3. Kongres newsletter, June 2010

 

Articles and news chosen by our guest Nik Raćić

 

Croatia as one of the top European tourist, congress and incentive destinations

At the world's most significant congress and trade fair IMEX, exhibitors from 160 countries, 7,000 buyers, representatives of international corporations, organizations and the media took part. The Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau was successfully represented in an exhibit space of 225 m2 by 25 co-exhibitors, representatives of the Croatian congress and incentive offering.

During the trade fair Frankfurt and IMEX were a true centre of world tourism. All significant international tourist, congress and incentive travel organisations organized 114 meetings of their management bodies, seminars and business workshops.

IMEX pays special attention to sustainable development and the so-called green initiative and gives out, on the basis of set criteria of very high standards, the annual “green” award to the most successful companies.

Central to the IMEX world tourist event is the IMEX academy award. The award is given out for a special contribution to the development of the world congress and incentive travel industry through quality management and innovation. The annual award is given out for global regions: Europe, Asia-Pacific, America, Africa and the Middle East.

As a director of the Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau of the Croatian National Tourist Board and the president of Skål International, the world's most significant tourist organisation numbering 20 000 members, tourism managers, I received the IMEX academy award for the European manager of the year.

I am honoured to receive this great recognition, as was said in the explanation given on the occasion of the award ceremony before 700 representatives of world tourism and the media at the Alte Oper venue in Frankfurt, with my long-year quality work as a congress and tourism manager and my achievements in world congress and tourism marketing as well as with my participation in organization of significant international congresses, incentives and events and my activities in international tourist and congress organisations.

It should particularly be pointed out that the award recipient was selected by representatives of the world's most significant congress, incentive and event organizers. This also represents the affirmation of Croatia as one of the top European tourist, congress and incentive destinations.

A brief IMEX report

The IMEX worldwide meetings exhibition in Frankfurt ended on 27th of September 2009. I’ve been participating at the exhibition since its beginnings in 2003 and since then I have seen it become one of the key meeting places in the meetings industry. This is evident by the growing number of partners, since most of the important actors in the industry are always present.

This year over 3.500 exhibitors from 150 countries met 3.800 invited guests and over 9.000 visitors. The point of the exhibition is organizing meetings between partners. This year 57.000of such meetings took place, which is 14% more than the previous year.

Many of the industry experts agree with me in saying that first impressions were not as promising as expected. We mostly missed exhibitors from our region, mainly Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the other hand, this year’s IMEX offered an excellent educational programmes and numerous accompanying events. Though, we didn’t witness any revolutionary innovations, the whole event was very positive in light of the expected end of the recession. This was also confirmed by the IMEX Politicians Forum, which comprised of 29 politicians and 65 leading meetings organizers.

The event was accompanied by other forums, such as the Future leaders forum, attended by the students of VGS Bled, a Womens forum and the Tech Tap.
This years exhibition was dominated by green stories, many exhibitors included sustainability principles as part of their marketing approach. Nevertheless, this was promoted also by the organizers, which failed to follow the principles in practise, other than partnering with The Green Meeting Industry Council and giving out green awards. The exhibition is mostly a platform for discussion, development and research in the area of sustainability in the meetings industry. The way towards a greener attitude of the exhibitors is still long, with some exceptions, like the award winning Swiss wooden booth.

New business models and connections in the meetings industry remain the key issue. Practical solutions were still surrounded by mystery at the round tables, lectures and exhibitions. The last word will as always belong to the invited buyers – meetings organizers, who are the reasons we attend the exhibition in Frankfurt every year.

