CONVENTA DAILY 1 - 2015

CONVENTA GAINED NEW DIMENSIONS AND WELCO­ MED THE NEW WORLD

WELCOME RECEPTION

ACADEMY CONVENTA

MEETING STAR AWARD

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7 TH NEW EUROPE EXHIBITION FOR MEETINGS, EVENTS & INCENTIVE TRAVEL

CONVENTA, SEVEN YEARS OF SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTING THE REGION

21. 01. 2015

CONVENTA 2009 - 2015 IN NUMBERS

1702 Hosted Buyers from 45 countries 888 Exhibitors from 17

countries

20,668 one2one meetings 137 Journalists / 87 Media partners 4.27 Overall satisfaction with

show (exhibitors on a scale 1 - 5)

4.42 Overall satisfaction with

Katja Jemec

show (hosted buyers on a scale 1 - 5)

Conventa, New Europe exhibition for meetings, events and incentives, has opened its doors today. With new dimensions, new opportunities and a new personal best, the seventh edition brings to Ljubljana the highest number of international meetings planners and meeting providers in the history of the show.

CONVENTA 2016 Don’t miss the leading business-tobusiness event for NEW EUROPE! See you in Ljubljana, at Conventa, from 20 to 21 January 2016.

into the project over the years, the decision to remain a boutique show and the personal approach Conventa swears by, has placed the show among the top European events for the meetings industry. Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia said: “Over the past six years, Conventa has proven to be the leading businessto-business event in the meetings industry in the region, and the best event for meeting prime partners in the MICE business.”

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Miha Kovačič, Director of Slovenian Convention Bureau and Organizer of Conventa: “The 7th edition calls itself New Europe and it comes big. More than 130 exhibitors from 15 countries are presenting their offer to more than 160 carefully selected hosted buyers from 31 countries. Although we exceeded all expectations, Conventa is all about quality, not quantity.”

From the outset Conventa has strived to connect the region and encouraged the growth of Central and South East European meetings industry. The hard work put

The slogan of Conventa is Explore, Meet, Create. With a reason. Conventa offers you fantastic opportunity to explore the New Europe, Meet solution providers from the region and Create new relationships that will enable you to offer new programs to your clients.

Miha Kovačič, Exhibiton Organiser Only a few hours away from Frankfurt or London lies half of Europe that is open wide and is waiting for you to explore it. This trip will be full of positive surprises, meetings with the new convention bureaus, new meeting venues and service providers and last but not least opportunities for new connections between East and West, North and South.

Gorazd Čad, Head of Marketing Enjoy in discovering NEW European meeting destinations at Conventa 2015!

Join the #Conventa online conversation and stay updated on the latest news!

CONVENTA SPECIAL What’s new in 2015

CONVENTA GAINED NEW DIMENSIONS AND WELCOMED NEW EUROPE

Organizers are proud to be able to say the seventh Conventa tops all previous shows and bring several novelties. And the biggest novelty is definitely the fact that the show has opened up to the meetings offer of New Europe. Together 15 countries are exhibiting at the show. The exhibition floor has been occupied by 135 meeting providers, most of them coming from Slovenia, Austria and Croatia. For the first time ever organizers have welcomed also countries like Greece, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Additional 13 providers are complementing the meetings offer presented at the show this year. These are providers of incentive programmes exhibiting at a brand new Incentive valley and providers of technology and event solutions exhibiting at Meetings Services Spot.

Another number that has surpassed last year’s is the number of hosted buyers. 166 international and around 100 regional and Slovenian meeting planners, 90 percent of them being newcomers, have come to Conventa to familiarize themselves with the meetings offer of New Europe. A milestone was reached also with the number of prescheduled meetings reaching 3.428.

Next to business meetings, the seventh Conventa also highlights the importance of additional networking opportunities and educational programme. Miha Kovačič explains: “Compared to other trade shows, Conventa uses a personal approach. To underline this year’s theme “It’s personal” and in order to accelerate networking, we asked Teambuilding Academy to prepare fun and energizing teambuilding activities that will deepen the newly created relationships. And adds: “Another thing we are proud of is this year’s educational programme.

Top speakers and professionals will provide the knowledge one needs to become smarter and to stay ahead of the competition.”

After six years of growth and raising awareness about SEE and CE among meeting planners, Conventa is proud to open the exhibitor area and invite also emerging destinations of New Europe to join Conventa meetings industry playground. Conventa is thus the first trade show to represent on international market destinations of South, Central and Eastern Europe, also known as New Europe.

The organizers of Conventa believe in new, different, charming and yet undiscovered meetings destinations hide a great deal of potential and need to be presented to hosted buyers in all its glory. It is necessary to go beyond the outdated ways of thinking and start with new forms of integration and cooperation. New Europe is a perfect addition to the show as it can be associated with the fundamental professional values of the meetings industry, with youth, energy and creativity that radiate from the destinations represented at Conventa. Anne Lise Gangstad, Project Manager at Berg-Hansen from Norway said: “We are experiencing that a lot of our customers have already been to quite a few destinations around Europe and are now looking for something new and exciting.

Thus we have to be one step ahead.”

Social programme with a twist

You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression! So to underline the main theme “It’s personal” and in order to facilitate first contacts, Conventa partnered up with the Teambuilding Academy.

We will accelerate networking throughout all social events with fun teambuilding activities that will raise the energy of participants, deepen the newly created relationships and reveal interesting facts about the Conventa participants in general.

Become a part of the Conventa team. Get to know the person standing next to you!

Incentivize at Incentive valley

Conventa Trade Show is the best platform for new and »out of the box« ideas. Providers of interesting Incentive programs finally got their own exhibition space called Incentive valley.

Did you know Incentive programs improve performance, engage participants and attract quality employees? Visit the valley located in the Marmorna hall to find a great idea for an incentive!

Meet an expert in Experts’ corner

Experts’ Corner is shot of knowledge. Short (15 minutes) presentations hosted by convention bureaus, meeting providers and providers of incentive programmes are held throughout the two Conventa days. You are able to meet around 20 experts including Kevin Kelly, internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and authority on the success principles underpinning entrepreneurship, leadership, sales and motivation.

In between meetings listen to some of the best presentations and catch a one-on-one Q&A session with the presenters. Where?

Walk down Ljubljana street in Marmorna hall to find the experts’ stage.

Conventa Communication Platform powerd by KONGRES MAGAZINE since 2007

CONVENTA DAILY Editor-in-Chief: Gorazd Čad Design: Premedia, Andrej Juvan Printing: Demat d.o.o.

