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WHERE TO GO
Although still regarded by many as an ‘off the beaten track’ destination, Romania is a country full of surprises, folklore and exciting places that leave long lasting impressions in visitors’ minds. Often compared to a “Latin island in a Slavic sea”, Romania features a uniquely familiar feeling of Eastern Europe with the Latin temperament and friendliness of its people. Romania is probably also the last place in Europe where you can still see unspoiled and active countryside, with the traditional rural civilisation still alive.

IN NUMBERS

  • Romania is the ninth largest wine producer in the world.
  • Bucharest’s mass transit network is the fourth largest in Europe.
  • Romania contains 60% of Europe’s Bears.
  • Bucharest is the sixth largest city in the EU.
  • The Carpathian Mountains are home to one of the largest virgin forests in Europe, with 400 unique species of mammals.

TOP 5

Bucharest

The cityscape is vibrant, with Byzantine churches crumbling next to palatial Beaux-Arts town houses and minimalist International-style blocks.

City of Brasov

Is home to the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul.

Bran Castle (Dracula Castle)

Built by Saxons from Braşov in 1382 to defend the Bran pass against Turks, the castle may have housed Vlad Ţepeş.

The Transfagarasan

One of the most spectacular roads in the world. This exquisite mountain road took 4 years to build between 1970 and 1974 during the reign of Nicolae Ceausescu.

Sighisoara

Is considered to be one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe. It is located in the historic region of Transylvania. Central Sighisoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city and it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

THE MOST ...

  • Europe’s second largest underground glacier, the Scarisoara glacier, is found underneath the Bihor Mountains in Romania.
  • The Romanian Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is the second largest administrative centre in the world, second only to the Pentagon in the United States.
  • Romania has the second-largest outdoor museum in the world – the Astra Museum in Sibiu features more than 300 buildings.
  • The Danube to Black Sea canal in southeast Romania is the world’s third longest man-made navigation route, after the Suez and the Panama Canals.
  • Romania is Europe’s richest country in terms of gold resources.

WHAT ELSE TO DO

  • Visit the wonderful monasteries : the best place to start is in Bucovina, in northern Moldova. There is no other place in the world with so many Orthodox monasteries.
  • Enjoy a beer at the Beer Wagon: a place where you can experience Romanian nightlife. It reminds one of why Bucharest was once called “Little Paris”.
  • Explore the local agro markets: if you enjoy slow food you should definitely explore the Romanian local agro-markets. It doesn’t get more real than this.
  • Drink Tuica: a traditional Romanian Drink made from plums and prepared using traditional methods.

ARE YOU KIDDIN’ ME?
Tucked away in a tiny village in the Maramures county, near the Ukrainian border, the Merry Cemetery (Cimitirul Vesel) is not only a very unique burial site, but also an open-air museum and a tourist attraction in its own right. Designed in 1940 by the local woodcarver Stan Ion Patras, Sapanta’s cheerful cemetery stands out for its colorful high wooden crosses carved in oak and painted with scenes of the deceased’s life.

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MEETOSLAVIA

One of the smaller and very likeable 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?
That Bratislava is one of Europe’s youngest capitals (since 1993) but with lots of historical wealth.

WHAT'S HOT IN 2016

Global Security Forum GLOBSEC 2016 – the leading annual forum in Central Europe will this year feature Madeleine Albright.

The project is bringing together the world’s best designers to share their personal experiences and pragmatic insights on how to put theory into action.

Slovak 2016 Presidency of the Council of the European Union – from July to December 2016 Bratislava will hold the presidency

Presented by the Ministry of Culture with the aim of highlighting Slovak musical production and musical performance.

Hyperloop investors eye Bratislava – Slovakia being a technological leader in the automotive, material science and energy industries, which are integral to the Hyperloop system.

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DESTINATION GRADE

4,23

QUALITY MEETING DESTINATION
Marks:
5 excellent meeting destination
4 quality meeting destination
3 recommendable meeting destination
2 average meeting destination
1 passable

NATURAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS Grade: 4,23

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 AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE Grade: 4,38

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.

TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE grade: 4,44

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.

MEETINGS INFRASTRUCTURE grade: 4,28

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 grade: 4,29

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.

MARKETING BUZZ grade: 4,16

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What do you think about when you hear the word Dalmatia? Summer, vacaton, sailing… some might add Dalmatian dogs, perhaps prosciutto, maybe even Severina. Well, know you can also put Zadar in mind by it’s meetings industry tourism. It may not be as well organized as in Duborvnik, but the place is very attractive and the remarkably positive buzz is why corporate organisers are so impressed. The city’s tourism authorities now have to seriously think about establishing a convention bureau for Zadar in light of events such as this years’s promotion of the BMW Tourer.

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BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA
Speed boat at the Danube river –  Enjoy the views of Bratislava and its surroundings from a totaly different perspective,  during an adrenaline sightseeing cruise. Refresh your event in Bratislava with an exciting adventure.

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.

WHO TO CONTACT

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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WHERE TO GO
Hungary is fast gaining the attention of the vacationers throughout the world. Situated in the east-central Europe, the country boasts of a rich historical past, which is evident in the numerous World Heritage Sites adorning its interiors. The capital of this beautiful country is Budapest and is the seat of the parliamentary democracy government.

IN NUMBERS

  • Hungary is one of the thirty most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting 10.2 million tourists a year.
  • The life expectancy rate in Hungary is 66 for men and 74 for women.
  • There are approximately 14-15 million Hungarians in the world, 10 million living inside Hungary.
  • There are approximately 500 places in the country where thermal water occurs. That means you can find water with temperature above 30°C in the 70 % of Hungary.
  • There are about 150 spas in the country where you can bath.

TOP 5

Budapest

The capital city of Hungary, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Lake Balaton

Hungarian “sea” (and Continental Europe’s largest lake) is where many Hungarians spend their summer vacations.

Thermal Baths

There are more than 300 thermal hot springs in use across Hungary.

Szeged

The cultural capital of the Great Plain and Hungary’s third largest city is filled with Art Nouveau masterpieces, cafes and green space.

