8TH NEW EUROPE EXHIBITION FOR MEETINGS, EVENTS & INCENTIVE TRAVEL 21. 01. 2016

Don’t miss the leading business-to-business event for NEW EUROPE!

See you in Ljubljana, at Conventa, from 18 to 19 January 2017.

CONVENTA 2017

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SOOLNUA 2

MEETING STAR AWARD 6

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS 16

30 MOST INFLUENTUAL PEOPLE 18

THE CONVENTA EXPERIENCE AT ITS 8TH EDITION

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My experience here in Slovenia has been every bit of what we

call “incentive quality.” The genuine authenticity of the experience here is one of the most important element of a unique travel experience.

The food and wine experience has been exquisite and the sophistication of the local and regional industry provides the foundation for what will surely be a growing invective market and region in the near and distant future.

Here are some of the adjectives and attributes our board members have expressed based on their experience so far.”

Kevin M. Hinton, SITE‘s CEO

Don’t miss a lecture by Johanna Fischer, managing director of tmf-dialogue marketing in Europe and India, 21 January 2016, from 11.00 - 11.45

At GR - Ljubljana exhibition and Convention Centre, Urška hall

Learn what it takes to build up an efficient communication system that can help you to stand out from competition and allows many synergies and an economic use of money and resources. Use multiple chan-nels for a worldwide dialogue with the meetings industry and the planners and see some case studies from destinations or organizations who successfully apply content marketing which is in-line with what planners need and search for.

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2 2CONVENTA SPECIAL CONVENTA SPECIAL

CONVENTA DAILY

Editor-in-Chief: Gorazd Čad Design: Premedia, Andrej JuvanPrinting: Demat d.o.o. Circulation: 200 copies

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

www.conventa.infoIssue date: January 2016-01-21 Daily is free of charge for all participants of Coventa

Conventa publications are printed on Xerox recycled paper, using environmentally friendly multifunctional printer Xerox ColorQube with revolutionary solid ink colours Solidink. Con-venta publications thus reduce the adverse effect of waste on the environment by 90%, while cutting down on costs by 62%. As a sign of respect to the environment, we encourage you to recycle … and consider the ways in which it can be reused.

Conventa Communication Platformpowerd by KONGRES MAGAZINE since 2007

What do we do?SoolNua is a boutique consultancy that works with destinations, venues and ho-tels on MICE-related projects in the areas of strategy, marketing and training.

Who are we?SoolNua is owned and run by Patrick M Delaney and Pádraic Gilligan, two expe-rienced #eventprofs who have worked across the full spectrum of the meetings industry as buyers and vendors as well as playing leadership roles in industry associations such as SITE, MPI and ICCA and on the advisory boards of FICP, The Special Event Magazine, Reed Exhibitions, EventAlley, InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), Washington DC Convention & Visi-tors Bureau.

AOIFE MCCRUMWho am I?I’m Aoife McCrum and I am the Social Media & Digital Marketing Manager at SoolNua.

What’s my passion?I love all things digital and have a certain knack for video editing. I’ve produced and directed all the destination videos that you can find on our YouTube channel. I also love Yoga and attend classes 3 days per week.

3 things about me you wouldn’t believe …• I’ve competed at the highest level with

the Discus.• I run an on-line business GreenMan

Clothing which sells funky tee shirts.• I make amazing cupcakes.

How did I get here?I studied Marketing & Advertising at Col-lege in my hometown, Dublin. Through the four years of study and projects, my love for all things digital grew rapidly. We ran large scale events and advertis-ing campaigns for clients with that naive wackiness and freedom you are allowed as a student. I had ample opportunity to ex-periment with and integrate Social Media & Digital Marketing into these projects.

I also have extensive experience in the hospitality industry having worked thro-ughout college at the Milano/Pizza Ex-press franchise.

After my college years, I interned at Ova-tion MCI, with their Global Sales & Mar-keting team in Dublin. It was there that I met Patrick & Pádraic for the first time before becoming SoolNua’s first employee in January 2014.

USING IT AS A MARKETING TOOL

Social Media is a marketing team’s dream – where else would you find your target

market all in one place? Facebook has 1.55 billion registered users… the World’s population is 7.3billion. But, with such a large potential audience, it also lends itself to what can look like a very cluttered noti-ceboard. Your aim as a marketer is to make your piece of paper stand out more than everyone else’s.

When developing your strategy to use Social Media as a marketing tool, keep the following in mind…

Social Media shouldn’t be thought of as a place you need to be just because eve-ryone else is there. Do you have the time and resources to maintain these channels daily? Until you are ready to invest extra personnel or outside agency services don’t start building a community online. If you can’t look after them with a level of cus-tomer service you believe in and respects that Social Media a global, online and a 24/7 responsibility, you need to wait.

When you are ready to invest time and resources, the first thing you need to look at is your company’s Sales & Marketing goals and objectives for the year ahead. Your Social Media Marketing Strategy should be driven by the same overall aim. All of your campaigns, ideas and thought process for creating content to post on so-cial media need to go through the overall aim filter first. Would you create a print or TV campaign with out going through this process? Probably not!

While Social Media is a great sales tool asset, it is definitely a place that suits a soft sell rather than a hard sell approach. There are 500million tweets sent glob-ally every day - people start to get a little choosy about what they invest their time in reading so don’t make all your content about you and your product. Think of platforms like Twitter, more as a place to exercise all those notes in your CRM sys-tem rather than free ad spot in a magazine to quote rates and deals. There is a real opportunity to develop relationships with clients, suppliers, competitors and your wider community to help raise an overall brand awareness.

Social Media dares us all to be a little bit spontaneous with the possible reward of something going spectacularly viral – go on, live a little!

3 Quick Tips to becoming a MICE Tweeter:1. Don’t use it as a reactive marketing tool – start the conversation first!2. Tweet your opinions on a subject / ar-ticle publication rather than just sharing the title + link – thought leadership status can help share your business’s ideas and culture.3. Seek engagement from your fellow #meetingprofs #eventprofs by using tools like Twitter’s new Polling feature – ask questions as well as making statements.

@aoifemccrum

SoolNua Social Media & Digital Marketing

SoolNua & SloveniaThe SoolNua team is proud to be working with the Slovenia Convention Bureau on an exciting and extensive project to help grow business from the MICE sector. We have all fallen in love with this friendly, charming and picturesque emerging desti-nation, with special thanks to Slovenian-passionate Miha Kovočič for showing us the local’s way.