Circulation: 200 copies Publisher, Production and Marketing: Toleranca marketing d.o.o. Štihova ulica 4, SI- Ljubljana T:+386 (0)1 430 51 03, F:+386 (0)1 430 51 04

Conventa publications are printed on Xerox recycled paper, using environmentally friendly multifunctional printer Xerox ColorQube with revolutionary solid ink colours Solidink. Conventa publications thus reduce the adverse effect of waste on the environment by 90%, while cutting down on costs by 62%. As a sign of respect to the environment, we encourage you to recycle … and consider the ways in which it can be reused. www.conventa.info Issue date: January 2015-01-21 Daily is free of charge for all participants of Coventa

EVENTS REPORT Meeting Services Spot providers with their own One2One system for pre-scheduling meetings

A special One2One on-line system for pre-scheduling meetings has this year been developed for Meetings Services Spot exhibitors. Beside the persons in charge for MICE and sales, that are already attending Conventa as exhibitors, Conventa also invited representatives from hotels and congress centres in charge of IT, investments and maintenance.

Thursday afternoon is reserved for One2One meetings in Meeting Services Spot! If you are looking for providers of information technologies and systems, technical equipment, congress and promotional materials and marketing and event production then stop by the Meeting Services Spot located in the lobby next to the break area. And don’t worry. If you haven’t pre-scheduled a meeting with the provider of your choice, you can do it on spot!

The formation of Skål International Club Ljubljana presented at Conventa On the initiative of Slovenian Convention Bureau and with the support of Nik Racic, Former Skål World President, now Chairman of Central and Eastern Regional Group, the Skål International Club Ljubljana was formed on 8 January 2015. The main purpose of the Club that is still in the process of formalization is to make Slovenia even more internationally successful in the field of tourism.

Skål is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. This global association that is led by the motto “Doing business among friends” has more than 16.900 members and almost 400 clubs in 86 countries.

More than 20 Slovenian professionals working in tourism have joined the Skål International Club Ljubljana in January and thus entered the network of close to 18.000 tourism professionals worldwide.

The presentation of Skål International will be held at Conventa on 22 January at 11:00 in Urška hall 4.

What you didn’t know about Conventa In six years Conventa hosted Conventa is 753 exhibitors and always the first!

1.436 hosted The first to open the buyers. trade show season, that is.

Over the years 17.240 one2one Only at Conventa meetings were held during the show. an investment of 55 EUR brings hosted buyers a VIP treatment worth 1.200 EUR. The farthest distance a hosted buyer will travel to come to Conventa 2015 At Conventa is 7.690 km.

every year around 82 % of buyers are new. In 2015 around 90 % of buyers will It takes around be first-timers. 3200 wooden crates to set up all the Conventa stands.

The idea of Conventa was not born while drinking The number of coffee, but while drinking beer. countries meeting

providers come from doubled over the years.

Join the #Conventa online conversation and stay updated on the latest news!

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EVENTS REPORT

WELCOME RECEPTION, Grand Hotel Union

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onventa Welcome Reception was the first opportunity for most of the participants to meet at Conventa 2015. They traditionally gathered in Grand Hotel Union.

The evening started with a “signature hunt” prepared by Teambuilding Academy where attendes got to know each other in a different but fun way. They were all invited to take part in a creative photo shooting with props. How and why will be revealed at Conventa Networking dinner.

The evening continued with Meeting Star Awards, where the best hotels and convention centres were acknowledged. During the reception genuine Slovenian culinary delights were served by the host, the Grand Hotel Union, and the crowd loved them.

Conventa Welcome Reception again showed the importance of a personal contact. We’ll continue to be personal, anyway this is the gist of the show!

Katja Jemec

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EVENTS REPORT

IMEX-MPI-MCI FUTURE LEADERS FORUM

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he Future Leaders Forum program jointly run by IMEX-MPI-MCI, has been developed to encourage the best and brightest students to enter the meetings and incentive travel industry. Over 6,500 students have passed through the program since its launch in 2003, attending one of 110 Forums worldwide.

Students, who attended Conventa IMEXMPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum listened to leading speakers in the meetings industry such as: Miguel Neves - Senior Online Community Manager at IMEX Group, Sarah Skavron - Knowledge and Events Executive at IMEX Group, Paul Kennedy - MBE Director and Owner of Kennedy Integrated Soultions, Jan Orsic - Project Manager at Intours DMC, Mike Van der Vijver - Managing Partner, MindMeeting.

Students prepared elevator pitch in teams and presented them to a jury of industry professionals.

At the end of the forum industry experts represented one industry speciality or area of interest in Roundtable session with industry experts. Students carefully listened to Jan Orsic, Azra Botonjic, Mojca Gobina, Luka Zajc, Miguel Neves, Mateja Peric and Irena Jelenova.

Katja Jemec

Join the #Conventa online conversation and stay updated on the latest news!

Join us at

CONVENTA NETWORKING DINNER! 19.30 at CD - Congress Centre

‌ and party on at after party in Club CD, sponsored by Kongres magazine

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EVENTS REPORT

CONVENTA ACADEMY

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onventa Academy was traditionally organized the day before the start of the Conventa show. Over the years Academy Conventa has offered up-to-date knowledge in the area of meeting s industry, following the principle of active learning.

This year two exceptional speakers shared their knowledge among Conventa exhibitors and hosted buyers.

Martin Ferro-Thomsen is the Founder and CEO of Conferize.com, the fastest growing social platform for professional events. He is also the former Co-Founder of Issuu.com, the world’s leading online publishing platform and a Time.com Best Website.

Martin Ferro-Thomsen enthused with his point of view why companies should be run as a software business. Claudia Koehler managed to convinced why Live Campaigns are the next big thing in marketing.

Caludia Koehler is Corporate Vice President at VOK DAMS. VOK DAMS is one of the leading event marketing agencies worldwide with a long list of multinational clients and more than 40 years of experience. With 250 projects just in 2013, the total number of VOK DAMS projects has reached 3,500.

Katja Jemec

CONVENTA EXPERTS CORNER PROGRAMME Listen to the short presentations hosted by convention bureaus, meeting providers and providers of incentive programmes at Conventa Experts Corner at the end of Ljubljana Street.

Time Speaker/Title 10.00 - Žiga Novak 10.15 Orehov gaj / Team building lab 10.40 - Nuša Šolar 10.55 Union Hotels 11.00 - Saša Zor 11.15 Sava Hotels: Herbal Garden 11.20 - Boža Robnik 11.35 Brdo Estate: Special experience in nature 11.40 - Matej Cvikl 11.55 MC Sistemi: ONline sales integration with PMS system in hotel 12.00 - Miha Kovačič 12.15 Slovenian Convention Bureau 12.20 - Pierre Fernandez 12.35 MPI and EMEC conference: Key MPI research unveiled - Future of Meetings 12.40 - Matej Mejovšek 12.55 LifeEvents 12.55 - Romana Vlašič 13.00 Dubrovnik Tourist Board: Sponsor of Conventa lunch-invitation 14.20 - Kevin Kelly 14.50 Xceptional Execution - the key to breakthrough in the meetings industry 15.05 - Christina Eder 15.20 Steiermark Convention 15.25 - Alzbeta Ulicka 15.40 Slovak Convention Bureau 15.45 - Tatjana Radovič 16.00 Ljubljana Tourism 16.05 - Amanda Marochko 16.20 ICCA: What ICCA is all about

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CONVENTA AWARDS

MEETING STAR AWARD 2015

Katja Jemec

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he Meeting Star Award is award for honoring outstanding achievements in the field of marketing destinations, congresses, events and meetings industry service providers from Europe.

