KONGRES MAGAZINE - IMEX ISSUE 2019

May 2019 //

77.

www.kongres-magazine.eu

24 //

LET’S TALK // Bled Meetings Forum

30 //

KONGRES JOURNEYS // MTLG Belfast & Štanjel

IDEAS // 60 // INCENTIVE Slovenian scenic roads

CONT RIBU TORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // GORAZD ČAD Editor of the magazine is a geographer and historian by profession. He united his professional education and love of discovering new lesser-known meetings destinations with love and passion for the meetings industry. In meetologues he shares his enthusiasm with the readers.

NATALIJA BAH ČAD // MEETINGS AND EVENT MANAGER An unforgettable member in the editorial board of travelogues. She has insight into the soul of destinations based on many years of practical experience with the organisation of events. She is interested in everything from the history, geography and destination marketing to care for the tiny little things that make the big events.

ASSISTANT EDITOR // JASMINA JERANT A creative writer since childhood was brought into the meetings industry where she can release her passion for storytelling. She seeks for unusual, hidden, and charming facts that make a town or a building shine in a different way. She believes that places are like people. In each one of them you can find something amusing.

MAJA MIRTIČ // CONTENT WRITER A passionate communicator with great interest in international relations, diplomacy and PR, firmly believing that communication can tackle every and any, even most persistent challenge. She trusts in positive, comprehensive, consistent and competent communication.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER // BARBARA DIMEC Visual explorer, creative problem solver, graphic designer with interest in creating innovative digital and print design solutions. Curious and always in search for new inspiration and knowledge. She strives towards positive attitude in every challenging situation with goal to translate plain information to compelling visual messages.

PUBLISHER AND PRODUCTION Poslovni turizem Gorazd Čad s.p., Kamnica 6B, SI-1262 Dol pri Ljubljani T: +385 (0)1 430 51 03 E: gorazd.cad@go-mice.eu

MARKETING Toleranca Marketing d.o.o., Štihova 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana T: +385 (0)1 430 51 03 E: gorazd.cad@toleranca.eu

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KONGRES MAGAZINE

360° MICE ACTIVATION

ANALYTICS Marketing analytics

CONTENT Copywriting and Content marketing

SALES Personal sales

EXPERIENCE Sales events

VIDEO Video campaigns

DATABASE Big data targeting

360° MICE ACTIVATION

PRINT Image building

ONLINE Digital Campaigns

SOCIAL Social media campaigns

DIRECT E-mail marketing and Telemarketing

with TOLERANCA MARKETING

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

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THE ALPINE–ADRIATIC REGION

THE FIVE-STAR INCENTIVE DESTINATION

The hidden potential of the most luxurious MICE product in the region.

GORAZD ČAD //

Gorazd Čad // Editor-in-Chief

@gorazdcad

Incentive trips are group motivational trips that a company organises for their employees/business partners. An incentive trip represents a reward, an incentive for better interpersonal relationships among employees and business partners. What differentiates incentive trips from conventional group trips are the clearly defined, measurable goals of the trip. A great advantage for the destinations is that the customer/client is a company or an agency and not an individual guest; this greatly simplifies the logistics of delivering and marketing the product.

Incentives are often most often classified according to the purpose and goal of organising such a programme. Incentive programmes should not be confused with teambuilding, which is usually— depending on the client’s strategic goals—a part of the incentive programme.

• Sales incentive programmes The main goal of such programmes is to influence the employees/ business partners in terms of sales performance, motivating them towards better results. A typical example would be a programme meant for the best-performing salespeople.

• Reward programmes These trips represent a reward for an extraordinary achievement by a team or for the completion of an important strategic project. They strongly contribute to employee satisfaction and are one of the most common forms of incentives.

• Motivational programmes The goal of such programmes is to strengthen the relationships between team members and improve employee motivation, as well as to solve conflicts within teams. Their key component are strategic teambuilding programmes that involve an authentic experience at a destination.

• Programmes for loyal partners and clients These are meant to reward clients and partners who have achieved exceptional sales performance in accordance with an agreement.

This type of incentive is, by its very nature, the most exclusive.

Advantages offered by the Alpe-Adria region as an incentive destination The region is ideal for hosting authentic and diverse incentive programmes whose common denominator is high quality in conjunction with the local cultural and historical peculiarities and culinary arts.

"Incentives are the aristocracy of meetings industry" // Rok Klančnik

Incentive programmes combine numerous fields, such as culture, science, art, cuisine, history and nature. It is this diversity that makes the region one of the best European MICE destinations, with a superb incentive product offering and potential.

Incentives take place practically throughout the year, but the out-ofseason months of March, April and May, as well as September and October, are especially popular. This contributes considerably towards reducing seasonal variation for the destinations. Incentives can take place at the many destinations already popular with tourists, as well as at some of the less-developed destinations in the region.

A key question for both the destinations and the individual providers is how to fully utilise the hidden potential of incentives. The first step is certainly making a detailed inventory of the offer, followed by testing the programmes—you can only enter the market with programmes that have been truly proven. It is also important to ensure that the providers are of high quality, which requires constant training. The next step is marketing. This is where we could do with some more boldness and selfconfidence, as incentive programmes are driven by enthusiasm, creativity and innovation. That said, the path to becoming a high-end incentive region is unpredictable and full of surprises.

There are a few agencies in the region with the right business approach, as well as several confident newcomers. Our mission at Kongres magazine is to highlight examples of good practices and present bold ideas. This issue contains quite a few, but we have put a special emphasis on a truly special region of Slovenia: the Karst. With a bit more courage and optimism, we could become the central incentive region of Europe—go from being on the margins to being the very centre.

We have a lot to offer—we just have to roll up our sleeves.

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KONGRES IN FOCUS // GENDER EQUALITY IN MICE

THANKFULLY, THINGS ARE HEADING IN THIS DIRECTION Exclusive interview with Susanne Baumann-Söllner, Management Board Spokesperson of Austria Center Vienna JASMINA JERANT //

IAKW-AG / ANDREAS HOFER, KATEMANGOSTAR / FREEPIK

Susanne Baumann-Söllner was appointed Management Board Spokesperson of the Austria Center Vienna, Austria’s largest conference centre, as of December 2012. In 2017 around 105,000 international participants attended events hosted at the venue. This represents a 13% year-on-year increase, and a jump of 104% compared with 2013.

In the past she worked at the Federal Ministry of Finance as an advisor to a number of ministers and as head of the department for tax policy and tax law. Baumann-Söllner is the author of a number of publications on fiscal policy.

"The industry is highly innovative and forwardlooking, and, as a result, gender relations have a major role to play."

Q: What does gender equality mean to you?

In the workplace it means ensuring that women and men are subject to the same requirements and have the same opportunities to make a contribution and further their own professional development. In my experience, this is primarily possible when there are structures in place to ensure a proper work-family balance. This means sharing childcare responsibilities so that women and men have the same career opportunities. Thankfully, things are heading in this direction and I also try my best to lead by example on a private level in my own family, and on a professional one by supporting my colleagues.

Q: What do you think about gender relations inside the MICE industry?

The industry is highly innovative and forward-looking, and, as a result, gender relations has a major role to play. Overall, the statistics show that participants in the congress industry are getting younger all the time, with women accounting for an increasing proportion, which we are really happy about! I strongly believe that this trend will continue – and the same goes for the growing number of women in management positions in the congress industry. There is still room for improvement here, but I’m sure that we are on the right track.

KONGRES IN FOCUS // GENDER EQUALITY IN MICE

Q: How does your company deal with gender equality?

At significantly over 30%, we have a high proportion of women in management positions at our company. We promote equal opportunities by making it possible for both male and female employees to strike a healthy balance between their work and family commitments. Men and women alike take parental leave here, we make it possible for people to work from home and offer specially tailored part-time working models. In terms of compensation – a particularly important area – we have put a transparent salary structure in place to further underpin financial equality.

As far as childcare is concerned, we are also taking action for the benefit of our customers as one of the first congress venues to offer free daycare at large-scale international congresses. By doing so, we have enabled lots of men and women with small children to successfully accommodate childcare responsibilities and congress activities.

Q: How does your company deal with harassment issues?

Harassment is not tolerated at our company in any form whatsoever.

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All of our employees are able to report incidents to our works council and its equal opportunities office at any point for immediate investigation.

Fortunately, there have not been any significant incidents during my time in charge, but we are prepared for such an eventuality and take every complaint seriously.

Q: What would you recommend women entering the MICE industry?

I definitely recommend setting themselves targets and systematically pursuing them. Acting with confidence and having faith in their ability to take on new challenges is also essential. As far as maintaining a healthy work-family balance goes, I think it is extremely important to have female role models in management positions who are not only good managers, but also practice what they preach when it comes to reconciling work and family commitments. There are countless great examples of this in the MICE industry. While this hopefully sets a great example for young women, it should also show young men that career and family are not mutually exclusive.

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KONGRES IN FOCUS // FUTURE

A SLEEPING BEAUTY DUE TO BE AWAKEN SOON JASMINA JERANT //

SCAPELAB / MARKO STUDEN

Half a year ago, Slovenia’s capital started one of the country’s most awaited and longed for renovations of the last few decades. In the centre of Ljubljana, standing on the south bank of the Ljubljanica River, a former sugar refinery called Cukrarna (cuker is an archaic Slovene word for sugar, thus the name refers to the industrial building’s former role) is undergoing a complete renovation and refurbishment. This makeover was long awaited by the Slovenian public, for the building is not just of a truly magnificent size and appearance, but also bears a rich and poetic history that has been engraved into every local pupil’s mind.

Cukrarna operated as a sugar refinery from 1828 until 1858 when a huge fire stopped production. From 1864 to 1866, the building hosted soldiers who used its rooms as apartments; and from 1870 a tobacco factory operated in its facilities until 1872 when another fire brought the building’s life to a halt. Then, from 1873 until 1918, the building was used as an army barracks. However, in the meantime, some of Ljubljana’s civilians who lost their homes in the devastating 1895 earthquake that destroyed one-tenth of Ljubljana’s buildings, lived in Cukrarna for a while as well.

And this is the historical era of this breath-taking industrial building that every pupil in Slovenia has heard of, since among those who sheltered in Cukrarna at that time were the impoverished young generation of Slovenian poets from the time of modernism in Slovene literature.

Dragotin Kette, Josip Murn Aleksandrov, Oton Župančič and Ivan Cankar are just some of those who either lived or hung out at Cukrarna discussing poetry. They were very young, yet some of them even died in Cukrarna, Kette at the age of 23, and Murn at 22. Cukrarna is thought to be the birth- and life place of Slovene modernism at the turn of the 20th century. Later, it still had a role as a shelter but it also suffered a few fires so it was considerably damaged and completely closed down.

For many years and decades various renovation plans were discussed and planned but always failed. Every time another plan fell through, or another fire broke out, or another accident befell the damaged building, the happening aroused the interest and imagination of the Slovenian public. For years the building was almost falling apart, and was dangerous, but at the same time it was not allowed to be demolished for it had such

KONGRES IN FOCUS // FUTURE

a rich and important history of nation-forming through culture and the arts. Many wanted to renovate it, but it had always been too large a bite to chew. So, it slowly faded away and the Slovenian nation eagerly awaited a conclusion to this never-ending story and a painful view in the Ljubljana landscape.

"Ljubljana will gain a new and its biggest exhibition space suitable for more demanding Slovenian and foreign art exhibition projects, as well as other events in the field of culture, the arts and education."

Finally, in October 2018, the Municipality of Ljubljana, with some financial support from the Government, started the first real and historical renovations of the building, with plans to transform it into a gallery.

With the renovation of this massive empty industrial building from the past, Ljubljana will gain a new and its biggest exhibition space suitable for more demanding Slovenian and foreign art exhibition projects, as well as for other events in the field of culture, the arts and education. The Municipality’s aim is also to expand the city centre towards the east and consequently, to acquire additional public space. The urban intervention

9

will also include the upgrade of the urban environment around the project structure itself.

The reconstruction, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is planned to end in approximately 2 years’ time, with the total value expected to be around 23 million euros. Its goal is to expand and improve the available exhibition space in the Municipality of Ljubljana (MOL) and increase the number of complex exhibitions which will attract bigger audiences, both local and from abroad. At the same time, the gallery will provide easier access to cultural events for all the city’s residents and other visitors, as well as substantial promotion of various cultural productions.-; Most importantly, though, it will strengthen the cooperation with important international partners aiming at the realisation of bigger joint projects, which, until now, was impossible due to inadequate facilities.

The gallery will not just be used for modern art exhibitions and the visual arts but will also provide space for the Biennial of Design Ljubljana (BIO Ljubljana) and for the International Biennial of Graphic Arts, and it will even start forming its own arts collection. With its versatile concept, it is also expected to function as a special events venue, which will enhance Ljubljana’s offerings for meeting planners.

Once the project is finished, the gallery will be administered by the public institute Museums and Galleries of Ljubljana. We can say with great relief and positive expectation that the much loved and intriguing old Cukrarna will finally be transformed from an eyesore into a (brilliant) sight for sore eyes.

10 KONGRES IN FOCUS // INFLUENCERS

4. SUCCESS DOESN’T COME OVERNIGHT: And please don’t think that if you conduct an influencer campaign, some magic will happen the day you start.

WORLD OF INFLUENCERS B2B Influencer marketing (for suppliers) MARISKA KESTELOO, FOUNDER OF WORD OF MICE, MARISKA@ WORDOFMICE.COM / PERSONAL ARCHIVE

Influencer marketing is hot—at least we speak a lot about it, it’s just that almost no supplier uses it. Why is that? Are we afraid of new developments or trends? Are we not well informed about this medium and its options? Or have we got the wrong idea from influencer marketing in the B2C market?

Let’s start with the definition. What is influencer marketing?

Influencer marketing is the process of identifying, researching, engaging and supporting the people who create high-impact conversations with customers about your brand, products or services.

Influencer marketing offers brands the potential to unify their marketing, PR, sales, product, digital marketing, and social media through powerful and relevant relationship-based communication. (source Traackr)

We present the 5 key elements of B2B influencer marketing to convince you to use this powerful medium today:

1. STRATEGY: The most underestimated part. Influencer marketing is an integral part of your marketing campaign and your strategy: it’s not one action that stands alone, but a combination of your online & offline marketing activities.

2. MATCHMAKING: We involve our influencers as partners before we even start with the campaign. We leverage their knowledge and expertise to create a successful campaign together. Therefore, we need their professional input, creativity and involvement from the start.

The relationship between the client and the influencer is key. If there’s no mutual goal between the influencer and client, there is no sense in starting a collaboration.

3. STORYTELLING: We work in a very privileged industry, in which we are invited to the most stunning venues, opening of the most luxury hotels, exclusive parties, etc. This means we have plenty of opportunities to connect and interact with influencers to show what we do.

What do you do with your food waste after an event? Are you involved in a foundation or a good cause? Show how you stand out from the market, and tell your unique story.

We all know that success doesn’t come overnight but, apparently, with B2B influencer marketing we don’t have the patience. To see the impact and results of an influencer campaign, block at least 6 months in your calendar, excluding the time to search for the right influencer, etc. Again, we work in a B2B environment, which is different from a B2C environment.

5. RESULTS: Influencer marketing has many advantages compared to

traditional marketing. We can create tailor-made content for each target audience, modify and adapt according to an actual situation, or even an incident, but moreover, we can measure the impact of a campaign.

Set clear goals before you start the campaign so you can measure the results. Important: with influencer marketing you are in touch with your desired target audience every day.

CONCLUSION

We haven’t yet used influencer marketing to its full potential in our industry; more precisely, we haven’t even started yet, which is a pity. We have so many opportunities to use this medium to its full potential, it’s just that we don’t cross the bridge. Perhaps if someone from our industry were to start with the MICE bucket challenge, others would follow….

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Entrepreneur, public speaker and past-President of Meetings Professional International in Belgium. With more than 15 years’ experience in the tourism and the MICE sector, she’s an authority in the industry. Passionate about B2B influencer marketing, Mariska founded her company Word of MICE in 2017. Her company connects the MICE industry with the right social media influencers to tell the suppliers’ stories in an authentic, creative and fun way within the right target audience. She is convinced of the impact and potential of influencer marketing and her mission is to create a global active community of influencers and ambassadors. She is a visionary, forward-thinking entrepreneur and loves new challenges. www.wordofmice.com

BEHIND THE SCENES // EXCLUSIVE 11

GRAND HOTEL PARK ROVINJ 100% Croatian creativity GORAZD ČAD //

REDEFINING LUXURY

MAISTRA

A view of Rovinj, quality architecture, spaciousness and premium service; are these enough to redefine what “luxury hotel” means? In the past, it might have been sufficient, but nowadays, the hotel must also be infused with a spirit that reflects the local environment, culture and lifestyle. A resort must become part of the city fabric and not just remain a foreign object within the urban environment.

When design-savvy investors join forces with first-class designers, architects and marketing experts, the goal of redefining luxury becomes achievable. The CEO of Adris, Antej Vlahović, gave a telling statement at the grand opening of the hotel, declaring that mediocrity has never been an option for them and that only business excellence, local expertise and premium staff will do. Apparently, they have more than succeeded in this aspiration, for mere days after the grand opening, our impression was of having visited one of the finest hotels of the Adriatic.

12 BEHIND THE SCENES // EXCLUSIVE

ARCHITECTURE FOR THE SOUL AND THE PERSONAL ZEITGEIST

I don’t have a rational explanation for it – I just really love everything the team at 3LHD studio creates. I wonder if it is a generational thing. We belong to Generation X; it is said that this used to be the lost generation, condemned to wander the world, but it is now proving capable of producing such superb accomplishments as Hotel Lone and Grand Hotel Park. When I read the interviews with the creators I can feel the zeitgeist of the generation, and Park is definitely the culmination of that, both in terms of its architecture and in terms of the urban arrangement of the entire Monte Mulini area. The new plaza that was created in front of the hotel is poised to become a venue for socialising, games and gatherings.

To me, the architecture feels organic, as if it has stood there forever. Every detail counts, no matter how small. Take the corridors, for instance; these are usually the boring part of a hotel, but here, they have been made interesting spaces in their own right. I find that such architecture facilitates self-reflection in myself, allowing me to step back from the routine of daily existence, as well as bringing me lots of aesthetic enjoyment.

100% CROATIAN CREATIVITY

The Adris group invested well over half a billion euros into the renovation of the Monte Mulini area. They were the first in the Adriatic to combine the renovation of a particular destination with cutting-edge design, engaging in this effort the top experts in the field. The permanent team at Maistra includes the architectural studio 3LHD, the creative agency Bruketa & Žinić, the furniture designers Numen, the fashion designers I-Gle and others.

This time, the permanent team of the Grand Hotel Park project joined forces with the renowned hotel interior designers from the Milanese studio Lissoni Architecture, who also share the investors’ basic philosophy of striving towards greatness.

Nowadays, Croatia is home to a world-class architectural and design scene that aims to revive the splendid architectural tradition of the seventies. We hope that other investors in the region will follow the same path. I am especially glad to have yet another confirmation that premium design can also be functional. We can also understand the whole thing as evidence of social responsibility on the part of the investors.

BEHIND THE SCENES // EXCLUSIVE 13

THE ROOM WITH THE BEST VIEW IN THE ADRIATIC

The million euro view is included in the price. The rooms have been integrated into the hotel fabric in such a way that the gorgeous Rovinj vista seems to be omnipresent. Further increasing the spacious feeling is the panoramic window and a pleasant terrace inviting you to spend the day outside. The floor is treated with a special coating that gives a welcoming and warm impression despite the industrial look, and also nicely complements the raw concrete wall that seems to organically connect every single piece of furniture. Partitioning the bathroom from the bedroom are semi-transparent glass panels that give a refined and minimalist appearance. Living up to their reputation, studio 3LHD have ensured the presence of numerous heart-warming details, as well as heavenly lighting. Every piece of furniture is a story in itself and part of a high-end aesthetic experience. The miniature graphics, the work of one of the resident artists, are part of the Rovinj Diaries story and they invite you to explore the town and its surroundings. The hotel room is a balm for both body and soul and will delight the hearts of curious explorers.

ROVINJ DIARIES

The project itself is thoroughly described in what is, in my view, the best hotel guide I’ve ever seen. More than a mere guide, it is actually a sort of an omnibus of stories about Rovinj and about the artists who helped create the story of the hotel. Information about the hotel is included as if incidentally, in the form of short stories. The common thread is the history of Rovinj, with stories that entice you to explore. Bruketa & Žinić agency has managed to create a hotel guide you will want to read again and again; the kind you end up wanting to take home with you. The graphical concept wonderfully reflects the hotel architecture. If you want to fully understand the concept, the guide is mandatory reading; at the same time, it leaves the reader free to explore the hotel and the town of Rovinj, as well as Istria in general. I’m certain that it will go on to win numerous awards.

AN INSTAGRAM-PICTURE-PERFECT POOL

The hotel will be well-visited in the colder months as well, thanks to Albaro Spa & Wellness. It stretches across 3800 m2 on two levels.

The lower level features superb wellness facilities with minimalistically appointed saunas. Here, as well, the subtle lighting forms a part of the experience. One thing that is sure to draw many visitors to the hotel, however, is the infinity pool on the fifth floor. With its marvellous vista of Rovinj it can match even the heavyweights like the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

The view of St Euphemia’s church from the pool is sure to become one of the most desirable locations for guests seeking that perfect Instagram shot.

We can only hope that it will be possible to rent this extraordinary space for events—pool parties with a view like that are bound to be a hit.

MEETINGS WORTHY OF A PICTURE POSTCARD

When you find yourself in front of the largest panoramic window in Europe, you will be left speechless. With a panoramic view of Rovinj in the background, meetings held here redefine the notion of a “conference hall with a view”. The central hall, which was still under construction at the time of our visit, holds around 250 people and can even admit

vehicles. Complementing it are three smaller halls and a charming library suitable for small-scale meetings. All the halls are superbly appointed in full accordance with the latest trends in meeting design. The meetings offering had not been finalised at the time of the event and concrete information is yet to be made available. We do believe the meetings offering will include numerous public spaces and special venues that seem to be a perfect fit for organising events. Among other things, the management has stated that the setting will be perfect for automotive industry events with all the accompanying services.