Heviz

One of the most known city of Hungary. It has a unique thermal lake rich in minerals, making it ideal for bathing.

THE MOST ...

  • The funicular which takes you up to the Buda Castle is more than 140 years old, and it was the second in Europe.
  • Budapest is home to the third largest Parliament building in the world. It covers an area of 18.000 sq meters, it has 691 rooms, 20 kilometres of stairs and it is 96 metres high.
  • Hungary has had more Nobel Prize winners relative to its population than any other nation on earth.
  • There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary.
  • Budapest has the oldest underground train system in Europe.

WHAT ELSE TO DO

  • Taste wine and palinka – Hungarian wines are celebrated the world over. Sweet tokaj and crimson-red Bull’s Blood from Eger are the best known.
  • Try gulyas, the signature national dish.
  • Enjoy a thermal bath experience – You cannot leave Hungary without experiencing the famous Szechenyi thermal bath in Budapest.
  • Attend a festival – One of the best times to travel to Hungary is, indeed, during the summer months. Not only the weather is great but there are also lots of cool events.

ARE YOU KIDDIN’ ME?
Under the siege of the Castle of Eger by the Turks, the Hungarians were so tough to beat, after they drank local red wine. The Turks tried to figure out what is that soldiers drink behind the walls, and Hugarians said that’s Bulls’s Blood that gives them courage.

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WHERE TO GO
Greece lies at the meeting point of the three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. The country is mostly known for its ancient civilization, amazing landscapes and highly developed tourism. Greece remains one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, ranking in the world’s top 20 countries. Its capital city of Athens has a long history of hosting large scale events and conferences, such as the modern Olympic Games, and has thus earned its place among the best and most qualified event organisers in the world.

IN NUMBERS

  • Greece is one of the most mountainous countries of Europe, as 80% of the country consists of mountain and hills. The country also boasts 16,000 kilometres of coastline and around 6,000 islands and islets, scattered throughout the Aegean and Ionian Seas, most of them grouped in clusters that constitute the unique Greek archipelago
  • Approximately 25 million tourists per year visited Greece in the past couple of years, more than double the country’s entire population
  • Greece has 45 airports; 15 international state airports, 26 domestic state airports, and 4 municipal airports
  • Greece enjoys more than 250 days of sunshine or 3,000 sunny hours a year
  • There are currently 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece

TOP 5

Intercontinental Athenaeum Conference Centre

Distinguished as one of the best conference centres in Greece, the hotel provides a ballroom which is the largest conference facility available in Athens, accommodating up to 2,500 persons.

Creta Maris Conference Centre

The Creta Maris Hotel and Conference Centre is located in the seaside resort of Hersonissos, Heraklion Crete. There are a total of 68 conference halls in the Creta Maris Conference Centre, each of which is equipped with the latest technology.

Capsis Rhodes Conference Centre

Surrounded by palm trees and a lake offering magnificent views of the Aegean Sea, Capsis Hotel Rhodes & Convention Centre is located on the beachfront at Ixia Bay, five minutes from Rhodes Town. This is the largest Resort Convention Centre in Greece, with a total conference capacity of 8,000 delegates in a total of 100 meeting rooms.

The Athens Concert Hall

The Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, a part of the Athens Concert Hall, is one of the finest and most technologically advanced conference venues in Europe. Situated in the city centre yet surrounded by its own extensive landscaped gardens, Megaron offers a stunning environment, exceptional aesthetics, cutting edge technology and unrivalled client service.

Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Centre

In the heart of the city centre, the Zappeion Conference and Exhibition Centre offers a number of social and professional events halls. A great addition are luxurious reception areas and the centre’s surroundings boasting over 200,000 m2 of gardens with meandering paths, fountains and over 70 neoclassical sculptures.

THE MOST ...

  • Continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, Athens is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is also the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, political science, Western literature, historiography, major mathematical principles and Western theories of tragedy and comedy.
  • The first Olympic Games took place in 776 B.C. in Greece. The first Olympic champion was a Greek cook named Coroebus, who won the sprint race.
  • Greek has been spoken for more than 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in Europe.
  • Greece has the lowest crime rate in Europe, and 2nd lowest in the world.

WHAT ELSE TO DO

  • If organising a conference, go “out of the box” and organise a floating conference. Floating conference tourism is an emerging trend in Greece. Participants from all over the world choose the clear-blue Greek seas and develop their topics in the most ideal surroundings: a ship slicing through the glassy waters.
  • Historical attractions are a must in Greece. When in Athens visit the Acropolis. Crowned by the internationally-renowned Parthenon, it manifests the unsurpassed grandeur of the Ancient civilization. Built entirely of marble, the temple used to house a giant statue of Athena, the city patron goddess. Also worth a visit are attractions like Delphi, Epidaurus Theatre, Mount Athos, Mount Olympus, etc.
  • One of the authentic cultural elements of this region is gastronomy, with a history dating back 4,000 years. The Greek word “symposium” literally means “drinking with friends”. The atmosphere in an ordinary Greek restaurant or ‘taverna’ is relaxing, simple and informal. The Greek culinary creations served are mostly based on local produce and meat. When in Greece one must try “moussaka”, “souvlaki” and “choriatiki”.
  • Sample Greece’s delicious national drink ‘ouzo’. It is a sweet, strong alcoholic beverage similar to a liqueur flavoured primarily with aniseed. Ouzo drinking is a cultural ritual that has its own special time and place, usually in late afternoon or early evening, and always accompanied by small plates of food.

ARE YOU KIDDIN’ ME?
In Greece, buying a new set of plates happens more often than in other countries. Breaking plates is in fact a Greek tradition that you can observe at Greek restaurants or wedding receptions. Usually, breaking plates in praise of a musician or dancer is considered a part of “kefi” – the expression of emotion and joy. A plate might also be broken when two lovers part, so that they might be able to recognize each other by later matching the two halves, even if many years pass before they meet again.

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kongres-meetologue.eu

Have you ever wished for all the Kongres Meetologues to be gathered in one place? Kongres Magazine has updated the MTLG database at kongres-meetologue.eu and now offers you a chance to browse through all your favourite meetologues.