NEWS FROM THIS YEARS IMEX

Nik Račič receives the IMEX Academy Award
The annual IMEX award for the area of Europe was awarded to Nik Račič, for his key role in developing the Croatian meetings industry. www.htz.hr

IMEX announces first socially responsible event
IMEX has announced their first socially responsible event named IMEX Challenge Poland. A group of voluntaries will clean up an abandoned park near Warsaw on September 24th.
www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexchallenge.html

Danish foreign ministry wins The Green meetings award
The Danish ministry won the award for outstanding achievements in sustainably organizing the conference COP 15 along with VisitDenmark, Bella Center and other government agencies.
www.webcast.cop15.dk

IMEX Americas’ step forward
The preparations for IMEX America held in October 2011 in Las Vegas are going as planned. Many strategic partners have joined including MPI and one of the largest organizers of business and incentive travel programs Maritz. IMEX expects more than 80% of the invited buyers to be from the USA.
www.imexamerica.com

First Austrian meetings statistic presented
Austrian congress bureau (ACB) and Austrian tourist office have presented a first ever Austrian statistic for the meetings industry.
According to the data over 2000 scientific and professional meetings were held in Austria in 2009, 52% of which were national, 48% international. Over 50% of those were held in Vienna. Over 3000 corporate events were also held in 2009.
www.acb.at

Sava Center Belgrade acquires important international meetings
Sava Center, the largest congress centre in SE Europe has announced four new international events at IMEX:
- 21st European Maintenance Congress, 2010 with over 700 participants;
- 13th European AIDS Conference, 2011, 3.500 participants;
- Hart Failure Congress – ESC, 2012, 3500 participants;
- 9th European Congress of Menopause, 2014, 2000 participants.
www.savacentar.net

Selected articles from Kongres magazine

 

New book for the Meeting Industry – Secrets of Effective Meetings and Events

 

GO.MICE is now selling a new book for the Meeting Industry – Secrets of Effective Meetings and Events, author Steve De Wit. If you want to order it please send mail to: jan.klavora@go-mice.eu. The price of the book is (postage included) 45 EUR.

 

Secrets of Effective Meetings and Events

 

Anyone active in the M&E industry will undoubtedly be confronted with the question into the ‘effectiveness of meetings and/or events’. What do they bring in? How do they achieve the intended objectives? Are they ‘effective’? In his newest book, Steve De Wit brings up many innovative ideas to improve the meeting effectiveness.

 

The book ‘Secrets of Effective Meetings & Events’ combines field experience as a planner with a number of additional fields.

Over the past 20 years as a meeting planner, Steve noticed how knowledge from other sciences and businesses can be very valuable for meeting planners. He particularly thinks of some notion about communication sciences, creative thinking, IT, psychology, DTP, photography, decoration, gastronomy, language skills, cartography and media. In this book, he explains the practical link between these fields and the day-to-day implementation by the meeting planner. Steve wants to share a new vision on effective meeting management, based on many years of meeting management experience.

This is a practical guide for anyone involved in conference, meeting and event management. PCO-, DMC-, hotel- and convention bureau professionals will find many useful and easy to implement tips and tricks.

 

The content

The book is structured into 4 parts and every part covers a number of independent items. This allows you to step into this book at any place and at any time. It is not necessary to read it chronologically from the beginning. It is conceived in a way that you can use it as you need it, depending on the management level or situation you are in.

Part one is about the strategic decision for the use of M&E activities as a business instrument. This has to do with the choice of a meeting as the best way to attain the intended business goal.

Part two deals with the meeting format or M&E architecture. It's the plan and shape of the meeting and why it should be designed like it is designed. It also touches other topics such as boosting your creativity, designing your own room plans and building a budget structure.

Part three is about operational meeting management. It dives into the needs of organizing on the field. It’s about the execution of the meeting in the most effective and most efficient way. Besides that, it also touches presentation techniques, public speaking, AV-management, people management and the laws of meeting management.

At last, part four focusses on what is called the 'MEP-Factor', the influence of level of skill of the meeting planner on the meeting effectiveness. It's an overview of skills that may be required to be(come) an effective meeting planner. It offers you a tool to monitor and improve your own capacities in view of what the daily job needs from you or what is of interest to you.

About Steve De Wit

After graduating for a Master degree, Steve started as a sales person for a medical company. Three years later, in 1989, he starts his own corporate event agency, BarrancO. For the next 20 years, Steve is organizing conferences, meetings, incentives and team buildings all over the world. In 2009, he writes his experiences down in the book “Secrets of Effective Meetings and Events”. Today he is besides a creative meeting planner, also an M&E trainer, coach and speaker.

www.stevedewit.com

 

New issue of international Kongres magazine

Are you ready for changes? We hope so, because changes are something we really love.