FIVE-STAR CULINARY EXPERIENCE

Naturally, the culinary offering will be at the five-star level; even this first visit made this clear. The staff are eager and very pleasant. We tried the main hotel restaurant Laurel & Berry. An attentive eye is likely to spot a few inconsistencies, but in time, these are sure to be taken care of. We can already confirm that, in accordance with the philosophy of the hotel and the Adris group, the wine selection, as well as the innovative menu and breakfast, are superb and solidly at the five-star level. There is no doubt that once the hotel takes off, the individual restaurants will be contending for a spot in prestigious culinary guides.

DETAILS

Even now, just a few days after the opening, I can say that there were numerous details that left a considerable impression on me. There is no space to describe all of them, so let me point out just a few. In a few days, the promenade will come alive with a series of boutiques, restaurants and bars named Park Concept Store.

The hotel rooms provide guests with a retro Kodak camera—a nice addition to the spacious and well-lit room full of details. In the marble bathroom with a luxurious bathtub you will find exclusive Molton Brown toiletries. The hotel is not aimed solely at the wealthy; it is the ideal “getaway” for people who appreciate the genuine experience of Istria and its hospitality in a luxury hotel.

The hotel officially opens with the Adris 44 Cup regatta that will be held from the 28th of May to the 2nd of June in 2019. During this time, Rovinj will host the global sailing elite. The RC44 class is considered to be the Formula 1 of sailing, featuring the best sailors of the world, including Olympic medallists and winners of the America’s Cup and numerous other regattas.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

GRAND PARK HOTEL ROVINJ Smareglijeva ulica 1A HR - 52210 Rovinj, Croatia T: +385(0)52 800 250 E: info@maistra.hr www.maistra.hr

The BEHIND THE SCENES section is not paid. The selection of the hotels that are evaluated by our journalist is at the discretion of the editorial board and the visits are unannounced.

14 FACE2FACE // EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DIDIER SCAILLET CEO of SITE GORAZD ČAD //

PERSONAL ARCHIVE

A MICE industry veteran, Didier Scaillet started assuming the role of CEO for SITE and the SITE Foundation on 1 February, 2018. For 18 years he held various roles with Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Most recently, Scaillet was vice-president business development for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). He has engaged and served on various industry forums and organizations: Joint Meetings Industry Council, Events Industry Council, Canadian Tourism Commission and United Nations World Tourism Organization. He was also instrumental in the development of the Meetings & Business Events Competency Standards, which was the backbone for the development of SITE’s competency-based education model for incentive professionals.

"Over the next 18–24 months, SITE’s 4 audiences can expect a brand new web platform at the heart of a fully integrated digital strategy ..."

Q: What does the SITE past and legacy mean to you?

Although I’m only 18 months in the job, SITE’s past and legacy is massively important to me. SITE is an organisation with a deep connection to its past and a clear understanding that our reputation within the Business Events industry today comes to us because we’re standing on the shoulders of giants. The association was launched way back in 1973 by pioneers and visionaries who understood the business case for incentive travel both for its impact within the corporations that use it and the destinations where programmes are staged.

From the get-go SITE has always had this uncompromising dual focus and was never merely an association of supply-chain businesses.

Thankfully many of these thought leaders are still with us and contribute to SITE through our past presidents’ council.

We’ve been reclaiming this positioning over the past number of years with a renewed focus on the business case for incentives. Our message is pertinent and relevant to 4 audiences – our membership, the MICE industry, the business world and society at large.

FACE2FACE // EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 15

Q: What would you say have been the most radical developments at SITE during the last ten years?

The most “radical” developments over the past 10 years have been around returning to our roots and focusing more on the business case for incentive travel. We’ve done this in a variety of ways not least by increasing our focus on recruitment of members from within the corporate sector.

Through the SITE Foundation we have also invested heavily in research and have been able to highlight how incentive travel is evolving with greater focus now on building company culture.

Another radical development has been in the area of certification. Over 2000 individuals now hold our entry-level, Certified Incentive Specialist (CIS) qualification. Last year we launched a new certification – Certified Incentive Travel Professional (CITP) - aimed at mid-level executives.

Recognising the absence of a high-level think-tank around the nature, purpose and direction of incentive travel, we crowd-sourced The Bangkok Manifesto during our annual conference in Bangkok in January 2019.

We now have a 10 statement document setting out our credo around incentives.

Our 2019 President, Philip Eidsvold, CIS, CITP has just launched a brand new digital transformation project that’ll have far reaching consequences for SITE as we position ourselves more effectively in the digital space and add an important extra dimension to our value proposition.

A final radical development for SITE stems from our focus on partnerships and our ability to reach out meaningfully to other entities and build value together. This is best illustrated with reference to the Incentive Travel Industry Index, a joint venture between SITE, the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) and, of course, Global MICE Collaborative, our partnership with Meetings Professionals International (MPI) and IACC (International Association of Congress Centres (IACC).

Q: Today you are CEO of SITE - what’s behind that title?

SITE is a professional association governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. As the CEO I’m an ex officio member of the Board and my job is to manage the executive team that’s responsible for implementing the Board’s vision and carrying out the day to day business of the association.

We are currently approaching the end of our 2020 Painted Picture. At our Board Meeting in June we’ll commence work on our next strategic plan, that’ll take us up to 2023, the year of our 50th anniversary.

I am also CEO of the SITE Foundation and sit on its Board of Trustees.

The SITE Foundation raises funds for research, education and advocacy around the business case for incentive travel. A key aspect of my role as CEO at SITE and the SITE Foundation is to be a broker of ideas, that is, to bring a constant cascade of new ideas and initiatives to both boards for their consideration.

Q: What further digital business model can the SITE members expect in the future?

As mentioned above, our 2019 President has identified digital transformation as a priority for his presidential year and, thanks to great support of the SITE Foundation, we’ve just appointed an external agency to work with us on the first phase of a three phase project that’ll

transform the way we connect on-line with members, industry, business and society.

Over the next 18–24 months, SITE’s 4 audiences can expect a brand new web platform at the heart of a fully integrated digital strategy that’ll bring together social media and e-comms and all the other ways that audiences connect outside of real people in real places in real time.

While “live and in person” will always be our core identity as an association we’ll use digital methodologies to extend the life and reach of our live encounters beyond the here and now, delivering enduring value to our communities. We are aiming to equip our members and supports with a new set of digital tools that will enable them build their own businesses by presenting the business case for incentive travel.

Q: SITE members are demanding. What can a SITE member look forward to?

First and foremost, SITE members are distinguished by the fact that they belong to the ONLY association dedicated EXCLUSIVELY to incentive travel, the fastest growing, highest spending, widest reaching sector of the MICE acronym. We bring value to our members at both global and local chapter level by networking, on-line resources, education, certification and advocacy. SITE is deeply committed to the new generation and operates a best-in-class Young Leaders programme and dedicated annual conference. SITE members can look forward to be part of an ever more engaged association fostering connections, education and destination discovery across the full spectrum of our community.

Q: Are there good development opportunities for young talents?

Over 10 years ago SITE launched its Young Leaders programme. Today 3 of the members of SITE’s Executive Board are graduates of this programme. Developing, nurturing and encouraging the next generation have always been crucial to SITE and we were one of the first industry associations to create a formal programme aimed at fostering young talent.

Our Young Leaders play a crucial role in our association and enjoy their own dedicated annual conference. We also encourage young talent in and through a number of annual scholarships named after deceased members and presidents of SITE. Q: To change the MICE world you need to? … realise that it is changing of its own accord and adapt nimbly by embracing technology, deep diving into big data, evaluating the place of live events in a world that has discovered augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). To be relevant in this changing world, individuals, corporation and associations like SITE need to read the signs of the times and provide compelling, contemporary responses based on what’s there now or what will be there tomorrow, not what was there yesterday.

Q: To finish - what do you wish for SITE? I want SITE to be what only it can be – the indispensable go-to source for information and inspiration around all things connected to the universe of incentive travel in its widest possible iteration.

16 FACE2FACE // EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PAUL VAN DEVENTER MPI President and CEO GORAZD ČAD //

PERSONAL ARCHIVE

Paul Van Deventer is a CEO, General Manager and B2B Sales Leader with operational experience in mid-cap and fortune 100 organisations.

He successfully led large, geographically dispersed, sales, account management and operations organizations with annual revenues ranging from $150MM to $1,000MM. Currently he holds a CEO position of a 18,000-member global association (Meeting Professionals International) focused on the professional development of meeting and event professionals. His board engagement includes: Vice-Chair Meetings Means Business Coalition (MMB), Board Member - USTravel, Events Industry Council (eic), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Women In Travel (WINiT).

“We are excited to be hosting the 2020 European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC20) in Sevilla. The event will be designed and created

by Europeans for Europeans ...”

Q: What are MPI highlights this year?

We are focused on supporting the professional development of our members, developing innovative programs for our community, raising the awareness of our industry, and fighting inequality including creating a welcoming and safe environment for all at business events and advancing the fight to end child sex trafficking.

We are also committed to growing our international community by focusing on strengthening our value story and expanding our global community through partnering with local MPI chapters and select industry-leading organizations. To inform our efforts we have launched strategic advisory councils in Europe, Canada and Latin America, to guide MPI’s strategy, as well as our investments in education, events and member support.

And the MPI Academy is delivering unparalleled education and expanding our professional development offerings and educational partnerships

FACE2FACE // EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 17

with leading educational institutions, including collaborating with the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality on the design of a graduate-level course titled “Convention and Exhibition Management;” partnering with the University of Virginia on offering courses from Darden’s Specialization in Design Thinking and Innovation program, and launching with San Diego University the first graduate-level degree program in the United States for meeting and event management, which will incorporate experiential learning, simulations, and industry partner mentoring.

June 14-18 MPI will be in Toronto for our signature event, World Education Congress (WEC19), where attendees will experience state-ofthe-art event design, unparalleled education, and productive networking.

This year’s event builds on the theme and successes that took place at WEC18 in Indianapolis (which was recognized by Eventex as the best association meeting of 2018), “Stop Planning Meetings – Start Designing Shared Experiences.”

We are also telling the story of the power of the Meeting and Event industry while striving to make MPI, the meeting industry and the world a better, more equitable place for women and every group of people that are marginalized in any way. As our membership is a diverse community, including nearly 80% women and citizens of 70 countries, we continue to be on the forefront of gender equality, support of women leadership and raising awareness of the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at all live events.

On April 4 we signed the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code) for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. The Code is the only voluntary set of business principles travel and hospitality companies can implement to prevent child sex tourism and trafficking of children. The Code is a joint venture between the tourism private sector and ECPAT-USA, a worldwide network of organizations working to end the sexual exploitation of children.

In 2019, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships and collaborations with key organizations including IMEX, Destinations International (DI), International Association of Exhibition and Events (IAEE), Events Industry Council (EIC), Meetings Means Business, Society for Travel Incentive (SITE), and the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), as together we tell the story of the many positive impacts of the $1.1 trillion dollar live events industry.

Q: What have been some challenges you have faced over the past years?

Over the years, MPI has seen challenges that range from raising our brand awareness beyond our core industry, developing relevant and timely education that resonates with our community, providing innovative events and networking opportunities, and enhancing the value of our chapters network.

Q: Where are you positioning your marketing efforts this year and next?

While we continue to use all our media platforms to raise awareness and elevate our footprint from a global perspective, we are especially focused on enhancing our presence and community support in Europe. As the largest association in Europe with over 1,200 members, the potential for

community engagement, as well as membership growth is very high. This summer we will launch a robust media campaign to build awareness in the meeting professional community and create buzz and excitement for membership. At launch, the campaign will focus on the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Q: What is the most positive thing about the meetings industry in 2019?

Event designers and attendees are looking beyond the impact that events have on attendees, to what impact events can have on pressing social issues. We see attendees looking for experiences that not only help them professionally, but also contribute to their personal growth and drive societal improvements. And attendees are looking for “shared experiences,” which happens to be our theme for this year’s World Education Congress (WEC) conference.

Q: What are your plans for EMEC 2020 in Sevilla?

We are excited to be hosting the 2020 European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC20) in Sevilla. The event will be designed and created

by Europeans for Europeans, with support from MPI’s European staff, Angeles Moreno and Federico Toja. As we did at EMEC19 in The Hague, we will continue to “change the game” to create a vibrant and innovative event. Beginning with the design process itself we will utilize the #EventCanvas methodology for EMEC20, engaging European members, past volunteers, chapter leaders, and others to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive design process. These design sessions will take place in Spring 2019. We’ll be sharing updates on MPI’s social channels and the EMEC20 website.

Q: What is the legacy of EMEC 2019?

MPI has held an annual conference in Europe since 1988. Originally known as Professional Education Conference-Europe (PEC-E), the event was rebranded in 2008 as the European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC). Over the years, EMEC has offered professionals in Europe a platform to connect, learn, and gain new understandings of their profession, MPI and the industry’s role in the world.

At EMEC2019, we were able to take the historical success of our signature European event and make it more interactive and innovative. Through thoughtful event design and a focus on crafting unique, personalized and impactful experiences, EMEC19 was able to unite a global audience in a high-energy learning experience which showcased how our community can truly “change the game.”

We are excited to be hosting the 2020 European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC20) in Sevilla. The event will be designed and created

by Europeans for Europeans, with support from MPI’s European staff, Angeles Moreno and Federico Toja.

As we did at EMEC19 in The Hague, we will continue to “change the game” to create a vibrant and innovative event. Beginning with the design process itself we will utilize the #EventCanvas methodology for EMEC20, engaging European members, past volunteers, chapter leaders, and others to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive design process.

These design sessions will take place in Spring 2019. We’ll be sharing updates on MPI’s social channels and the EMEC20 website.

18 VIEWS // DESTINATION MARKETING AND BIDDING

DESTINATION MARKETING AND BIDDING MAJA MIRTIČ //

PERSONAL ARCHIVES

We talked to a few industry experts about destination marketing and bidding.

Alexey Kalachev

Igor Kovačević

"Good convention bureau plays the role of a mediator"

"Convention bureau should have international and local recognition"

Alexey Kalachev’s professional achievements are not only in the organisation of event projects, communication, PR, etc. but in the strategic promotion of Russia’s event potential at the international markets and building up the standards of industry inside the country as well. He has held a number of large events both in Russian and foreign venues and provided communications support for government bodies and private companies.

Kalachev is the CEO of the first Convention Bureau of Russia founded in November 2017.

Since then, the Russia CVB has already noticed considerable results and Russia as an event destination is achieving great interest among the international buyers and organizers.

Igor Kovačević has been part of the Serbian journey from “no destination” to the MICE leader in the region and TOP 50 in the world.

He has been mainly focusing on working closely with international associations. This resulted in establishing a proactive sales platform targeting international clients. In the last three years, Igor led the bidding process for over 71 bids in addition to 47 confirmed events. He implemented a very successful Congress Ambassador program which created long-lasting relations with local distinguished members of the program. Igor is also Assistant Professor at the leading Faculty in the region as well as a Deputy Chair at ICCA Central European Chapter.

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Matthias Schultze

Miha Kovačič

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson

"We live in a customer-centric world"

"Destination marketing is much more than just large and fancy advertisement"

"The story of the destination must be original and exciting"

Miha Kovačič has over 20 years of working experience in the travel industry. Tourism is part of his family, being already the fourth generation working in this industry. Miha found his passion in the meetings industry right at the beginning when he started in Kompas, the DMC and PCO. Later he joined Grand Hotel Union, the the largest convention hotel in Ljubljana. After five years Miha realised he needed a bigger challenge, so he took over the position of the CEO of newly established Slovenian Convention Bureau. After 13 years he is still passionately developing and promoting Slovenia as a meetings and incentive travel destination.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson is the Director of Marketing for Meet in Reykjavík, the official Convention Bureau for Reykjavík City and surroundings. Sigurður has got an Executive MBA degree and a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Studies both from the University of Iceland.

He has been working as a Brand Manager for Ölgerðin, the oldest and largest producer of beer and soft drinks in Iceland and before that he was Director of Marketing for Iceland Express, a low-fare airline headquartered in Reykjavík. Over the years he has gathered diverse management experience; managing and developing both national and international brands in retail, tourism, and aviation.

Matthias Schultze is managing director of the German Convention Bureau that represents and markets the German meetings and conference sector on a national and international level, with offices in Frankfurt, New York, and Beijing.

Together with partners, Matthias has initiated various projects, such as the “Future Meetings Space” innovation alliance, that focus on the opportunities and challenges brought about by the digital transformation. With a degree in business administration, he started out in hotel and congress management at Hilton International in Germany and has now almost 20 years of management experience, including as the CEO of the World Conference Center in Bonn, which is part of the United Nations Campus.

20 VIEWS // DESTINATION MARKETING AND BIDDING

Q: What makes a successful destination marketing campaign?

Alexey Kalachev: First, we should talk about the clear positioning of the country on the map of the world event market. That is to create a strong brand message of the country integral with the brand visual identity.

The communication should reveal and make clear all the key advantages regarding destination product and combine rational as well as emotional peculiarities. The destination should represent not only reliability, infrastructure and so on, but offer a unique experience and features of local “flavor”.

Igor Kovačević: It is very hard to make a “different” marketing campaign.

It is not possible to have one campaign that will target all segments, so in the end, it is all about return on investment and conversion factor. In our business, it is also a question, if and how to create an impact since the targeted markets are very distinctive from each other.

Matthias Schultze: Successful destination marketing campaigns have one thing in common: They acknowledge that we live in a customercentric world. Everything we do needs to start and end with the customer view and their requirements. In this context, CVBs need to readjust and focus on delivering solutions based on specific needs rather than products. We also need to consider the customer journey in our digital world, i.e., be where they are throughout the whole process. Stressing the value of what you can offer rather than talking about cost is also key. Plus, focus on content marketing to provide relevant information and education.

Miha Kovačič: I believe that a successful destination marketing campaign needs to be carefully planned and properly executed. Increasing the awareness or image of a destination takes time and involves many stakeholders. I don’t believe in large fancy advertisements with great images. They do help but successful destination marketing needs much more. The campaign needs to last at least a year and should include quality content in terms of destination specialties which are not connected only to our business.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: MICE destinations pride themselves with advanced infrastructure, solid flight connections, quality service and high-end hospitality. Today’s marketing campaigns are expected to deliver more than logistics. The story you’re telling about the destination and its people and culture must be original and exciting. If the storytelling is authentic and strong, the audience will listen and follow through. In addition to Reykjavik offering a high-quality destination, the city has an authentic character with a big heart and therefore our storytelling flows easily and grasps the audience.

Q: What can your destination offer event organisers that other destinations cannot?

Alexey Kalachev: Being quite a new destination, we can offer new experience to the participants of events. Russia is usually associated with

two well-known capitals – Moscow and St. Petersburg. But there is a vast country behind which offers the scope and versatility of opportunities for holding MICE events. The diversity of regional peculiarities in the areas of industries, science specialization, infrastructural variety and local unique characteristics allow us to make a tailor-cut offer for any request for holding events.

Igor Kovačević: Being “new and different” is so much used slogan from a large number of destinations. But also, it is a question we receive from a number of clients. We always start from creating an added value and a true experience and going away from traditional formula event = venue + coffee + sightseeing. Today it is all about sight-living and active experience.

Matthias Schultze: Germany stands for expertise, sustainability and innovation. At the German Convention Bureau, we have built our activities around these three pillars. We know from our research that industry sector expertise specifically plays a key role in the decision making of event planners: 74% say that access to relevant know-how is important when choosing a destination. Germany stands out in this respect, with knowledge hubs for different sectors spread around the country. This creates a lot of choice and access to destinations that are world-leading in areas such as medicine and healthcare, technology and innovation or energy and the environment.

Miha Kovačič: There are thousands of destinations in Europe, not even looking overseas. I love this industry as we are not direct competitors such as in many other industries. Each product or destination consists of so many small parts or experiences, if you prefer that word, that we are not talking here what we have, and others don’t. Our set of hardware and software topped by genuine Slovenian professional and hospitality is unique. So is the one in other destinations. We should believe in us and deliver the highest possible quality of services and experiences.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: With the new message of MICE Travel being Unconventional and the city of Reykjavik being anything but conventional, we’re connecting with the MICE audience on a deeper level and our message is very current. Reykjavik is a safe and relaxed European city that offers accessibility and convenience, our venues and hotels are mostly situated within or around the city centre and can be traveled to and forth by foot. In addition to our solid logistical offerings, our city is surrounded by unforgettable nature, an asset that can only be experienced and not described. There aren’t many places in the city where you’re not greeted by the ocean, mountains, or rugged fields. Reykjavik is inspiring and gives our visitors long-lived memories with a touch of indescribable magic.

Q: In your opinion, what makes a good convention bureau?

Alexey Kalachev: Good convention bureau plays the role of a mediator in the market. It provides support at all stages of organizing the event. The involved team is of great value. There are also such important issues as personal attitude and creative approach to the business. Open-mindedness and readiness to learn and to share experience at the same time.

VIEWS // DESTINATION MARKETING AND BIDDING 21

Igor Kovačević: Convention bureau should have international and local recognition. No CVB can work without industry support in all aspects. The ultimate resource is know-how. CVB needs to have deserved reputation among clients and associations as well. And for the end, all activities should be measured and ROI calculated.

Matthias Schultze: I think it is the ability to accept that change is the new normal – and not just that: The convention bureau of the future needs to be able to ride the wave of the digital transformation to the benefit of all stakeholders. We need to embrace the opportunities and challenges and work with them in a constructive way. I already mentioned how important customer-centricity has become for successful destination marketing and I also see that as a key success factor for our work as convention bureaus in general.

Miha Kovačič: Good Convention Bureau should breathe with its destination and its stakeholders. Its main job is to unite the destination and promote it on the market. Stakeholders should respect its Convention Bureau and support it in its activities and development. Convention Bureau is the spokesperson of the industry on the destination level. It is also a strong partner between suppliers and clients. Good Convention Bureau needs also good and long-term funding.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: A clear vision of service excellence supported by skills and determination to help MICE planners create a successful and unforgettable event.

Q: How do you prepare a successful bid?

Alexey Kalachev: Successful bid means finding a relevant event for the appropriate region, industry or scientific association. The coincidence of the goals of the local scientific community and the international association is a powerful driver for attracting events. The active position of the scientific and industrial communities and their diversity allow the country to form an image of a destination with high scientific and industry expertise, ready to accept events of various types.

Igor Kovačević: It is all about understanding the clients’ needs and wants.

