1-2 JUNE 2022 BLED, SLOVENIA
OVERVIEW The aim of the Eco Resort Network event is to build on the success of our 4 online Eco Hotel Summit events, which incorporated over 200 speakers in total and in the region of 3,500 attendees worldwide. The event is co-organised by Maja Dimnik, a Slovenian entrepreneur and expert in eco-friendly experiential hospitality (who helped to launch many of Slovenia’s leading glamping resorts) and founder of World of Glamping, Steph Curtis-Raleigh, Publisher of International Glamping Business Magazine and one of the team behind The Glamping Show UK and J Mendes, digital event specialist and Eco Hotel consultant from No Footprint Consulting. Eco Resort Network will be an exclusive networking gathering to be held at the Park Hotel in Bled – we envisage around 50 people who will be Director/ CEO level. It will be a hybrid event – with some sessions live streamed and available for delegates to access even if they cannot attend in person. Those watching online will be able to ask questions as well as those in the room. The structure of the event comprises of two days of curated discussions, panel sessions and presentations. Most of the delegates are people setting up green hospitality projects – they are coming from all over the world. There will be speakers who are global hospitality consultants, successful hoteliers and those who have created inspirational brands of eco resorts. We will consult with all delegates before they arrive to ensure that we know what they want to achieve from the event and who they would like to meet. The event offers an opportunity for leaders in green hospitality to see and appreciate Slovenia and also offers a chance for some Slovenian companies working in this field to meet and network with other suppliers and hospitality providers from around the world.
THE DELEGATES With two months to go, Eco Resort Network is attracting a lot of interest and so far we have confirmed delegates attending from Australia, Bhutan, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Slovenia, UK and USA. The majority of delegates are hotel owners, with a 50/50 split between new and existing operators. We also have consultants from the fields of architecture, design, investment, hospitality, marketing, sustainability and technology.
1 JUNE 9.30am – introduction by organising team to the event and to key speaker delegates including Todd Wynne-Parry, David Leventhal and our sponsor YALA who will form the basis of our expert panels. 10.00am – organised introduction of the delegates based on whether they are suppliers to the industry, established hoteliers or setting up new projects. Coffee break 11.30am –Where we are right now – challenges and opportunities – panel session Environment, Covid, war, economy, fuel, travel restrictions vs the greatest desire for positive experiences set in nature and the chance for previously relatively unknown destinations to attract tourism because of their eco hospitality 12.30pm –presentation of new eco resort project Networking lunch 1pm 2.30pm – panel session – design, construction and inspiration. Where do you start? What will you offer? How can you be as ecofriendly as possible What is experiential hospitality and what can it mean? Coffee break 4-4.30pm – presentation of the ENVI brand by Noelle Homsy, co-Founder 6.00pm – leave for Garden Village Bled – gather for a tour of this award-winning glamping/eco resort followed by drinks reception and dinner – sponsored by YALA 9.00pm return to Park Hotel
2 JUNE 9.30am – panel session – Pitching and Investment – how to do it, how long it can take, what you will need to prove and what you may have to sacrifice in the process. Led by Todd Wynne-Parry, MD Horwath HTL. 10.30am – 11am – presentation by Slovenian Tourist Board (tbc) Coffee break 11.30am What I learned the hard way – panel session involving resort operators with up and running businesses covering those things that they might have done differently Panel of existing eco resort operators tbc 12.30pm – presentation of project in Lake Bohinj , Slovenia tbc
THE AGENDA We want to keep the event compact, so that all delegates get a chance to get to know one another. We also want to offer delegates the opportunity to talk to the group about what they are doing and what they want to know.
Networking lunch 1pm 2.30pm – panel session – Marketing and Branding. How to stand out in a crowded green marketplace, how to secure bookings online, who to partner with and how to use social media and influencers – led by Maja Dimnik Coffee break
We plan to hold a welcome drinks reception on evening of 31 May, when most delegates will have already arrived in Slovenia. This will include a buffet dinner and will be an informal opportunity for us as hosts to make introductions among the delegates.
4.00pm – final presentations of projects from delegates – wrap up from our sponsor YALA For those delegates remaining – we are organising onward travel itineries
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION We will be producing a special issue of International Glamping Business magazine for the event to feature the delegates and speakers. This is a glossy print publication that delegates can take home with them.
DIGITAL STREAMING We are planning to live stream certain panel sessions and also invite some speakers who cannot attend in person to contribute and talk to us remotely. This will ensure that while we keep an exclusive networking atmosphere, our event will reach a wider audience who will be able to enjoy the content at their leisure.
For more details contact
steph@ecoresort.network or visit
ecoresort.network