We released a new edition of international Kongres magazine and it is full of changes:
- new and fresh design
- more content
- the divided English and Slovene edition
 Kongres magazine was Media partner in IMEX

Furthermore, because we want to make our magazine really attractive, we offer you a possibility of advertising in our Kongres magazine, on our web page and in our newsletter. If you wish to advertise your products and services, click here.

And to make sure you find out all about the current novelties, you can subscribe to Kongres magazine here.

The content of the magazine, released in April 2010, in short:

1. Steve De Wit, author of the book »Secrets of effective meetings & events«, says: Effective communication is the key to minimize costs and time, when organizing meetings and events. His advice on planning meetings and events is very useful - you can read his thoughts in the interview.

2. If you wish to learn about relationship between marketing and sales in the meetings industry, read the article written by Maja Makovec Brenčič, Associate Professor of International Marketing and International Business at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana. She stresses that in every organization, to make a success, marketing and sales must work hand in hand.

3. Elling Hamso, managing partner from European Event ROI Institute, explains about supply chain magic regarding meetings and event planning. He says : »You are only as good as your supply chain and your supply chain is only as good as your ability to manage it well.« Learn how to set higher goals and how to achieve them – with suppliers who have world record breaking potential, the competence, smartness, ambition and relentless drive to always do something better next time.

4. How important good pictures are for initiating business? – David Ralita, a professional photographer, says that images talk, so they affect potential clients and lead to good sales both directly and indirectly. Check your brochure pictures and think how they make you feel.

5. Adrenaline parks and team experiences in Slovenia. Teams undertake various tasks in a different environment, with the touch of adrenaline and teamwork. This makes relationships stronger and you gain a lot. Check out short descriptions of adrenaline parks and services they offer.

...and much more

 

To perform faster and to talk more directly with clients – that is the strategy of Venevent

Interview with Slaven Reljić

PERSONAL PRESENTATION
Venevent is a Croatian DMC/event agency specializing in organizing incentive programmes, meetings and special events at selected Croatian destinations.
All our events are tailored to our clients' needs and created to be a true experience of Croatian culture & nature, unique attractions and activities, nice hotels close to old towns, gastronomy & wines...

1 - The economic crisis probably affects your business the same as all the others. Which sectors of your business (incentive programs, congress & meetings, event management, team building or destination services) do you feel had the highest decline in revenue?
Yes, the market is definitely down. Even clients that achieved higher profits in 2009 are cutting the costs and are not spending so easily on projects like meetings, incentive travel, team building or events, although they should be aware that those products do support their business. The biggest decline in revenue is in pure events and team building events.

2 - Can you tell us how strong your decline in revenue was?
Due to 2 larger contracts (congresses) held in 2009, which we received in 2008, our 2009 was not that bad and was at about same level as 2008.

3 - How do you deal with the crisis? What is your strategy? (New markets-which?)
We try to perform faster and to talk to more directly clients about the concept and their concrete needs, also the budget. Together with our partners/suppliers, some added values like extras for the same price are also appreciated by the clients. We do actively target new markets like the German and French incentive market, the Scandinavian meetings & incentives market and others.

4 - Did you invest more in marketing? Which marketing tools are you using?
Our marketing activities are always concentrated on exhibiting and B2B meetings at specialized M.I.C.E. fairs. Additionally, we do direct marketing campaigns. In general, this is mainly 'e-marketing', without investing much into ads or other activities.

5 - What do you consider to be the biggest opportunity for the market of Croatia, Slovenia and south-eastern Europe?

Our main and closest market is Europe. Being a destination that is a maximum of 3 hours flying time from any European business centre, our destinations are perfect for all corporate and institutional organizers of meetings/incentives lasting 3 to 4 days, which are the most frequent projects nowadays.

 

Supply chain magic

If you plan meetings and events, you are managing a supply chain

Supply chain management (SCM) is at first sight a very simple concept - just what it says - managing your chain of suppliers, including your speakers.

You are only as good as your supply chain and your supply chain is only as good as your ability to manage it well. There is a huge difference between traditional supply chain business models and those who really exploit the potential of supply chain optimization. The difference is what you need to deliver more for less; a better meeting for less money, without squeezing supplier margins.

