DESTINATION

Destinations that can host more than 2000 attendees.

Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

BELGRADE INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017 
DESTINATION MARK: 4.14
Natural and cultural factors: 4.37
General and transport infrastructure: 4.47
Tourist infrastructure: 4.79
Meeting infrastructure: 4.63
Subjective grade: 4.77
Marketing Buzz: 4.43
ICCA index: 4.37
Numbeo quality of life Index: 2.48
Numbeo Safety Index:3.47
ACI Airport Connectivity Index 3.61
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