Short (15 minutes) presentations hosted by convention bureaus, meet-

ing providers and spcial guests are held throughout the two Conventa days. Participants have the possibility to in between meetings listen to some of the best presentations and catch a one-on-one Q&A session with the presenters. Location: GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Con-vention Centre, Marmorna HallThursday, 21 January

12.00 - 12.15Making it possibleEmir Haskić, Director of Sales, Austria Trend Hotel, Slovenia  

12.20 - 12.35Zagreb - Ssmart place to meetZlatan Muftić, Director of Zagreb Convention Bureau

12.40 - 13.00Presentation of Best Event Award short-listed entries: BMW GRAND TOURER WORLD PREMIER & Secret DestionationsDaniel Marušić, CEO, Dubrovnik Travel DMC

CONVENTA EXPERTS CORNER PROGRAMME

CurioCitySI@CurioCitySIWe’re @Conventa2016 today. Wan-na grab coffee & chat about experi-encing #Ljubljana as a local? #con-ventaexperience-------------Zev Edgar, MBA@ZevEdgarDay 1 #conventaexperience #Con-venta2016, Lublijana an impressive destination both for MICE and Con-gresses Conventa Trade Show and IMEX-------------SoolNua @SoolNuaWe visited the winning ICECREAM store again - we couldn’t get enough #Conventa2016 #Conven-taExperience-------------Patrick Delaney @supergreybeardIf you haven’t got your hands on the @Conventa2016 daily yet - grab one! #Conventa2016 #conventaex-perience

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2 2EVENT REPORT EVENT REPORT

CONVENTA NETWORKING DINNER WITH THE TASTE OF LJUBLJANA

KONGRES MAGAZINE’S MEETINGS INDUSTRY PARTY

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2 2CONVENTA AWARDSCONVENTA AWARDS

CONVENTA AMBASSADOR

CONVENTA HALL OF FAME

Conventa Academy for the third time grants an award AMBASSADOR OF

CONVENTA, an award dedicated to the longstanding partner and the greatest am-bassador of the trade show Rok Klančnik, former Head of the Slovenian Tourist Board representation in Brussels (1966 - 2013).

The Ambassador of Conventa award goes this year to Stella Ariadni Constantinou, Professional Meeting Planner PCO, Stra-tegic Communications Consultant, CEO.Stella has been the voice of Conventa for a long time. She has played a crucial and important part in the international inte-gration of the show.  

Conventa wants to encourage stake-holders in the field of tourism to

contribute with their work, knowledge and ideas to the development of the meet-ings industry of South East and Central Europe. With the award “Conventa Hall of Fame” organisers each year reward an in-dividual who, with his extraordinary and invaluable efforts, made his mark and affected the development of the meetings industry.

This year Conventa Hall of Fame is Ksenija Lubarda, Director of Sales and Marketing at Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel Belgrade. Her strong support within the industry and policy in Serbia did not go unnoticed.

MEETINGS STAR AWARD PHOTO REPORT

Conventa Hall of Fame

Conventa Ambassador

Stela Ariadni Constantinou: “Conventa is a true experience! The unique trade show in MICE industry where the quality of all services seems to be something extraordinary to me. Once you are in CONVENTA,   you can feel not only the   warm welcome offered by the organizers who meantime they love take care of everything to the de-tail to all those attending and partic-

pating : speakers, exhibitors, hosted buyers, journalists. In fact it is about of what hospitality seems to be. Con-venta organizers every year do simply the best.   Be a Conventa Ambassador it‘s really an honor to me. It is a great opportunity introduce Conventa and beloved Ljubljana to the MICE indus-try professionals.”

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New cars premiers and other auto-motive events are an exceptional

international promotion of a destination and an excellent business opportunity for everyone participating in it. Organisers plan these events very carefully at least a year in advance, as it is necessary to obtain a number of permits, to carefully select partners and to choose a scenic route for the test runs. As an Editorial Board, we analysed the most suitable locations in South East Europe on the basis of the fol-lowing criteria: 2. TIVAT, Montenegro

Venue: REGENT PORTO MONTENEGRO, Tivat, MontenegroRegent Hotels & Resorts’ second prop-erty in Europe, featuring 51 rooms and 35 suites, is said to be the first and the only hotel to date in the Porto Mon-tenegro super-yacht marina resort. +WE PRAISE: located in the town of Ti-vat, guests can access the hotel through the city’s airport as well as Dubrovnik’s and Podgorica’s international gateways-WE CRITICISE: the price in high season. We recommend a visit outside the peak season.

3. NORTHERN DALMATIA, Croatia Venue: FALKENSTEINER IADERA, Zadar, Croatia The overall score of this new resort is extremely good. The hotel adheres to the known standards of the Falkensteiner group and is an excellent choice for incen-tive and product launches and smaller conferences.+WE PRAISE: vicinity of Zadar, Nin and the national parks, such as the Krka water-falls, the Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, Velebit and Kornati.-WE CRITICISE: nothing - from what we saw and experienced, we can only give it a firm nod of approval.

4. CARINTHIAN LAKES, Austria Venue: SCHLOSS HOTEL VELDEN, Velden, AustriaFerraris, Porsches and other similar beasts are a common sight on the roads around the hotel. The history of the hotel has included a series of press, sales and other business conferences, as well as world pre-mieres of virtually all of the most promi-nent automotive houses.+WE PRAISE: fairytale-like surroundings and a photogenic location on the lake.-WE CRITICISE: worst airline accessibil-ity.

5. SLOVENIAN COAST, Slovenia Venue: HOTEL BERNARDIN, Portorož, SloveniaThe venue for the largest number of lo-cal and regional automotive events has already proven itself through its hosting of Toyota’s European Sales Conference. It has one of the largest and best-equipped congress centres and excellent logistic facilities.+WE PRAISE: the comprehensive meet-ings offer concept, parking availability and the possibility of creating very private events.-WE CRITICISE: compared to its competi-tors, the hotel lacks some dynamics in its details, but nevertheless it still remains as interesting as the day it started.

6. DUBROVNIK. Croatia Venue: RADISSON BLU RESORT & SPA, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens, Dubrovnik A minimalist design, the lush Mediter-ranean greenery, elegant villas and many rustic details are all in Radisson’s recipe for success. The the first impression is therefore very good, in fact, excellent.+WE PRAISE: in automotive jargon, it is a premium hotel with its rich and luxurious equipment, many special little details and, above all, the image of the brand. -WE CRITICISE: the hotel does not have any serious weaknesses and firmly convinces with the comfort and quality expected of the Radisson chain.

7. LJUBLJANA, Slovenia Venue: HOTEL MONS, Ljubljana, Slove-nia A huge amount of parking, a position by the city bypass, service areas, security, proximity to highways and a modern de-sign are all attributes of a hotel that seems perfect for automotive events and premieres. In addition to hosting many lo-cal events the hotel also has on its CV the world premieres of Twingo and Skoda Yeti.+WE PRAISE: accessibility, excellent lo-gistics and a location close to major road links.-WE CRITICISE: spaciousness and stand-ard of hotel rooms.

8. ISTRIA Venue: HOTEL MONTE MULINI, Rovinj, Croatia A venue to meet the needs of the most demanding guests, which was why it was chosen for the world premiere of the fa-mous Bentley. The exclusive Hotel Monte Mulini’s surroundings, fittingly comple-mented by the adjacent Lone design hotel, were of a suitable quality to unveil the prestigious Bentley Continental model.+WE PRAISE: quality and integrity of the hotel and its additional offer.-WE CRITICISE: logistical capacities are more suited to exclusive and smaller events.