Where is the Magic?
Doing more of the same, only better, may improve your meeting ROI by five percent, but you want fifty. Turning the thumbscrews on suppliers may reduce costs, but it is not the pain which will make them walk another mile. You need suppliers to give you their best resources, highest priority and all of their experience and ingenuity to develop your supply chain. You need to buy value, not price, what the procurement profession calls value-based procurement.

Alignment of Objectives
Without alignment of objectives, the project is a non-starter. What is good for your supplier must be good for you, and vice-versa. Our industry is riddled with win-loose relationships based on commissions and fixed price contracts. When your venue finder makes the extra effort and gets you an extraordinary low price, you don’t reward him, on the contrary, you penalize him for the extra effort because his ten per cent commission is now calculated from a lower price. Why you should hire someone to be paid by someone else for giving you the worst possible deal, remains a mystery to me.
Fixed price agency contracts, whether lump sum or per meeting attendee, are only a little better in the sense that you don’t penalize exceptional performance, you just don’t reward it.

The relationship between hotels and meeting planners or their agents is also a classical win-loose relationship on the subject of attrition. Why do we offer lower conference fees for early registrations, but not cheaper hotel rooms, or why do hotels not reward planners who are able to make good room block estimates? Where are the industry statistics which could help both planners and hotels better forecast registration patterns? Why do we have cancellation clauses for meeting participants which discourage early registrations?
Good supply chain management invariably means that you reward good performance, not just with a pat on the back or a promise of future business (at competitive prices), but in a currency which is really valued, like money.

Fewer Chiefs, More Indians
As soon as the value-based incentive contract is in place, the magic starts to unfold. Because it makes good commercial sense for the supplier to provide better value at lower cost, he will incessantly search for opportunities to do just that. You need fewer resources to police supplier performance, making sure they deliver their promise according to contract and don’t exceed the budget items you have entrusted with them. Cutting corners to make more money for themselves, is no longer a supplier option. Instead, you join their quest for smarter solutions, cutting costs where it does not really matter and spending more where a disproportionate increase in value may be achieved.

Moving the Goalposts
To align objectives, you have to know what the objectives are, and how to measure success. What you measure improves, what you cannot measure you cannot manage, and probably should not be doing in the first place. This is the second dose of magic; you simply have to figure out what your objectives really are, in detail, communicate them to your suppliers and develop the measurement tools.

You always want more, more for less, that is how the world moves forward. I believe the current 100 meter world record is 9,77 seconds, do you think it will never be beaten? To beat world records you need world record beating teams. You don’t need the cheapest bidder, you need suppliers who have world record breaking potential, the competence, smartness, ambition and relentless drive to always do something better next time. Don’t’ negotiate price, negotiate goals and incentives. Nothing should make you happier than good supplier profits earned from record-breaking performance.

Outsourcing for Profit
Unless your core business is the planning and execution of world class meetings, you are not going to break world records. Why then, is there a widespread reluctance to outsource meeting planning to those whose core business it is to do it better than everyone else? Maybe you are afraid to loose control, or you believe that supplier profits could be your cost saving, or you don’t want to invest in the long term relationship needed to understand your business because next year’s cheapest bidder could be somebody else.

This is the third dose of the supply chain magic. Because you have alignment of objectives and performance is rewarded against clear and measurable goals, control is much less of an issue, transparency is no longer an issue because there is nothing to hide, and there is no need to begrudge suppliers their profits because they are not earned at your expense.

Proving your Worth
If you are lucky enough to have a procurement department taking an interest in your meetings, their skills and experiences will be invaluable. You should also team up with travel management, finance, HR and any other department which may support your quest for better meeting ROI. This is also part of the magic as they will recognise your professionalism and give you the exposure you want with senior management.

If you are a supplier rather than a meeting planner, you should take the initiative and explain how you could make a greater contribution in a more integrated and incentivised relationship. Try to get your client’s procurement department involved as they will be excited by your ideas and support their meeting planning colleagues in making it happen.

You think this sounds a bit like a fairy tale, with the magic and all that? It is not. It works. But it takes courage, time and commitment. You have to show trust in your suppliers, expose your weaknesses, develop measurable objectives and a scorecard for continuous improvement.