Speak with them, research on the web all aspects of the event that you are bidding for. Try to fit the destination into the event, and not the vice versa. Use understandable language. Be honest. No two bids are the same.

Matthias Schultze: In Germany, the individual city convention bureaus and other service providers take over bidding for conferences and events, so we are not involved in bidding processes directly. We do, however, deliver know-how and expertise, such as mentioned above on the changing requirements for successful destination marketing that feed into biddings, and are very happy to support local convention bureaus in this respect.

Miha Kovačič: Successful bid consists of hard work but also luck. Deep analysing of the request for proposal, defining goals, careful studying of the history of the event, identifying stakeholders and its roles and wins,

analysing competitors, putting the best possible bid with your own extras and last but not least, the lobbying.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: Because every bid is different, the first thing to do when taking on a new bid is to identify and take the pulse of local stakeholders, followed by studying the client’s vision for the event and the bid’s guidelines. Articulation and strong communication is the key to successfully matching new clients with venues, tour operators and hospitality partners. If you put in the time, have positive energy, pay attention to details and listen to what people are after, you’re highly likely to make your bid a success.

Q: Who should be involved in the preparation of a successful bid?

Alexey Kalachev: Preparing a successful bid means active participation of all the parties involved. Local host involvement is a key success factor.

Pro-active position of a local convention bureau and market players multiplies the chances for conquest winning. Being an association, we engage our members into the bidding processes, and it allows to reach desired results.

Igor Kovačević: All parties of interests, including local association, CVB, PCO, venue and hotels. This gives them an understanding that all of us are partners and everyone should take part in the risks.

Matthias Schultze: In a nutshell, everyone who is needed to meet the specific requirements of the potential customer. Germany is very well positioned because we have a nationwide network of very professional convention bureaus that have all the right structures in place and get the necessary partners on board.

Miha Kovačič: As stated before, goals have to be clearly stated and then stakeholders identified who will contribute to the best possible outcome.

The winning team should consist at least of a local ambassador, convention bureau, PCO and congress centre/congress hotel.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: Support from local stakeholders that we’ve matched with the client’s vision is the primary player, and in some bids, additional support comes from local- and/or state authorities. Most importantly, we need our partners involved as they’ll be servicing the client and operating the event.

Q: Latest stories of success?

Alexey Kalachev: Russian Convention Bureau was founded only a year ago. And I may rate our first year as a year of success. Besides all the organizational issues, we, along with our members, won 4 bids for hosting international events: • GMIS 2019 (Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit) which will take place in Ekaterinburg in July this year • IPHS 2020 (International Planning History Society Conference).

22 VIEWS // DESTINATION MARKETING AND BIDDING

The host city is Moscow.

• The Association of Space Explorers XXXIV Planetary Congress which is to be held in St. Petersburg in 2021.

• The 25th World Energy Congress that will take place in St. Petersburg in 2022.

Igor Kovačević: In 2019 we have started 16 bids processes, and additional 5 are confirmed. For the CVB this are major aspects. But I can mention events that we have bid a long time ago and that are taking place in Serbia this year like EUPSA congress is.

Matthias Schultze: In recent years, we have successfully undertaken a range of market research projects that all look at how to future proof what we’re doing in events. This is very important for us as a national convention bureau because we see ourselves as a driving force, providing our entire professional community with inspirational and innovative ideas, insights and recommendations. In this context, the innovation network “Future Meeting Space” is our flagship project. After two phases looking into the “how to” of future meetings, we’re now launching phase 3, focusing on the role of events within the corporate communications mix.

Miha Kovačič: I don’t want to name the event but will tell a short story. A year ago, I met a very important Professor. I wanted to present him the role of a Convention Bureau as he did not know us. He proudly presented his successful international conference that he organised many many years ago. He said that was it and never again. After the presentation of our Convention Bureau with a long list of services including professional support in all the stages supported by the strong network of partners, he decided to bid again. Even though we were not successful the first year he decided to try again and next year we were successful by winning large international association congress. This professor is now our great supporter.

Sigurdur Valur Sigurdsson: The European Film Awards will be hosted in Reykjavík in December 2020. A successful bid that was announced last month. Reykjavík competed against two other European cities for the event and Meet In Reykjavík led the bidding process alongside stakeholders from both public and private sectors in Iceland. About 1,400 guests of the European Film Academy are expected to attend the award ceremony which will be broadcast live throughout Europe. It’s a great honor for Reykjavík and an opportunity to further promote Icelandic art, culture, and design. It’s an important recognition for the Icelandic film industry and presents Reykjavík as a coveted travel and filmmaking destination.

Q: What always makes you smile?

Alexey Kalachev: The specificity of our work - numerous trips and meetings - involves seeing and communicating with different people, each with their own interests and life experience. But a smile is one of the results that arise in the process of communication. This is the tool that forms the positive energy and helps to work with the partners and the team.

Igor Kovačević: Working with students in my lectures. The more I make them think outside the box, the more classes are interesting. Sun and Danube river, rollerblading almost every morning and enjoying how the Belgrade is waking up.

Miha Kovačič: Honest, skilled, professional but relaxed people.

23

EVENTS & MARKETING AGENCY TOLERANCA MARKETING D.O.O, ŠTIHOVA 4, 1000 LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA Gorazd Čad, CEO l T: +386 (0)1 430 51 03 l E: gorazd.cad@toleranca.eu www.toleranca.eu

24 LET’S TALK // BLED

BLED MEETINGS FORUM SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED The role and importance of meetings industry in Slovene Alpine destinations JASMINA JERANT //

TOLERANCA MARKETING / ALJAŽ ČAD

LET’S TALK // BLED 25

On the 21st of March 2019 the Bled Convention Bureau in cooperation with Toleranca Marketing, event and marketing agency, organised and hosted the first Bled Meetings Forum in the Rikli Balance Hotel in Bled.

The Forum highlighted the role and importance of meetings tourism in the development of tourist destinations, with an emphasis on Slovene Alpine destinations. The meetings industry is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism and is one of the key accelerators of destination development.

Recognizing the advantages of the meetings industry, eight business partners, with the support of the Bled Municipality, in March 2017 established the Bled Convention Bureau, which operates under the auspices of the Bled Tourist Board. By actively promoting Bled as a meetings destination, the office seeks to increase Bled’s visibility for events for international associations, and sports and government events.

In the two years of operation, the results are reflected in confirmed events, which in the years to 2020 will bring 2.7 million Euros into the joint destination’s funds.

The meetings industry is one of the most important tourist segments, for, among other things, it brings to destinations an extension of the season, which brings more revenue, employment and investment.

According to global analyses, the congress industry represents 20% of trips, with three times the financial and other multiplier effects. The consumption of congress guests is almost four times that of leisure guests, and the multiplier effects of the congress industry also extend to the development of infrastructure, new jobs, an opportunity for the international promotion of the destination, quality improvement, the development of new products and offers, the promotion of education, the promotion of the local profession, and the inclusion of young people.

The Bled Tourist Board has established MICE events as one of the three key pillars of tourism development in Bled in its Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Bled Tourism 2018 - 2025. With the creation of the office, the positioning of the meetings industry in primary strategic development, and with the organized forum in Bled, Bled is becoming the centre of the meetings industry of Alpine Slovenia. In the search for ways to cooperate and the joint development of the region, the forum offered a unique platform for meetings of all key stakeholders in the region.

26 LET’S TALK // BLED

WE NEED INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES The forum was opened by Tomaž Rogelj, Director of the Bled Tourist Board, who emphasized that Bled must preserve the uniqueness and authenticity of the destination in a growingly competitive environment.

Gorazd Čad, director of the Toleranca Marketing agency, which participated in the conceptual design and implementation of the event, demonstrated with 13 examples of good practice how the destination can enjoy great benefits for many years if it properly and enthusiastically runs the right marketing campaigns. Miha Kovačič, director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, expressed his support for the work of the Bled Convention Bureau and the forum, and focused on assumptions about how business events should look like in 2021. He stressed that Slovenia must pay a precise and professional attention to all the needs of the meetings industry in Slovenia, and above all to the increase in the number of flight connections, the training of personnel, the necessary investments in infrastructure, the highly qualified and tuned network of suppliers, a precisely defined brand, an attractive offer, and the experience that provides added value.

CHALLENGES OF TRENDS AND ACCEPTING THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Vesna Klemenčič, Head of the Bled Convention Bureau, presented the work of the bureau for a period of two years since its establishment, the results of the work and confirmed events, and what effects the meetings industry has had on the destination. The effects of meetings tourism are reflected in the creation of public-private partnerships, the concentration of investments, the increase in the global visibility of the destination, in new jobs, and in a ‘healthy legacy’, such as the modernized infrastructure that remains at the destination after the event, the opportunities for expanding the labour market, the development, and raising the value of, the property market, references to the destination and references to the local profession, the involvement of young people in the profession and, last but not least, the goal is that participants in the event return to the destination as leisure guests.

LET’S TALK // BLED 27

The effects of the meetings industry are challenged in the forthcoming 4th Industrial Revolution. This brings to the fore big data, digitalization, the robotization of supply, emerging new markets, and the coming group of millennials. Vesna Klemenčič has opened up questions on how to keep up with the times, preserve sovereignty and authenticity, and highlight the possibilities where Bled can gain primacy in the future development of the destination.

CURRENT QUALITY NEEDS TO BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED The round table entitled “Is the Alpine meetings product competitive enough and are we making enough use of positive trends in the international meetings market?” and moderated by Gorazd Čad was joined by the following representatives of the meetings industry in Slovenia: Matija Blažič (Hotel and Glamping Ribno), Miha Kovačič (Slovenian Convention Bureau), Matjaž Jug (ETC Adriatic), Vesna Klemenčič (Bled Convention Bureau), Elizabeta Topolnik (TOP Agency) and Matjaž Žnidaršič (Sava Hotels & Resorts).

The discussion was based around the thought that the existing quality needs to be further strengthened. This reinforcement should be centred on digital marketing, sustainable development, strategic investors, while protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Bled. The panellists praised the thorough renovations of recent years, which have brought extra glamour to the Alpine gem, and expressed the hope that the renovations will continue, including the expected South bypass, which would relieve heavy city traffic during the season.

The panellists also paid attention to the forthcoming Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in 2021. During the six-month presidency, Slovenia will

host high-level meetings and, therefore, the Alpine destinations have an exceptional opportunity to present their authentic offer.

2nd BLED MEETINGS FORUM 2020 The Bled Meetings Forum enjoyed a successful launch. Not only in terms of the conclusions and decisions achieved, and the loudly-expressed support, but also according to the results of the survey carried out after the event. As many as 75% of the participants expressed their opinion that they will certainly return to the Bled Meetings Forum on 18th March 2020, while the remaining 25% said they would most probably return.

This is a remarkable result, which clearly shows how the Slovenian meetings industry desired an event that would bring together so many stakeholders from different segments of industry and integrate them into joint development planning, in order to cope with all the anticipated challenges and transformational guidelines.

The need for such an event was also reflected in the assessments of the Forum itself. The idea for organizing the event was rated 4.79 (on the scale from 1 to 5, where the highest score was 5), the overall organization of the event 4.60, the event’s programme 4.24, the venue 4.85, the networking 4.36, and speakers and themes 4.27. Considering the fact that this was the first time the Forum was held, which laid the ground for a new era, the ratings are very pleasing, and there is no doubt that next year’s Forum will be even better, even more prominent, with an even bigger resonance, and it will be even more bonding for the Slovenian meetings industry; and it will surely host foreign representatives as well, as participants in the survey have expressed their wish that examples of good practice from abroad should be presented at the 2020 Forum.

28 KONGRES PEOPLE // YOUNG TALENTS

I´M CRAZY ABOUT AVENGERS AND X-MEN Michaela Roháčová, Account Manager at CREATIVE PRO, Bratislava NATALIJA BAH ČAD //

PERSONAL ARCHIVE

Q: What is your favourite meetings brand?

I love Hub-Hub and Twin City by HB Reavis. It’s a cool place that brings together a unique workplace of top companies, interesting small events, and cosy Mondieu bistro. Just the perfect combo.

"I’m pretty happy that I have taken my life and happiness into my own hands."

Q: What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

That’s a tough question. But I’m pretty happy that I have taken my life and happiness into my own hands. I’m open to any life-enriching experiences.

Q: What’s your alternative career fantasy?

Well, between us, I’ve always thought that I’d make an amazing stand-up comedian. But for now, I’m pretty happy as account manager at Creative Pro event agency.

Q: What are you obsessed with at the moment?

I’m crazy about Avengers and X-Men. And when the credits roll, I’ll continue my love of travelling.

Q: Your goals before turning 40?

To have a family with a great life balance: ideally a guy, two kids and one job. And during my maternity leave I’d like to write a novel. I’d love to come up with an original project to help those in need, or to bring a start-up or business idea to life (I’ve just got to choose which). Maybe that’s too many goals? I hope not.

KONGRES PEOPLE // WHO IS WHO 29

WHEN IT GETS TOUGH... JUST #KEEPFIGHTING Katja Šturm, Project Manager of the European Food Summit & Head of Marketing and PR at Jezeršek Catering JASMINA JERANT //

MATIC KREMŽAR

Q: What is the best part of your job?

Every day is different from the previous, so to put it plainly – I absolutely love my job.

One example is the months of preparations for the European Food Summit where I got to meet truly remarkable individuals. That is, people who inspire with their stories and encourage us to take a more progressive stance and strive for a brighter future.

Finally, what I appreciate most in my job is working with the best team in the world (#jezersekteam) in creating unforgettable (culinary) experiences.

Q: What would make your job easier?

That despite our limited size, we would finally realize our greatness.

It makes me happy that, together with a team of extraordinary colleagues and others as well as with the perfect combination of boldness and creativity, we have managed to organize a culinary event which has quickly become one of the most popular ones in Europe.

Personally, I am hoping for more similar projects where every individual is fully engaged to deliver something genuinely spectacular.

Q: Last year, what was your best idea?

To keep going, despite the occasional obstacles, and make the European Food Summit a reality. And to prove to those who were suggesting that we might have bitten off more than we could chew that Slovenians should take a more ambitious stance and a more confident outlook on the future.

Q: What are you most proud of in business?

That we have succeeded in creating something incredible and unique.

Q: … and in your private life?

The moments that are truly unforgettable. And when it gets tough... just #keepfighting.

Q: Wisdom/motto?

Work hard, play harder.

30 KONGRES JOURNEYS // MEETOLOGUE

BELFAST

Belfast really makes sense GORAZD ČAD //

TOURISM NORTHERN IRELAND

INTRO 2019 No story of Belfast could start without a look into its past, marked by the thirty-year Northern Irish conflict: #thetroubles. A visitor’s impression is that the 1.8 million inhabitants have left this part of history behind them.

While the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 provides the foundation for peaceful development, reconciliation between the Unionist majority and the Nationalist minority still appears to be a utopian dream. Among the consequences of the conflict is the segregation, a lasting reminder of which is the wall that separates the Protestant and Catholic communities.

The conflict continues to simmer and the current debate and dilemma around Brexit and the future status of Northern Ireland are pouring more oil onto the fire.

Yet despite the stereotypes and old wounds, life in Northern Ireland goes on as usual. Northern Ireland nowadays closely resembles the rest of the European regions. According to research, Belfast is among the safest cities in Great Britain. Optimism and positivity are reflected in the numerous investments and the return of many of those who left the city back when times were difficult. Meetings tourism represents an important part of the development. Supporting the ambitious plan is the ongoing marketing campaign Belfast Makes Sense, which represents a collaboration of 13 key partners. The key objective of the campaign— launched in February 2019—is to create an annual profit of 60 million pounds. Judging by the infrastructure and the omnipresent spirit of cooperation, they will undoubtedly succeed.

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NEED TO KNOW 2019 One thing that meetings organisers are especially enthusiastic about is how compact the city is. All the main venues and hotels are within the wider city centre, all of which is within walking distance.

The heart of the meetings offering is the Belfast Waterfront where ICC Belfast is located; this superbly designed convention centre is perfect for events with up to 2,220 participants. During our visit it was hosting a microbiology meeting that took up the most of the centre. In addition to meetings, the acoustically superb Main Auditorium also hosts numerous concerts and other events. Also nearby is the Assembly Buildings conference centre, which occupies the premises of a former church. The main hall can receive up to 1,150 participants and is exquisitely appointed.

With numerous break-out rooms, it is especially well suited for scientific conferences. In the immediate vicinity are most of the major city hotels, most of which feature smaller meeting halls.

WHAT’S HOT 2019 • NASUWT National Conference 2019 April 19–22, 2019 Venue: ICC Belfast • Association of Research Managers Association Annual Conference (ARMA) June 17–18, 2019 Venue: ICC Belfast • European Political Science Association (EPSA) June 20–22, 2019 Venue: Queen’s University • Royal Statistical Society September 2–5, 2019 Venue: ICC Belfast • British Ecological Society Annual Meeting (BES 2019) December 10–13, 2019 Venue: ICC Belfast

An important advantage the city offers are the numerous special venues, most prominently the popular Titanic Museum. The area of the former shipyard has been revitalised and turned into the Titanic Quarter; since 2015, its predominant feature has been an imposing museum that the locals have taken to calling “The Iceberg”. At the top of the museum is a banquet hall which can receive up to 750 guests. This hall also features one of the most interesting exhibits in the area, namely the reproduction of the famous wooden grand staircase from the Titanic.

There are 5,500 hotel rooms available to meetings guests, as well as a number of top-quality bars and restaurants. Air travel accessibility is fair; the city’s two airports link it to 194 destinations and Dublin Airport represents a nearby alternative. Belfast offers everything that much bigger destinations do, all wrapped up in a very attractive package at favourable prices.

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KONGRES JOURNEYS // MEETOLOGUE 33

DID YOU KNOW? GAME OF THRONES The European Game of Thrones premiere took place in Belfast in April 2019. The grand event was hosted at the ICC Belfast convention centre.

Northern Ireland, and Belfast in particular, are very closely associated with the popular series, as most of its eight seasons of material was shot at Titanic Studios—one of the biggest film studios in Europe, located at the spot where the ill-fated Titanic was built. Right next to the studios, you and your meeting guests will be able to find out all the details about the series’ heroes on the Game of Thrones studio tour. We were able to preview the exhibition before its grand opening; the costumes, props, weapons and sets are truly impressive. As the series’ filming concludes, other filming locations are being made accessible. The story about the seven kingdoms of Westeros is the perfect starting point for an attractive incentive programme.

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA BLACK TAXI TOUR Taking a ride in a black cab let us gradually begin to understand the new normalcy of Northern Ireland and gave us a peek behind the scenes of Belfast, where kilometres of walls still divide the two tribes who try, despite the lingering hostility, to maintain and live the status quo. The taxi driver, with his charming dialect, took us on a tour of the divided city’s history, showing us places where tourists rarely end up. The most memorable feature are the enormous murals on both sides, representing the iconography and ideology of conflict. They serve as a kind of a historical storyboard, telling one more about the city than can be gleaned from historical brochures.

OFF THE BEATEN MICE TRACK MONTALTO ESTATE Imagine growing up in paradise. That’s exactly what happened to David Wilson in 1995, when his parents bought an estate roughly half an hour from Belfast, on the outskirts of Ballynahinch. This year, the protracted renovation of the estate was finally finished and the result is a downright extraordinary venue. It was an immediate hit, both among wedding organisers and as a venue for business events with up to 150 participants. The venue is closely connected to nature—you could say nature is the reason for its existence—and the “wow” factor is part of the experience. Extraordinary!

MTLG OUTRO Film-makers have long since embraced Northern Ireland, and for many reasons. The marvellous nature is one of them, but some are purely practical. Crucial among them are the positive attitude towards the film industry, the systematic support it enjoys, as well as the straightforward conditions for production. A similar future seems to await the meetings industry. Belfast has recorded the fastest economic growth in the UK, particularly in the service sector, which the meetings industry is a part of.

The ambitious plans seem perfectly achievable, thanks in large part due to the close relationships within the industry in general. This was best expressed by Raymond Robinson, who summarised the spirit of the city in the following statement: “What works for the city works for us all.” Last but not least, we were completely won over by the boundless kindness and warmth of the Northern Irish people, something we are sure your congress participants will also notice. We can only hope that the explosive streets of Belfast remain peaceful and serene.

THE PERFECT GIFT TITANIC MEMORABILIA The Titanic, the British ocean liner commissioned by the White Star Line company and built by the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, was the world’s biggest and most luxurious passenger ship when it was launched on 2nd April 1912. In remembrance of the tragic events, the Titanic Museum offers various memorabilia, literature and all sorts of other items that you can buy as reminders of the famous ship and its tragic fate.

BEST KEPT SECRETS BELFAST FOOD REVOLUTION It is true—the Irish love their pubs and enjoy their beer and whiskey.

They cherish and maintain this tradition in all of its varieties, the pubs ranging from the ancient, traditionally appointed affairs, to more modern variants. That said, it is also true that the last few years have seen Belfast undergo something of a culinary revolution. The city is home to several superb restaurants and it seems that the culinary arts are something that the Irish truly enjoy. According to many, one of the pioneers of this culinary revolution is the OX, who has received a Michelin star multiple times. It helps that they have access to exquisite local ingredients. One way to introduce your meeting guests to contemporary Irish culinary arts is through cooking classes. We recommend the James Street Cookery School, where, in addition to receiving practical knowledge, you will also get to know the extremely passionate and friendly hosts. Celebrity chef Niall McKenna is sure to win you over with his cooking philosophy and magnetic personality.

WHO TO CONTACT Visit Belfast 9 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5 GB Northern Ireland T: +44 (0)28 9023 9026 E: conference@visitbelfast.com W: www.visitbelfast.com/conferenc MTLG 2019 We visited Belfast in April 2019. Belfast is part of the MTLG 2019 evaluation. The results of this year’s competition have just been published and can be viewed at kongres-magazine.eu More information at www.kongres-magazine.eu

34 KONGRES JOURNEYS // MEETOLOGUE

ŠTANJEL

The Whole-Town Venue GORAZD ČAD //

WWW.SLOVENIAINFO.COM / VID PONIKVAR & MARIJAN MOČIVNIK, HOTEL ST. DANIEL / ANA ROJC

INTRO 2019 Organising an event completely surrounded with cultural heritage is a one-of-a-kind experience—especially if the town is a living symbol of the Karst way of life that has been developing into a truly special meeting venue. In the recent years, the medieval town of Štanjel has become one of the pillars of Karst tourism. The meticulously restored 17thcentury castle is among the finest examples of architectural heritage in the Slovene Littoral and is at the heart of the freshest, most unusual meetings story in Slovenia. The entire town—a dense cluster of stone buildings—can become a venue for your event, along with one its most special spots, the Ferrari Garden.