NATIONAL DESTINATIONS

OPATIJA, Croatia / 4,05

170 years of tourism tradition is based on the positive energy of the riviera and the exceptional natural conditions. This is a great sign for the revival of Opatija congress tourism, which has recently relaxed slightly in comparison with the hyperactive Croatian Adriatic competitors. The city already boasts the entire infrastructure, but it is beaten mostly by an unfavourable image and somewhat slow adjustment to the new congress market conditions. A change of the structure of hotels is also necessary, as ‘cosmopolitan’ Opatija today only boasts three hotels in the 5-star category, whilst in Dubrovnik there are now 14.

SCHLADMING, Austria / 4,04 (NEW 2016)

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.

BLED, Slovenia / 4,03

As a recognisable brand Bled stands out among other congress destinations in the region. It most closely resembles Dubrovnik, which caught up with the pre-war congress tempo by taking the right steps. Currently the biggest disadvantage is the lack of a clear focus towards quality rather than mass tourism. This is most clearly seen in the restaurant, night life and shopping offer. As a result the current perception of quality is lower than with largest competitors. In Bled the saying ‘Less is more’ is very true. The potential for the meetings industry is immense, it just needs to be harnessed in the right way.

PORTOROŽ, Slovenia / 4,02

The historic laurels of the leading Adriatic congress destination are slowly starting to gather dust. Portorož is still in hard competition with Dubrovnik, Opatija and new Adriatic congress destinations that are developing all the time. A rich congress history, tradition and the existing infrastructure are a competitive advantage. The meetings industry is by no means a tree to sleep under and simply harvest its fruit of wealthy congress participants. Despite that, Portorož has proven resilient and adaptable many times in the course of history, so some innovativeness and marketing opportunities should ensure it has a bright future.

ROVINJ, Croatia / 4,01

If at the destination you have owners who have clear goals and who look at congress tourism strategically, then in a short time you can do a lot. It is possible to revitalize the old factory premises and build a superior conference hotel. Maistra in Rovinj has undoubtedly left its mark. Taking into consideration the geographical location of Rovinj as one of the closest Mediterranean congress destinations for Central and Western Europe, the future of this industry is guaranteed. Missing is only a convention bureau, which would know how to step out of corporate governance of the destination and would be able to serve as attorney of the meetings industry. Otherwise, forecasts of mayor Sponza that Rovinj will be more exclusive than Dubrovnik, can be realized.

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia / 3,96

The most important winter sports centre in Slovenia has among the Slovenian ski resorts the strongest brand, which is known worldwide mainly due to the Cup Vitranc. It has stayed n the company of places like Kitzbuhel, Cortina, Garmisch and Wengen for many years. In recent years, Kranjska Gora successfully defied the green winters and economic hardship of key hoteliers. Slowly and steadily it has also developed a summer tourist offer, which enables the development of congress tourism. Both seasons are now virtually in balance. With the latest changes in the field of hospitality it will surely strengthen its position as an important centre for the implementation of incentive programmes and small conferences. Due to the recognition of the ski jumps in Planica and Vitranc Cup it has a high priority over other rivals in the region. It is an important boutique congress destination for quality mid-size corporate events up to 350 participants.

VYSOKE TATRE, Slovakia / 3,95 (NEW 2016)

The High Tatras are an extraordinary surprise and one of the undiscovered European incentive jewels. In the shadow of the much more notorious Zakopane range in neighbouring Poland, they offer at least as broad an incentive offer, which is nicely complemented by a very favourable financial package. As the main tourist resorts are close to mountain resorts, ski resorts and scenic walking trails, it is a totally perfect destination for more sports-inspired incentive groups. We recommend organising events in the spring and autumn months, when places aren’t flooded with the annual mass winter tourist flows. The prices in Slovakia are significantly lower than in central Europe and the destination is just a few hours’ drive by motorway from major Central European cities.

SAVINJA VALLEY, Slovenia / 3,94

Upper Savinja Valley is one of Slovenia’s natural jewels of. Its tourism offer is undoubtedly getting more diverse with every passing year, but still many of its foreign guests are not getting a comprehensive source of information about the full range of events and activities offer. The valley can be compared with the Soča Valley, which in many respects has a similar congress offer and the advantage of a functioning destination organisation (LTO Sotočje). Both valleys are two uncut diamonds of the Slovenian meetings offer that we believe will sooner or later be discovered by European event organisers. Given the advantages of this valley that is really impressive with its diversity, its natural resources and the charms of the Savinja river, it will undoubtedly succeed.

SOČA VALELY, Slovenia / 3,93

In the narrow micro-region the Soča Valley is currently not facing increased competition. On the Italian side in Friuli Venezia Giulia, incentive tourism is underdeveloped and the development of the product in Brda and Nova Gorica is also at the beginning stages. A more serious competition is in Istria and neighbouring Carinthia, as well as within the wider Slovenian Julian Alps. The main advantage of the destination is a developed incentive product, gastronomy and preserved natural and cultural heritage, which is unequalled.

HVAR, Croatia / 3,92

None of the more than 1,000 Croatian islands has such karma and recognition as Hvar. Definitely a “must” Croatian destination, right behind Dubrovnik. Distance from the mainland gives it a touch of boutique smallness.

POREČ, Croatia / 3,87

Until recently Poreč was known mostly for its family tourism, which is focused on the sun and sea. In the last couple of years there have been significant moves in terms of seasonality and also the meetings industry. The whole of Istria, in fact, has a huge potential for incentive programmes. The congress infrastructure already exists, including the main culinary and sports programmes, as well as the salubrious surroundings that make them spe
cial. It’s just the appropriate connections to form real incentive products that have to be put in place, which will definitely make them seriously competitive. The list of events is getting longer every year and is moving Poreč up the ladder of event destinations in Croatia. If Poreč continues to be a tourist champion of Croatia, it will definitely make the break into the international congress scene.