Dr. Elling Hamso, Managing Partner, European Event ROI Institute
www.eventroi.org

 

Good pictures, better leads

A great tool for initiating business

Your business plan is good to go, your budget covers all you need it to cover. Your sales team is ready and will generate a large number of sales calls throughout the year, you will travel to major trade fairs, join your local convention bureau on their promotions, publish your adverts, get your brochures ready, make presentations, participate as a host on Fam Trips, expand your online presence, etc

Tourism Boards, Convention Bureaus, DMCs, all sorts of Venues, Hotels, Meeting Planners, .. any provider will have this ready, or at least should have, before they start the run for making or retaining new and/or existing clients and everybody out there will be looking at what you have to present them with the aim of understanding what you have to offer, so they can consider you for their future business.

Texts are prepared to enhance your services, your experience, your knowledge of the market and the product, …your base of existing happy clients is listed, the logos of any of your memberships are printed. It is time to SELL.

Before I started earning my living shooting interiors, hotels & resorts, I worked for 18 years in the trade as a sales manager for various organizations, then as a Director for International Sales for a large meetings hotel and after that as a freelance event organizer representing a large International Group of DMCs.

I always had it in mind that good images that generate a visual impact on your potential clients will most probably lead to good sales both directly and indirectly, because images talk. But having good images was not always the case and many times we together came out with Nobel Prize candidate literature that did not match them at all, so I felt, as did many of my clients.

I sometimes missed having photos with me that could describe how beautiful the place I was working in was!! How beautiful the destination I was presenting was – how beautiful it looked and how many wonderful Hotels we had. I felt I had to make an extra effort in order to outdo my fellow competitors. Have you been there? Or have you ever checked how your competitors are presenting themselves? Go on. Do it.

Good or bad images will affect how others see you – it will also affect those that work for you and it will definitely affect your sales. Many times I have heard good professionals complaining about the images in their presentations, what their brochures looked like… and I mean CVBs, DMCs, Hotels, Meeting Planners….

And good images work. Most of my current clients have come back and told me that they have seen an increase in their online bookings and good feedback from their local DMCs and Incoming agencies a few weeks after they renewed their pictures – their sales teams are motivated, their local Convention Bureau and other memberships they are part of are coming back to them with a different attitude and are pushing sales and activities in their direction – the list goes on.

 

Recently a hotel manager told me he had run out of brochures within 6 months. He could not understand why since he had printed the same number of copies that he had for 2 years, containing his older pictures. The sales team confirmed that they had not been giving out the old brochures since they felt they where not helping them sell the property and they felt uncomfortable with such material….And now they were …. “How many leads did you miss?” I asked. He went blank.

Go on, ask your sales people how they feel about your brochures. Ask yourself how you feel about them and check every single picture you have on the various webs you are present in, magazines, everywhere. Check your competitors and see what they are doing…. Leave aside your Budget issues and ask yourself, “Do I like them?” If you don’t like them, your sales team will not like them… clients will not like them either, it might be time to renew your look and wash your face.

If you prefer what your ‘competitor‘ offers and how he presents himself and if you feel the product you sell and/or represent is not shown as it really is, then, if I was you, I would go and ask for a meeting with my director.

Every other sentence I hear in the MICE World probably contains the words RFP and Check List. If you have a minute, go and conduct your own check list intended to serve those who will help you sell your product. Walk around the place and write down the things that make the place special and sellable. Do the same with your CVB. If you are a hotel, venue or restaurant, ask your DMC, (which has to prepare bids to offer your services and needs images), CVBs do ask DMCs, you know – so let’s play! Everybody asks everybody else. And you know, people appreciate being asked. You make them feel part of things. When you have done that, check your image bank and see if you can see and feel what you wrote down… orange, yellow, dark and burned Pictures are fine with me since they pay my rent nowadays, but they might not work for you… If you don’t have suitably expressive pictures, then I think you need them because, if your potential client cannot see it and feel it, or does not know is there, he will look elsewhere. Having good images sells, and not having them can lead others to see you the opposite way from what you Intend.