9. BELGRADE Venue: RADISSON BLU OLD MILL, Belgrade, Serbia Radisson Old Mill took a risk and it suc-ceeded. They have managed to capture just the right aesthetic balance; the top quality ingredients are never wrapped in ballast and the new space is adorned with the story of the former mill. The result is an elegant concept of an authentic hotel, a cult restaurant and a dynamic lounge bar.+WE PRAISE: quelle surprise! We have not experienced such a culinary and per-sonal experience in regional hotels for a long, long time. -WE CRITICISE: the awkward access to the hotel, which requires a little bit of flex-ibility.

10. BLED LAKE, Slovenia Venue: HOTEL TOPLICE, Bled, Slovenia The most renowned hotel in Bled has always been tightly linked to the devel-opment of tourism in the area. The hotel is classic, sophisticated, restrained and elegant – with its construction they really knew what they were doing and managed to conjure up a most charming hotel at the best location on the lake.+WE PRAISE: beautiful views of Lake Bled and Bled Island, views that are not matched anywhere else in Slovenia.-WE CRITICISE: the location by the main road to Bohinj (we are still waiting for the promised Bled bypass…)

TOP 10 CAR LAUNCH DESTINATIONS IN SEE 2016

1. CENTRAL DALMATIA, Croatia Venue: HOTEL LAV MERIDIAN, Split, Croatia It is probably not a coincidence that Split’s first class category has seen it selected for quite a few world premieres, including this year’s European sales conference of Skoda Rapid, which drew 5,500 participants. Set in the picturesque Dalmatian landscape it offers excellent logistics and wonderful roads for testing cars.+ WE PRAISE: flexibility and experiential value of the destination– WE CRITICISE: average tourist offer of Podstrana

• Overnight stay for min. 50 journalists in a 4**** + hotel

• Parking for min. 50 cars• min. 1,500 m2 of space in the

convention centre• outdoor space for the presentation of

vehicles• service space for vehicles (washing and

maintenance of vehicles, security)• additional culinary and incentive offer• picturesque locations (coastal,

mountain, urban roads, motorways)• Good accessibility by air and proximity

of airports

CONVENTA FLASH:

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2 2CONVENTA PARTNERSFLY TO NEW EUROPE

Q: What is the business plan for the next year and how are the projections in respect of business levels and pas-senger numbers up to 2020?Our business plan involves constant growth. The company’s vision is to in-crease the number of passengers from 25,000 in 2015 to approximately 300,000 passengers in 2020. The estimated growth is obtained from our own development, without considering the participation of other strategic business partners, who could eventually contribute to even more significant growth. In case of its 12 opening hours the airport has the capac-ity of accepting 600,000 passengers on a yearly basis, while in the case of a 24-hour opening the capacity increases to at least 1,000,000 passengers on a yearly basis.

Q: How important is the congress/business tourism segment in the over-all structure of passengers?As there is currently a low percentage of passengers visiting for tourism and con-gress/business purposes, we are planning to increase the number of visits primarily in these segments. - POUDAREK

Q: In which areas do you think your airport will grow in future years? In future years the main focus will be on increasing the number of flights and con-sequently the number of passengers. The plan we are following is not based only on obtaining more passengers in the charter

preferred and significant regional hub airport. The new terminal will have the capacity to handle 3.5 million passengers per year, once the first phase of the project is completed in December 2016 and when it will apply for an operating licence. The airport has officially set the first quarter of 2017 for the opening of the new termi-nal building. We expect nearly 2,750,000 passengers in 2016 and more than 3.5M passengers by the end of 2020.

Q: How important is the congress/business tourism segment in the over-all structure of passengers?A strong and balanced consortium behind the project ensures the synergy of knowl-edge, international know-how and experi-ence. Combined with the goal-oriented business approach at Zagreb International Airport it is expected that the develop-ment and growth of the airport’s handling capacity, as well as the increase in the air travel demand and network of available routes, will be achieved as planned.

Q: In which areas do you think your airport will grow in future years? During 2015, Croatia’s busiest airport han-dled 2,587,798 passengers, which repre-sents a 6.45 % increase when compared to the same period in 2014. It’s planned that the airport’s New Passenger Terminal will later be expanded in subsequent phases to reach an annual capacity of five million passengers, though no firm timeframe has been set for future development yet. This new landmark will become essential to Zagreb’s image ,thus contributing, enforc-ing and positioning Zagreb International Airport’s role as the preferred gateway to Croatia, Adria, the Mediterranean and, above all, to Central and Southern Europe. Over the past year passenger traffic at the airport has boosted, primarily as a result of Croatia Airlines and a number of new entrant airlines, such as KLM, Flydubai, Eurolot (later replaced by LOT), European Coastal Airlines, Air Serbia, Swiss Interna-tional Air Lines, Brussels Airlines. MZLZ also continues to add new airlines and routes to Zagreb Airport’s network and we are looking forward to Czech Airlines and Air Transat on direct route to Toronto, which will be our new partners in 2016.

EXPECTING DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTHWe spoke with some of the leading people at Maribor and Zagreb airports about the importance of good accessibility for the meetings industry.

flight segment, but also in the regular flight segment. We are also offering the possibility of performing different pilot and flight training to some well-known aircraft companies, so we are planning to increase interest in this segment too. There is also a plan to promote our airport as a great basis for a Cargo HUB and cargo traffic in general. There are ongoing activ-ities in identifying interesting marketing niches that we try to obtain from tourist passengers coming from Europe and other continents.

Q: What can you tell us about new air-lines coming on stream?There is an increased interest in mobil-ity and fast flight connections in every European country, which also means new business opportunities for us and at the same time a strong competitive advantage. We are planning to establish direct regular flights from the north-eastern part of Slovenia to two or three hubs in Europe, starting with a regular airline Maribor – Düsseldorf in March 2016.

Ladimir Brolih, Director of Maribor Airport

PR Department of Zagreb Airport

Q: What is the business plan for the next year and how are the projections in respect of business levels and pas-senger numbers up to 2020?With the construction of the new pas-senger terminal well in progress, Zagreb International Airport will definitely enhance its potential of becoming the

CONVENTA FACTS 2016Conventa, the most important trade

show for the South East European meetings industry, has done it once again! This year the expectations were high, but we think that the 8th edition of this 2-day extraordinary event enabling you the greatest chance to meet, explore and cre-ate has surpassed all of our expectations. And here’s why:

1. For starters, the 8th edition attract-ed 171 international hosted buyers,

90% of whom were all new hosted buyers.

2. For the first time we introduced a new and prestigious award, the

‘Conventa 3. Best Event Award’, by which we want to celebrate the most excellent event experiences and to acknowledge the inspiring meeting planners delivering the very best in the New European meetings industry. This year it was TedxLjubljana, with its TedxLjubljanaSalon v zraku, that blew our mind in terms of the best event 2015. Next year, however, it could be you.

