Conventa: reinforcing Slovenia as a MICE destination

# tags: Conventa , Meetings Industry

Conventa is the main exhibition for the meetings industry in the “New Europe”.

It is a strategic product in promoting Slovenia as a MICE destination. Conventa (August 24th and 25th), which wants to be increasingly green, brings together industry professionals, with 145 hosted buyers from 33 countries and 93 exhibitors, including destinations, convention bureaux, hotels, venues and other services, such as catering, for example.

Meetings are the "heart" of Conventa and, in a permanent way, hosted buyers and exhibitors (national and international) meet to discuss business. But there are also moments of networking and knowledge, where sharing is essential.

The theme of sustainability is a constant. In Conventa and also in the country. This year, the event will measure its carbon footprint, so that improvements can be made in the future, as explained by Gorazd Cad, co-founder of Conventa. At the opening press conference, the founder indicated travel as one of the main problems in this ecological footprint management and recalled the 5R philosophy used by the event: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse.

Slovenia, the "star" of New Europe regarding meetings industry

The meetings industry is one of the country's main products, said Fredi Fontanot, from the Slovenia Convention Bureau, co-organizer of the event, who added that the entity is promoting the country as a MICE destination, as an incentive travel destination... "We want to increase attracting international events", he stressed.

The Slovenian Convention Bureau has 56 members, a 'MICE family', which is united to make the country the "star of the New Europe [which according to the Conventa encompasses the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as Greece and Turkey] for the meetings industry". To promote Slovenia, they have participated in several exhibitions and organized many workshops and fam trips.

After the pandemic, the recovery has been going well and autumn looks promising. "We have the problem of flight accessibility, which we have to solve, and we are working to improve that aspect", assured Fredi Fontanot, who also underlined the importance of education on the subject of ecology, to help reduce the carbon footprint.

As advantages of the destination, he pointed out diversity, authenticity, safety, location, nature, good value for money and people. As main products, the country has national and international congresses, incentive trips, sporting events and special venues - different places such as Ljubljana Castle, the Monfort Salt Warehouse or the Planica Nordic Centre, which can host events.

Focus on sustainability

The focus on sustainability is not just a banner of Conventa. Being as 'green' as possible is also a goal for the country and the capital Ljubljana. "We work a lot on sustainability" and in different sectors, including events, said Petra Stusek, from Ljubljana Tourism. "We want to live sustainably", implementing this way of being in everyday life. And in the events that the city hosts. Not just Conventa. And gave as an example the Velo-city, which the capital will receive at the end of the year and which the entity wants to be done in a sustainable way.

Ljubljana is recovering well from the pandemic, even being in the top 10 in terms of tourism recovery in Europe, according to Stusek. The city has seen many events this year, given that during the pandemic, events were postponed rather than cancelled. And participating in Conventa as co-organizers is important, as this is the event that makes Ljubljana a strong destination for business events.

Conventa is a "strategic product" for the promotion of the city and the country, as stated by Karmen Novarlic, from the Slovenian Tourism Board. The official highlighted the fact that Slovenia is a 'green' country, with adequate infrastructure and being well located. As the main activities to reinforce the positioning of the destination, Karmen Novarlic mentioned the promotion of Slovenia as a destination for meetings and events, the development of partnerships with a commitment to high quality standards, the holding of workshops and fam trips, and the Ambassadors program, which, in different areas of action, promotes the destination.

The next year's edition of Conventa already has a date set. The event returns at the beginning of the year, on the 1st and 2nd of February 2023. The Conventa Crossover remains in the summer and will take place on the 28th and 29th of August.

* The author was invited by Conventa