Hotels and convention centres were rated by secret hidden congress guest. These are professional people who have years of experience in the meetings industry and additional knowledge of hospitality management.

This year editorial board of Kongres magazine prepared an overview of: TOP 10 • R ESORT MEETING HOTELS 2014 LUXURY and PREMIUM • CITY MEETING HOTELS 2014 - LUXURY and PREMIUM • BOUTIQUE MEETING HOTELS 2014 • CONVENTION CENTRES 2014 The winners were announced at Conventa Welcome Reception.

And the winners are: TOP 10 RESORT MEETING HOTELS 2014 – LUXURY: HOTEL BELLEVUE, Lošinj, Croatia TOP 10 RESORT MEETING HOTELS 2014 – PREMIUM: VALAMAR LACROMA, Dubrovnik Croatia TOP 10 CITY MEETING HOTELS 2014 – LUXURY: PARK HYATT VIENNA, Vienna, Austria TOP 10 CITY MEETING HOTELS 2014 – PREMIUM: CROWNE PLAZA, Belgrade, Serbia TOP 10 BOUTIQUE MEETING HOTELS 2014: HOTEL TOWNHOUSE 27, Belgrade Serbia TOP 10 CONVENTION CENTRES 2014: SALZBURG CONGRESS, Salzburg, Austria

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CONVENTA AWARDS

Travel Zoom zooms to Croatia!

The past four editions of Travel Zoom have successfully pointed out the gaps that occur as obstacles on the paths to achieving marketing goals in tourism. They have helped participants bridge those gaps by transferring new knowledge and showing them how to apply it to real-life business situations. More than 130 eminent speakers have helped with the education and more than 20 of the “hottest” experts coming from tourism, marketing, advertising and IT are now coming to Zagreb to show us how to become the true icons of tourism!

The 5th Travel Zoom is promising an excellent educational programme held over two days on the great Travel Zoom stage set in Sheraton Zagreb Hotel, in Zagreb, Croatia. Key-note speakers will share their years of experience and open the door to the treasure-trove of knowledge. Hoteliers will tell the stories of success, creative gurus will present the latest out-of-the-box tourism campaigns, marketing geniuses will demonstrate the proper use of the newest marketing tools, the most popular destinations will reveal the brilliant marketing strategies and delegates will be able to network every step of the way. Last but not least, Travel Zoom will award the most creative, strategically sophisticated and effective tourism campaigns of 2014.

Marketing secrets will be spilledt, the recipes for success will be told. Travel Zoom programme will satisfy the thirst for knowledge, while the competition will confirm the excellence. There are no more excuses. Gain the competitive edge, outshine your competition and BECOME AN ICON! Welcome to the 5th Travel Zoom conference held from 19 to 20 March 2015!

For more information about the event visit www.travel-zoom.si.

CONVENTA GOING GREEN

CONVENTA GOING GREEN

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Marko Delbello Ocepek

Take advantage of venues being within walking distance in Ljubljana and walk from your hotel to the event and back. A member of Conventa team will be there to accompany you. By choosing to walk instead of taking the bus you are helping Conventa show reduce carbon emissions.

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Where possible minimise the amount of waste and separate your waste according to the appropriate fractions.

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Carefully select conference and promotional materials to be included in your conference bag.

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e are proud that Conventa has succeeded in becoming fully committed to reducing negative environmental impacts of the trade show. By implementing sustainable practices, we managed to add value for all participants and the local community.

All catering providers give preference to locally-grown organic ingredients and therefore reduce food miles and support local economies. A small dietary change can make a big difference. At Conventa luncheon give preference to a healthy vegetarian option and reduce CO2 emissions.

Marko Delbello Ocepek

But there always remains the question whether the participants notice and value the effort we put in our sustainable programme. That’s why at Conventa 2014 a further step in implementing green practices is made. This time Conventa wants to engage all participants in sustainable endeavours.

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Don’t take printed Daily but download it from Issuu.

HOW? The Sustainability Programme highlights 10 sustainable practices implemented at the Conventa show and invites participants to follow these actions.

The Conventa team invites you to take part in our sustainability programme and mark sustainable measures you have taken.

You just have to follow some of 10 easy sustainable guidelines. In today’s Daily we have disclosed 5 of them, the rest can be found in tomorrow’s Daily.

Thank you for being green!

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TOP 10

TOP 10 EVENTS IN REGION

Festival

Conference

Festival

7 WEEKEND MEDIA FESTIVAL, ROVINJ, 18.-21.9.2014

THE 40 WORLD SCOUT CONFERENCE, LJUBLJA­ NA, 11.-15.8.2014

BELGRADE DESIGN WEEK, 6.-11.10.2014

Weekend Media Festival managed to gather the region’s entire communications industry in one place, at the same time expanding its reach to other business sectors and significantly prolonging Rovinj’s tourist season. Weekend’s various lectures, panel discussions, presentations, workshops and parties have attracted around 4,000 visitors from 12 different countries across the region, Europe and the world.

The World Organisation of the Scout Movement – WOSM has in early 2011 selected Ljubljana as the host destination for its 40th jubilee World Scout Conference.

Over 1200 delegates from 130 countries attended the event, which makes it not only this year’s largest congress in terms of delegate numbers, but also the most international event ever held in the capital and Slovenia.

Founded in 2005, as a true rarity in the world of festivals – as a non-profit NGO, Belgrade Design Week is the first festival of creative industries and modern business in Serbia and the South East European region, covering an area home to more than 100 million people from Milan to Istanbul. Since then, Belgrade Design Week has been included into top ten creative events in the world by leading global opinion makers.

Challenge

Conference

Conference

RED BULL AIR RACE ROVINJ, 12.-13.4.2014

SINERGIJA 14, BEL­ GRADE, 20.-23.10.2014

ORACLE DAY BELGRADE, 8.4.2014

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship has become globally renowned as the fastest and most exhilarating motorsport on the planet. The most advanced aerial challenge took place in Rovinj and attracted more 80.000 people. Event was important not only for Istria but also for the whole of Croatia, because it created motives for attracting tourists to come in Croatia before and after the peak season.

Sinergija is the largest and most influential annual conference in South Eastern Europe dedicated to information – communication technologies and their business application. This year more then 1500 visitors came to Belgrade to join Sinergija, which has already become regional brand and synonym for everything new and relevant in the IT world in general.