The Municipality of Komen has been renovating the premises for a while now, and years of intense work have produced completely new sites that are just waiting to be discovered by event organisers. Among others, the Knight’s Hall, featuring a wine library, will soon be restored. The Spacal Gallery is a superb venue as well, and for a truly boutique experience, there is the Fabiani Hall and the Square Tower in the castle courtyard.

Many locations remain undiscovered, however, and surrounded as they are with extraordinary cultural heritage and intimately connected with the idyllic landscape, they just beg the organisers to make them the venue for their next event. Built entirely out of stone and radiating a special energy, Štanjel is a microcosm of Karst itself.

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NEED TO KNOW 2019 No event in Štanjel is complete without a walk along the footpaths designed by the famous architect Maks Fabiani. He lived in Štanjel in the interwar period, leaving a considerable architectural legacy. All the paths lead to his masterpiece, the fairy-tale Ferrari Garden, where, in nice weather, you will be able to enjoy a banquet with a view of the Vipava Valley. Fabiani made an interesting use of the stone, creating different spaces that nowadays prove perfect for weddings, receptions and boutique events. The most spectacular part of the Ferrari Garden is the oval pool crossed by a bridge, which is supposed to represent Venice. The ubiquitous stone catches the eye, emphasising subjects that just beg to be “Instagrammed”. This is especially appreciated by wedding organisers.

They fill most Saturday afternoon slots in Štanjel in the summer.

The rest of the week, however, is perfect for incentive organisers, who can use the venue to organise truly extraordinary receptions with a stunning view. You will experience, feel and taste Karst with every step you take.

DID YOU KNOW? Karst phenomena were named after the Karst region, where they were first discovered. In its capitalised form, the word Karst, or Kras, refers to the region lying between the Bay of Trieste, the Soča Valley, the Vipava Valley, the Upper Pivka Valley and the Brkini Hills. For many, however, Štanjel represents the informal centre of Karst. In its immediate vicinity we can find peculiar natural phenomena that gave their name to all similar occurrences elsewhere in the world. In the ancient Illyrian and Venetic languages, the word “karst” meant “stone”. The typical karst landscape is shaped by the water chemically dissolving the limestone over the course of many years. These processes leave the surface stony, and dotted with sinkholes and numerous karst caves. Cave tourism is one of the peculiarities of the Karst region; Vilenica, one of the first caves to become a tourist attraction, is just over 20 kilometres from Štanjel. Concentrated in the centre of the so-called classical Karst is an abundance of natural and cultural monuments just waiting for you to introduce them to your meeting guests.

WHAT’S HOT 2019 • Festival Kraška Gmajna 25 April – 02 June 2019 Venue: Multiple locations across the Karst Plateau • Castle Summer June 2019 Venue: Multiple locations in Štanjel • The Slovenian Festival of Kamishibai Theatre 09–11 August 2019 Venue: Štanjel • The 34th Vilenica International Literary Festival 14 September 2019 Venue: Štanjel, castle court • The Wine Holiday in Karst 8–11 November 2019 Venue: Štanjel and various other locations throughout the Karst region • The Karst Cuisine Month 04 October – 3 November 2019 Venue: Štanjel and various other locations throughout the Karst region Note: Only the main tourist events are listed; the list of major meeting events is not yet ready.

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KONGRES JOURNEYS // MEETOLOGUE 37

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA Exploring the World of Lojze Spacal Trieste-born Lojze Spacal is considered one of the most prominent visual artists of the post-war period in the area of Slovenia and Italy, having achieved global recognition. The painter’s world can be explored at the Grajžar Gallery; a tour of Štanjel will give you a glimpse of Spacal’s world, full of surfaces and symbolism. You will make your own linocut graphic and the proprietor will give you an authentic tasting session of Karst prosciutto and Teran wine.

THE PERFECT GIFT Nature is not the only famous and exciting thing about Karst, however.

Karst prosciutto, or Kraški pršut, and Teran wine, as well as Karst cuisine in general, attract large numbers of tourists, especially when a homestead organises a so-called osmica. This is a culinary “event” where the organiser serves home-produced food and drink. This will allow you to provide your meeting guests with a practical demonstration of the “zerokilometre” philosophy. Karst offers endless examples of superb cuisine combined with this philosophy. If you want to get as close as possible to the place where prosciutto is produced, go to Kobjeglava, where your meeting group will be pampered by the top chef Simon Komel. Modern and urban Karst cuisine is superb; we believe it will satisfy even the most demanding incentive groups. Karst prosciutto, aged for at least three years, is the epitome of this experience. The caterer also ensures that a premium offering is available at Štanjel Castle, making top-tier cuisine a fixture of events held in the Ferrari Garden.

BEST KEPT SECRETS The idyllic Hotel St. Daniel is within shooting distance of Štanjel and offers a picture-postcard view of the latter from its lovely garden full of herbs and lavender. The proprietors, Nina Abramič and Miran Prodnik, conceived the hotel on an ecological basis. For them, “eco” is not just a fashionable label but a way of life. Nina, who is a bio-resonance therapist, made this philosophy part of the hotel concept, while Miran, a university-educated painter, took care of the realisation. The result was a hotel featuring two rooms, three apartments, three suites, a restaurant, a gym and a holistic wellness centre. It is a prototype for a boutique tourist product that points the way for the development of new tourist products in the Karst region.

The hotel is also a gallery of sorts, reflecting the refined aesthetic sense of the owners, which permeates every space in the hotel. In addition to the wine list, they also offer a water list. Thanks to these characteristics, the hotel became a member of the Bio Hotels group, whose admission criteria are among the strictest (there is only one other Slovenian member, the Trnulja estate and farm).

OFF THE BEATEN MICE TRACK The architect Fabiani truly left a mark on Štanjel. In its prime, the Fabiani family employed over a hundred people. They had a horse stable, an orangery, a wine house—faladur, a granary and even a single-storey school. Unfortunately, the bulk of the architect’s heritage had been left to decay. The dilapidated Villa Fabiani was noticed by the architect Blanka Malgaj and her husband Andrej. With a great amount of sensitivity, the new owners renovated the villa, transforming it into a very special venue.

Villa Fabiani hosts wedding receptions, cultural and official events, as well as offering several prestigious rooms. The family is also in the process of renovating the estate vineyard. With assistance from the Štoka

winemakers, they replanted the indigenous Pikolit grapevine.

You can acquaint yourself with the spirit of the famous architect by taking the thematic Fabiani trail that connects Štanjel with the homestead.

The space is exclusive and is only rented out by prior arrangement. The participants of your events will be grateful for being able to experience one of the most wonderful special venues in Slovenia.

WHERE TO STAY Like Sleeping Beauty, Štanjel is waking from its sleep. The dilapidated, overgrown stone houses are being transformed into apartment houses meticulously restored to cultural monument protection standards; an increasing number of them are also available to rent. You will not be able to provide a group of guests with accommodation at a single hotel, but spending the night in several different apartments lining the narrow stone streets can become a truly unique experience.

MTLG OUTRO Štanjel is among the oldest and certainly one of the most picturesque Karst settlements. In recent years, it has turned into an idyllic wedding venue, but the potential of this place is much broader. It is definitely the ideal location for boutique corporate events and incentive programmes.

You don’t need to go far for inspiration: a similar road has already been taken in the Gorizia Hills. To start with, the people responsible will need to carefully take stock of what is available and then offer it in a straightforward and commercially acceptable way on the meetings market. Štanjel is a diamond in the rough of the incentive market, waiting to be discovered by international event organisers. The authenticity and passion of the people of Karst will definitely not leave your participants indifferent.

WHO TO CONTACT TIC Štanjel Štanjel 1a 6222 Štanjel T: +386 (0)5 769 00 56 E: tic@stanjel.eu www.stanjel.eu MTLG 2019 We visited Štanjel in March 2019. Štanjel is part of the MTLG 2019 evaluation. The results of this year’s competition have just been published and can be viewed at kongres-magazine.eu More information at www.kongres-magazine.eu

38 HOW TO

NINE SECRETS OF HOW BUSINESS EVENTS HELP YOU PROSPER MOJCA ČERNELČ KOPRIVNIKAR

MIHA FRAS

Socializing is an intrinsic part of the human experience. People gather, communicate, and share, not simply for enjoyment, but out of necessity fundamentally linked to our survival instinct. We need each other, for security, and emotional support, and through this need we often discover the age-old wisdom, that two heads are better than one.

The technological revolution of the 21st century brought rapid changes to the ways in which not only individuals, but nations communicate and interact with one another. Friends can talk or message each other

Mojca Černelč Koprivnikar is CEO of Prosperia, and moderator of events. She helps organizations and individuals with creating, implementing and moderating memorable business events and performances that generate added value for participants, and therefore, clients.

easily from opposite sides of the globe. Unsurprisingly, the advent of the internet and the information age has transformed business, and the ways in which professionals network and market themselves.

In spite of these changes, hosting events remains a tried and proven means to grow one’s business or professional practice. Thus, it’s not surprising that according to the ICCA report for 2017, the number of international conferences in the last fifty years have doubled every ten years.

HOW TO 39

1. EVENTS ARE ALWAYS A SHARED EXPERIENCE

Events, be it a business conference, professional workshop, or even a rock concert or a private party, all have one thing in common: they stimulate our senses. Through this stimulation, events have the power to evoke powerful emotions, activate both sides of the brain, and connect different people through a common experience.

2. AHA MOMENT: TRIGGERING CHANGE

I’ve spent fifteen years creating a wide variety of events, as well as moderating panel discussions with various experts on multiple topics.

This experience has given me the eye to quickly recognize the ingredients that coalesce to make a successful event that has a powerful effect on its attendees, as well as, the mistakes and missed opportunities that can lead a host to feel as though they’ve just provided nothing more than a wasted experience. Successful events can create circumstances between people, or even within the individual, that trigger revelatory and unexpected change. These instances are often referred to as the “AHA” moment. However, even when these moments do occur, most speakers and host fail to capitalize on this opportunity.

It’s this capacity for an event to change a person’s mind that I’d like to examine more closely for a moment. After all, sales are at the heart of every business, and changing the customer’s mind, is at the heart of every sale. The ability to help a client or customer recognize a need or a problem that previously evaded them, and that you or your company is uniquely qualified to provide a solution for. Thus, successful events reach out and change the way customers think, often allowing them to recognize problems, or find solutions to problems they were already aware of. Most importantly, a successful event can assure any client in attendance, that you can bring the essential assistance to overcome these challenges.

Events can provide opportunities to experience new points of view, thus changing attitudes, and creating the proper environment to initiate action in participants.

3. EVENTS: THE WORLD’S GREATEST MARKETING TOOL

In the age of social networking and constant floods of information, events retain the capacity to accomplish several fundamental goals often left unfilled by newer digital marketing tools. They can address numerous potential customers, while also establishing a sense of intimacy with them. Intimacy of course, is essential in building trustful relationships.

4. INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIPS: THE BENEFIT OF HAVING ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS

One unique aspect of events that host often fail to fully utilize is the potential to establish a two-way line of communication with participants.

Events provide the perfect opportunity to retrieve feedback from different customers. This information can often prove invaluable when attempting to grow one’s company or practice. Furthermore, responses from participants often provide insight on how to develop and improve products and services.

5. WHY WASTE TIME ON MEETINGS?

Meeting with individual customers can take up a substantial amount of time, and as anyone in business can tell you, time is money. Events have

the unique capacity to provide the same sense of assurance and intimacy found in individual meetings yet save countless hours by targeting numerous clients at the same time. As I stated before, events stimulate multiple senses, which in turn, activates powerful emotions. Therefore, the information provided in an event, is far more likely to have a lasting and meaningful impact on a client, than if they are simply by themselves reading that information in promotional material.

How Can Events Help you Prosper? Success can be measured in a number of different ways. It consists of how inspired we are by what we do, how we influence the lives and business of others, and by the most common metric for success: how much money can your business or practice generate. Still, events provide a way to address all of these concerns. They can inspire host, speakers and attendees alike, increase the host’s or speaker’s influence on all the members of the audience, and most importantly, plant the seeds of numerous relationships that will ultimately produce income.

6. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP

Events are one of the best ways to connect with existing or potential customers. Whether an event leaves the audience inspired or unimpressed, depends largely on the organizer, as well as the speaker.

Nevertheless, every event certainly has the potential for nurturing our business connections.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

One of the major benefits of events is that it allows business or professions to present their products or services in a way that doesn’t feel intrusive, rather, the intimacy inspires confidentiality, which in turn, inspires trust and loyalty.

8. FOUR GIFTS OF BUSINESS EVENTS

Events have the power to connect, educate, and inspire participants, thus making it easier for business and professional to progress towards their own unique goals.

9. HAVE A CLEAR OBJECTIVE

Planning is essential for creating successful events. Outlining a clear goal, as well as the structure and objective of each activity is cruical for maximizing the impact of an event. Always begin by asking yourself “what do I want to achieve,” from their you can work out whether it’s better to have a speaker, a workshop, or an interactive presentation.

We should allow ourselves to boldly gather experience and take a step away from the comfort zone each time we are creating a relationship and a community with participants. Even so, our event, performance, or planned networking will not always be perfect. Practice makes perfect.

40 KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST

MJUS WORLD RESORT & THERMAL PARK An incentive centre at the junction of three countries MJUS WORLD RESORT & THERMAL PARK

CATEGORY 4**** OPENED SINCE 2016 MEETINGS STAR Spa Meeting Hotel STANDARD Hotel with conference facilities NUMBER OF ROOMS 123 rooms PRICE INTERNET EUR 109 (March 2019 low season / Trivago) ADDRESS MJUS WORLD Resort & Thermal Park Kristilla Szolgáltató és Kereskedelmi Kft. Rákóczi F. u. 154 - 9900 Körmend, Hungary T: +36 94 514 111 E: info@mjusworld.com FACILITIES Restaurant pizzeria Bakery pub Pasticerria Italia Bar lounge Thermal park with wellness and sauna land Fitness Shoes & Accessories shop Multipurpose sport field Outdoor gym SPECIALS A garden of paradise in a thermal park with nicely maintained greenery, which is also suitable for openair receptions, or simply an event in an amphitheatre at the edge of the park.

www.mjusworld.com

LOCATION The town of Körmend is in the far west of Hungary, right next to the border with Austria. The town developed along the river Raba, and its history is closely tied to the Batthyany family and the castle that they modified and expanded in the mid-18th century, creating a luxurious Baroque complex with a park which has since become a symbol of the city.

The hotel itself is just over a kilometre away from the town centre and is located in a tidy suburb where residential buildings alternate with industrial ones. The same location used to be the site of a shoe factory owned by the Italian manufacturer Mjus; in 2016 it was successfully transformed into a tourist resort.

ACCESSIBILITY The hotel is located in the region of the Raba river, at the junction of three countries, only a few tens of kilometres from Austria and Slovenia. For the most part, the roads have been renovated and they are well maintained. Most guests arrive at the resort with cars; they have a large, free car park at their disposal. The car park is also equipped with a quick charger for electric vehicles. The closest airport is in Graz, less than 100 kilometres away. We recommend going cycling with the hotel bikes—a pleasant and healthy recreation on the level roads. Public transport in Hungary is solid, and there has been a lot of advancement especially in terms of rail transport.

COLD APPETIZER - ARCHITECTURE AND AESTHETICS The hotel is not one of those with ambitious, unusual and flamboyant architecture. In terms of appearance, it is more an example of function over form, and we can’t fault it for that.

The architects have thoroughly utilised the plentiful space; the building is airy and seems to breathe. Little design elements, especially the modern furniture, bring warmth to the space.

It was only in the corridors that the interior designers seemed to have let their imagination run a bit too free—we simply could not get used to the jarring colour combinations. Other than that, the architecture is restrained and, above all, very functional. As a whole, it convinces, especially because of the concept.

WARM APPETIZER - STAFF AND CATERING The hotel is owned by a large footwear company from Italy. They have always focused on the customers and their needs, and this philosophy has been carried over to their tourist project.

The staff are well-trained and friendly, abiding by the wishes and ideas of the owners. This will particularly delight the guests, who are sure to leave the resort enthused. The cuisine is solid and, considering the owners are Italians, we especially recommend the really good pizza (pizza this good is hard to find elsewhere in Hungary). Breakfast is also very sound, with a good selection of dishes. The one thing we missed is a corner featuring local cuisine, which, in this region of Hungary, is very diverse. We especially recommend the exceptional dessert offered in the hotel’s confectionery, Pasticerria Italia.

KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST 41

MAIN DISH - CONFERENCE HOTEL SERVICE The hotel features seven different categories of rooms, but even the smallest ones, named Smart, are more spacious than the average. Our choice was a Grand-type room, offering a luxurious 31 m2. The design of the rooms is unusual; instead of conventional wardrobes, you get a series of ingenious hangers that work very well in practice. The floor is wooden and matches the brown hues of the sofa and the designer bench well. Thanks to the special mounting system, the pieces of furniture seem to float in the air. The bed deserves a special compliment; we haven’t slept in a bed this good for a long time. The bathroom is likewise very spacious and features an above-average selection of quality toiletries. The airy feel of the room and the unusual design quickly get under your skin.

Meetings centre The small-scale meetings centre features four halls that can receive a maximum of 150 people. The halls have daylight illumination. What is most exciting, however, are the many alternative spaces, both indoors and outdoors.

DESSERT - ADDITIONAL FACILITIES Bowling, which can be a wonderful addition to the incentive programme. They have six lanes and all the necessary appointments, including a bowling bar.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES The lighting in certain rooms could be executed better, especially in the large dining hall.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES A comprehensive range of services that, in addition to offering relaxation in the thermal baths and wellness, also includes a truly fascinating programme, Underground Mjus: an opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the hotel and see the operation of all the exceedingly complex technical systems.

FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY For incentive organisers, Mjus hotel is an excellent choice. The hotel as a whole is convincing, which probably shouldn’t be surprising, considering the Italian owners who operate the hotel with passion and a great eye for detail. The hotel has a unique character and it is, in particular, exceptionally spacious and comfortable.

There is enough room for unusual requests, such as a private party by the hotel pool. In general, the hotel stands out by offering numerous interesting spaces for events, one of which is the newly opened wine shop.

Some details could be improved, but they are outweighed by the pleasant staff and the exceptionally rich and comprehensive offering. This also compensates for the somewhat more complicated logistics, which are due to the hotel being away from the centre of Hungary. Incentive organisers, however, are not bothered; they are rewarded by an amazing story that is a perfect fit for incentive groups, giving them the excellent value for money they seek.

RESULTS MARKS LOCATION 4,12 ACCESSIBILITY 4,35 FIRST IMPRESSION 4,64 LOBBY 4,78 EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE 4,85 RECEPTION 4,91 4,89 HOTEL ROOM HOTEL BED 4,95 BATHROOM AND RESTROOM 4,83 HOTEL BREAKFAST 4,51 BARS AND RESTAURANTS 4,62 4,69 CONGRESS HALL ADDITIONAL OFFER 4,95 TOTAL

4.70 SILVER SPA MEETING HOTEL

GOLD final score SILVER final score BRONZE final score

from 4.81 to 5.00 from 4.61 to 4.80 from 4.41 to 4.60

LUXURY PREMIUM BUSINESS ECONOMY BUDGET

    

The HIDDEN GUEST section is not paid. The selection of the hotels that are evaluated by the hidden meeting guest is at the discretion of the editorial board and the visits are unannounced.

4.70 Final Grade

42 KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST

THE CHEDI, LUŠTICA BAY Informal luxury THE CHEDI

CATEGORY 5***** OPENED SINCE August 2018 MEETINGS STAR Resort meeting hotel STANDARD Hotel with conference facilities NUMBER OF ROOMS 111 rooms and suites (60 of those are condominium studios) PRICE INTERNET EUR 202–515 (single use) / Booking, May 2019 ADDRESS THE CHEDI, LUŠTICA BAY Luštica Bay Marina 85323 Tivat - Radovići, Montenegro T: +382 (32) 661 266 FACILITIES Restaurant The Spot The Restaurant The lobby and pool bars Indoor & outdoor pool and sundeck Spa and Fitness Centre Marina Conference Centre Golf Course (under construction, to be finished in 2021) SPECIALS A marina, which is an excellent starting point for incentive programmes that include sailing and other water sports.

www.chedilusticabay.com

LOCATION Located in the bay of Trašte, the brand-new coastal town Luštica Bay is part of an ambitious project by the Swiss-Egyptian consortium Orasacom Development Holding. Last year, a deserted stretch of the coast became home to a new marina, as well as the first restaurants and shops, but the crucial portion of the first phase of the project was the opening of the Chedi luxury hotel on 17 August 2018. It is the hotel, operated by the company GHM, that is the main impetus for the tourism boom in the town, indicating the future direction of the resort. This will continue to develop, eventually expanding to the new town of Centrale. Seven new hotels of different types are planned. An especially important part will be the 18-hole golf course, which will be among the best in the Adriatic.

ACCESSIBILITY Montenegro is distinctly oriented towards air travel and the connections are improving year after year. You can reach the hotel via three airports: Tivat, which is the nearest, Dubrovnik and Podgorica. Tivat is less than 20 kilometres from Luštica. The road is not in the best condition and it helps a lot to not be too nervous. The resort is under construction; trucks and traffic jams are commonplace. It is the obscure routes that lead to the prettiest of places.

COLD APPETIZER - ARCHITECTURE AND AESTHETICS The architecture is clean and refined, allowing tiny details to stand out. The egg-shaped rocking chairs in the lobby, for instance, or the sexy couches inviting you to kick back and enjoy. The lighting, which is a highly problematic aspect in many of the hotels in the Adriatic, is superb here. There are many selfie spots. There is an impressive art gallery in the lobby.

The tourist complex is not yet complete in the urbanistic sense, but even now, it feels truly fresh. The interior designer Gauthier Guillaume has managed to create a relaxing zen oasis, where natural materials predominate.