3. We once again had a record number of participants coming from New

Europe and this year meeting providers

are coming from 14 different countries, which is a new high for Conventa. The majority are from Slovenia, followed by providers from Croatia, Austria, Turkey, Serbia, Hungary, Montenegro, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Italy.

4. The 8th Conventa implemented its educational programme to provide

an exclusive opportunity to attend the SITE Summit educational day, inviting you to witness an unforgettable lecture/performance on new leadership ap-proaches by Miha Pogačnik and giving you the chance to meet with Soolnua ex-perts to get one-on-one, quick tips on how to become a successful Twitterer.

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ABOUT CONVENTA2 2FAM TRIPS

KRANJSKA GORA

1. Kranjska Gora lies on the outskirts of Triglav National parkKranjska Gora offers both great winter and summer activities, as it lies at foot of Julian Alps, a southern mountain alpine chain, which are also a part of The Triglav National Park (TNP). The Triglav National park was named after Triglav, the highest mountain in the heart of the park, which is also the highest summit in Slovenia (2,864 m).

2. From Kranjska Gora to the highest Slovenian mountain pass VršičThe Vršič Pass, with an elevation of 1,611 metres, is the highest pass in Slovenia, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. The road across the pass was built for military purposes, to supply the Isonzo front of World War I, and is known as the ‘Russian Road’. It was built in 1917 by Rus-sian prisoners of war, who during the con-struction of the Vršič pass built a wooden chapel, known as the Russian Chapel in memory of the deceased.

3. Kranjska gora – Slovenia’s most im-portant winter sports centre The Kranjska Gora ski resort has the strongest brand of all Slovenian ski re-sorts, being known worldwide mainly due to the Cup Vitranc and the World ski jump-ing competition at Nordic centre Planica. Also its ski lifts have the longest history in Slovenia and they are easily reached, as they are located near international high-ways, and due to their altitude (the lower station is at 813 meters) they offer favour-able weather and snow conditions.

4. CARNIOLAN SAUSAGE – a taste of Upper CarniolaThe sausage that has been granted EU protected origin status is at, or very near, the top of the list of the country’s best-known foods. Legend has it that Emperor Franz Joseph got hungry on his way from Vienna to Trieste and decided to stop off at the inn. The innkeeper, embarrassed

at receiving such a distinguished guest, told him that all he had to serve him was an ordinary sausage. The Emperor having put the first bit into his mouth, exclaimed: “This is no ordinary sausage! This is the Carniolan sausage!” The rest, as they say, is history.

5. Get your adrenalin rush at the Kranjska Gora Bike Park Is your heart rate used to some higher fre-quencies and you want to get your adrena-line pumping whilst visiting Kranjska Gora? Then the Kranjska Gora Bike Park, with its programmes for both beginners and professionals, offers everything you need.

BLED

1. The magnificent lake BledLake Bled is a glacier-formed, crystal blue lake, situated in a picturesque environ-ment, surrounded by mountains and offering a 6km long trail around the lake where you can enjoy simple recreation (walks or bike rides).

2. Want to visit the Bled island? Take a Pletna boat!The tiny, tear-shaped Bled Island with St. Martin’s church on it seems like a vision wrapped in fog and mist during a cold win-ter’s day and it charms you with its invit-ing fairytale appearance on summer days. The island has several buildings, the main one the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and built in its cur-rent form near the end of the 17th century. To visit the island jump on a Pletna Boat (gondola) and let yourself be enchanted by the wonderful sights of Lake Bled.

3. The CastlePerched atop a steep cliff more than 100m above the lake, Bled Castle is how most people imagine a medieval fortress to be - with towers, ramparts, moats and a ter-race offering magnificent views. The cas-

tle houses a museum collection that traces the lake’s history from the earliest times to the development of Bled as a resort in the 19th century.

4. The Vintgar gorgeExperience the most intact nature of Bled in the first gorge in Slovenia arranged for tourist visits. Walk a trail of bridges to admire the waterfalls, pools and rapids of the Vintgar Gorge. This 1.6km long gorge carves its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Bort hills and is graced by the Radovna with its waterfalls, pools and rapids. The educational trail leads you over wooden bridges and Žumr’s galler-ies, ending with a bridge overlooking the mighty 13m high Šum waterfall.

5. Never leave Bled before tasting the original Bled cream cakeBled is also known for its cream cake - a cake made of a puff pastry onto which a custard cream is poured and topped by whipped cream and then covered with a second layer of delicate puff pastry, which is dusted with vanilla sugar. It is nearly a sin to visit Bled and not trying the Bled cream cake. The best ones are to be made strictly to the recipe perfected by the pas-try chef in the 1940s.

PORTOROŽ&PIRAN

1. Piran - Slovenian Saint Tropez The medieval town of Piran is certainly one of the most beautiful and also the old-est in Slovenian. It lies on Piran’s peninsu-la and in medieval times was surrounded by three walls to protect the town from Turks. Although Piran’s first settlers were the Greeks, the city’s architecture and charm is inherited from the Venetians, who governed the city for almost five centuries, from 1283 to 1797. Its narrow streets, compact houses, spacious central town square the Tartini square give the town a typical Mediterranean look

2. Salt is Piran’s main ingredientPiran and its surroundings feature many natural landmarks and the famous Sečovlje saltpans are one of them. In these northernmost Mediterranean salt-pans salt is still produced traditionally, with classical salt-pan methods and tools. At Sečovlje Salina you are welcome to visit every day from about an hour after sun-rise, and with the park closing in the even-ing about an hour before sunset.

3. Between Portorož and Piran there are two architectural jewels……and these are the historic salt ware-houses of Magazen, Grando and Monfort, listed as both cultural and historical her-itage. They were built in the time of Na-poleon between 1820 and 1845 and only a matter of years ago ships carrying salt were docked at the nearby pier. Nowadays, Monfort no longer stores salt, but is an ex-hibition gallery and is part of the coastal regional galleries for modern art.

4. Portorož is a tourist town that boasts the longest tourist tradition in Slovenia and offers comfortable hotels and modern swimming pools, restaurants and events. It is a popular conference centre and its various conference and meeting facilities can accommodate up to 1,500 visitors.

5. Parenzana - old rail track connect-ing Piran and PortorožAn old railway track connecting Trieste and Poreč, built in the time of the former Habsburg Monarchy, is today a pedestrian road link between Piran and Portorož where you can make a 4 km recreational tour on foot, bicycle, skates or scooter, and is an ideal spot for exploring the inland of Istria - hills, wine and olive gardens.

EXPERIENCE CONGRESS DESTINATIONS 5 reasons why you need to visit Kranjska Gora, Bled, Portorož and Piran

Conventa Trade Show @Conventa2016Thank you @aoifemccrum! #conventa-experience #Conventa2016 @Conven-ta2016 http://bit.ly/1OcvHg5 !