GORIŠKA BRDA, Slovenia / 3,86

A number of the features of Brda make it special and unique in the wider area. In the first place is its openness to the sea, creating a pleasant Mediterranean climate, followed up by its natural beauty with rich cultural heritage and eco-preserved countryside with exceptional culinary and wine offer, unrivalled in the region. A panorama of hills with a cluster of agglomerations and subdivided farmland and countless terraced vineyards is certainly one of the most beautiful Italian-Slovenian landscape-aesthetic experiences. In the field of tourism-convention offer, Brda is perhaps the future formula of tourism development: “less is more”. The convention fate of Brda and Collio is in co-operation and joint promotion.

BUDVA, Montenegro / 3,85

Budva is one of the central incentive destinations on the Adriatic coast, with very successful marketing and despite numerous deficiencies in poor accessibility and current capacity selection.  The development plans for the Monte Carlo of the Adriatic, openness from foreign investors and very liberal policies could position the Montenegro coast very high on the meetings industry map in the next few years, while it is already the leader in the area of incentive programs. It boasts the unique opportunity for the practically untapped Russian meetings industry, which has always had a positive relationship with Budva. If this “wild beauty” improves its accessibility, price competitiveness and infrastructure, it can be a worthy competitor as a meetings destination even in the wider region of the Mediterranean as one of the top destinations.

TIVAT, Montenegro / 3,84 (COMING SOON)

ROGAŠKA SLATINA, Slovenia / 3,83

It would be hard to find a more traditional health resort in Slovenia. Most other health resorts, including the neighbouring Podčetrtek, cannot boast such tradition that inspires confidence. In a few years the place has radically changed its appearance and has excellent congress infrastructure. However, something remains missing – more convention visitors, who were once coming en masse to these places. Rogaška needs congress tourism, as is written into its DNA. It seems that it is currently defying the modern times, mainly thanks to the proactive individual hoteliers. To regain a top spot more connectivity will be required, better joint promotion and all of this reflected through the establishment of a Convention Bureau.

BREŽICE – ČATEŽ, Slovenia / 3,81

LOŠINJ, Croatia / 3,80

Lošinj and Cres are the only Adriatic islands that successfully deal with sustainable tourism and are amongst the more eco-friendly islands of Kvarner. They differ from the more famous Dalmatian isles, such as Hvar, Brač and Krk, with their nature preservation, systematic sustainable development and cultural heritage. All these activities are well managed and present a huge opportunity for the development of a limited and exclusive sustainable meetings industry in harmony with the capabilities of the islands. The key chal- lenge is the invisibility of the islands’ image on the meetings industry radar, lacking the recognisable incentive brands to build the high quality boutique and intimate stories that can raise its profile. If local suppliers can develop from these points and their programmes can continue to be socially responsible, they will be able to benefit from the current trends in the industry. I am certain their first clients will be the existing loyal guest of Cres and Lošinj. With a high added value the islands can also become the eco-incentive oasis of the Adriatic.

LAŠKO, Slovenia / 3,79

Laško is first and foremost a spa destination, because the main motive of going there are the two spa and thermal centres. In the future it will remain so. In the past five years, however, much has been done in developing congress tourism and enriching the offer and it is today surprising how much Laško can offer to congress guests beyond its traditional tasty beer. Everything from one of the best Slovenian cuisines to an exceptional cultural and historical heritage together with the possibility of organising green meetings. In making this breakthrough Laško has very quickly become much more competitive to the more established meeting industry destinations.

UMAG, Croatia / 3,74

Among the competing congress destinations, Umag even a year ago would be easily overlooked, but today it is already hosting the most demanding events such as the most important Microsoft event Windays. This proves that the destination is profiled as a congress and especially incentive location. To the good functioning a great desti- nation management contributes a great deal, which in a form of a clusterfrom 2010 is promoted under the brand “Colours of Istria”.

BOHINJ, Slovenia / 3,73

The
majority of congress guests will be sworn lovers of nature and its aesthetic value. Bohinj is a place that is created for sustainable conference programmes and for active incentive experiences. It is a place where without any hesitation you can drink water from the public water supply and from its clean streams. Even the basic network of thematic paths offers ideas for authentic congress programmes. In Slovenia, the beauty of Bohinj can only be matched by its neighbours across the peaks in the Soča Valley, or in Kranjska Gora.

PODČETRTEK, Slovenia / 3,69

There are few places where the only driving force of the economy is tourism. Because in these places industry has never developed, today this can be considered as one of their advantages. Podčetrtek has a great potential in the field of congress tourism. It is an authentic and in many ways a sustainable congress experience.

GREEN KARST, Slovenia / 3,68 (NEW 2016)

Due to the natural and cultural values Karst has great potential for the development of boutique congress tourism. It should be based on the unique aspects and comparative advantages of individual areas associated with a rich cultural heritage, cultural landscapes and a preserved natural environment. As an integrated product it is not yet developed at this time, so it is more likely to complement the rest of the Slovenian congress destinations. For its breakthrough it is necessary to raise the visibility and competitiveness among meeting planners who are today looking for exactly such authentic spaces. We believe that it will be recognized as a product with great potential based on its main tourism carrier, the Postojna cave.

PREKMURJE, Slovenia / 3,66 (COMING SOON)

HEVIZ, Hungary / 3,62 (COMING SOON)

SARVAR, Hungary / 3,60

Sárvár is a city that at the moment only a few would place somewhere on the convention destinations map. Development has been primarily focused on health tourism. Once you get to know it, it is an elegant and fresh destination that is surprising because it is not ostentatious.

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KRANJSKA GORA WOW factor:  The biggest ski flying hill in the world – the most spectacular zipline in the world!

WHAT‘S NEW IN 2016

1. Nordic Centre Planica is renovated modern jumping and cross-country skiing center, which consist of seven modern ski jumps, renovated ski-flying hill and cross-country skiing center.

2. Tourist Bus Kranjska Gora with its glass roof offer an amazing panoramic view to the tourists. The bus route connects main cultural and natural attractions in Upper Sava Valley.

3. Adventure Room Mojstrana – under construction.

4. Via Ferrata Mojstrana is protected path but nevertheless very difficult climbing route. Not only for experienced people but also for those with a bit less experiences as it is possible to rent the equipment and hire a guide.