Oracle Day Belgrade gathers together organizations that must change ouickly to keep up, yet still keep the business running well because they are aware of the technology that is changing the world in ways we haven’t seen before.This interactive event featured panel discussions with Oracle executives, customer stories and videos, opportunities for social and mobile interactions, hands-on demos, and more.

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TOP 10 HOSTED BUYER DIARY

Adriaan Deurloo, President of travel&events WHERE I GO: for boutique meetings? We mostly invite people in our office, which is an old townhall (1928) and therefore a very ‘exciting, inviting and relaxed’ place.

Conference

Political event

2 CISCO CONNECT, SPLIT, 2.-4.4.2014

SERBIAN-CHINESE SUMMIT IN BELGRADE, 15.-17. 12.2014

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The Cisco Connect is a regional event for South East Europe that helps to make the most of future’s opprotunities by giving the education and insights. This unique event offers a high-level forum for presentations on the latest business and technology trends by senior executive speakers, in-depth technology analyses, as well as business-oriented sessions, together with live demonstrations of our solutions and a lot of networking opportunities.

The purpose of Serbian-Chinese Summit was to provide the continuation of joint efforts to strengthen cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European countries. The main topics were issues regarding agriculture, tourism, internet technology, transport and infrastructure. More than 200 Chinese businessmen attended the event, putting the Belgrade meeting in the level of major events in Europe.

to get inspired? Also within the office, or in my ‘library’ at home. to relax after work? Home, or -weather permitting- to the golfcourse. for my favorite meal? To my favorite Indonesian Restaurant IndraPura In Driebergen or to the Old Mill (which really is an old mill!) at Nieuw Vennep.

Elena Maznychenko, CEO at Meeting Mice Professionals WHERE I GO: for boutique meetings? In general it depends on the client’s preferences and wishes. It could be Paris, Rome, Madrid. Or could be some European beach destinations – French Riviera, Croatia, Montenegro, Italian Riviera.

Political event

Conference

BLED STRATEGIC FORUM, 1.-2.9.2014

6TH EUROPEAN CONFER­ ENCE OF THE INTERNA­ TIONAL FEDERATION FOR MEDICAL AND BIO­ LOGICAL ENGINEERING, DUBROVNIK 7.-11.9.2014

Over the past eight years, the Bled Strategic Forum has grown into a successful platform for high-level strategic dialogue among leaders from the private and public sectors on key issues facing Europe and the world in the 21st century. Bled Strategic Forum has established itself as an important annual gathering aimed at making commitments for the implementation of new strategies designed to confront the most pressing issues of today’s Europe and the world.

This conference continued the series of well-known European IFMBE Conferences. It was a great opportunity for an exchange of ideas and presentation of the latest developments in all areas within the field of biomedical engineering. The conference took place in the newly renovated Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, the 5 star hotel.

to get inspired? Also, it depends on the client’s segment of business.

Many clients visit International exhibitions where different innovations are presented and displayed – in Germany, China, Hong Kong, USA. to relax after work? Nice restaurant, swimming pool, movie theatre. for my favorite meal? If we are talking about gourmet travelling, it is of course Mediterranean and Adriatic destinations.

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CONVENTA TOP LJUBLJANA’S HALLMARKS:

A FRESH, GREEN AND FUNKY MEETINGS DESTINATION – PART 1 ITS COMPACT SIZE: the downtown area and the picturesque Old Town are within easy reach from many hotels, conferenceand special event venues. This is very convenient for organizing events that practically do not require any land transfers once delegates are in the city, since the majority of the points of interest are at a walking distance. That’s already a first step to greening your events!

QUALITY MEETING VENUES: in the wider region, no city of our size (286,000 residents out of 2,062,000 in Slovenia), or even a tad larger, can offer two larger, flexible and efficient convention centres at ten to maximum twenty minutes walking from the historic Old Town and a good share of the city hotels. Maximum plenary capacity: 2,200 seats. A good number among the hotels are well geared to wel-

come medium-sized and smaller meetings.

The largest plenary capacity in the hotel sector is 800 seats theatre-style.

AN ARRAY OF SPECIAL EVENT VENUES: leaving aside some attractive options in convention centres / hotels, there are a dozen of special event venues of a very different type in the radius of max. 15 minutes walking from the Triple Bridge often defined as the most central downtown spot. One of the most sought-after is the Ljubljana Castle, which reigns above the city. And there’s no hassle to reach them, as they are either a short stroll (or a funicular ride) away from several hotels / conference venues. You are still on the green side of life! www.visitljubljana.com/meetings

GR - LJUBLJANA EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTRE REMAINS CONVENTA’S NESTING PLACE Kenes International, which in 2010 brought to the GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre the world congress on autoimmunity with 1200 participants as the congress of the year in Slovenia, is coming back in September 2015 due to its excellent experience. Will the congress from the field of medicine, ESRA – European Society of Regional Anaesthesia Congress, with its 1400 participants from all over the world, again resound from the GR -Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre as the congress of the year in Slovenia? We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Meetings industry can be compared to the world of birds. Like birds, meetings industry professionals know no borders, migrating to several nesting destinations, and some of them coming back. Just like Conventa. The GR -Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre has remained Conventa’s loyal nesting destination since the beginning in 2009. However, Conventa is not the only bird returning here.

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Speaking of the ‘world’ format, the recognised World Scout Conference should be mentioned. Over 1200 delegates from 130 countries attended the event in August 2014, which makes it not only the last year’s largest congress in terms of delegate numbers, but also the most international event ever held in the capital of Slovenia.

Among remarkable events we hosted last year were also the Congress of the European Association of Agricultural Economists with 700 participants and an annual conference of ABTA, the largest British tourist association, with 400 participants in September. ‘If the GR

staff could fly,’ said Tracy Phillips, Head of Event & Marketing at ABTA, ‘it would be great to pack up the GR-Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre and take it with us to each destination as we have worked so well together. Alas, as that isn’t possible, we look forward to returning to beloved Ljubljana one day!”

Birds know why they keep coming back.

So do you. When you enter Conventa you enter the GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre. It might become the place you remember. Your next nesting place. www.gr-sejem.si

SLOVENIAN CONVENTION BUREAU

10 Years of Slovenian Convention Bureau Talking with Miha Kovačič, Headman of Slovenian Convention Bureau

Q: How do you evaluate 10 years of Slovenian Convention Bureau? Could it be done more?

10 years of National Convention Bureau can be seen as short time or as quite a long time. It depends from which angle you look at it. As its Director for more than 8 years I would prefer to be much further ahead as it is currently. But we have to understand that the role of the National Convention Bureau is to connect, promote und market the country for the meetings business.

It can develop only with the speed as its industry is developing. But we understand we have to act as a leader and not run after our industry.