AS CONGRESS SERVICEA company providing technical support to convention industry since 1969, is proudly joining Conventa this year. Leader in in-troduction of new technology and commu-nication trends to the market, Conventa should help expanding the business to Slovenia and Austria.

Contact person:Mr Adem Braco SuljićE: asb@as-congress.comT: + 385 98 221163Mr Neven BorčićE: nb@as-congress.comT: + 385 99 3370 500www.as-congress.com

VIRTUAL STUDIOCreative & Interactive MarketingConventa is a big marketing opportunity. Step inside the Picture. It’s easy when you know where the experts are. Virtual Stu-dio helps Customers open the Door so They Can Land Lots More Customers.

Contact person:Mr Aleš PircE: info@alespirc.siE: vp360studio@gmail.comT: +386 40 517 600www.vp360studio.wix.com/web-studio-blog

CURIOCITYIf you talk to the CurioCity co-founders at this year’s Conventa, you’ll discover one thing - they are not such a fan of the typical tour. This local Ljubljana tourism start-up focuses less on the buildings and landmarks, and more on the people living in Ljubljana and their stories. Your visit to Slovenia’s capital shouldn‘t just be about sightseeing- Ljubljana should be seen, touched, smelled, heard and tasted. This is where they come in. They believe that bigger isn’t always better, so their groups are always kept small and intimate. Experiences should be less like “tours”, and more like real-life human-beings ex-ploring a city together, seeing the side of Ljubljana that often remains undiscovered by tourists. As they believe that it’s their responsibility, as locals, to help this city

thrive they’ve decided to run CurioCity as a non-profit social economy.

Contact personMr Dragan BarbutovskiE: dragan@curiocity.siMr Uroš TraunerE: uros@curiocity.siT: +386 41 797 895www.curiocity.si

CONVENTA FLASH:

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2 2CONVENTA PARTNERS SECOND DAY

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ST. PÖLTEN CONVENTION BUREAU

Convention Bureau St. Pölten – new des-tination & attractive MICE location The capital of the province of Lower Austria is central located between Salzburg and Vienna and also very close to the airport of Vienna, just 50 min away by train. Unique locations like the modern „Festspielhaus”, known for classical concerts and dance performances, the traditional “5-star-cattle-hotel”, the historical “drug-store” or

“rent a castle” , as well as extraordinary in-centive programms like “rent a wineyard” will be offered. Please join us and get more information about St. Pölten. ContactRathausplatz 1, 3100 St. PöltenSt. Pölten, Austriawww.stpoeltentourismus.at/convention

Contact person:Ms. Gabriele BackknechtT: +43 2742 333 5306E: gabriele.backknecht@st-poelten.gv.at

LAFODIA SEA RESORTsituated on the peaceful, traffic-free is-land of Lopud, is a four star accomodation with 182 modern and stylishly-decorated rooms and suites which all boast fantastic sea views and offer a wide range of ameni-ties. The Hotel includes a modern and fully equipped congress hall, swimming pools, outdoor whirlpools, a luxurious new Waterhill Spa, a variety of restaurants and bar lounges, a bakery & pastry shop and since has an travel agency, offers also boat tours, transfers and other services giving you the possibility to visit, navigate and explore the southern cost.

ContactObala Iva Kuljevana 51, Lopud, Croatiawww.lafodiahotel.com/en/

Contact person:Ms. Iva RožaT: +385 91 2759069mice@lafodiahotel.comREGENT PORTO

MONTENEGRO

Inspired by Renaissance Venetian style mixed with local architectural references, Regent Porto Montenegro is a five-story terracotta roof building. The hotel has an expansive views of the sea surrounded by towering mountains and a spectacular wa-ter garden. The hotel plays an integral role in Porto Montenegro while helping trans-form this historical Austro-Hungarian naval base into the Mediterranean’s pre-mier marina village and yacht homeport. Regent Porto Montenegro offers a choice of 57 rooms and 30 residences, providing sophisticated, contemporary living spaces.

ContactObala bb, Porto Montenegro VillageTivat, Montenegrowww.regenthotels.com/ENPorto-Montenegro

Contact person:Ms. Marija DelibasicT: +382 32660660marija.delibasic@regenthotels.com

BOHINJ ECO HOTELNestled in the heart of Alps you will find Slovenias premier Alpine ECO retreat with 102 rooms, 7 conference rooms, cinema, bowling and exclusive wellness. The hotel was built in 2009 with highest awareness of the environment and is as such, at the moment, one of the most advanced and energy efficient hotels in CEE. In 2010 it has also been certified byGreen Globe sustainability organization. Our efforts target all areas of sustainabil-ity: energy-water-waste consumption and re-use, working with locals, promoting local culture, heritage, landscape.

ContactTriglavska cesta 17Bohinjska Bistrica, Sloveniawww.2864.si

Contact person:Ms. Nataša AndlovecT: +38651828288natasa.andlovec@2864.si

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2 2CONVENTA NEWS

CROWNE PLAZA, NOVI SAD, SERBIAOpening 2016The 144-room hotel will be located in the heart of the business district of Novi Sad and just a short walk to the city centre for guests wanting to explore the city’s renowned 18th century architecture, visit the fortress of Petrovaradin, the plethora of beautiful churches or take a tour of the nearby vineyards and gastronomy sites. Crowne Plaza Novi Sad will feature a range of business and meeting facilities, including five meeting rooms and two boardrooms. Guests will also be able to enjoy the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant and unwind at the sky bar, which promises panoramic views of the city.

MARIOTT HOTEL, SKOPJE, MACEDONIAMarch 2016A charming city with a fascinating history, Skopje is located in the northern part of Macedonia with the beautiful Vardar Riv-er flowing through it. The Skopje Marriott Hotel will be located in the city square, the hub of business and social activity, near the Stone Bridge which represents the con-nection between Skopje’s past and present. The new hotel will feature stylish gues-trooms with plush beds and bath linen, flat screen televisions, a modern business centre and high-speed internet access.

SOLARIS BEACH HOTEL JURE, ŠIBENIK, CROATIAOpening 2016This completely renovated 4* hotel with a new congress centre, a new Luxury Well-

ness & Spa, refurbished rooms, outdoor pools and a theme restaurant is nicely hidden in the shade of a pine forest and close to the most attractive sand beach in Dalmatia.

REMISENS HOTEL PALACE BELLEVUE, OPATIJA, CROATIAOpening 2016The Smart Selection Hotel Palace Belle-vue, a landmark of the town of Opatija, will welcome its guests in 2016 with a whole new image. Renamed as the Remis-ens Hotel Palace Bellevue, it will comply with the highest standards guaranteed by the Remisens brand. This includes 196 completely refurbished rooms and modern congress halls with additional services, as well as a new wellness centre with a Revi-tal Zone.