Many times I have seen people judging the services we offer according to the way we present them. I felt this when I was selling and this is also how I judged the suppliers I had to present to my clients back when I was buying rather than selling. I had a client that asked us to organize an incentive in a certain European city and I asked my local DMC and looked for a 5 star hotel. However, we could not get quality Pictures of my favourite choice and my client turned the hotel down. Since I knew that my client would actually take it (as I had been there before and also because I knew his tastes), I took him with me one weekend for an inspection and booked him into that hotel without letting him know. When we arrived, he loved it and asked if I still had the rooms blocked, which of course I had. So in the end, we held the event in this hotel. I asked for the manager and told him the story; he agreed they needed new Pictures. I have to say that my client was ultimately unsatisfied with the services he received. 18 months passed before they renewed them and, during that time, I had 2 more events in the city… but I always refused to quote the hotel. If I took my time to sell his product, I thought he could have done more to help me do it one more time and, since we had some troubles there, I really had the feeling that we would have them again. That was probably wrong, but that is how I felt – so yes, having bad images or lacking them entirely might lead people to think you do not look on your business the way you should – maybe totally wrong on many occasions, but there is no way you can find out.

At the end of the day, it is all about service. It is about selling and delivering what you are offering. If you prepare yourself for selling, you will attract your clients. If you deliver the services, you will have concurrent clients. A good image is just a part of it but, believe it or not, it can initiate the process or make you lose business much more than you think. Go ahead and search for a professional photographer if you feel you could present yourself better, the cost of that will probably be a small fraction of the Business you could lose.

The culinary art: Current trends in catering

"Do You Have Any Lenten Food? Sure, Wiener Schnitzel and Roast Potatoes!"

Throughout history, nutrition was connected to health and healthy living. Not long ago, sometime after the Second World War, the prevalent opinion was that a person needed to eat well and in abundance, since if you are plump, you will be healthy! Modern views on healthy nutrition and knowledge of the negative influences (e.g. allergies) that determine and direct nutrition have a rich history. Even the author of the first cook book in Slovenian, Valentin Vodnik, wrote in his famous introduction to Kuharske bukve (Ljubljana, 1799):
“Cooking means to make food that is appropriate for human pleasure. The aim of cooking is to preserve health, with dishes being the medicine for the healthy. Therefore, everything that is used for cooking has to be healthy, as well as the manner in which the dishes are cooked. Therefore, smart cooks warn about too much fat, grease and lard, bacon, pork meat and cured meats. They eliminate and reject rancid food, do not serve reheated food, do not cook in copper or zinc dishes or pewter when there is too much lead but only use earthenware and iron dishes. They keep their kitchen beautiful and clean. They make sure that the dishes are prepared in a manner that is not only good for the throat but also the stomach."
The extent and type of nutrition has always related to increases or reductions in personal and family budgets. This applied on both the domestic and the public level, i.e. restaurants. Reductions in budgets were always related, and they still are, to hunger, famine, unvaried nutrition and insufficient food intake. In modern times, general reductions in budgets unfortunately rarely lead towards healthy possibilities but instead often work in favour of unhealthy, street or fast food that have negative health effects. If we look at this budgetary aspect through historic development, we can see that it used to prevent an abundance of content and quantity but people still remained within the frameworks of healthy nutrition, even if it was often less diverse or highly monotonous (stews with various groats, cabbage and turnip and from the 19th century onwards also potatoes, which we call the bread of the poor.

In modern times, religious influences, the impacts of health or allergies and reductions in budgets are more consistently regarded in planning menus and the culinary offer in restaurants, inns, hotel restaurants and for various receptions and catering events. I can see this in the mass or so-called fast or street food. The situation is at its worst in bars, bistros, cafeterias and similar places where the only foods are alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. With the greedy acceptance of possible and, above all, impossible global and globalised values (!), it is interesting to see that Slovenia remains special in this field. This is yet another, albeit not too stimulating example of our modern recognisability. I Feel Slovenia!

Prof. Dr. Janez Bogataj

Hotel and Venue news

Four Academy award heroes

A series of IMEX Academy Awards was also presented to individuals from four global regions. Each award celebrated and acknowledged an ‘unsung hero’ working in the meetings, incentive travel or events sector.