We have achieved that our industry is united, connected and we promote ourself under the same brand. We have learned that we promote Slovenia first, than destinations and only than individual properties and services. We are aware that meeting planners are demanding quality and professionalism. We have learned and still learning that it is a buyer market and we have to market ourselves otherwise the market will simply forget us.

We haven’t achieved the understanding of the real value of the meetings and events for the national economy and its potential. I understand that this will be the job for the near future. We have some good examples from Europe which will help us to quicker achieve this goal. I would also wish to have more strategic thinking and acting within our industry and more international cooperation.

Slovenian energy is one of the main USP’s we have and not just that. It is also the EMP – emotional marketing proposition Q: What inspires you at 10th Anniversary of Slovenian Convention Bureau?

All achievements that we have made in this period. It was not easy as we are lacking on financial and human resources from the very beginning. I am glad that I still have the passion and see the opportunities that Slovenia have in the meetings business. I am not the only one and there are some great colleagues in our industry share the same vision.

Q: How do you evaluate the importance of Slovenian congress energy?

It was not easy to define Slovenian energy.

It took us some years to realise that Slovenian meetings industry has something special. At one of the brainstorming session of our annual assembly we worked hard and came to the conclusion that it is the energy that makes us special and our clients satisfied and wanting them to come back not just for business but also as friends.

Slovenian convention bureau excited to enter a new decade On 19 March, members of the Slovenian Convention Bureau met in Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Convention Bureau, to overview its past work, elect a new council and discuss the programmes and actions that will help put Slovenia on every meeting planner’s top 10 list for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions in the years 2014 to 2024.

The celebration that was sponsored by Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana, Ljubljana Tourism and Kaval -Group, a catering company that also become a proud new member of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, gathered around 70 meeting

professionals and members of the Slovenian Convention Bureau. During the programme that included round table discussions, Miha Kovačič, Director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau pointed out the members of the bureau have to work together to put Slovenia on the international meetings map: “Meeting Industry is an interdisciplinary and destination story that depends on a number of criteria; both domestic and international.

Slovenia is paving the way for a better position on the international market, but like everywhere else, much depends on the cooperation and pro-activity of its actors.”

The stress of the meeting was put on the strategic discussion about the future of the Slovenian meeting industry.

The 10th anniversary of the Slovenian Convention Bureau represents a great milestone in the Slovenian meeting industry’s history. In the past decade the bureau has successfully promoted and marketed Slovenia as a meeting and incentive travel destination and has helped attract many international meetings and events to the country. Now that the new decade lies ahead and the new council had been elected, it is time for the revival of the Slovenian Convention Bureau. At the next strategic meeting that will follow shortly, the new council will discuss strategic issues for the next decade and how to better position Slovenia on the international meetings map.

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CONVENTA NEWS CASINO VELDEN: YOUR EVENT WINS!

Gambling meetings on the lake Casino Velden

With its incomparable location on the Lake Wörthersee Bay (located in Carinthia, in the south of Austria), Casino Velden is fascinating because of its mix of seeing and being seen, high-profile ongresses, gourmet cuisine with numerous outlets and a gaming area which thrills all the guests.

The versatility of Casino Velden is shown in the architectural design and its flexibility: ranging from an acoustically excellent concert hall to a perfect stage for cabaret events, congresses, product presentations, gala evenings .. and as a conference hall for 500 people.

FOOD FROM TRUCK?

Street food from TAMnjam SORA catering

Streetfood lovers in Slovenia are excited about arrival of a new food truck named TAMnjam. It started its journey in December by participating at several Christmas parties, incentives, business receptions and Birthday parties. Food truck culture is not yet widespread in Slovenia and therefore TAMnjam expects the unexpected. A famous Slovene catering company Jezeršek Catering stands behind the creation of this attractive vehicle. TAMnjam wishes to become popular with audience by providing fast, creative and tasteful streetfood. www.jezersek.si, www.facebook.com/tamnjamcek

PLANT A HERBAL AT BLED

Leave your mark on the destination Sava Hotels Choosing Bled and Sava Hotels Bled for a meeting means acting green and socially responsible. We wanted to engage our clients to help the environment, leave their mark on the destination, to sow seeds of good cooperation and to return to Bled. Therefore the idea of “Herbal Garden” was born. We believe that people who interact in an activity will embrace it and take it to their hearts.

A warm invite for clients to visit “their” garden in Bled is also much more exciting and effective than traditional pushy sales techniques. Besides this is our way of creating a synergy and connection – among clients and hotel staff.

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CONVENTA NEWS YEAR OF SUCCESSES IN AUSTRIA TREND HOTEL LJUBLJANA

Great events to remember Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana Starting from international conferences continued with sport events and concluded with Christmas parties – 2014 was the year of successes.

The congress season began with EGLSF International human rights conference, with 200 delegates which was concluded with a reception with the Mayor of Ljubljana. The highlight of the summer season was hosting the world’s famous FC Chelsea. Comfortable atmosphere and superb culinary helped them to win the match.

There was no time to rest as the date of the biggest event in the hotel history was very close – P&G World cup. Hotel professional

staff offered a complete service for more than 800 participants from 17 different countries: planning, accommodation and meals, hiring of 6 football fields, organization and execution of the tournament system & game organization, party organization, videotaped it all and put it together in the amazing video. www.eglsf.info/get-involved/membership/annual-general-assembly/aga2014-ljubljana/ http://vimeo.com/108718202

VISIT THE CD CONGRESS CENTRE

What the main Slovenia’s congrees centre has to offer CD Congress Centre While attending Conventa 2015 do not miss the opportunity to explore the CD Congress Centre – an architectural gem as well as Slovenia’s cultural monument and main congress centre. Facts: 22 halls, accommodating from 20 up to 2000 attendees, meetings and special events location, 4000 m2 of exhibition space, centrally (downtown) located. In-house technical equipment and capable team available to assist you with any requirements. Find further information at the CD Congress Centre Conventa stand or simply check its promotional video at www.cd-cc.si/ congress.

BITCOIN IN FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON LJUBLJANA MONS

Pay your coffe with your mobile phone Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons

In today’s world of business tourism it’s challenging to stay competitive. It is essential to embrace novelties and follow modern-age trends, such are digital trends. Four Points by Sheraton not only renovated its facilities in 2014, but also adapted a new form of payment for individuals and companies. All hotel guests can now use Bitcoin as a valid form of payment in all hotel outlets. Bitcoin is an innovative payment network and a new digital currency. It’s easy for guests now to pay for a cup of coffee or a pint of beer simply by using their mobile phone. Cheers!

SUBOTICA - NEW INCENTIVE IDEAS

Experience the rich heritage Subotica Tourist Organization

As one of the emerging MICE destination in the region, Subotica offers a variety of incentive ideas for the visiting business travellers. Along with the existing cultural trails of Jewish heritage and Art Nouveau architecture, Subotica found its place on another cultural trail certified by the Council of Europe, the ATRIUM which focuses on the architecture of totalitarian regimes of 20th century. Visitors can experience the rich cultural heritage via organized tours guided by certified tourist guides or embark on a quest to discover Subotica on their own, using free audio guides, brochures and maps.