FAIRMONT QUASAR, ISTANBUL, TURKEYOpening 2016 +

Two 41-story towers will sit prominently above a 4-story office podium with fit-ness facilities and luxury retail stores. The towers will house a Fairmont Hotel and

UNIQUE INCENTIVE IDEAS

Overview: Glamping tents offer an extraordinary luxurious space and the only thing that might remind you that you are in a real tent is the sound of raindrops falling on the roof, the nightly owls’ hoots from the forest and the morning’s bird songs. Camping becomes ‘glamping’ from the moment you open the zipper and find yourself in a tastefully furnished “hotel” suite with your own private terrace, jacuzzi, spacious bathroom and a setting in direct contact with nature. With our incentive programme you will discover two Slovenian glamping hubs and two amazing touristic destinations - Bohinj and Bled, and the Savinja Valley.

1. MOMENTS OF ZEN: Herbal Glamping resort Wellness 2. QUALITY TIME: Camplet experience3. MUST SEE: Bled and Bohinj4. MUST DO: Scout teambuilding5. OUR PICK: Genuine contact with nature

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Back to the Basics

10:00 Arrival at Ljubljana Airport

10:30 Eco rally towards Bohinj Drive electric vehicles to Bohinj and compete in a minimum fuel consump-tion challenge, with the winner becom-ing the leader of the incentive camp. On the way we will stop for a team test at Bled glamping.

12:00 Camplet experience Glamping trailers, equipped with every-thing you need to survive in the wilds, await you in the Bohinj camp. During the afternoon the preparations of each camp will take place, followed by a competition for the most beautifully furnished glamp-ing tent.

18:00 CampfireOnce gathered around the campfire, pre-pare yourself for several scout challenges and for discovering the scouting lifestyle, which is built on a love of nature, explora-tion and the protection of nature. Anybody who’s been dreaming about sitting next to a campfire since childhood will find it difficult to resist the charms of a scout’s challenges.

20:00 Scout’s dinnerA romantic scout dinner that you prepare for yourself, followed by a competition for the best goulash.

DAY 2: Herbal glamping

08.00 Taking down the glamping tents and cleaning the campsiteAfter a scout breakfast you will engage yourself in a team task of taking down the glamping tents and cleaning the campsite. We will turn this usually quite stressful chore into an interesting team experience, where you will get the chance to prove yourself by tying knots and by testing your sense for orientation.

11:00 Towards Ljubno After a short snack we will continue our journey towards Ljubno near the river Savinja, where the first boutique glamp-ing resort, recognizable for its herbs and aromatic plants, opened its doors. The entire settlement is laden with sustain-able concept stories - from a picturesque herb/vegetable garden right through to its natural swimming pool.

13:00 Being accommodated in glamping tentsEach of the 10 tents has a double bed and another decent bed on the floor. There is space for four people in one glamping tent and a special treat are the showers surrounded by wooden walls and covered by a glass roof that gives the impression of taking a shower under the stars. The owners have equipped the tents with great care given to the finest details and to providing top lighting conditions. They also ensured the possibility of heat-

ing, meaning that the resort can welcome guests all year round.

14:00 Cookery course and herbal workshopAfter fishing in the nearest river and pick-ing herbs from the garden, you will prepare lunch with the help of a restaurant chef. The ingredients for the courses must be local and of organic production, so herbs and aromatic plants can be freshly picked from the garden. On the cookery course you will learn about the herbs and how to use them in the production of cosmetics, teas, liqueurs and herbal spirits.

17:00 Free for wellness pamperingRelaxation and pampering with herbal scents to bring an end to an unforgettable day.

20:00 Glamping campfireIn the evening we will gather together around the campfire, where everything is already prepared for the teambuilding challenges. Just in case it rains, the res-taurant in the main building that holds 40 guests is always there as an alternative.

DAY 3: Departures

09:00 Transfer to the airport, with the possibility to extend the stay in the well-ness centre.

GETTING THERE: Airport Jože Pučnik Ljubljana ACCOMMODATION: Glamping tents Camplet and Herbal Glamping resortEAT AND DRINK: As with scouting custom you will prepare most of the food yourselves and we, as organisers, will provide you with the necessary ingredients to prepare the courses. To wrap things up you are invited to the Herbal Glamping resort in Ljubno to try their superb cuisine.GATEWAYS: Bohinj is an hour away from the airport. Glamping is located in the heart of the Upper Savinja valley and is an hour away from Ljubljana.

GLAMPING INCENTIVE 2 NIGHT INCENTIVE / 48 INCENTIVE HOURS IN GORENJSKA AND SAVINJSKA DOLINA

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

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

Fairmont Residences, as well as Quasar Residences and offices that will be man-aged by Fairmont. The hotel will feature Fairmont Gold, a number of lounges, congress halls and several restaurants, 2,000 square metres of function space and a Willow Stream Spa.

INTERCONTINENTAL LJUBLJA-NA, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIAOpening 2017

Ljubljana‘s newest hotel addition will be located near the shopping and business centre in Dunajska Cesta and the tourist and historic areas surrounding Presernov Square and Triple Bridge. The 165 gues-trooms will include a presidential suite, as well as an additional two 500-person banquet halls, six meeting spaces, a fit-ness centre and a spa. The 21st floor will be home to a restaurant featuring outdoor dining with panoramic views of the city. This InterContinental hotel, along with IHG’s worldwide reputation, will provide guests with the highest quality rooms, leisure facilities and restaurants served by the best people offering a world-class service.

SWISSOTEL SOFIA, SOFIA, BULGARIAOpening 2018The fashionable new hotel will include 200 hotel rooms as well as 81 serviced resi-dences, and will be part of Grand Kanyon Sofia, a stunning mixed-use development that is generating significant interest as an important new hub for business and leisure travellers.

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2 2TOP 10 TOP 10

Kongres magazine’s readers chosen 30 the most influential people in meetings industry in SEE for 2015!

Candidatese were assessed on several key criteria, such as:• Achievement of the best financial and

other multiplier effects of the meetings industry in 2015, (significantly deviating from the average);

• Implementation of the most demanding improvements and innovations in their field, which also includes successfully implemented projects that have defined the year 2015;

• Help in enhancing the reputation and vis-ibility of the meetings industry in 2015;

• Innovations that facilitate the work of meetings organisers, or in their way have pointed the direction of the industry in the future.

TOP MEETING ARCHITECTS

Miha KOVAČIČ, Slovenian Convention Bureau

Active for a decade as the director of the Slo veni-an Convention Bureau,

which enjoys an outstanding reputation abroad. Through a number of innovative marketing and CSR projects he continu-ally nurtures the growth of the Slovenian meetings industry. The editorial board put a particular emphasis on the Conventa project that, as a brand, has become syn-onymous with the SE Europe congress product and has significantly assisted with the placement of the region on the meet-ings planners’ list of key destinations.

Romana VLAŠIĆ, Dubrovnik Convention Bureau

Director of TZ Dub rov-nik and with many solid years of experience in

business behind her she has accelerated the promotion of Dubrovnik to now being the region’s most recognizable congress brand and a player in the European pre-mier league for congresses and events. Dubrovnik could rightfully claim that 2013 was its year on the conference scene, as almost every important event of that year was held in this very beautiful city, among them the meetings of NATO, the

FIS International Ski Federation, FIA – In-ternational Automotive Association, and FIFA.