WARM APPETIZER - STAFF AND CATERING The casual uniforms of the waiting staff are an important part of the experience, making them seem more relaxed and cooler. This is especially true for the restaurant The Spot, where the top-notch staff handle their jobs perfectly. Then there is the rocket chef Steven Grande, an executive chef who has used the less is more principle to come up with a seasonal menu worthy of the gods themselves. His interpretation of traditional hotel dishes and the national staple, the Shopska salad, was positively sublime.

Special thanks are also due to the reception staff, who really know how to make a good first impression and are capable of solving minor issues elegantly.

MAIN DISH - CONFERENCE HOTEL SERVICE Hotel rooms The Grand De Luxe Room that we tried measures a luxurious 47 m2. It includes a wellequipped kitchenette. The spacious, panoramic bathroom with a bathtub is eye-catching.

KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST 43

An interesting touch—the bright walls with a special finish that nicely complement the minimalist furniture in a light-coloured brushed oak and the floor that resembles terrazzo panels. The high-tech lighting is exceptional, while the bed and the bedding are in line with the expectations for this hotel chain. The hotel room features sophisticated technology and is full of little surprises like Bose speakers, an Illy coffeemaker and a wide range of premium wines for very reasonable prices.

Meetings centre The central ballroom has a capacity of 168 guests (96 in a banquet seating arrangement) and there is a smaller boardroom available. The generously sized lobby is another thing that adds value. We also see a lot of potential in certain outdoor locations, but these are not part of the offer yet; they would be ideal for car premieres.

DESSERT - ADDITIONAL FACILITIES A spa with two saunas and an Infinity pool is a harmoniously designed oasis that offers a retreat from the more crowded outdoor pool. We recommend Chedi treatments by professional Thai masseuses.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES The town is under construction and will continue to be so for a while, during which time it will be impossible to avoid construction sites. Luštica Bay is a work in progress, and you will need to take that into account.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES The high-end cuisine by chef Steven Grande, who was born in the USA and has sharpened his skills—and knives—in some of the most prestigious Asian resorts. He has included a number of local dishes in the Chedi hotel menu, but he also delights by using fresh local ingredients of superb quality.

FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY Chedi offers a different kind of luxury, one that is less formal and better suited to the younger urban population. At the same time, the varied range of services makes it ideal for incentive groups of any size. These customers already love Montenegro, but they now have yet another reason for that.

Chedi is also the new gem of Montenegrin hotel options. The foremost characteristic of the new hotel is its luxury of space. Even the smallest room measures 45 m2, which is standard-setting. When the tourist complex is fully completed, the golf course will definitely become one of the hottest incentive spots in the Adriatic.

RESULTS MARKS LOCATION 4.51 4.55 ACCESSIBILITY FIRST IMPRESSION 4.95 LOBBY 5.00 EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE 4.92 RECEPTION 4.99 5.00 HOTEL ROOM HOTEL BED 5.00 BATHROOM AND RESTROOM 5.00 HOTEL BREAKFAST 4.85 BARS AND RESTAURANTS 4.89 4.90 CONGRESS HALL ADDITIONAL OFFER 4.50 TOTAL

4.85 GOLD RESORT MEETING HOTEL

GOLD final score SILVER final score BRONZE final score

from 4.81 to 5.00 from 4.61 to 4.80 from 4.41 to 4.60

LUXURY PREMIUM BUSINESS ECONOMY BUDGET

    

The HIDDEN GUEST section is not paid. The selection of the hotels that are evaluated by the hidden meeting guest is at the discretion of the editorial board and the visits are unannounced.

4.85 Final Grade

44 KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST

GRAND PARK HOTEL ROVINJ

The zeitgeist of luxury tourism in Istria MAISTRA

CATEGORY 5***** OPENED SINCE 2019 MEETINGS STAR Resort meeting hotel STANDARD Hotel with conference facilities NUMBER OF ROOMS 209 rooms and suites PRICE INTERNET EUR 297–354 (single use) / Trivago, April 2019 ADDRESS GRAND PARK HOTEL ROVINJ Smareglijeva ulica 1A, 52210 Rovinj, Croatia T+385 52 800 250 E: hello@maistra.hr FACILITIES Àlbaro Spa & Wellness Level 4 Spa Laurel & Berry Restaurant Cap Aureo Signature Restaurant Viva Eufemia Lobby Bar Primi Terreni Restaurant & Delicatessen Cissa Pool Bar Katarina's Patisserie Shopping promenade with 13 shops Sport facilities nearby Car wash Complete logistics for car launch events SPECIALS The central conference hall with a million-dollar view, which astounds visitors with the largest panoramic window in Europe. A priceless, amazingly exclusive meetings venue. www.maistra.com

LOCATION The spectacular, terraced hotel is located at the entrance into the Monte Mulini area, which has now, with the completion of the hotel, become a complete architectural and urban entity. Together with the new ACI marina, an extraordinary space has been created, which impresses with superb planning, the horticultural arrangements, the urban equipment and the well-thought-out details. The premium architecture speaks for itself, but it also says a lot about the investors and the kind of attitude they have towards their own history and environment. The Grand Park Hotel is proof that taking the local context into account pays off. In the Adriatic this year, we are richer for a hotel that will, in our opinion, end up on the list of the most prestigious hotels in the Mediterranean.

ACCESSIBILITY The western coast of Istria, where Rovinj is located, is easily accessible and the road infrastructure is excellent. Another advantage is the proximity of the airports in Pula and Trieste, as well as Ljubljana and Zagreb. Airports have been recording a rapid growth in passenger numbers, which is favourable for the further development of meetings tourism.

Most of the guests, however, come to Rovinj by car, and they are well catered for at the new hotel. A large garage and valet parking are considered as a standard for a hotel in this category. That said, Rovinj is a town where the landmarks can be reached on foot, and this is something we strongly recommend. There is also a good taxi service, as well as Uber.

COLD APPETIZER - ARCHITECTURE AND AESTHETICS The hotel can be considered as the most ambitious architectural project in the Adriatic at the moment, both in terms of its architecture and in terms of the urban arrangement of the entire Monte Mulini area. The new plaza that was created in front of the hotel will become a venue for socialising, games and gatherings. The architecture feels organic, as if it has been there forever.

Every detail counts, no matter how small. Take the corridors, for instance; these are usually the boring parts of a hotel, but here, they have become interesting spaces in their own right. The architectural studio 3LHD has done an amazing job, and in addition to everything else, the hotel is an affirmation of the excellence of Croatian architectural and design scene.

WARM APPETIZER - STAFF AND CATERING The added value is the youthful staff—eager to please and very nice. We can only hope that this pioneering spirit is retained in the future. One of the quirks are the staff’s charming casual uniforms.

Bound to play a crucial part of the story is the five-star culinary experience. Mere days after the grand opening, we can already see the outlines of what is one of the most ambitious hotel stories of the Adriatic. We tried the main hotel restaurant Laurel & Berry. We can already say that the wine selection is superb—in accordance with the philosophy of the hotel and the Adris group—and the innovative menu and breakfast meet the expectations for a five-star level. There is no doubt that once the hotel takes off, the individual restaurants will be contending for a spot in prestigious culinary guides.

KONGRES HIDDEN GUEST 45

MAIN DISH - MEETINGS HOTEL SERVICE Hotel rooms: The way that the rooms integrate into the hotel fabric makes the gorgeous Rovinj vista seemingly omnipresent. Further increasing the spacious feeling is the panoramic window and a pleasant terrace that allows you to spend the day outside. The floor is treated with a special coating that gives a welcoming and warm impression despite the industrial look. It also nicely complements the raw concrete wall that seems organically connected with every single piece of furniture. Separating the bathroom from the bedroom are semitransparent glass panels giving a refined and minimalist look. The hotel room is a balm for both body and soul and will delight the hearts of curious explorers.

Meetings centre: The central hall, which was still under construction at the time of our visit, holds around 250 people and can even admit vehicles. Complementing it are three smaller halls and a charming library. All the halls are superbly appointed according to the current trends in meeting design.

DESSERT - ADDITIONAL FACILITIES The Infinity pool on the fifth floor is the hotel’s specialty. The view of St Euphemia’s church from the pool is sure to become one of the most desirable locations for guests seeking that perfect Instagram shot. Perhaps it will even be possible to rent it for events.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES Some inconsistencies that result from the team not having had the time to settle into a routine yet. We are certain that they will be corrected within a few weeks of the opening.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES The project itself is thoroughly described in what is, in my view, the best hotel guide I’ve ever seen. More than a mere guide, it is actually a sort of an omnibus of stories about Rovinj and about the artists who helped create the story of the hotel.

FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY A really well-thought-out tourist story that is at the very top of what the region can offer. There are numerous exciting details, but the best reason for optimism is the staff: they are proud of their work with the hotel and put in an enormous amount of effort to ensure the guests’ satisfaction.

Even though the meetings offering had not been finalised at the time of our visit, we hope that it will include the numerous public spaces and special venues that seem to be a perfect fit for organising events.

In many respects, the hotel is quite simply the most modern in the Adriatic, and once the minor initial flaws are remedied, it will also be among the best. Yet even now, the end result is an immensely convincing hotel that really makes an impression.

RESULTS MARKS LOCATION 4.95 ACCESSIBILITY 4.49 FIRST IMPRESSION 5.00 LOBBY 5.00 EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE 4.89 RECEPTION 4.65 4.95 HOTEL ROOM HOTEL BED 5.00 BATHROOM AND RESTROOM 4.99 HOTEL BREAKFAST 4.82 BARS AND RESTAURANTS 4.81 5.00 CONGRESS HALL ADDITIONAL OFFER 4.80 TOTAL

4.87 GOLD RESORT MEETING HOTEL

GOLD final score SILVER final score BRONZE final score

from 4.81 to 5.00 from 4.61 to 4.80 from 4.41 to 4.60

LUXURY PREMIUM BUSINESS ECONOMY BUDGET

    

The HIDDEN GUEST section is not paid. The selection of the hotels that are evaluated by the hidden meeting guest is at the discretion of the editorial board and the visits are unannounced.

4.87 Final Grade

46 KONGRES CULTURE & ART & CULINARY // CULTURE

IMAGINING

Rijeka – European City of Culture 2020 JASMINA JERANT //

RIJEKA 2020 - EUROPSKA PRIJESTOLNICA KULTURE

The city of Rijeka, the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia, located in the northern inlet of the Adriatic Sea, will be the European Capital of Culture 2020. As the agency Rijeka 2020 LLC, jointly founded by the City of Rijeka and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County for the purpose of implementing the European Capital of Culture 2020 project, notes on its website, “Today’s Rijeka is a true port of diversity, open to all people of good will, Rijeka is irresistible and inexhaustible.”

The project involves the entire community in programme preparations and is based not just on the cooperation of the entire cultural sector, but also other sectors and participants in the city, region and beyond. Reexamining cultural, social and economic challenges that contemporary Europe and the world currently face, the programme’s concept shows that the benefits of culture are an important part of sustainable development.

The cultural and artistic programme of Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture has been conceptually focused on three topics: water, work and migrations. These themes are related to Rijeka’s identity while at the same time they are reflected in a way that is also relevant in a wider, European environment. They are intertwined and through the Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture they create the ‘Port of Diversity’ which is also the project’s main title.

The Rijeka 2020 Project - European Capital of Culture is based on a strictly profiled art strategy with seven interlinked and uninterrupted currents. Slaven Tolj Artistic Director has drawn seven programmeships (Flagships) that can grow, twist and adapt. Each program line leads to co-operation between two or more cultural institutions or independent art organisations. Programme directions conceptualised on the three themes are called Kitchen, Dopolavoro, Age of Power, Children’s House, Sweet & Salt, 27 Neighbourhoods and Lungomare.

Besides the production of the programme, the Rijeka 2020 Project - the European Capital of Culture, emphasises the importance of building and strengthening the capacities of the cultural sector and the wider local community. For example, RiHub is a new cultural centre, the Green Wave and Civil Initiatives programmes gather people who want to contribute to the quality of life in Rijeka, etc. In addition to numerous interesting programmes, within the framework of the project of the European Capital of Culture Rijeka will also get renovated buildings that will primarily be in the function of culture, but will certainly enrich the city’s tourist offer.

From 2016 when the project was launched, 450 events are to be held by

2020. All together in 2020 there are to be 1000 cultural events, with an additional 50 events in 2021. There are to be 27,200 square metres of new cultural infrastructure, 105 tourist attractions, 1000 volunteers, 300 partners, 100 empowered local communities and civil initiatives.

KONGRES CULTURE & ART & CULINARY // ART 47

CREATING

Design Month Graz 2019 GRAZ TOURISMUS //

DESIGN MONTH GRAZ / FLORES ERIKA

From 11 May to 9 June 2019, Design Month Graz is taking place in the UNESCO City of Design Graz. You can once again look forward to great exhibitions, the fashion festival “assembly” and a wide variety of events with a lot of international flair, due to the cooperation with Istanbul, Mexico City and other cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities network.

Design is a story full of misunderstandings and clichés, especially when it comes to the issue of gender. Hence, in 2019, Design Month Graz focuses on the topic of “Women & Design”. This year’s event will also provide new insights into the local creative industries, international contributions and many opportunities for exchange and networking.

HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the whole essence of design in Graz – in 31 days, like when the river Mur turns into the Bosporus as Istanbul dominates the Murinsel in terms of design activities. In 2019, Istanbul will participate in Design Month Graz as a UNESCO City of Design and cooperation partner of Creative Industries Styria with two programs. The exhibition “Istanbul Design Collection”, which will take place from 11th to 29th May at designforum Steiermark, will exhibit fashion, art, industrial design, graphic design and handicraft products from different times and different fields in Istanbul from the 17th century until today. At the three-day event “Istanbul @ Murinsel Graz” you will also have the chance to get to know the design landscape of Istanbul better.

The poster exhibition “To Death with a Smile”, organized and curated by Alvaro Rego, MUMEDI – Museum of Mexican Design from Mexico City, shows 106 posters at Lesliehof, Joanneumsviertel, international works on the subject of death from a satiric point of view. During the Design Month Graz, a selection of some of the best posters will be exhibited. All works shown are by women.

The exhibition “World Wide Things Collection” at Neue Galerie, Joanneumsviertel Graz, shows typical local products from the UNESCO Cities of Design. You can see works from Istanbul, Puebla, Mexico City, Detroit, Saint-Etienne, Singapore and Graz. The Project “The World Wide Things Collection” is a worldwide marketplace for carefully selected design products. 120 objects from 7 cities are shown during Design Month in Graz.

At Joanneumsviertel in Graz you can also experience the presentation of the “Village Chairs” by architect Carlo Malerba from Torino. The Chairs

merge the typical skylines of well-known cities with modern furniture design and create seating places of a special kind.

1 MONTH, MORE THAN 30 SHOPS AND 15 SECONDS

For the sixth time, Graz-based shops open their doors for “Design in the City” and for the period of one month turn their retail spaces into showrooms, hotspots and meeting places for designers and interested guests. In addition, the design festival “assembly” is back and invites you to delve into the world of fashion design in May. The program features another highlight, namely the “Fifteen Seconds Festival”, which has become an interdisciplinary and international business festival.

48 KONGRES CULTURE & ART & CULINARY // CULINARY

INNOVATING

Fonda Fish Garden JASMINA JERANT //

FONDA FISH GARDEN

The Fonda Fish Garden was established as a fish farm by three members of Fonda family, all of them biologists who have successfully combined their love for- and knowledge of sea biology and seafood into a business endeavour. The farm is situated in the magnificent nature of Slovenian Istria, in the middle of the Bay of Piran, in the heart of the fishing reserve and the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park.

INCENTIVE PROGRAMME

Their Unforgettable Day at the Fonda Fish Garden, which was recently ranked among the top ten experiences branded Slovenia Unique Experiences, confirmed by the Slovenian Tourist Board, as well as awarded the Jakob Award at Alpe-Adria fair, is suitable for incentive programmes.

International groups are brought to the farm in collaboration with the Slovenian Convention Bureau.

The visit to the farm can be done in kayaks, canoes and even on paddleboards. For those who prefer sitting on boats to rowing, boat rides to the farm are also organised with a modern and beautiful fish-farming work boat or a solar-powered boat. Visitors can learn about the selection of young fish spawn and the right type of feed, manual feeding and all aspects of caring for the environment, health and growth of several generations of the Fonda Piran sea bass.

There are two basic programmes that interested groups can take: either just a trip to the fish farm where they can feed the fish or visit the farm followed by a tasting of the fish. “This way the participants get an authentic experience,” says Irena Fonda, a current director of the familyowned farm with a PhD in Molecular Biology, and adds, “The programme can be also paralleled with a culinary workshop where guests learn some basic recipes for preparing the sea bass.” In addition, every entrance fee buys one bag of food for fish. “This way the visitors become a part of our story, they become a part of our team and our mission.”

AS GOOD AS FREE-LIVING FISH

However, we often have prejudice against the raised, grown fish as if it is not as tasty as the free-living fish. But this is not the case anymore since fish farming is losing its negative connotation. Particularly in the case of the Fonda Fish Garden, this is even more true, says the managing director: “In the case of our sea bass, even experts do not notice any difference between the two. The quality of our fish is often praised for the amazing quality of the meat.”

THE BEST IN THE WORLD

And the Fondas are certainly coming close to what they want to achieve: “We are not the only ones in the world, but we are doing everything to be the best.” The Jakob Award, annually presented to regional quality and excellence in tourism, and a part of the annual Alpe-Adria fair programme organised and hosted in the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, certainly adds a stone in the path towards that praiseworthy goal.

SL

OV

EN

IA

INCENTIVE IDEAS 49

50 MEETINGS STAR 2018 // BEST MEETING DESTINATIONS

HIDDEN SURPRISES

Owerview of the best meetings destinations for 2018 Ever since 2019, the Editorial Board of Kongres Magazine has been presenting fresh and interesting meeting destinations to international meeting planners. Kongres Magazine reviews all destinations on the basis of the field work and thorough research of the individual criteria, in order to get as close to the real situation as possible. Every year the reviews and the Meetologues are reviewed and updated with the latest information that individual destinations receive for the assessment and confirmation.

Till this day we have presented 86 Meetologues from 23 destinations. Each destination is evaluated based on 75 different criteria that enable fair comparison of the destinations. Meeting organizers appreciate the expertise, value and practicality of this guide through congress destinations.

4 CATEGORIES XL Destinations that can host more than 2,000 congress attendees L Destinations that can host up to 2,000 congress attendees M Destinations that can host up to 1,200 congress attendees S Destinations that can host up to 600 congress attendees

The winners for 2018 are: XL MEETING DESTINATIONS WINNER

4,77

VIENNA, Austria

L MEETING DESTINATIONS WINNER

4,37

S MEETING DESTINATIONS WINNER

4,05

ZAGREB, Croatia

M MEETING DESTINATIONS WINNER

DUBROVNIK, Croatia

4,33

NASSFELD HERMAGOR, Austria

MEETINGS STAR 2018 // BEST MEETING DESTINATIONS 51

Best meeting destinations in New Europe

4,59

We also compare and reward destinations in New Europe. The organisers of Conventa believe in new, different, charming, and as yet undiscovered meeting destinations. For this reason, Conventa was the first show on the international market that began promoting countries in southeast, central and eastern Europe, which we classify as ‘NEW’ EUROPE.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic

OVERVIEW OF THE BEST MEETING HOTELS AND CONVENTION CENTRES “Meetings Star Awards are tailor-made for meeting planners” The Meetings Star Award rules are clear and firm and the evaluation has been set according to them for a long time and so it will remain in the future. The evaluation is fully recognized as a credible and independent indicator.

We decide which are the best hotels in the region on the basis of the original methodology and on the basis of the only quality certificate in the meetings industry based on the real assessment of the hidden guest. Hidden guests rate individual hotels on the basis of 490 criteria.

It has been a long-known truth that conference guests are demanding and at the same time have the highest purchasing power.

As a rule, they spend more time in the hotel, have more contact with staff and use more hotel services. Usually, they expect a higher level of service, and this is why they earn the highest possible attention.

The Meetings Star is a quality evaluation system that provides a simple and clear answer about the services of individual providers as it is based on the assessment of the Hidden Congress Guest. The methodology, enjoying trust of congress organizers since 2007, has been this year upgraded with a certification system.

In each of the categories, the individual hotels are classified into three sub-categories according to the number of points achieved in the hidden guest evaluation:

GOLD

SILVER

final score from 4.81 to 5.00

final score from 4.61 to 4.80

BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60

During the 11-year tradition of evaluating meeting hotels and centers, more than 382 hotels were evaluated with a Hidden Guest method. Due to its impartiality and transparency, the methodology enjoys a high reputation among event organizers.

52 MEETINGS STAR 2018 // BEST MEETING HOTELS AND CONVENTION CENTRES

BEST MEETING HOTELS AND CENTERS

A

Category - City meeting hotels

C

Category - Spa meeting hotels

E

Category - Convention centers

in 2018 based on the scores, given by hidden meeting guests:

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GRESHAM PALACE // Budapest, Hungary

WELLNESS HOTEL SOTELIA // Podčetrtek, Slovenia

FERRY PORSCHE CONGRESS CENTER // Zell am See, Austria

B

Category - Resort meeting hotels

D

Category - Boutique meeting hotels

F

Category - Best slovenian meeting hotels

HOTEL REGENT PORTO MONTENEGRO // Tivat, Montenegro

BOUTIQUE HOTEL ALHAMBRA // Mali Lošinj, Croatia

KEMPINSKI PALACE // Portorož, Slovenia

MEETINGS STAR 2018 // PHOTO REPORTAGE 53

PHOTO GALLERY Highlights from the Meetings Star Award 2018 ceremony PHOTO CREDIT: TINA RAMUJKIĆ

ARE YOU A MEETINGS DESTINATION OR A MEETINGS HOTEL? IF YES, THEN BE A PART OF THE MEETINGS STAR EVALUATIONS 2019!

We are inviting you to apply for our visit and reportage of your meetings destination or hotel in the new round of evaluations for 2019.

AS A DESTINATION CONTACT US: Gorazd Čad gorazd.cad@toleranca.eu +386 (0) 1 430 51 03

AS A HOTEL APPLY NOW:

www.secret-congress-guest.eu

54 MEETINGS STAR 2018 // PHOTO REPORTAGE

MEETINGS STAR 2018 // PHOTO REPORTAGE 55

56 KONGRES CROSSOVER // INCENTIVE IDEAS

INCENTIVE IDEAS - KARST GORAZD ČAD

WWW.SLOVENIAINFO.COM / NEA CULPA & DEAN DUBOKOVIČ

THE HORSE WHISPERER

Lipica is the oldest European stud farm, which has been continuously breeding one of the oldest cultural horse breeds. As such it is an immensely important part of cultural, historical and natural heritage, both in the Slovenian area and in Europe.