5. Planica Zipline offers breathtaking views during 566 meters long descent, where you reach speeds of up to 85 km/h.

BEST INCENTIVE

BEST INCENTIVE:

PLANICA ZIPLINE:  Experience the sensations of the Slovenian eagles and the world ski jumping elite with the help of the steepest zipline in the world, and fly over the Planica Large Hill, the biggest ski flying hill in the world.

Nordic Centre Planica

 

DID YOU KNOW

DID YOU KNOW: “There is nothing more beautiful in Europe than this,” wrote Sir Humphry Davy about the beauties of the Sava Valley with its waterfalls and lakes.

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DUBROVNIK WOW factor:  Croatia’s pearl “Ostrea Edulis” – Nutritionalists who have tasted oysters from Mali Ston bay, still favour them over those from other seas, and they have nothing but words of praise for them – the most delicious oysters in the world!

WHAT‘S NEW

1. Newly opened Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel

2. Renovation of Hotel Kompas, category upgrade to 4*

3. Dubrovnik Winter Festival, from November to January, brings together fun, culture, enjoyment, gastronomy and art

4. Dubrovnik – a popular filming destination

5. Lazareti – A Unique New Historic Venue in Dubrovnik, recently completely restored and embellished with modern facilities.

BEST INCENTIVE:
Exploring beautiful Dubrovnik Riviera

Day 1 Walking tour, City walls and museums, Cable car ride to Srđ, Buggy safari, honey tasting, local cuisine and wine tasting; Day 2 Visit of Mljet island, National park and lakes, Visit of St.Mary Island on the big lake; Day 3 Peljesac wine tour and wine tasting in cellars, Visit of Ston, Oyster tasting; Day 4 Boat trip to Elaphiti, visit of Lopud Island and the Đorđić-Maineri Park, visit of Šipan Island and Sorkocevic mansion; Day 5 Trip to Konavle region, Visit of Cavtat, Visit of one of the households and tasting of domestic products and wine, folklor dances.

  • Dubrovnik

DID YOU KNOW

DID YOU KNOW: To mark the 1700 year anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Blaise, the Dubrovnik City Council has proclaimed 2016 the ˝Year of St. Blaise˝ in Dubrovnik. The Festivity of St. Blaise has been part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage since 2009, and taking place in the heart of winter, it is the central winter event of the City, remaining unique and unaltered for centuries.

Read more about Dubrovnik

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kongres-meetologue.eu

Have you ever wished for all the Kongres Meetologues to be gathered in one place? Kongres Magazine has updated the MTLG database at kongres-meetologue.eu and now offers you a chance to browse through all your favourite meetologues.

REGIONAL DESTINATIONS

DUBROVNIK, Croatia / 4,33

Dubrovnik is the flagship of regional tourism and is commonly the first association of meetings organizers we meet daily. It is the closest in the region to renowned Mediterranean convention destinations Cannes and Monte Carlo, and it will be even closer after the completion of the convention center. So far the center is successfully replaced by modern and well-equipped centers at hotels such as Dubrovnik Palace, Excelsior, Bellevue, Grand Villa Argentina, Importanne Resort, Dubrovnik President, Valamar Lacroma and Radisson Blue. Well-developed is the entire conference infrastructure including destination management and creative agency scene. The city is safe and one of the tourist icons of the Adriatic and justifiably the most painted tourist skyline with unprecedented experiential diversity for conference guests.

SALZBURG, Austria / 4,26

Salzburg offers all the characteristics of a congress destination and a cosmopolitan mix    of visitors. With its location in the heart of Europe and because of the high quality of life, Salzburg has a great starting point in congress tourism. For current logistics and transport restrictions of the city, medium sized congresses with up to 2.500 participants are the best suited. Two top-quality, modern and high tech congress centers are together with a top quality conference hotel infrastructure a foundation for this congress destination. In this area they will offer you a superior product wrapped in superior packaging. Although you will find Mozart on every step of your way and it seems that the clock stopped in the times of the famous composer, Salzburg is a very modern and cool tourist destination with extraordinary culinary scene.

KLAGENFURT, Austria / 3,63

Klagenfurt is a likable alpine congress destination with rich cultural heritage and high experiential diversity. Key advantage is definitely fairy tale like well-maintained and pleasant environment, quality offer that is above average in regional sense, and professionalism of suppliers. Position at the crossroads of important routes is also an important factor in competitiveness of this destination. The city is an important inter social and European transit region that is easily reachable thanks to modern highways and rail connections. Klagenfurt as the center of Carinthia with its tidiness, safety and ratio between price and quality is one of the best convention destinations in the wider region. The city builds its meetings offer on a sustainable development.

VILLACH, Austria / 3,61 

Villach is the second largest city of Carinthia and its tourist sights attract an enormous amount of visitors. Villach has also become established as a small Silicon Valley in the Alps, with an international character reflected in the town‘s infrastructure. The main reason for a meetings industry in this part of Austria are the numerous incentive programmes, all of which you can engage with in a very clean enviroment. The most charming aspects are the Carnithian way of life, cultural diversity and a general sense of casualness. In our opinion the main advantages are the size and the feeling of familarity, along with a modern congress infrastructure. Locals also like to emphasise the border location, sat at the crossroads of three nations, which hasn‘t been totally picked up in a congress sense. It is an inspiring mixture of meeting facilities, atmosphere, modernism and a high quality of life and services at any time of the year.

PIRAN, Slovenia / 3,48

Medieval Piran is definitely one of the most portrayed cities on Slovenian tourist postcards. The city owes its prosperity to the over a thousand-year long respectful coexistence between the saltpan workers and their natural environment. Where once a monastery stood, today you will find the St. Bernardin hotel located only a 15-minute walk away from Piran. The Bernardin Congress Centre is the first and the largest hotel congress centre in Slovenia. Its multifunctional design sets the standards for all similar centres in the region. For quite some time the city has been living in the shadow of its notorious tourist neighbour Portorož; the truth is, however, that in the future Piran will stand out if it decides for the right differentiation

ZADAR, Croatia / 3,41

Zadar with over 4000 beds, several campgrounds and resorts is a developed summer destination for leisure and a yachting paradise. The charming city with thousand years of cultural heritage, the proximity of the islands, five national parks and improving flight connections has a number of good reviews by foreign media describing it as a cool convention destination. The city is an ideal destination for organization of smaller conferences and incentives for up to 100 participants. Currently, the main drawback are congress facilities that are not offering enough space for bigger business events, as well as congress infrastructure which is not yet built and in function. Once everything is in place, Zadar will certainly be an important congress player.