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KONGRES SURVEY 2014

Southeast europe meeting planner profile 2014 The Editorial Board of Kongres Magazine in past couple of months conducted and completed the first on-line survey on the habits of regional meeting planners. We received 167 answers and the survey is now completed. Text by Špela Jeruc

TYPE OF PLANNER?

39,02

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR WORK TIME IS SPENT FOR ORGANIZING MEETINGS IN YOUR COMPANY?

25.56 18.29

6.71

7.32

Other

Goverment

Part I

Half of the Meeting planners performs the function of the organization in addition to many other activities. More than 30% of our respondent spent more than 30% of their work time for organizing meetings in theirs companies.

Independ- Associa- Corprate ent tion

Most of the responses were still from corporate planners 39,02% followed by Independent planners 28,66%, Association 18.29 % and Government sector with 7,32%.

26.22 % 33.54 % 25.00 % 15.24 %

PLEASE WRITE DOWN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE BASED?

HOW MANY MEETINGS DO YOU PLAN EACH YEAR? 22.16 %

The vast majority of meeting planners (64,67 %) organizes up to 10 events per year.

Among them is the biggest part of those who organize from 1 to 5 events (44,31 %) and over 20% of meeting planners organize large number of events per year.

44.31 % 11.38 % 20.36 %

1 - 5

6 - 10

11- 20

Austria Belgium

BIH

Croatia

Czech Denmark Finland Republic

Over 20

32.61

PLEASE CHECK DESTINATIONS THAT YOU USED FOR MEETINGS IN THE PAST? Top 5 destinations that were used in the past for meetings are Slovenia 32,61%, Croatia 17,67%, Austria and Italy with 10,87% and Serbia 7,88%.

17-67

10.87

10.87

7.88 5.43

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Other

5.71 1.9

1.36

0.27

0.54

Germany

Monte­ negro

Macedonia

Slovakia

Austria

Hungary

4.89

Italy

Serbia

Bosna and Hercegovina

Croatia

Slovenia

France

KONGRES SURVEY 2014 WHERE HAVE YOU BOOKED YOUR MEETINGS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS?

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SIZE OF A TYPICAL MEETING THAT YOU PLAN? 3.66 12.20

11.58

8.97

1 - 15 participants

20.12

8.13

16 - 40 participants 41 - 100 participants

22.56

36.41

101 - 200 participants

19.29

201 - 500 participants

29.88

More than 500 participants

27.20

The average size of a typical meeting is up to 100 participants. In this category is a good half of all events (62,2 %).

The share of events with more than 500 participant is relatively small and amount to 3,66 %, but the effect of such meetings is larger than with the smaller ones.

Hotels

Universities

Conference Centre

Other/Hospitals, Museums, Castles, Office, Ship, Shopping centre

Special Venues

As we expected, meeting planners for their events most often choose hotels (36,41 %). Conference and Convention centres are still popular for organizing meetings since 27,20% answered this. Companies seek to differentiate their events from others so they are searching out more and more for unusual alternatives like special venues. They are popular among our respondents with 19,29%.

The majority of responses came from Slovenia 56,89%, followed by our neighbouring countries Croatia with 13,17% and Italy with 5,99%.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LENGHT OF A TYPICAL MEETING THAT YOU PLAN? Germany Greece Hungary

Italy

Montenegro

Netherlands

Poland

Serbia

Sovenia

Spain

0.61 1.22

Less then 1 day

OVERALL MEETING SPEND WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION IS.....?

1 day 2 days

19.51

19.51

3 days

We should take a good look on results on overall meeting spend within organizations.

A total of 42,68 % of respondents said their 2014 meeting spend remained the same.

14,02 % were bracing for a significantly budget decrease. Only 1,22 % said their overall meeting spend significantly increased.

14.02

4 days More than 4 days

42.68

14.63 10.98

7.32

9.15 1.22

Significantly Decreasing decreasing (6 - 10%) ( -10%)

Slightly decreasing (1-5%)

Increasing (6-10%)

Slightly increasing (1-5%)

Staying the same

Significantly increasing (+10%)

28.66

30.49

Studies have shown that the average person can pay attention in a meeting for approximately 20 minutes before becoming fidgety, starting to daydream or working other projects. Average length of a meeting of our respondents is 1 day (30,49 %), followed by two-day meetings (28, 66 %). We noticed a trend of organizing shorter events.

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ADVERTORIAL

TOP LJUBLJANA FOODS

T

op Ljubljana Foods are walking food tours that are especially appreciated by short term visitors of Ljubljana who are limited with time. Our food tours last 3 to 4 hours and give our guests insight into Slovene gastronomy, history of our nation and our culture in a short amount of time.

Apart from the most popular traditional food tour other types of food tours are also available on our website as well as organization of end consumer and professional cooking workshops. Corporate tours are available as well. Top Ljubljana Foods is part of Roundabout travel agency, which is Ljubljana’s #1 DMC. WWW.TOPLJUBLJANAFOODS.COM WWW.ROUNDABOUT.SI

ROLLBAR- KARTING CENTER BTC LJUBLJANA

E

xclusive electro indoor Go kart racing circuit with brand new go karts (August 2014) is inviting you to make “The fastest fun in town!”. Organize racing for your company, family and for different kind of events – corporative events, birthday parties, stag parties … for kids and adults. Bunch of eco electric go karts with top speed of 65 km/h (restricted for obvious reasons) will ensure you the best race in town!

NAJHITREJšA ZABAVA V MESTU ZA VSO DRUžINO 365 dni adrenalina in prijazne postrežbe v rollbaru lahko izkusite v edinem indoor elektro karting centru v Sloveniji. www.indoor-karting.com, info@indoor-karting.com m: 051 603 333, t: 01 585 25 70

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The BTC Indoor Karting Center is an ideal entertainment for your business partners, teambuilding and various presentations.

Next to Karting Center is Rollbar where you can have all kinds of presentation (equipped with screen and projector) and of course celebrate your victory after the race. Adrenaline challenge will help you relax, compete and get to know each other better. Open 365 days per year!

WWW.INDOOR-KARTING.COM

Conventa Results

You are cordially invited to Kongres Magazine’s meetings industry Traffic Light Party!

A party where you will wear colours to show you’re availability.

Red

Taken or married to the meetings industry

Yellow

Undecided or still searching for my calling

Green

Single or ready to mingle

Where? In Club CD, Ljubljana.

When? Wednesday, 21 January 2015, starting at 10 p.m.

In the company of: Manca & The Substitutes Who’s invited? Everybody who is anybody in the meetings industry!

Stop, wait, goooooooo!