The Lipizzaner is a truly extraordinary horse. The breed’s foremost qualities are the horses’ exceptional strength and beauty, but they are also elegant, agile and highly trainable. It takes some time to earn their trust, but approaching them with positive energy, understanding and respect will let you establish a lifelong friendship – a friendship that is also the first step in the training process and that represents the foundation for Lipizzaner dressage.

During the programme you will become acquainted with the psychology involved in working with Lipizzaners. You will try to earn the horse’s trust and friendship through positive energy. As a cherry on top, the extraordinary workshop includes lunch in the middle of gorgeous nature, surrounded by a herd of 350 Lipizzaners.

They also have other things available at Lipica to add variety to your event, from a carriage ride, through a tour of the Lipica Riding School, to a tour of the Lippizzaner Museum Lipikum.

WOW FACTOR:

The oldest European stud farm with one of the oldest cultural horse breeds - Lipizzaner

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Active experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 50

DURATION (IN HOURS):

3 hours • 40 minutes, workshop • 2.5 hours, tour and lunch at Lipica Stud Farm

LOCATION:

Lipica, Slovenia

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Hotel Maestoso

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

KONGRES CROSSOVER // OFF THE BEATEN TRACK 57

THE MONUMENT OF PEACE IN CERJE

Experience of the past—understanding of the present GORAZD ČAD

ŠPELA VOLČIČ, WWW.SLOVENIAINFO.COM / NEA CULPA

WAY OUT THERE

There is a memorial dedicated to the defenders of Slovenian soil on the scenic peak of Cerje, which is located on the western edge of the Karst plateau and offers a magnificent view of northern Adriatic, Friuli, the Dolomites, the Julian Alps and Vipava Valley. The initiative for building the monument that commemorates all those who died while fighting for this piece of land came from the patriotic organisation TIGR. In the Park of Peace (Park Miru; part of the Path of Peace trail that runs from the Alps to the Adriatic), where the Cerje Monument of Peace is located, the remnants of the First World War have been integrated into a rich historical narrative, further enhanced by guided tours of the caves (Pečinka, Krompirjeva jama, Klobasja jama) that served as shelters and depots and have been made into an open-air museum that also includes the so-called Throne of Borojević (Borojevićev stol), infantry trenches and military cemeteries.

STAY

For small groups, there is lodging available in the immediate proximity of Cerje; there are various accommodation options, but they are dispersed. Examples include the Kogoj inn, “Apartmaji in sobe v mlinu” (accommodation in what used to be a mill building), Štirna inn, Marušič tourist farm, and others. If you have a larger group, we recommend that you arrange lodging in one of Hit group’s diverse selection of accommodation in Nova Gorica.

MEET IN STYLE

The three pillars of the First World War exhibition—prepared by the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia—are an excellent starting point for understanding the locality and a good reason for organising your next event in Cerje. The comprehensive range of services brings remarkable variety to the meetings offering in Karst.

Part of the space available in the seven-storey premises is also intended for meetings, business and incentive events, but the first to discover the place were wedding organisers—this is now one of the wedding venues in the Goriška region. A small meeting hall can accept up to 50 visitors and is superbly appointed. The destination also offers a variety of incentive programmes waiting to be discovered by the event organisers.

OFF THE BEATEN MICE TRACK

The Paths of Peace in the Karst (in the immediate vicinity of the Monument) take us through the peaceful, pristine parts of the Karst

plateau, where we are able to visit the most interesting monuments and other objects forming the diverse legacy of the First World War. The Paths take you along existing dirt roads, trails and former military roads, far from the main highways.

All the paths are well-maintained and marked, suitable for hikers, cyclists and even riders on horseback. Visitors can choose one of a variety of routes of various difficulties and set out on a trip—a longer or a shorter one—across the plateau, where they are treated to marvellous views of the sea and the Alpine peaks.

LOCALISM

On the northern side of the ground floor of the Monument, boasting a view of Italian Gorizia, Nova Gorica, Brda, the Soča Valley and the Alps, there is “Okrepčevalnica Cerje”, a cafeteria offering local Karst delicacies, including “pršut” and “teran”. This is also where you can get the “coffee with the best view”. Since 2018, the Monument building has also housed Cerjanka, a store selling souvenirs made by local artisans employing traditional methods and crafts, such as stonecutting, brickmaking, whip making and shoemaking.

GET THERE

The municipality of Miren–Kostanjevica is well-connected, with good traffic links to Nova Gorica, Trieste, Monfalcone and the main tourist spots in the immediate proximity.

DID YOU KNOW

The Path of Peace from the Alps to the Adriatic complements the stories of this region’s past that visitors can experience in numerous museums along the route, as well as in the many private collections. The Path binds together the legacy, the institutions and the people in the area along the former Isonzo Front (Soška fronta) from Rombon to Devin (Italian: Duino). The symbolic mission of the path is cooperation and reconciliation between the nations that were once in conflict. Visiting the Path of Peace is a wonderful incentive idea.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

TIC MIREN - KOSTANJEVICA Miren 137, 5291 Miren T: +386 05 330 46 70 www.miren-kostanjevica.si

58 KONGRES CROSSOVER // OFF THE BEATEN TRACK & BEHIND THE SCENES

KONGRES CROSSOVER // BEHIND THE SCENES 59

BECOME AMBASSADORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Exploring the only Slovenian natural monument included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List GORAZD ČAD

WWW.SLOVENIAINFO.COM / ALAN KOSMAČ & BORUT LOZEJ

IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH UNESCO’S WORLD HERITAGE

The Škocjan Caves are still the only natural monument in the area of Slovenia and the Classical Karst region to have been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This gives them a place of honour among the natural monuments of the world.

The Škocjan Caves are the most important subterranean phenomenon in Karst, as well as in Slovenia. Indeed, they are one of the most important cave systems in the world. People have always been fascinated and attracted by the deep gorge, at the end of which the Reka river disappears into the underworld, as well as by the mysterious cave entrances. The river disappears into a sink under a cliff, at the top of which lies the village that gives the caves their name: Škocjan.

INCALCULABLE NATURAL WEALTH

Archaeological research has shown that humans have lived in and around the caves since the distant past; from the mesolithic and the neolithic, through the bronze and iron ages, throughout Antiquity and the medieval period and even up to now—more than 5000 years. Evidence has been discovered in the area that even in prehistoric times, the Škocjan Caves had not just local, but at the very least regional significance. This territory is also where fundamental research of the Karst landscape and phenomena first started back the in 19th century. This is where the international geomorphological terms kras and dolina originated.

Rare and endangered bird species, as well as several species of bats, have made sinkholes and their vicinity their home; due to the specific geomorphological and microclimatic conditions, a remarkable ecosystem has developed and been preserved here, where Mediterranean, SubMediterranean, Central European, Illyrian and Alpine flora co-exist. The subterranean cave system of the river Reka is also a habitat for rare cave-dwelling animals.

AN OPEN-AIR NATURAL SCIENCE CLASSROOM

Since 2003, natural science-focused field trips to the park have been conducted. Despite being primarily intended for groups of school pupils, they are also a magnificent experience for organised company groups. A circuit trail through the heart of the park leads past the foremost natural and cultural landmarks in the area. Along the way you will be constantly encountering various karst phenomena, the most prominent of which are: Okroglica (an abyss, a natural monument), Velika and Mala dolina (sinkholes, or dolinas; natural monuments), the Reka river gorge, the Reka river sink, a view of the entrance of the Škocjan Caves and the

sinkholes in its vicinity. You will also familiarise yourself with the typical karst vegetation.

EXPERIENCING NATURE

The group spends between two and four hours on the trail; during this time, the participants get acquainted with natural processes that they previously only knew from books.

Discovering and learning about the structure, complexity and biodiversity—as well as fragility—of caves, the subterranean world and the karst landscape in general, is essential for fostering awareness of how important their conservation is.

PROMOTIONAL-CONGRESS CENTRE PR’ NANETOVIH

Part of the park is a small promotional-congress centre where you can organise a professional conference. The centre features a library and an archive that focus on literature about nature conservation.

There are three lecture halls; if necessary, two of them can be joined into a larger meeting hall with a capacity of 60 people. There is also a room for group work. Especially interesting is the “kitchen”: a banquet hall that will surprise visitors with its restored furniture. It is intended for 20 participants. Then there is the former restaurant garden, where the locals would hold balls and folk theatre performances and play “bocce”—a form of bowls—and card games. Today, the place is used to host meetings, receptions, weddings and other events, such as jubilee celebrations. It can receive 60 to 80 people.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Park Škocjanske jame, Slovenia Škocjan 2, 6215 Divača T:+386 (0)5 70 82 100 E: psj.info@psj.gov.si

60 INCENTIVE IDEAS

SLOVENIAN SCENIC ROADS Roads that will take your breath away GORAZD ČAD

WWW.SLOVENIA.INFO / TOMO JESENIČNIK, JOŠT GANTAR, IZTOK MEDJA, BORIS PRETNAR

Producers of TV commercials were the first to discover how camera-friendly Slovenian roads are. Quite a few car brands have introduced the wonders of Slovenia to global audiences this way. Then came the Instagrammers, who keep discovering the most photogenic spots. One thing we’re still waiting for is for them to be discovered by car event organisers. Thanks to its geographical diversity, Slovenia boasts some extraordinary roads in a very small area.

We have prepared—handpicked, if you will—a premium selection of the most spectacular among them, which just beg you to take your steel companion down their winding stretches from Alpine peaks all the way to scenic overlooks across the Littoral and Karst regions.

INCENTIVE IDEAS 61

VRŠIČ PASS

The most famous, highest and most popular mountain pass in Slovenia connects Gorenjska and Primorska. The road leads through the heart of the Julian Alps, featuring 50 hairpins along with spectacular views. The road connecting Kranjska gora with Bovec is especially popular with motorcyclists, as well as among cyclists, who ride it during the annual race across Slovenia.

Length: 25 kilometres Experience: An Alpine panorama

THE ROAD TO THE MANGART PASS

At 2055 metres above sea level, this is the highest road in Slovenia.

The road is popular with both tourists and film makers, and even though its last section is currently closed, many still risk a drive to the top. It features 17 bends and five tunnels in 12 kilometres, and it concludes with the famous loop.

Length: 12 kilometres Experience: An Alpine panorama

PAVLIČEVO SEDLO PASS

The road connects two tourism gems: Jezersko and the Logar Valley, the loveliest of our Alpine valleys. The road ascends from the Logar Valley to the highest border crossing in Slovenia, the Pavlič Pass, with an altitude of 1338 metres. Part of the road to Železna kaplja (Eisenkappel) takes you through Austria, but throughout its length you will be rewarded with a well-maintained road and numerous scenic overlooks with views that just demand to be photographed.

Length: 30 kilometres Experience: An Alpine panorama

THE ROAD TO PREDMEJA

For rallying fans, this has been the most spectacular of Slovenian roads ever since 1989, when the Saturnus Rally was first held here. The narrow road, cutting through sheer rock, through tunnels and along the edges of cliffs, was built more than a hundred years ago. The 14-kilometre stretch between Ajdovščina and Predmeja has become legendary.

Length: 14 kilometres Experience: A panorama of the Slovene Littoral

THE ROAD TO RAKITNA

In close proximity to Ljubljana is a road that runs through the wooded slopes from Podpeč to the karst plateau of Rakitna, which lies at an altitude of 800 metres. Due to the fairy-tale forest and the nicely laid out hairpins, the well-maintained road has become popular with advertising producers. Besides, it is located in the immediate vicinity of Ljubljana.

Length: 12.5 kilometres Experience: A forest panorama

THE PREDVOR–JEZERSKO ROAD

THE ROAD TO SORIŠKA PLANINA

Length: 20 kilometres Experience: An Alpine panorama

Length: 30 kilometres Experience: An Alpine panorama

Running alongside the Kokra River, this road leads to one of the prettiest mountain villages right in the middle of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. The ancient route connecting Carniola and Carinthia is very picturesque; Mother Nature seems to have been especially generous here. Once you arrive at the goal, you find yourself in an extraordinary scene that looks like a piece of paradise. If you’re lucky, a herd of sheep will be there to complete the impression.

According to many, Sorica is one of the most beautiful villages in Slovenia.

It is also the most cinematic of them, having featured in numerous films.

The road leading from Železniki to Bohinjska Bistrica abounds with spectacular views opening up in every direction. In the right weather, you will be able to see all the way from the Karavanks to Triglav. The road ends on the other side, next to what many consider the loveliest lake in Slovenia.

62 INCENTIVE IDEAS

ČRNI KAL–DEKANI

The descent from the Karst edge features plenty of scenic viewpoints, of which Socerb Castle is the most famous. The view from here stretches from Trieste with its surroundings, across the Slovenian coast, and all the way to the heartland of Istria. The construction of the motorway lightened the traffic load on the road, making it a veritable paradise for automotive pleasure seekers.

Length: 19 kilometres Experience: A panorama of the Slovene Littoral

THE TEMENICE–BOGENŠPERK VALLEY

The road leading from Šmartno pri Litiji to the Temenica Valley offers genuine driving pleasure. The observation spots let you see far across the Lower Carniola and Zasavje, as well as admire the Alpine peaks. Especially spectacular are the village of Javorje at an altitude of 560 metres and the final landmark at the picturesque, nicely restored castle of Bogenšperk.

Length: 18 kilometres Experience: Slovenian countryside

THE ROAD TO THE LEDINE PLATEAU

The steep and picturesque road connects Idrija with the Poljane Valley.

The expansive plateau separates the Idrijca and Žirovnica rivers, which have carved a strikingly dynamic relief. Along the way, you are sure to be enchanted by the village of Ledine, one of the most beautiful villages in the Idrija area.

Length: 19 kilometres Experience: Slovenian countryside

This list features a premium selection of interesting roads, but the complete list is much longer and also includes more thematic routes that will take you through wine-growing regions and natural parks and to romantic spots and medieval towns. In Slovenia, this is all wrapped up into an attractive package that the country’s geostrategic position makes easily accessible. Slovenia is like a geopark in the very heart of Europe.

Important: If your intent is to do film or advertising shoots, you often need to pay a municipal fee. In the Municipality of Bovec, for instance, this fee amounts to 400 euros per day. We recommend that you check the municipality’s conditions for issuing approval before organising an event.

The article has been created in cooperation with the event & marketing agency Toleranca marketing d.o.o, whom you can contact if you need additional information. They have the most extensive repertoire of locations, special venues and event ideas in the region. Contact: Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o. Štihova ulica 4, SI1000 Ljubljana T: +386 (0)1 430 51 03 E: natalija@toleranca.eu

TIPS // FAM TRIP EXPERIENCE 63

added value of your congress setting, the boring viewing will turn into a genuine experience. We especially recommend music as it is a universal language.

THE ART OF PERSUASION

How to improve a fam trip experience

5. IMPRESS WITH PERSONALITY

Very rarely, tour guides are truly charismatic, or at least they are superbly prepared for their guests. After all, this is very similar to a performance for which it is necessary to prepare well and possibly even to write the script for the visit.

6. INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTORY

GORAZD ČAD

If you’ve ever attended a fam trip, you will probably agree that viewing hotel rooms and empty congress halls is the most boring part of the programme. The fact is that the first impression is what counts for real professionals when they enter the hotel lobby. However, it’s also true that the hoteliers are important members of the local congress communities, whom nobody wants to offend, and that is probably why, during fam trips, there is always too many visits to view hotel rooms.

Looking at the average fam trip, this is mainly intended to gather information and genuine impressions of the destination. Only a handful of participants come with very specific inquiries, which would require a more thorough review of the entire congress resources The key role of fam trips is therefore to promote enthusiasm and networking. In this sense, the fam trip is by its very nature quite different from an inspection trip, which is usually more focused on technical details.

Since we can’t yet escape viewing hotel rooms and halls, our advice is to gradually make this a more enjoyable experience. We have collected some tips on how to change the current practice and make it favourable to the destination and hotel.

1. TELL STORIES

What at least really impresses me are the stories that almost all hotels tell. They are often the centre of social life, maybe the hotel owners are interesting, they’ve had famous guests, historical events, all of these can be presented in an enjoyable way and you can aid the story by using various techniques of content marketing.

2. SHOW CASE STUDIES

Very rarely, there is a presentation of examples of good practice that, in the most illustrative way, show what the hotel, convention centre, or a special venue are capable of. This part can be organised in the form of interactive presentations and participants will be very grateful to you for such information.

3. CONGRESS HALLS IN ACTION

A tiny detail that is very disturbing concerns disorderly halls. It’s understandable that it’s not always possible to avoid such situations, due to being in the middle of preparations for an event. But if this is the case, then at least try show the way they look their best at the event. Seeing is believing.

4. SURPRISE IN THE ROOMS AND HALLS

If you provide a surprise in the form of music, a culinary event, or the

A time-consuming exploration of the rooms can easily be transformed into an interactive presentation that will shorten the duration of the viewing and highlight the key advantages of the location. With a little effort, the result will be a top sales presentation, which you will be able to use at the next sales opportunity.

7. FAQ ANSWERS

You can combine the answers that the organisers of the events constantly ask in the 10 most frequent questions, which are certainly interesting for participants of your fam trip. It’s a kind of personal ID card for your site, which tells a lot about your added value and special features.

8. ‘FEEL’ IT

The toughest part is the moment the participants ‘feel’ your hotel. So to talk and to socialise, choose a place that excites and addresses all the senses. Above all, we all appreciate sincerity, authenticity and genuine hospitality. This is the simplest formula for success.

9. MAKE IT FUN

Bring elements of entertainment into the hotel tour. You can prepare a game of bingo, a treasure hunt, a group quiz. The options are endless and work perfectly, regardless of concerns about the structure of the group.

10. FREE TIME

Let the participants breathe and give them some free time. Their own exploration of the destination will surely be of benefit to you in terms of their positive comments.

A fam trip is intended to promote enthusiasm, new ideas and inspiration.

Keep this in mind when you organise your next fam trip. In our humble opinion, superior quality can be distinguished from average quality by design responding to all the senses, an intelligent schedule, playful execution, and a vivacious atmosphere, with added value in the form of a story that the participants will take home.

I remembered fam trips that were sincere, authentic, charming and simply top-notch, and which have therefore fundamentally changed my view of the destination.

Definition of a fam trip: A familiarisation trip (FAM Trip) is where event planners, consultants or potential clients are invited to visit a city by the Tourism Board, Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB), or Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).

The destination hosts will typically book all your travel, daily activities, and meals.

64 KONGRES BRIEFINGS // BRATISLAVA CONVENTION BUREAU

HURRICANE TAKING OVER THE STAGE The company Hurricane was founded in 1998. In the past two decades it has developed from a small firm to a stable company offering sound and lighting services as well as stage design and construction, roofing systems, projections, LED screens, laser shows, furniture and tents for events, team-building events, conferences, concerts, festivals, dance parties and live stream. They offer technical facilities of the highest quality and so they use only technology from the world’s top manufacturers. Offering an individual approach with creative solution proposals, a high level of professionalism, and dealing with unpredictable situations is how Hurricane has built trust among big names such as Dell, Johnson&Johnson, Konami London, etc., and recently as a member of the Bratislava Tourist Board.

GLOBO RESTAURANT & WINE BAR – THE NEW KID IN TOWN Three big names of the Slovakian culinary scene have joined forces and knowledge and opened Glob: the owner Peter Matyšák, a wellknown gastronome and wine maker, Dominik Baránek, the general manager who was also named Slovak Sommelier of the Year, and Branislav Križan, one of the most talented young chefs in Slovakia and Vice President of the Slovak Association of Chefs and Confectioners.

Globo is housed in the corner of Františkánske Namesti (Franciscan Square). The style of cooking is modern with some local traditional accents, while fresh produce is mainly locally sourced and certified organic. Wine list consists of 150 local and international wines and some exquisite, over 20-year-old local spirits.

MEDICAL TOURISM IN SLOVAKIA Equipped with the necessary infrastructure and quality of medical services, Slovakia is becoming a popular destination for medical tourism. And the Slovak capital as one of the top transit points in Europe also delivers world-class services for affordable prices. The current trends in medical care are focused on plastic and aesthetic surgery, dental care, short-term diagnostic or therapeutic stays, oneday surgeries, and physiotherapeutic stays after more demanding surgeries. Due to affordable prices of infertility treatments, successful diagnostics and the legislature, Slovakia is also famous for its reproductive tourism. In addition it boasts traditional spa towns, where patients can relax and recuperate in healing thermal pools and thermal springs with therapeutic minerals.

KONGRES BRIEFINGS // CANKARJEV DOM – CULTURAL AND CONGRESS CENTRE 65

WORLD CONSTRUCTION FORUM 2019 In the beginning of April 2019, expert speakers from Slovenia and around the world joined the World Construction Forum 2019 (WCF2019) to discuss individual topics within the overall theme ‘Buildings and Infrastructure Resilience from Climate Changes to Disaster Risk and Facility Management’. More than 500 attendees, among them practicing engineers and architects, policy makers from administration bodies of all levels, researchers and scientists, university professors and students, construction industry representatives, developers and investors, focused on six Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to water, energy, innovation, sustainable cities and infrastructure, and action against climate change.

EUROPEAN PERITONEAL DIALYSIS MEETING In the first weekend of May 2019, more than 400 delegates arrived in Ljubljana to attend the 14th EuroPD (European Peritoneal Dialysis) Meeting, organised, held in association with the ISPD (International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis) and the Slovenian Society of Nephrology. The meeting took place in the main Slovenian cultural and congress centre – the Cankarjev dom, which is located in the heart of Slovenia’s capital. Experts from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, the UK, and the USA gave lectures, held workshops and discussions on latest discoveries, case studies, troubleshooting. The three-day event also included a symposium and an exhibition of posters. The events took place in the Grand Reception Hall, foyers, the Linhart Hall, and the Kosovel Hall.