Goran PAVLOVIĆ, Opatija Convention Bureau Zlatan MUFTIĆ, Zagreb Convention Bureau Tatjana RADOVIČ, Ljubljana Convention Bureau Dragana BABOVIĆ, Belgrade Convention Bureau Özgül Özkan YAVUZ, Istanbul Convention Bureau Gernot MARX, Salzburg Convention Bureau Gordana PLAMENAC, Serbia Convention Bureau Andrea LEITNER, Karnten Convention Bureau

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES BY READERS:Christian MUTSCHLECHNER, Vienna Convention BureauIgor KOVAČEVIĆ, Serbia Convention Bureau

TOP MEETING AGENCIES Daniel MARUŠIĆ, Dubrovnik Travel DMC

Dubrovnik Travel is recognised in the market as an extremely mar-ke ting-oriented com-

pa ny that dictates the trends of regional DMCs. A clear marketing strategy and a systematic operation are visible at both the service level of co-operation with the most demanding clients, as well as in the credible results, which were confirmed through the Gazelle Award in 2011. Daniel is heavily involved in the meetings arena, as a member of peer associations as well as being the voice of the convention industry of Croatia.

Tomaž KRUŠIČ and Miro HRIBAR, Intours DMC

Intours reached its zen-ith in 2013, since when the company has been

sustaining impressive business results, an in c rease of brand awar e ness and rapid growth. 2014 saw the company move to a broad regional presence, where it has been continuously increasing its market share. Alongside this, Tomaž is also active as

president of the council of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, in which he is respon-sible for improving the visibility of the industry in Slovenia.

Natalija BAH ČAD, GO.MICE Breda PEČOVNIK,CD Congress Centre Vesna PRITCHARD, Globtour EventMirjana ŠALETIĆ, Miross Boštjan HORJAK, Liberty AdriaticSlaven RELJIĆ, Coral Group DMC - PCOSnežana VEJNOVIĆ, Talas-M DMC Ranko FILIPOVIĆ, Perfect meetings.hr

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES BY READERS:Sanja VUKOV COLIĆ, Spektar Putovanja Stjepan ŽUNIĆ, Penta PCO

TOP HOTELS AND VENUES

Tomo ČEH, CEO of Grand Hotel Union

Tomo Čeh worked for sev eral years as a cor po rate director or

consultant in the fields of real estate, mar-keting and tourism. Tomo has also been the Chairman of the Board of Istrabenz Tourism and lead the renovation project of the Palace Hotel in Portorož, director of the Postojna Cave and director of the agency Globtour in Globtour Praha. His management of various tourist and hotel companies has always been tied to specific requirements in connection with reorgani-sation and crisis management.

Thomas SWIECA, Radisson Blu Old Mill

Thomas Swieca was born in Germany and has always worked in the hotel industry, starting

in 2005 with the Rezidor Hotel Group, but mostly for the Radisson Blu brand, firstly as General Manager of the RB Media Har-bour Hotel Düsseldorf and then the R.B. Resort El Quseir (Egypt) and R.B. Resort & Spa Cesme (Turkey). Today he leads the new Radisson Blu Hotel Old Mill Belgrade (Republic of Serbia).

Josipa JUTT FERLAN, Double Tree by Hilton Ivica KRIŽMANIĆ, Esplanade Zagreb Željko KUKURIN, Valamar Kristian ŠUŠTAR, HUP ZagrebGeorg UNTERKIRCHER,

Falkensteiner Punta Skala Andrej PREBIL, Savaturizem d,d. Nenad TATARINOV, D-Resort Šibenik Tomislav POPOVIĆ, Maistra Hotels & Resorts

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES BY READERS:Gregor JAMNIK, Hotel Slon Best WesternŽivorad VASIĆ, Crowne Plaza

TOP MEETING INNOVA-TORS (Marketing, Tech-nology, ...)

Dani POLAJNAR, Teambuilding Academy

Dani has more than 15 years of experience in training, coaching and conferences or events

moderation. He is a founder and CEO of Teambuilding Academy – a company dedi-cated to developing team work in organi-sations through interactive workshops, active teambuilding programmes, person-alised solutions and modern teambuild-ing events throughout Europe. Dani is a frequent guest speaker and moderator at different conferences and seminars. In 2009 he was awarded among The Best 10 Lecturer within the Slovenian market.

Aleksandra UHERNIK ĐURĐEK, HelmsBriscoe

She is a meeting and mo-tivational event profes-sional based in Croatia and for whom business

meetings, educational programmes, con-ferences, congresses and motivational events are her profession and have been her everyday life for more than fifteen years. Aleksandra holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Zagreb with a specialisation in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.

Davor BRUKETA, Bruketa & Žinić Anže ČOKL, Bohinj Park Eko Hotel Jovan JELOVAC, Belgrade Design Week Danica PURG, IEDC – Bled School of Management Tomo RICOV, Pepermint Danijela BREČKO, GV Educations Zmago NOVAK, Mesec oblikovanja Žiga NOVAK, Orehov Gaj

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES BY READERS:Marko GUČEK, GO.OPTIMorena MILEVOJ, Istria Inspirit

TOP MEETING SERVICES (CATERING)

Martin JEZERŠEK, Jezeršek Catering He has internationalised the Jezeršek Catering company through the Sora Catering company and has passed the test

with flying colours, taking up the family business management at this year’s Euro-pean Basketball Championship, Eurobas-ket 2013. Catering for VIPs, international delegates, business guests, media and vol-unteers was this year’s most demanding logistical and culinary catering venture in the region. For about 70,000 meals 150 people were involved and the task was per-formed it with excellence.

Ana ROŠ, Hiša FrankoAna Roš is working in the family restaurant in Kobarid, a small town in Slovenia, very close to the Italian border. Besides cooking her sec-

ond greatest pleasure is travel and she is a world traveller. She often escapes to exotic countries to relax and to find new inspi-ration for her dishes, which are deeply rooted in her territory but at the same time spiced up with her travels. Her dishes are full of intense flavours, lovely colours and unusual combinations – and they are always delicious.

Dada JEROVŠEK, Kaval Group Igor BOŠKOVIĆ, Jerry Catering Jerneja KAMNIKAR, Vivo Catering

ADDITIONAL NOMINEES BY READERS:Marijana and Ivana PRIZMIĆ, Lokrum d.o.oJanez BRATOVŽ, JB Restaurant

30 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE 2015

“CONVENTA APP”This year Conventa continues its “user friendly” approach by provid-ing the Conventa App, sponsored by Superevent, which enables our guests to follow Conventa on-the-go, locate exhibitor booths and get in touch with other Conventa par-ticipants.