As winner of the Academy Award for Europe, Nic Račić was recognised for his pivotal role in developing the tourism industry of Croatia. Choosing not to pursue a professional tennis career (having won the title of junior champion of Yugoslavia), Nic began working in the industry as an advisor to the Tourism Association in Zagreb in 1978, later becoming General Secretary of the Yugoslavian Congress Office and then Advisor to the Ministry of Tourism in the first government of the Republic of Croatia. In 2001, Nic was appointed as Director of the Croatian Congress and Incentive Office.

www.imex-frankfurt.com

The open skies agreement to boost Serbia's image

The Open Skies Agreement (ECAA) gives free access to the aviation markets of the 36 signatory countries. By signing this agreement Serbia is on good path to boost the international meeting market. Nestled in the heart of Europe, Serbia is a meeting point of civilizations. With over 250 flights zooming in and out of the city every week, Serbia’s cosmopolitan capital is more accessible than ever. Belgrade is a direct maximum two-hour flight from over 40 major European ports and cities. With more announced air companies and direct flights, Serbia, new destination is closer than ever.

www.scb.travel

Belgrade - The no 1 city to party the night away

Compiled a list of the world's top 10 party cities in its new “1000 Ultimate Experiences” guide, in competition with cities like Dubai, Buenos Aries and Cape Town, Lonely Planet guide declared Belgrade, Serbia’s capital as “The No 1 City to Party The Night Away”.

www.scb.travel

MeetAdria DMC group from SouthEast Europe has joined the world leading Global DMC network – Ovation Global.

 

Ovation Global DMC is an international Destination Management Company with offices in 19 key destinations across four continents. In addition to the wholly owned offices, Ovation also has representation in 7 more destinations through its Strategic Partnerships and Alliances bringing to 26 the number of locations where we are now present. Ovation Strategic Partners are, typically, the leading DMC in a destination and are selected by Ovation according to strict criteria including industry reputation and legacy, operational excellence and efficiencies and ability to deliver a truly insightful DMC service beyond mere logistics and tactical delivery.

MeetAdria DMC group operates successfully in Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro – also covering the complete coastline between Italy and Greece for shore excursions.

www.meetadria.net

Hotel Valamar Lacroma in Dubrovnik is the pharmacist's choice

The spring congress season at the hotel Valamar Lacroma in Dubrovnik began with the congresses of the pharmaceutical companies, which showed a great interest for Dubrovnik’s largest conference and spa hotel. In March, Cardiovascular Congress was held by the pharmaceutical company Abbott, while in April, it was the venue for the ADIT 2010 conference.

The following period is reserved for many important conventions, such as Special Conference on Hepatocellular Carcinoma with 800 participants which will be held June.

www.valamar.com

Taste Slovenia - Even Dr. House would smile!

 

“Taste Slovenia” brand is in a full swing! Regarding to the Autoimmunity congress in Ljubljana the Jezeršek catering has served several high level dinners. In just two days more than ten receptions have been catered, most of them were connected to the congress and presenting Slovenia’s gastronomy. Doctors were saying “Taste Slovenia - even dr. House would smile!”

www.jezersek.si

Bohinj Park ECO Hotel with Green Globe certificate

Bohinj Park ECO Hotel has become the 1st ecological resort in Slovenia with the prestigeous Green Globe certificate. "In an effort to avoid the travel industry's 'green washing' labels, we have become part of a program that was serious and reputable," said director Anže Čokl. Hotel not only represents one of Europe's most advanced ecological properties but it also aims to set general foundations of sustainable development in Slovene tourism.

www.bohinj-park-hotel.si

Vivo catering at international congress with 1600 guests

Vivo catering had between 3rd and 9th May 2010 taking care for a entertainment at the International Congress of Autoimmunity for 1600 guests at Gospodarsko razstavišče. The selection of quality dishes and selected ingridients, quality and professionalism of Vivo staff and setting up the place have convinced both guests and organizers of international Congresses. Quality performance of Vivo catering at the important Congress is also crucial in terms of presentation Slovenia and Slovenian cuisine to foreign guests, that was confirmed by feedback from the participants and organizers.

www.vivo.si

 

Would you like to know how milk is made into cheese or walk through the heritage of the Isonzo front 1915-1917?