MARIBOR, Slovenia / 3,39

Maribor is one of the most promising meetings destinations in Slovenia. The city is historically, ethnically and culturally extremely interesting. It gives an impression of familiarity and warmth. Transport infrastructure, mostly because of the inactive Maribor Airport, is the weakest part of the Maribor meetings industry offer. Otherwise the city is safe and pleasant to live in. Its speciality is an extraordinary access to nature. The additional tourist offer is well developed, especially for sports and recreation. Congress offer of Maribor is concentrated in company Terme Maribor and their hotels Habakuk, Piramida (Pyramid) and Bellevue. The town is very rich with additional convention programmes suitable for incentives, but unfortunately a comprehensive offer of Pohorje and the town is under-utilised and not well presented.

UDINE, Italy / 3,36

It is a unique world in which the Latin elements from the period of Roman Empire are mixed with those of Lombard, Venetian, Austrian and Slavic. History touches you at every step, which is the perfect backdrop for a variety of innovative incentive programs. Udine has a rich quality of life, being one of the most economically developed Italian region. The city is perfectly accessible via highways, rail and air. There are plenty of hotel facilities in the city and the surrounding areas, which are a true shopping paradise with superb cuisine and some of the best Italian restaurants with Michelin stars. In the middle of one of the most important Italian wine regions you can organize you event in wineries, renovated industrial buildings or palaces. The whole offer is quality linked by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Tourist Board.

SUBOTICA, Serbia / 3,35

Subotica has a soul. It is a city where it seems that time has stopped. The proud town centre merges almost imperceptibly into the surrounding melancholy plains. Economically and culturally Subotica is one of the most developed cities in Serbia. Congress guests will be impressed by the multicultural spirit and European charm, which is reflected in a large number of special venues in a small area. Well-developed albeit not connected is the offer of various incentive programmes. Subotica has a functioning Congress bureau, the hotel facilities are good and the culinary tradition is an extra plus. All of this represents an exciting congress package calling out for more penetrating international or at least regional marketing to exploit the full potential of the city.

RIJEKA, Croatia / 3,34

The extended region of Kvarner has the huge potential to become a leading meetings destination. Individual congress cities together with the islands of Opatija, Lošinj and Cres are the heart of a very rich product. It is a complex offer, appropriate for associations as well as corporate events. Comparing Rijeka to Split it’s possible to see just how fast the tourist-congress transformation can happen. With its Mediterranean – industrial character Rijeka has no competitor in the Adriatic; the urban scene is so very alive and contains a rich cultural offer. Plenty of congress stories are just waiting for discovery.

PULA, Croatia / 3,32

Pula is a city of intoxicating flavours, scents and multiple images. Only when you experience it, it becomes clear why it’s also a great meetings destination. Pula as a regional centre of Istria is in terms of congress tourism currently less developed than some tourist destinations in Istria. The role of the regional congress centre took Rovinj with intensive investment, partly Poreč and cities of NW Istria. Current investments of company Arenaturist incite very high degree of optimism since the city acquired a high quality infrastructure. Along with the urban culture of the city and number of higher education institutions, the potential for congress tourism in Istria is among the largest.

ŠIBENIK, Croatia / 3,28

Šibenik very rarely raises any association with the meeting industry. In the process of transition from an industrial city into a tourist destination it has not yet asserted its image among competing cities. Despite this it is a fact that it has excellent conditions and is somehow considered to be a hidden jewel of the Croatian congress offer. For ease of accessibility it may be a suitable location for small association conferences as well as a variety of incentive programmes.

NOVA GORICA, Slovenia / 3,24

The two locations are the heart of the sunny and verdant Goriška plane. Due to their interesting position between the Alps and the Mediterranean, and the junction between the Roman and Slavic, it forms a historically attractive space with high experiential value and preserved natural as much as cultural landscape. In the transport sense it is a very easily accessible region with a high quality of living and excellent infrastructure. In 2006 a modern conference center at hotel Perla was created, which along with several smaller halls in hotels in Gorizia and a series of special venues forms the backbone of congress offer. Both Goricas have many good restaurants and will delight lovers of gastronomy, entertainment and gaming. The hospitality of the locals and the competitiveness of the destination is placing the region on the top of young, fresh and undiscovered convention destinations.

OSIJEK, Croatia / 3,23

To most people, the extreme north-eastern part of Croatia is the most marginal, border, multi-faith, multicultural and the most poorly known region. Its character is carved by the Drava and Danube rivers along with its symbolic, functional and aesthetic value. Its self image is one of isolation and the feeling of living on a desert island of convention tourism, in which only a small number of meeting planners and organisers are interested. Because of its geographic position, it is economically and politically far from the capital and as a consequence also undeveloped as a convention destination. The focus of the problem is a stereotypical feeling of neglect. Overlooking this, Osijek is one of the freshest and most sustainable Croatian meetings destinations with no real competition in the region.

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kongres-meetologue.eu

Have you ever wished for all the Kongres Meetologues to be gathered in one place? Kongres Magazine has updated the MTLG database at kongres-meetologue.eu and now offers you a chance to browse through all your favourite meetologues.

NATIONAL DESTINATIONS

PRAGUE, Czech Republic / 4,51

Prague has for a long time not been an Eastern European gem, but a true European tourist metropolis with a diverse and comprehensive offer, luxury hotels and sometimes too high prices. The story is reminiscent of Škoda, of which the Czechs are very proud and is one of the oldest automotive brands in Europe. Reputable, solid and reliable pre-war limousines were after the war changed by cars that were behind the times. Today, Škoda’s shine again and again puts the Czech manufacturer where it once was. The same can be said for the meetings industry, where Prague began to seriously falter against the locations top of the European league. If we look at the position of Prague regionally, Prague certainly has all the conditions to remain one of the most popular congress destinations for a long time.