#conventaexperience

Padraic Gilligan @PadraicinoExcited to participate at #Con-venta2016 at education session of #MihaPogačnik - “from ROI to ROT”

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2 2CONVENTA NEWS ADVERTORIAL

Located in the very heart of Adriatic coast and well-connected to key Euro-pean countries by all means of trans-port, ZADAR REGION provides the perfect setting for MICE programs.

ZADAR WORKS FOR YOUSurrounded with astounding natural beauty of Croatia’s National Parks, and be-ing in close proximity to UNESCO heritage sites such as Šibenik, Trogir and Split, the region of Zadar is one of the most popular destinations on Adriatic coast. In addi-tion to countless hidden coves scattered along its shores and numerous islands just waiting to be discovered, Zadar charms its visitors with secluded mountain val-leys, rich cultural scene and centuries of historical inheritance. Thanks to specific climate and plethora of different culinary influences, traditional Dalmatian cuisine is highly regarded, and no visit to region is complete without enjoying at least one local delicacy. Couple it with a few glasses of home-made wine and drops of olive oil and you’ll learn why Zadar region is such popular tourist locality. Attendees of your MICE programs will certainly be impressed with such unique setting, and easily embrace a relaxing and constructive business atmosphere.

OPENING DOORS OF ILIJAIlirija Resort is a unique place in Croatia, with its beautiful banquet venues that offer genuine natural splendor, refined ambiance and top-notch service. Each of three Ilirija Resort Hotels comes with modern conference rooms, prime techni-cal equipment and well-trained staff. Conveniently located next to one another, they provide a perfect venue suitable for hosting all kind of business events, includ-ing conferences, seminars, workshops and group meetings. The capacity of the conference rooms ranges from 30 to 250 delegates at Ilirija Resort, and up to 500 at the ARSENAL in Zadar.

Attendees are more than welcome to enjoy sport activities in Ilirija Resort, a recreational center surrounded with pine forest and jogging tracks. It also features 14 modern tennis courts, a café, secured locker rooms and several other sport ter-rains. Thanks to trails around Lake Vrana fans of cycling will also be very satisfied.

ADD EXCITEMENT TO YOUR EVENTTeam-building activities include photo tours, island excursions and visits to agri-cultural estates of the region. Those who like more adrenaline-filled experiences can enjoy kayaking, rafting, jet skiing

and paragliding. Other notable activities include panoramic flights over renowned Kornati Archipelago and organized tours of local wine roads.

Ilirija Resort Hotels also offer some rather unique venues. Your events and MICE programs can be organized in multimedia center ‘Arsenal’ which is located in 16th century historical monument. Another option is to station them on decks of luxu-rious yacht ‘Nada’. And in case you’d like to show your attendees some spectacular natural scenery of Zadar’s rural regions, you may arrange a stay at agro-tourism estate ‘Raznjevica Dvori’ in the vicinity.

B2B AS IT SHOULD BEWe offer diverse package deals tailored to today’s business people, putting emphasis on a personalized approach to every event and making Ilirija Travel’s facilities among the leading meeting places in Croatia.

Contact:ILIRIJA TRAVEL DMC & PCO, Tina Ujevića 7, 23210 Biograd na Morut: +385 23 38 35 56, Fax:+385 23 38 30 08e: sales@ilirijabiograd.com · www.ilirijabiograd.com

SUPPORT YOUR EVENT WITH ZADAR TRAITS

WELCOME TO TODAY’S VIVO LUNCH WITH TASTE OF LJUBLJANA

Today at Vivo Catering we have prepared for you a fine selection of dishes from

our “Taste of Ljubljana” concept.We have transferred the concept of our

“Centre of innovative solutions VIVO D125” restaurant at Dunajska 125, Lju-bljana, to Conventa, where we here present both the interior as well as the substance

of our offer. At the centre, alongside inter-national cuisine we prepare tasting menus both for individuals and groups. The cen-tre not only has the daily restaurant, but also includes the organisation of custom events, from gala dinners to standing ban-quets, conferences and parties.

www.vivo.si

BEST WESTERN PREMIER HOTEL SLON - ELEPHANT SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR 4* HOTEL.

BEST WESTERN PREMIER Hotel Slon - Elephant underwent a complete reno-

vation of its Superior Deluxe rooms. These luxuriously appointed 32m2 rooms now define a timeless yet contemporary design.

The new Restaurant Slon 1552 offers a relaxed and convenient way to enjoy Ljubljana’s top-ranked food through its mosaic of traditional Slovenian dishes refined with a hint of the Mediterranean. With the hotel’s new facade completed it is now brighter than before and the new eco and most effective noise reduction windows have enhanced its sound insulation too.

Gregor Jamnik, General Manager at BEST WESTERN PREMIER Hotel Slon: “We are proud to be setting new hospitality stand-ards in Ljubljana, where our long tradition meets latest trends. Our hotel is undergoing historical changes. The complete refurbish-ment includes high quality materials and many luxurious details…all these to ensure the guests' maximum comfort and enjoyment in the heart of the city.”

The look and functionality of the hotel’s spaces will be further improved through the end of March 2016, with the new glazed porticoes with large panoramic windows that will bring 200 m2 of new floor area for a larger reception and cafeteria. The avenues on both sides of the main entrance are now used as the outdoor garden, which adds further value to staying at Hotel Slon.

CONVENTA FLASH:

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2ADVERTORIALADVERTORIAL

CROSSOVER - A MARKETING EVENT TURNED UPSIDE DOWNEurope’s Leading Out of the Box Event on Meeting Design, Marketing and Innovation

Grand Hotel Union, LjubljanaJuly 4 - 5, 2016

Expect more engagement, more authentic experience and more live interaction in: - Crossover Caffe - Marketing Ring - Innovation Bar - Case studes Bar - Chit Chat Corner

WE ARE NOT AFFRAIDTO BE DIFFERENT!

Organiser: Conventa / Toleranca marketing

Crossover is a fusion of our events Inside Meetings, Travel Zoom and Conventa Academy transformed into new format.

www.crossover.si

We look forward to connecting you with the global meetings, events and incentives industry in 2016

Connections mean everything.

Connect with us at www.ibtmworld.com

The ibtm world® and ibtm events® trademarks are owned and protected by Elsevier Properties SA and Reed Exhibitions Limited uses such trademark under licence. Hosted Buyer® is a registered trademark of Reed Exhibitions Limited.

Reed Travel Exhibitions® is a registered trademark of Reed Elsevier Group Plc.

15,500

international industry professionals from across the globe, ready to connect with you

3,000 exhibitors representing over 150 countries to help you plan your future meetings & events

No.1global market place for you to do business, network, learn & be inspired

100 networking events to connect and engagewith industry friends & colleagues

Organised by

incentives, business travel & meetings expo

2CONVENTA 2016

CONVENTA 2016 SUCCEEDS DUE TO

Organizers:

Official partners:

International partners:

Wireless LAN network (Wi – Fi)

GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre

Wireless access:

SSID:

WPA2 – network key:

GR11110000

Download official Conventa app here:

Tina

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