In the Planika Dairy Museum visit the collection “From the Alps to Planika” which presents the heritage of the alpine pasturing and the millennium-long tradition of the cheese making. Make a tour with a tourist guide of the “Walk of Peace in the Soča Region Foundation” along the trenches, caves and other remains of the Isonzo front and experiance the all-day work on the still active alps. Visit other treasures of history and nature in the Soča Valley.

www.potimiruvposocju.si

 

Best rowers of the world gather at Lake Bled

 

 

From 27 to 30 May Bled hosted the 2010 Rowing World Cup I, which served as a test event for the 2011 World Rowing Championships, which will be held in August 2011. Over 600 athletes from 38 countries competed from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 May in the beautiful setting of Lake Bled.

For the duration of competitions the Sava Hotels Bled hosted 12 national teams and several accompanying events. Mr. Denis Oswald, chairman of the International Rowing Federation FISA stayed at the Grand Hotel Toplice. He expressed satisfaction with the overall organisation of the event and with the new facilities built for the purpose of competitions.

www.hotelibled.com

 

GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre: A great place to make business

 

After GR successfully hosted the largest Congress of the year in Slovenia, the 7th International Congress on Autoimmunity 2010, with 1,400 delegates, they proudly announce the 3rd International Forum on Aphitherapy and 2nd International Forum on Apiquality in October. The congress will attract 1,000 world experts, as well as Slovenian fans of the apiculture industry. As the largest events centre in Slovenia, GR is an interesting destination for organizers of International Congresses because of its numerous advantages, such as its location within the city, flexible and transparent price policy and above all, as emphasised by Kenes International, »an open area Congress Centre rather than a regular Congress Centre building, not to mention the flexibility …«

www.ljubljanafair.com

 

New four star hotel in Bioterme Mala Nedelja

In Bioterme Mala Nedelja are building new four star hotel. They expect first guests from June, 2010. Hotel Bioterme**** is a modern complex which joins comfort with the freshness and breath of nature and with tradition of our ancestors. Tradition and new alternative approaches go hand in hand, they keep preparing and looking for new methods for re-establishing contact with the cradle of life, for creating energy and vitality.
 

Special offers

 

Best Western Hotel Sumadija

There is no greater or more prestigious address to host events with stature. Whether large or small, business or social, opulent or intimate, our dedicated and passionate team can create a memorable date that will most certainly linger long after its close. The Best Western hotel's 500 square meters of event space can be configured into any setting that meets the theme and concept of important and special events, supported by state-of-the-art telecommunications and audio-visual systems.

www.hotelsumadija.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postojna cave system

Trekking programs in Postojna cave system are fun and relaxing supplement to every event and meeting. Mysterious underground world is waiting for you in warm summer days to enjoy the unbelievable creations of nature. Expert cave guides will exclusively walk you through the most beautiful parts of world famous Postojna cave system. Unforgettable experience that you simply must experience on your own!

www.turizem-kras.si

Say “YES” in Drnča, new conference hotel and manor, Bled, Slovenia

Surrounded by green manor garden, magnificent nature and tranquility, where top quality of services and delicious culinary specialties go hand in hand, a wedding feast turns into a unique and unforgettable event.
Situated in beautiful countryside and within 10 minutes of Bled, 20 minutes to the airport and just 3 minutes to Ljubljana the hotel superbly located. Available also on an exclusive basis the Drnca provides a first class setting for unforgettable weddings, events, meetings, seminars and incentives.
www.hotel-drnca.com

Announcing

 

Dravska vila cruises on the river Drava

 

The tourist boat Dravska vila (Drava Fairy) has begun cruises along the river Drava. During a pleasant trip and wonderful views of Maribor, passengers can enjoy coffee and confectioneries in the boat's coffee bar. The boat sails daily at 11.00 and 18.00 hours.

Dravska vila can also be hired. The hire price includes an aperitif, while at an additional cost the organizers can also arrange a catering service. The boat can accommodate up to 80 people. The hiring rate for a group of 60 persons is 10 EUR/ per person.

www.maribor-pohorje.si, www.dontravel.si