EUROPE’S MAIN CONGRESS ON SEXUAL MEDICINE Almost 900 attending delegates, representing 63 countries, attended the 21st Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) in mid-February 2019. Gabrijela Simetinger explained that the organisational team decided on Cankarjev dom as the venue due to it being “The only institution in Slovenia meeting the requirements for hosting such a big congress and we also know that it does not disappoint.” The purpose of the ESSM congress, Simetinger added, is to remind the general public about “the right to sexual health” on the one side, and on the other to remind the professionals that they are “obliged to assure people this right while being aware of the ethical and legal responsibilities in the practice of sexual medicine.”

66 KONGRES BRIEFINGS // MARIBOR – POHORJE TOURIST BOARD

DISCOVERING THE DUSTY NICHES AND UNSPOKEN STORIES In the last week of March 2019, the City of Maribor hosted the Festival of Walks where more than 30 walks were held on the city streets, underground tunnels, and markets. The Festival provided visitors with the stories and legends that make Maribor so special.

The Festival of Walks uses the term ‘walks’ as a name for different experiences, guided city tours by locals who live with the city and know its stories; some of them are also professional tourist guides.

In the evenings there were studious walks that took place around Maribor through topics on literature, creative tourism, walking, industrial heritage and to Piramida hill set in the middle of the city and overgrown with vineyards.

THE FORMULA ONE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING IS BACK! In two weekends in April Pohorje Bike Park on Pohorje plateau above Maribor was host to two mountain bike cup competitions. The 0IXS European Downhill Cup 2019 took place on 19–21 April. More than 400 riders from 36 different countries attended. The following weekend, the organisers, the company Marprom and the Pohorje Mountain Bike Association put on an event at the highest level by hosting the 2019 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. The event brought together the best world’s athletes who raced down the toughest and the most challenging tracks towards the title of the World Cup Champion. The competition, with 700 individual team members, also referred to as the Formula One of mountain biking, was returning to Maribor after almost 10 years.

VISIT TO THE OLDEST HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT The company Dravske elektrarne Maribor (Maribor Drava Power Plants) manages eight hydroelectric power plants situated on the beautiful river Drava. The oldest hydropower plant in the Slovenian part of the Drava was opened on 6 May 1918 and still operates today. After the renovation it is considered the most modern in the country, without crew and under remote-control supervision. As the power plant is so majestic, interesting and historically important, it is possible to visit it. The guided tour as an incentive lasts two hours and it includes a short film and a tour of the museum part of the plant. In addition, it is possible to test the conversion of various forms of energy into electricity through five exhibits.

KONGRES BRIEFINGS // GR – LJUBLJANA EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION CENTRE 67

NEW LARGEST MULTIPURPOSE HALL IN SLOVENIA GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre Ljubljana (GR), this year celebrating its prominent 65th anniversary, recently introduced plans for a new addition to its infrastructure. More specifically, GR that boasts the largest event venues in Slovenia’s capital, is planning to welcome a new building. The gross floor area of the new GR building is planned to be 2630 square metres and the total height of the building 24 metres. In the ground floor of the building, the GR will gain the largest multipurpose hall in Slovenia, mainly intended for fair and meetings activities. The hall will accommodate up to 4000 guests. The construction, worth between 5 to 8 million euros, will last for approximately one year, and is estimated to start between 2022 and 2023.

WORLD’S EXPERTS ON NOVELTIES IN VACCINES ESPID 2019, the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases took place in GR on 6–11 May 2019.

Over 2300 participants from more than 90 countries from Europe and around the world attended. Leading international experts hosted clinicians, researchers, residents, and students to advance the field of paediatric infectious diseases. In particular, with the controversies in society and the media surrounding vaccinations, ESPID plays an imperative role in advancing the field and offering medical professionals the most up-to-date knowledge. According to the organisers of ESPID, they chose the GR due to it superbly meeting the needs of the ESPID Meeting, from being a suitable size to offering flexibility and growth options.

500 BUSINESS WOMEN On 11 April, the signature event of the Slovenian Association of Women Entrepreneurs was held in GR. Organised by company 500 Business Women, the 7th 500 Business Women event, Slovenia’s largest event dedicated to women entrepreneurs, brought together around 620 participants. Marta Turk from the Slovenian Association of Business Women noted: “They were from Slovenia, as well as numerous guests from abroad like Scotland, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, and Germany.” The event included speeches, presentations and networking. “The GR was chosen for its perfect choice of space and venues that can combine a meeting with an exhibition together with a friendly and wellorganised staff team. It was an easy choice for the size and needs of our event.”

68 BEHIND THE SCENES // FEBS 2020

JUST AS MUCH AS THE GR NEEDS SLOVENIA … … Slovenia needs the GR JASMINA JERANT

JANI UGRIN, DRAGAN ARRIGLER

One of the largest bio-congresses in Europe, featuring up to approximately 2000 attendees, will take place in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana on 4–9 July 2020. The 45th FEBS Congress, one of the most visible activities of FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) providing a platform for international scientific exchange and showcasing the newest developments in biochemistry, molecular biology and related areas, will be held in the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.

SIGNIFICANCE

Getting the FEBS Congress to take place in the GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre (GR), is a great achievement not just for the scientific organiser of the Congress, the Slovenian Biochemical Society, but also for the GR as the venue, as well as for the GR’s partnering PCO agency, Dekon.SI. Moreover, the congress also significantly contributes to the worldwide recognition of Slovenia and its capital.

The congress is important for the recognition of Slovenian science. Namely, for the field of biochemistry and molecular biology as the Congress, as professor Janko Kos, president of the Slovenian Biochemical Society, notes “is a good opportunity to present our scientific achievements to a broader audience and to show that Slovenia and Ljubljana are a suitable place for research and technological development.”

In addition, a congress of such international recognition and significance aids Slovenia further in the acknowledgment of its meetings industry.

“It helps to be seen on the international maps of various associations, committees, and other institutions that cover different fields from science and engineering to politics and more. It gets Slovenia even higher on the list of competitive destinations,” says Ana Božič, Sales Manager at the GR and at Dekon.SI. “Furthermore, with every congress like this, we encourage other Slovenian representatives to bid for new congresses.”

BEHIND THE SCENES // FEBS 2020 69

BIDDING PROCESS

The idea to hold the FEBS Congress in Ljubljana the first time came to life six years ago, and three years later an Initiative Committee to prepare a bid was formed. In 2017 the bid was presented to FEBS Council Meeting in Jerusalem where it was accepted and the organisation of the 45th FEBS Congress was trusted to Slovenian Biochemical Society. “During the bid preparation we selected the venue (GR) and the PCO (Dekon.

SI),” says professor Janko Kos, president of the Slovenian Biochemical Society which organises the Congress. “Both companies helped us a lot with bid preparation and presentation. In particular, delegates were fascinated by the promotional video prepared by Dekon especially for the bid presentation.”

ORGANISATION

The GR and its PCO partner Dekon.SI work hand in hand with the Slovenian Biochemical Society. The Society takes care of everything that concerns the content of the Congress – the scientific part of the Congress, while Dekon as the PCO is in charge of the whole event logistics before, during and after the Congress. Ana Božič from Dekon explains, “We take care of event management in full scope services, starting from planning and bidding, to venue sourcing, all technical support, catering, translation, etc. There is also accommodation, registration and scientific programme service, sponsorship and exhibition management, web design & software development, IT communication services, marketing & PR, and different design solutions.”

Dekon.SI also helped during the bidding process by creating bid documents

and video presentations; in addition, they visit other FEBS destinations.

“Last year we attended the Congress in Prague and we are also going to this year’s Congress in Krakow to promote Ljubljana’s Congress in order to bring as many delegates as possible next year,” adds Ana Božič.

Furthermore, Dekon also takes care of the financial part, including the pre-financing, communication with potential exhibitors, sponsors. “And finally,” says Ana Božič, “we also take care of the coordination onsite, with the venue, social events for delegates, faculty dinners, etc.”

VICTORY 2020

In July 2020, around 2000 delegates are expected to attend the FEBS Congress in Ljubljana. Due to its size and diversity, the Congress demands not just spacious capacities for all the delegates, but also many breakout rooms for parallel sessions, as well as exhibition and poster areas. “The GR is perfect in such cases,” points out Ana Božič. “And the GR is also the only venue in Slovenia that can easily offer not just big enough halls, but also halls with the daylight and high ceilings. That’s a very important detail to create an attractive and friendly atmosphere.”

All in all, hosting and organising such a Congress is a big victory not just for the GR as avenue and Dekon as a PCO, but also for Slovenia, as it will get additional promotion not just for its scientific fields and its meetings industry, but also for its natural and cultural heritage that, together with high-quality culinary experiences, will be provided in the Congress’ accompanying programme. As Ana Božič concludes, “Just as much as the GR needs Slovenia, Slovenia needs the GR.”

70 BEEN THERE // INCENTIVES ALPE ADRIA

“TRY BEFORE YOU BUY”- THE UNIQUE CONCEPT TO EXPERIENCE THE REGION The second edition of Incentives Alpe Adria in Pula, Croatia NATALIJA BAH ČAD

ALJAŽ ČAD

After its first edition in Carinthia, Austria, the second Incentives Alpe Adria B2B event was held in the Park Plaza Histria Hotel in Pula, from 24–26 April 2019. Hosted by the Arena Hospitality Group and the Pula Tourist Board, the event was executed by the Toleranca Marketing agency.

A total of 18 incentive planners from 12 European countries attended the event and had a chance to meet and talk to providers from Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.

The main idea, developed by Toleranca Marketing, marketing and event agency is to promote the less-known incentive destinations of the Alpe-Adria region and to give the incentive organisers an opportunity to discover different possibilities for organising their incentives.

The common ingredient of all the creative and diverse incentive programmes in Alpe-Adria is high quality in close connection with the local culture and excellent cuisine.

Gorazd Čad, director of Toleranca Marketing: “From the start, we have been developing the event as a communication tool, which allows participants to soak up information from each region’s incentive offer.

We have envisioned the event in line with the following attributes: exciting (innovations), positive (solving the problems of buyers

and exhibitors), entertaining (business can also be fun) and active (participants can be actively engaged). The key differentiation is the “Try Before You Buy” concept. The participants can also practically experience the programmes available.”

On the first day, participants were able to choose between an active, culinary, cultural or historical experience, allowing them to fully experience the tiny romantic Istrian villages around Pula, taste the most awarded Istrian olive oils and wines, and learn more about the cultural and historical heritage of Pula, as well as go to the iconic Brioni islands. The “Try Before You Buy” experiences were also attended by the suppliers, who had a chance to get to know their potential clients in a less formal way.

The “Try Before You Buy” experiences were a perfect warm-up for the One2One meetings, which followed on the second day. Using the online app, suppliers, among which were representatives of destinations, hotels, DMCs and convention bureaus from Croatia, Austria and Slovenia, had pre-scheduled their meetings with hosted buyers.

Another added value for the hosted buyers was a fam trip to a Slovenian incentive icon, Bled, organised by the Bled Convention Bureau. It was a short jump from the Mediterranean to the Alpine region and proof of just how well-connected and compact the Alpe-Adria region is. www.incentives-alpe-adria.eu

BEEN THERE // INCENTIVES ALPE ADRIA 71

28 - 30 AUGUST 2019 Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana

FESTIVAL OF EVENTS AND LIVE MARKETING

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AW AR

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20 19

CONVENTA CROSS VER

Every year Conventa draws attention to excellence in the meetings industry with an award for the best event in ‘New Europe’.

Organizers of mind blowing events from New European region are invited to enter the competition that will again acknowledge the best in the event business. The winner will be announced in August 2019 during the Conventa Crossover conference in Ljubljana.

HURRY UP AND REGISTER YOUR EVENT BY 15 JULY 2019.

www.crossover.si

72 INCENTIVE IDEAS // PULA

On the trail ofthe world’s best olive oil

Kažun Park

Culinary enthusiasts have long known that due to its climate, soil conditions and specific olive tree varieties, Istria offers exceptional conditions for olive tree cultivation. The virgin olive oil of Istria is obtained solely by mechanical means and is neither chemically nor thermally processed, yielding extra virgin olive oil of world-class quality. The programme consists of a visit to the unique Museum Olei Histriae, followed by a guided tasting session at the premises of one of the most well-known Istrian olive oil producers, Chiavalon. The museum guides will take you on a trip through time—from the Romans, all the way to modern production techniques. You will familiarise yourself with the scent, taste and composition of Istrian olive oil, as well as its favourable health effects. You will also see a marvellous demonstration of how everything comes together in practice.

Kažun, a characteristically Istrian structure, is a single-room stone masonry building, usually with a round floorplan. They are most common in the south of the Istrian peninsula, with more than 3000 in the vicinity of Vodnjan, but you can see them in the northern and eastern Istria as well. A kažun would traditionally be used as a shelter by farmers and shepherds who worked on fields and pastures a long way from home, as well as for tool storage. In the Kažun Park, you will be shown the entire building process. By special arrangement, a workshop can be organised for your group, in which the participants will take part in building a drystone wall around the Kažun Park.

WOW FACTOR:

The ancient architecture of Istria

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Cultural Experience Historical Experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 50

DURATION (IN HOURS):

2 hours

WOW FACTOR:

The land of the healthiest olive oils in the world

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Culinary experience Combination with other incentive programmes

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

LOCATION:

Vodnjan

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 50

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

DURATION (IN HOURS):

2 hours

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

LOCATION:

Pula, Museum Olei Histriae Vodnjan, Chivalon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

INCENTIVE IDEAS // PULA 73

Kampanjola — craft beer with a story

Istrian Wine & Rakija Adventure

Darko Pekica is a man of many talents. He is, among other things, a writer, a performer and a farmer who specialises in cheese production.

As of this year, he is also running a brewery, together with his colleagues Dorijan Siljan and Dino Grgorović. Their craft beer, Kampanjola, was an instant success with beer lovers. Three variations are currently produced.

The crucial part of the operation, however, is combining organic cheese, beef and vegetables with beer. While the homemade sausages, ombolo and prosciutto are out of this world, visiting the farm also gives you a singular insight into the Istrian soul and lifestyle. All of this is also a part of an authentic story of organic production, which has also been certified— just like all the ingredients of Darko’s beer.

The Benazić family focus on winemaking and distillation of spirits.

By infusing medicinal herbs into spirits distilled from grape must, extraordinary liquors are obtained. In a guided tasting session at the Benazić wine house you will be able to try a variety of wines and liquors.

The most renowned of their distilled spirits are medica, biska, travarica and komovica, while in terms of wines, they are most famous for their malvasia, terrano and cabernet sauvignon.

The wonderful garden takes up to 60 guests, and there are another 40 places available in the tasting room. If time allows, you can arrange allday culinary workshops for your group.

WOW FACTOR:

A marriage of the first organic beer in Croatia with superb local organic products.

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Culinary experience Cultural experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 20

DURATION (IN HOURS):

3 hours

LOCATION:

Svetvincenat

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

WOW FACTOR:

The authentic tastes of Istria

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Culinary experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 50

DURATION (IN HOURS):

2 hours

LOCATION:

Pula

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

74 INCENTIVE IDEAS // PULA

Rockstar winemaker

The Brijuni Safari

The life story of Bruno Trapan is full of amusing adventures and twists.

In his cellar, which is barely ten kilometres from Pula, he produces highquality, elegant wines according to organic principles. His life trajectory has been like that of a rock band—from a garage legend, to a recipient of numerous awards for premium-quality wines. His wines are certified organic. The cellar has operated since 2005 and Bruno also makes sure to provide the perfect marriage of wine and food, an effort in which he is assisted by chef Lorena Božić.

His personal charisma, energy and enthusiasm will ensure a top-notch wine experience for your incentive group.

Safari Park Brijuni was established in 1978. It mostly featured the animals that ended up in Yugoslavia as diplomatic gifts for Marshal Tito. The exotic animals tell the extraordinary story of a group of 14 islands where history was being made; serving as a living reminder of those times is Koki the cockatoo: even in his advanced age, he still chirps with delight whenever Tito’s name is mentioned. In addition to the zoo, the exquisite nature and the museum, a tour of the legendary hotels and the conference centre is also part of the safari that takes you all across the archipelago.

Brijuni National Park is an extraordinary venue in general, allowing you to combine a tour of the archipelago with an outdoors reception. The various venues accommodate receptions of 20 to 300 guests. Your participants can navigate the island on foot, using a bicycle, or with golf carts.

WOW FACTOR:

Organic wine tasting

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Culinary experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 5 Maximum: 30

DURATION (IN HOURS):

3 hours

LOCATION:

Šišan, Pula

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

WOW FACTOR:

The ancient architecture of Istria

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Cultural Experience Historical Experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 20 Maximum: 300

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

DURATION (IN HOURS):

5 hours

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

LOCATION:

Brioni, Fažana

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Hotels Nacionalni Park Brioni (Hotel Istra, Villa Lovorka) Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

INCENTIVE IDEAS // PULA 75

Stancija Buršić – home-produced prosciutto in medieval Vodnjan

The “Spectacvla Gladiatoria” gladiator school at the Pula Arena

Located 11 km from Pula, Vodnjan is a town that has largely retained diverse historical architectural styles and is very charming with its narrow medieval streets and stone houses. Large murals by street artists on various squares and streets add an urban touch. In the Vodnjan heartland there are numerous vineyards and estates called “stancija”; one of those is Stancija Buršić, home of the only Istrian prosciutto producer in Vodnjan, as well as one of the largest in Istria. In addition to providing a prosciutto tasting session for your group, they can also prepare an authentic Istrian lunch.

Dating back to antiquity, Pula Arena is to this day the most important and largest cultural and historical monument in Pula, as well as Istria in general. In its prime it could accommodate more than 20,000 spectators.

A peek behind the scenes of ancient battles is an extremely attractive programme for incentive groups. It is offered by the “Spectacula Gladiatoria” gladiator school, two-time winners of the Hercules Victor trophy—a tournament traditionally held in Rome.

Dressed in original costumes, the gladiators fight with replicas of authentic weapons. In Europe there are only about ten gladiator schools, as well as twenty cultural societies, whose members passionately focus on that most important part of history—the period of antiquity. They can organise the spectacle specifically for your incentive group and show you the behind-the-scenes secrets.

WOW FACTOR:

Authentic Istrian prosciutto with a protected designation of origin status

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Culinary experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 150

DURATION (IN HOURS):

2 hours

LOCATION:

Vodnjan

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

WOW FACTOR:

An authentic Roman arena experience

INCENTIVE TYPE:

Cultural Experience Historical Experience

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR:

All year round

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:

Minimum: 2 Maximum: 100

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

DURATION (IN HOURS):

2 hours

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

LOCATION:

Arena, Pula

HOTEL RECOMMENDATION:

Park Plaza, Arena Hospitality Group

GET IN TOUCH:

Natalija Bah Čad Toleranca marketing d.o.o.

WEBSITE:

www.incentives-alpe-adria.com

76 COLUMN

WHEN DO WE ACTUALLY NEED AN EVENT AGENCY?

An event is 80% communication and 20% logistics, or event management.

GORAZD ČAD

SHUTTERSTOCK

Some time ago, a colleague of mine, who is a hotelier, asked me for some advice on organising their business. I was happy to help him; we are colleagues and have known each other since we were students, but this still raised a bit of an alarm for me. Whenever I come to his hotel bar, I pay for the coffee and the pleasant conversation with the staff, whereas my advice, in his opinion, is supposed to be free.

I realised this was a fundamental misunderstanding that we have already discussed at length. As I have written several times myself, nearly

everybody appears to understand how events are organised.

Lack of familiarity with the basic principles of event organisation, however, most often leads to panicked improvisation and sometimes even unpleasant experiences. It is true that there are certain daily—one might say routine—events for which hiring an event agency just isn’t necessary. The client usually has a team perfectly capable of handling such projects. With a touch of creativity and organisational effort, you can certainly carry such events out independently.

COLUMN 77

After the conversation, I realised that the problem was on our side all along. Agencies simply don’t seem to be able to clearly explain the value of working with professionals capable of making a significant contribution to the progress and growth of the company. Most often we default to generic claims about how we ensure professionalism, negotiate better prices and know all the providers.

This breakthrough only came for me when I asked my colleague some concrete questions that ended up fundamentally changing his way of thinking. The advantages that an event agency brings to the table are the incomparably greater amount of experience in organising events and a team of experts who complement one another to ensure an excellent event.

To make it all easier to understand, I have compiled a few questions to ask the event clients. The full list is endless and can be expanded arbitrarily: These are just some of the questions that you can either answer yourself, or alternatively ask event professionals for their opinion in a well-prepared brief. This will definitely help you focus your thoughts and answer the questions.

Reducing costs and how nice the idea of organising an event sounds should not be the only criteria. Nowadays, event agencies employ lots of specialised knowledge and modern marketing technologies—a whole toolbox for facilitating successful events. Even the most experienced client is going to have difficulty mastering the full spectrum of modern event management. Sometimes you need help, and this is where event agencies enter the picture.

I can illustrate the advantages of having an event agency using a sports analogy. In a good football team, the players act in concert: all for one and one for all. The principle of reciprocity is highly reminiscent of the work of an event agency. The best agencies are those excellent at motivating their team of both internal and external associates, carrying it all the way to victory—a result of the seemingly unimportant details that end up making the difference.

In an age of event hyperproduction, one part of the formula for success is the right choice of an agency. Send them onto the pitch and let them play a part in your next event!

1. Are the goal and the purpose of the event clearly set out and written down in a form that the participants and organisers will be able to understand?

7. Is there a powerful, e-mailsupported CRM system available for direct communication with participants?

2. Is the added value of participating in the event written down and communicated clearly?

8. Does the event have its own brand image that is consistent with the corporate identity of the host?

3. Is the target audience clearly defined? Have you come up with the persona of the ideal participant?

9. Have a detailed scenario and protocol for the whole event been prepared?

4. Is the database of potential event participants up-to-date and of sufficient quality to enable targeted communication?

10. Have we checked for rival events taking place at the same time as our event?

5. Do we have GDPR-compliant consent to invite the participants to the event?

6. Will the entirety of the communication be compliant with the GDPR legislation?

11. Do we have a social network communication strategy for the event?

12. Do we have the tools and techniques to activate the event participants?

13. Have we chosen a moderator for the event and prepared their texts?

14. Have we considered how postevent communication with the participants will take place?

15. Do we have a methodology for measuring the impact of an event?

16. Have we prepared gifts for the participants?

17. Is there music envisioned for the event?

18. Have we visualised and drawn the scenography for the event?

19. Do we know how to come up with attractive sales letters or direct mail?

20. Do we know how to establish a powerful web anchor for event communication? ...

78 CONVENTA ADDENDUM // INVITATION TO CONVENTA 2020

JOIN US AT CONVENTA 2020!