ISTANBUL, Turkey / 4,39

The Turkish congress tiger is relentlessly growling and overcoming everything set in front of it. Professionalism and entrepreneurship when they are competing for international events is not lacking and they could be setting an example to other convention bureaus. Congress Bazaar of Istanbul offers everything that a meetings organizer needs, in addition to 7 convention centers, 3 fair grounds and almost 100.000 hotel rooms, and the excellently organized Convention Bureau of Instanbul. The quality of life in Istanbul is improving as well as the general infrastructure; Turkish airlines has become the fourth largest airline in the world.

BUDAPEST, Hungary / 4,37

Budapest enjoys a very favorable position in Europe, at the crossroads between the East and the West. It is one of just a few cities in the world that literally lies on thermal springs and to which the Danube River gives a special experiential value. The city has no shortage of picturesque special venues nor the most luxurious hotels and crazy and diverse incentive locations. If Prague is love at first sight, then Budapest is love on the long run. In addition to the selection of 16 five stars hotels, from Intercontinental to Kempinski, and 61 hotels with four-stars, it impresses with unique historic spa resorts. All this has been for many years an excellent and well-established MICE destination with well-oiled congress machinery. In addition, Budapest is also a very pocket friendly and safe congress destination.

ATHENS, Greece / 4,18

A historic city with excellent connectivity to the rest of the world and where you will find infrastructure befitting a major European capital, but with better weather and in a more interesting location. The Athens allure includes 300 days of sunshine a year, more than 30,000 hotel rooms in 439 hotels, 95,000 sq.m of conference space, 1,000+ restaurants and 200,000 flights per year. All major hotels in the city underwent a refurbishment for the 2004 Olympics.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia / 4,17

According to 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. With two top-level convention centers and a very well developed hotel meetings offer, Ljubljana is the region’s leading congress destination. 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. The city is extremely safe and one of the region’s most sustainably-oriented.

BELGRADE, Serbia / 4,15

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. With that the city can easily be geo-strategically placed by the side of world’s congress capitals.

ZAGREB, Croatia / 4,14

It can be said that Zagreb has a great congress future. As well as Belgrade, Zagreb is also progressing steadily on the chart of development meetings destinations; the final breakthrough of the intire region is intertwined and dependent on the marketing of mayor regional congress cities in the international market. 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. The hotel infrastructure with new acquisitions fully satisfies modern congress guests and is perhaps at this moment the best among regional capitals. Zagreb is a pocket-friendly destination that offers a lot for reasonable money.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia / 4,13

The city of four rivers defines the Danube river with its tributaries and with the mighty Renaissance castle above the intimate and compact old town. Bratislava is undiscovered European congress capital which slowly and steadily penetrates into the congress market. It represents a novelty for international congress market which impresses due to the kind and sympathetic city center but also because of not excessive commercialization. The city is close to the congress organizers mainly due to a more personal congress experience – the city is very friendly and there are no problems with the safety. The city center is full of pubs, restaurants and shops and the hotel offer includes the best known hotel chains. Many special venues like Eurovea city center are the ideal choice for larger and scenic demanding events.

KRAKOW, Poland / 4,12 

Of all Polish cities Krakow is the one with the greatest soul and is the most fraught with history. In Poland, Krakow will be the destination of the new generation, which will soon be recognized as a high quality, compact and most versatile meetings destination in Poland due to the cultural heritage, hospitality of the locals, new meetings capacities and because of its huge scientific potentials. Krakow has a variety of hotels services and an exceptional number of tourist attractions. Being the main tourist city it has excellent conditions in place for the development of congress tourism. With the construction of the new convention center ICE it has also received a real affirmation. Krakow’s recipe is successful and a case of good practice for other more traditional central European destinations.

WARSZAW, Poland / 4,11 (COMING SOON)

VENICE, Italy / 4,10 (COMING SOON)

GRAZ, Austria / 4,08

Graz is a mature tourist destination, which is despite the crisis recording a steady growth of tourist arrivals and overnight stays in all tourism segments. Cultural diversity, rich history and the connecting Mura River have formed a high experiential diversity, which is reflected in the many opportunities for congress and incentive organizers and planners. In terms of infrastructure and transport, Graz is still the leading regional convention destination and can be also in this term described as modern, dynamic and internationally competitive. With more than 154 congress event and some 46.000 participants it achieves excellent results and is stable on the charts ranking international events. A very big focus in Graz is on environmental responsibility and tidiness of the surrounding areas and infrastructure.

BUCHAREST, Romania / 4,03

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.

SPLIT, Croatia / 4,01

Among the Adriatic congress destinations Split has become serious competition to Dubrovnik in the last years. The main disadvantages of the destination are bad cooperation between the service providers, lack of air traffic connections to key markets and not enough destination marketing. If Split gets a real convention centre in the future it could become one of the leading congress destinations in the Mediterranean. New and excellent hotel capacities, good road connections to Europe and wonderful surroundings, with islands offering numerous incentive programme opportunities, all bolster this proposition. Split is one of the most unexploited congress destinations in the Mediterranean.

KOŠICE, Slovakia / 3,98 (NEW 2016)

If Bratislava is the capital of the country, then Kosice can be declared its creative centre, one that impresses with vibrant urban zones, positive diversity and an urban transformation of the city throughout layers of history. Košice seems pleasant for the accommodation and organisation of congresses and also seems a very tolerant city. A border location has greatly contributed to that, which has made residents more tolerant, but it is precisely this border diversity that defines the vitality and resistance of the city. The specific local identity gives the city its charm and soul, and it ranks it among one of the most promising Eastern European convention destinations.

GDANSK, Poland / 3,92

Gdansk differs markedly from other Polish cities because of the special at- mosphere in the old town and its many historical sites suitable for congress tourism. There is an attractive mix of west and east, of northern culture and of the old and the new, all adding to the city’s unique identity. Gdansk is known as a place of freedom, which is written into its genetic code and is reflected in the rich cultural heritage and current cultural and artistic production. As a result of the hyperactive Convention Bureau, Gdansk as a destination is in an extremely high position in comparison with other Polish international destinations. To achieve excellence Gdansk needs to focus on better regulation of its traffic and its accessibility, which is not yet at an adequate level, although the other infrastructure is excellent and comparable with competing European destinations.