Put on your dancing shoes and show off your dance moves at the long awaited Conventa After Party.

UNIQUE INCENTIVE IDEAS

GREEN URBAN EXPERIENCE 1 NIGHT INCENTIVE / 24 INCENTIVE HOURS IN LJUBLJANA Overview: Ljubljana is a boutique capital, which writes short boutique stories that portray its beauty and inhabitants.

In a small space it uniquely combines natural, cultural and historical treasures, which is why it was also awarded the title European Green Capital 2016.

The easiest way to describe it to our guests and partners is by means of the following facts: – The loveliest small city in Europe – Small, quaint, and very explorable – One of the safest capitals 1. MOMENTS OF ZEN: Experiencing Ljubljana and the Ljubljana marshes from the Ljubljanica river 2. QUALITY TIME: Organic processing of oleiferous plants and cereals 3. MUST SEE: Masterpieces of the visionary architect Jože Plečnik 4. MUST DO: Urban fishing 5. Our’s pick: Trnulja estate and the Ljubljana Marshes

ITINERARY

15:00 Boat trip to the Ljubljana marshes 16:00 Trnuljina doživetja You will actively learn how to organically process oleiferous plants and crops into organic oils, spreads, plain and wholegrain flour. In a short lecture you will learn how to respect natural systems and cycles without using genetically modified organisms. The entire programme will take place in the form of a workshop on preparing healthy home-made food, led by the host Urška and the top-class chef Slavko Adamlje. You will reminisce about and taste long-forgotten recipes and learn how to prepare healthy dishes.

20:00 Union – 150 years of the marriage of beer and food Visit to the Union brewery, the most renowned brewery in Slovenia, and its production. What follows is a guided beer tasting at the hottest tavern in town. You will get a chance to experience a legendary beer-inspired menu and get acquainted with all the flavours from the Union beer portfolio.

DAY 1: In harmony with nature

23:00 After-party or return to the hotel

10:00 Arrival at the Ljubljana airport and transport to Ljubljana

DAY 2:

11:00 Arrival at the Vander/Cubo hotel and checkin 12:00 Time Machine at the Ljubljana Castle Discover the roles the Castle Hill and the Ljubljana Castle played throughout the castle’s rich history. The costumed characters representing each period will create a genuinely special atmosphere, which will be both instructive and entertaining.

13:00 Viseat Ljubljana, Strelec restaurant Getting to know the typical dishes from Ljubljana at the restaurant Stralec. The Viseat Ljubljana serves up a typical Ljubljana menu. You will indulge in authentic dishes and experience a premium menu with the signature of Ljubljana and Slovenia in a perfect ambience.

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08.00 Breakfast at the Cubo or Vander hotel 09:00 Urban fishing A unique fishing experience. Fly fishing for graylings and brown trout, spin fishing for metre-long pike in the heart of Ljubljana, and winter adventures – huchen fishing on the length of the Ljubljanica river.

11:00 Face to face with Jože Plečnik There are only a few cities which are so strongly characterized by an artist as Ljubljana, the home-town of the architect Jože Plečnik (1872–1957), a student of Otto Wagner. In a little over 35 years he transformed Ljubljana from a provincial city into the capital of the Slovenian nation. Since the mid-20s of the 20th century this architect designed countless city squares and parks, one after the other.

13:00 Plečnik’s lunch – JB restaurant Imaginative recipes of Janez Bratovž in the chambers of Jože Plečnik.

Optional: lunch with fresh, local ingredients from the open-air market under the Plečnik arcades.

16:00 Departure to the airport

HOURS OF SUNSHINE: 1832

GETTING THERE: All flights to and from Ljubljana land at Jože Pučnik Ljubljana Airport, just 25 km from the city centre. The national airline Adria Airways connects Ljubljana with more than 20 European cities and offers great connections to south-east Europe as well.

ACCOMMODATION: Boutique hotels: Hotel Vander or Hotel Cubo EAT AND DRINK: JB restaurant – in the eyes of many the best restaurant in Slovenia GATEWAYS: Due to its location, Ljubljana is the best starting point to discover Slovenia. The Central Slovenian region, which surrounds Ljubljana, is full of interesting incentive experiences, which can be integrated into your event’s programme.

CONTACT US: Blue Ljubljana Office, Štihova ulica 4, SI1000 Ljubljana, T: +386 (0)1 430 51 03, F: +386 (0)1 430 51 04, E: info@blue-red.si, W: www.meet-blue.com

ADVERTORIAL

NATURE HIDES THE BEST INSPIRATION We are inviting you to our little paradise - Logar Valley in Solčavsko. Capacities are available in a family hotel that satisfy the highest expectations of modern guests. Within the hotel complex, we offer conference facilities in a beautiful modern style with a hint of familiarity and a view of the snowcovered meadows and forests. The halls are equipped with modern audiovideo technology, which facilitates communication and presentations at the highest level.

WHY LOGARSKA DOLINA SOLČAVSKO? Nature Park Logar Valley is located far away from cities and noise, that is why it provides excellent opportunities for successful events.

ACCESSABILITY Logar Valley is accessible by road through the village Solčava and in the summer months also from the Austrian side through Eisenkappel over the pass Pavličevo sedlo (Paulitschsattel). From the

big cities it is located just an hour away.

From Paulitschsattel to Hotel Plesnik there are only 10 kilometers of drive.

Near airports: Airport Ljubljana (approximately 1 hour of drive), Klagenfurt, Austria (approximately 1 hour of drive).

Valley offers vacations in quiet surroundings of the landscape park and numerous activities ... For the successful management of the protected area, the park is the recipient of the award CIPRA Future in the Alps.

PROFESSIONALISM AND ADAPTABILITY A satisfied client is a reward for the efforts of the entire hotel team. Each event is treated individually, we listen to the wishes and requirements of customers and we try to adapt ourselves as much as possible. We listen to requests and on that basis we collectively shape the event ...

MODERN CONFERENCE ROOMS For the purposes of tourism business hotel offers modern conference halls with all the necessary technology: projector, screen, Wi-Fi, sound system, flip chart, notebook ... The hall can be, for a variety of workshops, divided into two smaller soundproof halls named LIPA and TISA.

Conference halls are equipped in a modern style, which is combined with cozy comfort. Superior audio-video equipment facilitates communication and presentations are at the top level.

SAFETY, FAMILIARITY AND SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Logar Valley is a safe place for tourists.

Solčavsko, including the Logar Valley received the European Destination of Excellence in 2009, which in a unique way combines nature conservation with the life of the locals and the curiosity of visitors from all over the world.

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ADVERTORIAL

FIRST GUIDE THROUGH SLOVENIAN INCENTIVE PROGRAMS WAS PUBLISHED AT THE END OF YEAR 2014 After Kongres Magazine revealed its first version of Kongres Incentive Ideas book 2014 in January this year it contained the best of the best South East European Incentive programmes. They captured 140 programmes from 7 countries. Then in July Kongres Magazine presented new and improved Book, which offered 200 ideas from countries of South East Europe. Now we are happy to present Slovenian Incentive Ideas Book which presents more than 100 programs from all over Slovenia.