22 - 23 January 2020 l Ljubljana, Slovenia

OMG! IT'S CONVENTA! www.conventa.si

CONVENTA ADDENDUM // INVITATION FOR EXHIBITORS 79

NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BOOK YOUR SPOT AT CONVENTA 2020!

Early fees for exhibitors are available until 15 June 2019.

Why would you present your MICE product at Conventa?

1. MEETING CHERRY-PICKED BUYERS Conventa is known as a tradeshow with the most carefully selected buyers with a direct interest in the region. Around 80% of meeting planners are new to the show each year.

2. EXCELLENT TIME EFFICIENCY At Conventa, you can carry out an average of 30 pre-planned meetings in only two days, something that would take ages if you were to plan and realise on your own.

3. SAVING TIME AND MONEY

Natalija Bah Čad, Conventa Exhibitors Manager For more information please contact me at: natalija@conventa.info

Dear meeting service providers, The 12th edition of Conventa will be taking place from 22 – 23 January 2020 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Since its early beginnings in 2008, Conventa has become known as a boutique, regional B2B event presenting MICE destinations, venues, DMC’s, CVB’s from Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. Throughout the 11 years of its existence, Conventa has kept the regional character and concept, which is highly appreciated by meeting planners from all over Europe and beyond.

More information on terms and conditions can be found at Conventa website: https://www.conventa.si/exhibitors/ here you can also find the Application form We are very much looking forward to welcome you at Conventa 2020.

In only two days you can meet around 170 international and more than 100 regional buyers. At Conventa you only pay one-tenth of the price for a lead, then you would pay at other trade shows.

4. AFFORDABLE PRICE According to exhibitors, the value for money proposition at Conventa is one of the best in the world. At the same time, the registration fee is much lower than that of competing events.

5. TRUST IN THE BRAND Conventa is a trustworthy trademark that has built its reputation among meeting planners by providing top-notch buyers.

6. NO HIDDEN EXPENSES The registration fee includes a fully equipped stand that will allow you to fulfill our motto of “Come, Make meetings, Win”. We take care of food and a social programme throughout the entire event.

7. MARKETING THROUGH CONVENTA CHANNELS Conventa continuously communicates with more than 69,000 meeting professionals – promoting exhibitors and your stories is what we do successfully 365-days a year.

8. A BOUTIQUE FORMAT Conventa invented and innovated the boutique trade show format, allowing an endless amount of possibilities for networking. It keeps the same number of exhibitors and hosted buyers every year.

9. MEETINGS STAR 2019 The Meeting Star Award evaluation has become an important reference point for meeting planners. The grand finale is happening at Conventa’s red carpet!

10. ADDED VALUE: Every year, promotional activities at Conventa gets bigger. They are included in exhibitor packages for free and based on the growing database of potential buyers and innovative marketing tools.

80 CONVENTA ADDENDUM // INVITATION FOR HOSTED BUYERS

EXPLORE NEW EUROPE, MEET NEW PARTNERS AND CREATE UNFORGETTABLE EVENTS Dear meeting planners, On behalf of the Conventa organizing team I would like to invite you to join us at 12th edition of Conventa, that will take place from 22 – 23 January 2020 in Ljubljana, Slovenia and will be followed by the fam trips to most interesting venues and marvelous destinations of New Europe.

WHY WOULD YOU COME TO CONVENTA?

Miha Kovačič, Head of Slovenian Convention Bureau and Co-founder of Conventa

• BOUTIQUE – petit in size and big in quality and hospitality • REGIONAL – presenting venues, DMCs, CVBs from the region of New Europe (Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine) • PROFESSIONAL – organised by professionals for professionals for the 12th year in a row • FRIENDLY – networking and relaxed atmosphere helping providers and clients to become true business partners Applications for 2020 are already opened and you are very welcome to apply for a hosted buyer status! Having in mind that more than 80% of exhibitors are coming to Conventa every year, our promise on the other side is to bring 80% of new hosted buyers every year. So, new comers with a real interest to organize events in the countries of New Europe, have priority in being confirmed as hosted buyers. Please note that Conventa as a boutique trade show accepts no more than 200 hosted buyers.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE HOSTED BUYER STATUS? • Complimentary flights or travel costs refund • Complimentary 4 star accommodation in Ljubljana • 2 networking dinners in Ljubljana • On-site hospitality (coffee breaks, lunches) • Plenty of opportunities for informal meetings with exhibitors • Online personalised diary to pre-schedule the appointments with buyers of your choice • Opportunity to join the post-Conventa fam trips • Full support of our enthusiastic and professional team More information on terms and conditions can be found at Conventa website: www.conventa.si/hosted-buyers, where you can also find the Application Form

We are very much looking forward to welcome you at Conventa 2020!

For more information please contact me at: miha.kovacic@conventa.info

81

WHAT PEOPLE LIKE ABOUT CONVENTA?

Easy access, communication with organizer, concrete inquiries from hosted buyers.

Passionate, creative and professional. Great exhibition for meetings industry!

Friendly people, good food & drinks and lots of networking opportunities.

Good choice of buyers, mostly looking to expand their business to our destinations.

Organization, attention to detail, quality of exhibitors and hosted buyers.

Meeting people from New Europe in one place and understanding the region’s vibe.

82 CONVENTA TREND BAR // INVITATION

EAGER TO KNOW MORE ABOUT EFFECTIVE MICE MARKETING?

Join us at Trend Bar 2019

Since the focus of destinations as well as events of all kinds has shifted from fam and glam to individuals, their needs, requests and expectations, destinations and event organisers are searching more and more for new, improved ways of charming their (potential) guests. In order to be up to date and well equipped for present challenges, we kindly invite you to join us at Conventa Trend Bar 2019 in one of the host cities. The event warmly welcomes all event organisers and planners who want to network, gain knowledge, and exchange ideas in the meetings industry to join and experience the taste of Conventa.

After successful Conventa Trend Bars in Sofia, Bucharest, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Belgrade, Ljubljana and Split in the last two years, the trendiest destinations of Conventa Trend Bar 2019 are already known. The carefully selected Trend Bar destinations of 2019 are Thessaloniki, Ljubljana, Brežice, Budva, Šibenik, Sarajevo, Lviv, Sofia and Novi Sad. Gorazd Čad, the co-founder of the largest regional meetings industry tradeshow Conventa, the founder of Conventa’s younger brother Conventa Crossover, as well as the CEO and owner of Toleranca Marketing and editor-in-chief at Kongres Magazine, will be answering the complex questions and riddles of event organisers and destination managers. He will thoroughly address the issue of how to make events and destinations more interesting, divergent, unique and of course, more effective on the market.

Even more, the main part of the Trend Bars will be a workshop

entitled What works in MICE marketing and why it works. Or why the classical methods do not always work and what must be known to best tailor them to serve your needs. With its interactive format the workshop is very practical, and the presentation of 20 examples will equip the participants with the proper tools and technique for successful marketing. In addition to Gorazd Čad, the Trend Bars will host local speakers, and in some locations special guests will be joining.

Take the time to reserve your spot in your closest Trend Bar 2019 host city: • Thessaloniki, Greece – 10 May - Municipal Art Gallery Casa Bianca • Ljubljana, Slovenia – 30 May – Triglav Lab • Brežice, Slovenia – 31 May – Mokrice Castle, Barbara Hall • Budva, Montenegro – 4 June– Hotel Splendid Conference and Spa ***** • Šibenik, Croatia – 6 June – Barone Fortress • Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – 20 June – Hotel Hills Sarajevo • Lviv, Ukraine – 24 June – Lviv Coffee Manufacture • Sofia, Bulgaria – 12 September – Hotel Expo Sofia - ForEgo Restaurant • Novi Sad, Serbia – 18 October – Svilara Cultural Station You are also still very welcome to apply as a host city and bring new knowledge to your location.

Please apply via the on-line registration form at www.conventa.si.

Gain knowledge, interact and get to know us better. Come to Conventa Trend Bar and join us for a lovely, fun and lively couple of hours that will inspire you to create better and arm you with the knowledge for the coming challenges.

TIPS // HACKING B2B PROMISE 83

6. TRUE BUYERS WITH AN INTEREST IN YOUR CONGRESS PRODUCT

If it is a regional event, organisers should provide buyers who have a real interest in your product, as well as, or at least in, the region. This condition is necessary in order to realise concrete enquiries.

HACKING THE B2B PROMISES Questions to which the organisers of B2B events should provide the answers

7. MEASUREMENT OF ROI

Event organisers should have clear criteria for measuring added value (ROI – Return on Investment). Among other things, they should make sure they can answer the question about the number of enquiries they have realised at the event.

8. PRIVATISATION OF INVITED GUESTS GORAZD ČAD

As the organiser of an important regional B2B event I often find myself in a situation where I am encouraged to share examples of good practice with my colleagues and advise them in which part of marketing it is worth investing. Over the past few years I have written down some of my colleagues’ questions and this has resulted in an interesting overview of the criteria, which should be taken into account before making a decision about your participation at the event(s).

1. THE PROMISE OF UNREALISTICALLY QUICK SALES RESULTS

Marketing in the field of congress activity is not a sprint that brings results overnight, but a demanding and sometimes arduous marathon. Those who understand this are among the most successful in the market. The unrealistic expectations of short-term effects are a major challenge since events are primarily intended to create opportunities rather than direct sales.

2. THE RATIO OF EXHIBITORS TO HOSTED BUYERS

The golden rule should be a ratio of 1:2. In short, for 100 exhibitors, there should be at least 200 hosted buyers. This allows all exhibitors to fill their schedules with quality meetings. If the ratio is 1:1 or less, it’s time to ask the organisers about the quality of the event.

3. GUARANTEED NUMBER OF MEETINGS

If you are at the event for two days, organisers should provide at least 15 pre-arranged meetings. Such an assurance is directly related to the ratio of exhibitors to hosted buyers. Request a guarantee from the organisers for a minimum number of meetings.

Democracy and the fairness of organisers is also reflected in the openness of social events for exhibitors. It is important that all social events are open to all participants to the event, because we support the transparency of relations and are against privatised events, receptions and agreements, hidden from the public. This enables continuous networking of exhibitors and hosted buyers.

9. EXPERIENCE OF THE DESTINATION

An integral part of successful stories is the experience of fam trips to individual destinations. This greatly increases marketing of the destinations themselves, their visibility, and is proven to increase the interest of the hosted buyers.

10. MARKETING ON ALL AVAILABLE PLATFORMS

Check out which promotional options, besides the sale of square meters, are offered by the organisers. What kind of promotion is included in the package? Do they offer you free publication of your news in partner media, newsletters, and on social networks?

AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE

As the first on the market, Conventa has taken on a heavy burden, that in addition to the event itself it also takes care of the promotion of individual destinations. We also believe today that this is the only way to create the appropriate synergies.

Conventa is a very clear and strategically deliberate story that definitely brings clear and measurable results. Quality is important, not quantity.

Despite the fact that the number of hosted buyers at Conventa is almost unchanged, the trade show hosts 90% of new hosted buyers, who must meet our strict criteria, every year.

Verified satisfaction. 91.9% of exhibitors agree that the Conventa effect exceeds the price of participation. An incredible 95.4% think that the investment in Conventa will be repaid in full or at least partially.

4. SHARE OF NEW HOSTED BUYERS

If the annual number of new hosted buyers is less than 20%, there is a high probability that the buyer base will be exhausted. The job of serious organisers is to bring new buyers to you every year. Ask the organisers for clear information and a guarantee regarding this information.

5. DATABASE

Organisers must at any time provide a guarantee that they manage the data obtained in accordance with GDPR legislation. In addition, they should provide an entire database of buyers attending for your follow-up.

The database is the heart of the story.

WHAT IS CONVENTA PROMISING? • 250 new business contacts • at least 25 direct meetings with buyers • 365 days promotion • A free social programme at the time of the event • 90% of new buyers every year • at least six fam trips after the event

84 POWER TO THE MEETINGS

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL EVENT

Every organiser wants their event to be as successful as possible GORAZD ČAD //

THIS ARTICLE IS THE THIRD CHAPTER OF A NEW UPCOMING BOOK ‘POWER TO THE MEETINGS’

BY GORAZD ČAD THAT WE HEREBY HAPPILY ANNOUNCE WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON!

SHUTTERSTOCK

DEFINITION

What makes your congress unique is its energy. All it takes for an event to be called successful is that it is carried out well and in accordance with its goals. The truly effective events, however, are rare—those where genuine energy flows between the organisers and participants. Such energy is the holy grail of event organisation.

THE STARTING POINT

Congress energy is much like the energy of music. Achieving improvisational nirvana in jazz music or a state of peak rock delight requires lots of practice. This is why experience matters so much, in addition to talent. Schoolbooks define sound as energy that spreads through space in the form of waves. It can be an indistinct noise or a beautiful tone of definite pitch, timbre, intensity and duration. At an

event or a congress, we struggle with similar challenges. Our task is to transform indistinct noises into steady and coherent programmes.

Linking them is a special congress energy that we need to learn how to create, direct and moderate.

THE CONCEPT

The advice on creating positive energy at events is actually dead simple; controlling the energy of the event should be the fundamental task of every professional event organiser. Do not bother with cheap tricks; they do not work. A guitar must be played live and with abandon, and singing must come from the heart.

Think about the feeling you get when you step into the reception area at a congress and feel genuine energy—even though the venue is full

POWER TO THE MEETINGS 85

of strangers, the feeling is one of having arrived at the right place and the right people. Hotel lobbies are similar. Seasoned veterans intuitively recognise good energy. I dare say most of the communication at an event happens at the level of energy; the verbal and technical aspects of communication only represent a small part. Premium hotels with top-notch reception service can teach us what is necessary to make communication smoother and more direct. Conventionally laid out and generically designed halls really kill the flow of energy, which is perhaps the reason why such venues all too often make people numb; many fall asleep and many more still are bored.

Successful organisers organise events with a great deal of love and without crankiness. Simply and creatively. Ethically and morally. It is necessary to ensure the flow of energy between organisers and participants, between lecturers and their audience and between sponsors and participants. Accordingly, congress venues must be designed to flow freely, like a rock festival.

The most important thing, however, is that the younger generations, often described as alienated, digitalised and atomised to an extreme degree, respond positively to such events. Probably because, in addition to providing an opportunity to socialise, they make it possible to participate in social transformation and self-realisation that social networks, despite the illusion of connectedness and sociability that they offer, can’t hope to match. Another reason is the simple fact that people are social creatures—we like to hang out.

TIPS AND TOOLS

Getting positive energy to flow requires having a good command of the three basic elements of events.

First comes the element of surprise. Some call this “the first impression”.

If we are able to establish a genuine relationship, spontaneous and natural, we’ve just secured the first piece of the energy puzzle. If we are creative, we are usually full of surprises and the participants love those.

The second piece is especially important nowadays: communication before, during and after the event, which carries the energy all the way to the hybrid social heights of modern communication.

The third piece is effective dramaturgy, which we have already talked about; it includes scenography and ambience, hall design, lighting, and— for all the rockers—actual congress rock riffs.

In our agency we have come up with another tool for creating positive energy: the 10 WOWs, which provides an upgrade to the element of surprise. Our team’s goal is to come up—some time before the event— with a matrix of surprises that the participants will navigate and whose aim is to conjure up positive energy for the event. Almost as a rule, the best things are free and do not require large investments. You don’t need a ton of technical equipment, lights and multimedia effects to evoke positive energy. The methods and techniques are, for the most part, simple and cheap and teeming with heart and creativity.

We typically characterise these energy-arousing surprises depending on their effect on the participants’ senses. This technique is described in more detail in the Chapter 17.

These categories are:

TASTE The way to someone’s heart is through the stomach; gastronomy has always been an integral part of premium event experience. The culinary arts represent a shortcut to an authentic experience of the destination and are the simplest path towards participants’ satisfaction.

SOUND The desire to produce sounds is, along with the need for socialising, one of the most universal human traits. We like to describe music as the universal language and from prehistoric times onwards it has been closely associated with gatherings.

SMELL Even if you close your eyes and cover your ears, your nose will pick up the scents that surround you at an event. There is usually the scent of freshly ground coffee, but often also the basic smell of the venue where the event is held.

TOUCH The concept of trying before buying has long been an integral part of B2B events, but the younger generations nowadays outright demand it. This can be realised through various hands-on zones where the participants can try out technologies and ideas in person.

SIGHT Sight is the most important human sense that often predominates the others. The first contact with the event is through the event’s branding; this is an area where consistency and accuracy are paramount.

FEEL Atmosphere is created by the exhibition equipment, decoration, furniture, heating, lighting and various elements of the layout. The cherry on top is an omnipresent air of hospitality that can warm even the coldesthearted meeting industry players.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Energy hotspots can be created using a simple matrix of 10 WOWs, in which you define positive reactions by way of a participant’s journey through the event.

The basic elements of the matrix are:

IDEA

SURPRISE

SENSE

COST

FEASIBILITY

PERSON RESPONSIBLE

Idea 1: Games corners

Awakening the participant’s inner child

Feel

TBD

YES / NO

TBD

Idea 2:

YES / NO

Idea 3:

YES / NO

Idea 4:

YES / NO

Idea 5:

YES / NO

NOTE

86 POWER TO THE MEETINGS

INSPIRATION

Every year, we fill the Conventa project with various surprises that are usually extremely well received by the participants. In the new decade, we are associating destinations with a new visual identity that is built around apples and which we will use to represent the region in the future. We also have brought juicy, fresh, enticing apples to the event and branded the story in a suitable way. From the very beginning, the glue keeping the story of Conventa together has been coffee. In 2019, Slovenia’s foremost experts in the topic—the team from the Stow Coffeehouse chain, renowned for uncompromising quality—were invited to collaborate. During the event, we operated a TV studio in which we recorded interviews and reported on the interesting stories happening at Conventa. Collaborating with Advantage Austria, we made sure that the participants could take a break from the hustle of the convention in a pleasantly furnished Austrian library. The participants were able to express their personal and business wishes for 2019 on a Wall of Wishes.

Year after year, we organise Conventa as a labour of love and this energy is almost always recognised and positively assessed by the participants.

The Conventa project is an industry-transforming tool.

Once the participants’ fear of the utterly unusual layout is dispelled by music, the initial scepticism dissipates, the imperfections become perfection and even the biggest cynic has been won over, you know you are going in the right direction. The precondition, however, is being open to new ideas, people and energies.

AN ADDITIONAL FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT

Nowadays the formula for a successful event is in the combination of the following elements:

1. An unusual choice of venue, often a pop-up set, an industrial building

or a quirky outdoors venue with a special energy. Often also a space that fits the personality of the brand promoted at the event.

2. Dividing the space into different zones that facilitate smooth transition of the participants between the different experiences.

3.

Co-creation; involving the participants in all the stages of the project, including the co-creation of the scene and content of the event.

Moderators with wide-ranging knowledge play a decisive role here.

4. Highly efficient communication with the participants before, during and after the event through the use of social networks, applications and conventional tools of communication.

5. Fandom, or fanbase, is crucial for the success of the event. Quality projects foster a feeling of belonging and camaraderie among the enthusiasts, the fans, which helps build an exceptionally effective social network that drives the project forward.

6. Interdisciplinarity: involving areas of expertise that are seemingly

not a good fit for the topic of the event can lead to new discoveries and formats.

7. Extreme concentration of emotional experiences driven by music, art, theatre, circus, stand-up, rock’n’roll, gaming.

GLOSSARY: • Event energy: The moment when organisers’ energy, empathy and heart connect with the participants: the spark. www.toleranca.eu • Experiential marketing: A marketing technique that creates experiences between brands and consumers on a personal and emotional level. www.en.wikipedia.org • Energy: A usually positive spiritual force.

Source: www.merriam-webster.com • Surprise: The feeling caused by something unexpected or unusual. www.merriam-webster.com • Communication: A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviour. www.merriam-webster.com • Dramaturgy: The art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical representation. www.merriam-webster.com

8. Experimenting with novel formats and presentation styles, such as Pecha Kucha, Tedx, Elevator Pitch, Open Space, Live Polls, Ingnite, JigSaw, Unconference, Interactive theatre, The Lost Lectures, Lunch Clubbing, Knowledge Caffe, Hackathon, Thinkathon, Editathon, Mashups ...

9. A lifestyle that brings together like-minded individuals, typically in a

casual, relaxed way, and that is demonstrated by the event brand and the style of communication. This happens at the level of personalised content.

10. The Wow zone, or the Play & Experimental zone; an integral part of every project that aspires to become viral. One of the participants offered an interesting comment that summarised his philosophy: at a high-quality event, the participants should say “wow” at least ten times a day.

The most important thing, however, is that the younger generations, often described as alienated, digitalised and atomised to an extreme degree, respond positively to such events. Probably because, in addition to providing an opportunity to socialise, they make it possible to participate in social transformation and self-realisation that social networks, despite the illusion of connectedness and sociability that they offer, can’t hope to match. Another reason is the simple fact that people are social creatures—we like to hang out.

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Kongres Magazine

Kongres Magazine is the very first niche communications agency to specialize in the meetings industry in the region of »New Europe«, creating urban congress stories spiced up with a strong dose of creativity and an “out of the box” vision for over a decade now.

ADVERTISE WITH US! T: +386 1 430 51 03 E: natalija@toleranca.eu

EDITOR IN CHIEF Gorazd Čad ASSISTANT EDITOR Jasmina Jerant DESIGN Barbara Dimec DTP AND PREPRESS Barbara Dimec PHOTO CREDIT archive of Kongres Magazine and partners’ destinations The Kongres Magazine is entered into the media register under sequence number 1423.

MAGAZINE ISSUED IN January, March, May, June, July, September, November, December ISSN NUMBER 1855-8615 PUBLISHER AND PRODUCTION Poslovni turizem Gorazd Čad s.p., Kamnica 6B, SI-1262 Dol pri Ljubljani T: +385 (0)1 430 51 03 E: gorazd.cad@go-mice.eu MARKETING Toleranca Marketing d.o.o., Štihova 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana T: +385 (0)1 430 51 03 E: gorazd.cad@toleranca.eu ISSUE DATE May 2019 For the content production it is required to get the written editorial consignment.

Official magazine of the Slovenian Convention Bureau

Ljubljana Capital for Great Meetings

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