VILNIUS, Lithuania / 3,86

Vilnius is a green and spacious city with a beautiful old city center where you can find over 40 churches. The three most important reasons for visiting Vilnius are architectural heritage, the city’s rich history and it’s specific urban atmosphere with very high air quality. Together with a very wide range of hotel accommodation and accompanying offer, which has developed in the recent years, Vilnius is an attractive tourist destination that is still largely undiscovered. Over the last few years Vilnius has polished its offer and was preparing for its entry into the international congress scene. The main congress provider in the city is LitExpo. With an active and well-organized convention bureau and broad-based marketing, Vilnius is becoming an important new European meetings destination.

TRIESTE, Italy / 3,85

Today, Trieste is mostly known for its coffee, rather than the meetings industry. The geo-political location could make
Trieste a leading Adriatic congress destination, yet it is now being overtaken by less accessible and geographically located destinations. Solid infrastructure is a good foundation for development. The image of the city on the regional and world market needs to be improved. When key stakeholders on both sides of the border realize the potential of the city, it can become much more important than it is today.

SOFIA, Bulgaria / 3,83

Sofia is a typical transition convention destination, which needs some more quality of services and a connection of the meetings industry with creative industries. As a destination to discover Bulgaria Sofia has a lot to offer, yet it will have to internationalize its meetings industry and strengthen marketing. The biggest opportunity is in the added value of the destination unknown to the rest of congress Europe. Sofia needs to get rid of the image of a cheap congress destination of a lesser quality and become an internationally recognized congress brand. Sofia is a congress sleeping beauty caught between east and west.

PODGORICA, Montenegro / 3,76

For now Podgorica can rarely be found on the meetings industry map. Considering the outstanding potential it will over time come to have all that is necessary to be a true meeting destination. Among its advantages there is its strategic position, which enables easy access to the most attractive parts of Montenegro for incentives. Among the weaknesses we have to point out the current state of the meeting infrastructure and its transport isolation. Being an air travel destination it is highly dependant on the number of flight connections, including low cost ones. A convention bureau for the town would greatly help in positioning the destination, which it deserves as a capital city. The town is developing quickly and is looking for the right image, torn between the classic tourism flow and the idea of development into a meeting destination.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina / 3,72

The brand ‘Sarajevo’ is one of the strongest trademarks in the region. It gets its character from the dramatic juncture between East and West. In the meetings industry the brand and destination are completely unexploited despite their immense potential. With proper positioning and investments in the meetings industry Sarajevo can quickly catch up with other destinations in the region. A special asset for the development of the meetings industry is the attitude of the people of Sarajevo, who are known for their humour, tolerance and understanding.

NOVI SAD, Serbia / 3,66

Novi Sad maintains well its image of an advanced capital also with festi- vals such as Exit and others. Unfortunately, the tourism sector is lagging behind some of the most active destinations, especially the capital Belgrade, which is perfectly establishing itself as an important European congress destination. The question is why to organise a congress in the city, which is only 100 km away from the capital city of Serbia. The answer is in a different, perhaps more authentic atmosphere and hospitality, nu- merous possibilities of accompanying programmes genuine ‘salaš’, in short in the authenticity of the congress story of Novi Sad.

SKOPJE, Macedonia / 3,58

As the capital of Macedonia Skopje is at the crossroads of international paths and has all the predispositions to develop the meetings industry. It still has a long way of investing into infrastructure. A near neighbour is the Greek city Thessaloniki, which is far more developed and hosts up to 15 international congresses annually, in comparison to Skopje which only hosts 1 according to ICCA. In Skopje a convention can be organized with some effort, yet for a serious breakthrough it needs to look to its neighbours for a model of successful development – the Thessaloniki Convention and Visitors Bureau, which combines over 100 m

TIRANA, Albania / 3,42 (NEW 2016)

Despite the chaotic first impression, you can organise your event in Tirana without any problems and to the satisfaction of your congress participants. Albanians are in fact extremely proud, friendly, calm, excellent hosts, which outweighs any weaknesses in infrastructure. They like to help, are very sociable and stick to their words and promises, expecting the same in return. Tirana has enormous meetings potential, which could be improved with investment in hotel infrastructure. Due to their beautiful nature there are also untapped opportunities for incentive programmes, today marketed by only a few DMCs. For a faster breakthrough they will have to connect and establish a congress bureau.

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WHAT‘S NEW IN 2015

1. EuroBasket 2015 tournament will also be hosted in Zagreb.

2. International garden show »Floraart« to host 50th edition in Zagreb: Over 130 Croatian exhibitors and a number of international exhibitors will display everything from flora pianos, to water sculptures and garden designs in over 30 hectares of open space and in 2,000 square metres of indoor space.

3. First Croatian craft beer fest to be held in Zagreb: Craft beer brewers are starting to make their mark on the beer scene in Croatia, with one of the world’s most well-known craft beer websites, RateBeer, ranking Croatian craft beer brewers Zmajska pivovara in its Top 10 New Brewers in the World list recently.

4. Fusing old with new to attract tourists in 2015: Ognjen Ivanović decided to launch a project showcasing Croatia’s capital in a unique way…‘Zagreb – Then and Now’ is a series of photos which fuses old with new as some of the cities popular landmarks are photographed together with photos from yesteryear.

5. Iconic Croatian cinema to celebrate 90 years in 2015: One of of Zagreb’s iconic movie theaters, and protected cultural heritage and national treasure of Croatia, is to celebrate its 90th birthday.

BEST INCENTIVE

BEST INCENTIVE:
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.

WHO TO CONTACT

Zagreb Convention Bureau
Kaptol 5
10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Mr. Zlatan Muftič
E: zmuftic@zagreb-convention.hr
T: +385 1 48 98 555
www.zagreb-convention.hr

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