Slovenian Convention Bureau with collaboration of Kongres Magazine released its first guide through Slovenian incentive programs. Programs are divided into 7 categories from adrenaline to active, CSR, cultural, historical, culinary and luxury experience.

This unique guide offers green, new, versatile, safe and yet undiscovered programs, between Alps, Mediterranean Sea and Panonian flatlands. Any season is the right season to visit Slovenia.

This guide includes programs that are perfect for seasons of the year. Since in

Slovenia the sun shines more than 2.000 hours a year, every season offers perfect time for incentive programs.

Slovenian Convention Bureau and Kongres Magazine have brought together many wonderful locations with authentic programmes to charm even the most demanding clients. We invite you to flip through pages and discover a wide range of programs which will leave you speechless.

Access to Slovenian Incentive Ideas Book under http://issuu.com/gcad/docs/ kus_incentive_ideas_book_2014_issuu/1

DUBROVNIK TOURIST BOARD HOSTS CONVENTA LUNCH

Today, at 13.00

22

you are invited to join working lunch sponsored by Dubrovnik Tourist Board. Together with SORA catering they will pamper guest’s taste buds with specialities typical for Dalmatia. Enjoy your lunch, discuss business and netwok in a stress free enviroment like they do it in Dalmatia!

ADVERTORIAL

GOOPTI – AFFORDABLE GROUND TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST

G

oOpti is an international company specialized in road passenger transportation. Their offer consists of various transfer options, including low-cost OPTI transfers to airports and cities, VIP transfers for business travelers, scheduled FIX transfers and customized transfers for individuals and groups organized with regard to your wishes and needs.

As the first low-cost road transport service in Slovenia, GoOpti introduced the website www.GoOpti.com with a unique user-friendly step-by-step online booking system which tries to achieve the lowest possible price for passengers while taking into account the vehicle occupancy.

Their transfer versatility (OPTI, FIX and VIP), the innovative online booking system and professional drivers are the best solution for your transportation problem.

INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS Every passenger can easily book a shuttle transfer on their website. They offer

different transfer types, depending on your time flexibility and privacy-related wishes. Regardless of the transfer price (transfer type), they offer safe, reliable, guaranteed and affordable transfers.

TRAVEL AGENTS GoOpti has already established partnerships with many travel agencies around the globe, yet newcomers are always welcomed. GoOpti website allows travel agents to easily book online, earn commission, pay on monthly basis by a bank transfer, and most importantly, serve their clients with a fast response, a comprehensive offer and a reliable partner.

HOTELIERS GoOpti drives people straight to your hotel (your hostel or your guest house)!

GoOpti offers you a personalized website, featuring your hotel as the final pick-up or drop-off location in the transfer booking form. This way, your hotel guests can easily book direct transfers from airports to the hotel and back. Beside direct and safe

transfers for you guests (which increase customer satisfaction) you also receive a guaranteed commission.

(BUSINESS) MEETINGS & EVENTS GoOpti takes transfer organization off your “to-do” list, whether you are a professional event organizer or a complete beginner in preparing corporate or public events. GoOpti provides an easy way for organizing reliable transfers from airports to any kind of event – corporate meetings, conferences or fairs. With the help of GoOpti, every event can have its own personalized website, where event participants book direct transfers from airports to the event or from a hotel to all event venues.

For more information, contact them at Urska.Kozamernik@GoOpti.com or call 00386 (0)1 320 45 25.

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ADVERTORIAL

ROMANIA THE SPECIAL MICE DESTINATION IN EUROPE

R

omania experienced significant growth of the MICE but is still as much a future market as a new destination. Ranked among beloved European-business travel destinations in a high position, we seek to increase the number of participants in conference segment. Our aim is to become one of the top-five-destinations, in the East-Europe, for corporate events. For the next years, we are expecting some of the biggest names in meetings and conventions.

Romania is a fast growing business travel market and we are willing to secure a long-term development as a successful MICE destination. The demand in the MICE segment has known a quickly and constant development. Year by year many Medical Conferences for various size of groups had took part in Romania, completing a diverse plethora of big events such as the NATO Summit, the Universal Postal Union Congress and the Francophonie Summit or big sport events.

Professional Conference Organizers are prepared to offer adding value to your conferences and meetings by combining creativity and smart functional technology aimed to deliver excellence, in terms of service and quality. Romania is a diverse destination, offering many places, which are popular for their natural beauty, famous historic and cultural cities and top tourist resorts in the Carpathian Mountains or at the Black Sea Side. Our attempt is to give our guests the possibilities to explore the garden of Carpathians while they have the opportunity to have some activities in terms of conferences but also purely leisure purposes.

All the big cities of Romania have a convention center to host annual convention for medium and large size groups, offering good conference facility, high-tech meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi and other good quality services just like very good translating personal.

Experiencing the history and culture of our country our MICE

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partners can choose us for diverse Conferences, Round Table Meetings, Incentives; Meetings for various size groups, Corporate & cultural events, Product launches, Award ceremonies, Annual days, Sales meetings, Film shooting, Music & concerts, to name just a few of them.

Romania presents more than 20 destinations with several convention centers where medium and large size groups can be accommodate are prepared to host any kind of international event and the most attractive incentives travels. Good qualified professionals offers endless options for unique pre- and post-trips and motivational experiences. Friendly, welcoming people and countless authentic experiences makes Romania the ideal choice for business travelers and MICE consumers.

New convention & exhibition centers have been build and the old ones renewed. The number and capacity of the meeting venues shows significant growth in the last years combine with improvement of the airports and the transportation infrastructure (the logistics and flights).

Incentive tours corporates are mainly looking for destination where activity is possible throughout the day. Therefor we paid a special attention to achieve an important increase in the development of the after-hours offer. We´re able today to offer a diverse, exclusive and high qualitative after-hours entertainment options, a vibrant nightlife and excellent shopping, thrilling adventures and outdoor activities just like facilities to team-building activities.

We proudly can say that Romania has today the ability to offer corporates, considering their different budget categories, the kind of experience that makes us unique. For stag travelers looking forward to visit casinos and enjoy nightlife we are offering a plethora of possibilities to make a beyond-ordinary experience in Romania.

ABOUT CONVENTA

dt-conventa-2015.indd 1

05.01.2015. 14:19

CONVENTA 2015

Sucesfull jump in Conventa 2015! Conventa Team CONVENTA 2015 SUCCEEDS DUE TO

Organizers:

Official partners:

International partners: Download official Conventa app here:

Wireless LAN network (Wi – Fi) GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre Wireless access: SSID:

GR

WPA2 – network key:

11110000