I’ve had the chance to visit Belgrade many times in the last ten years, mostly for meetings purposes. My first association with this city is the rich nightlife and a bit of chaos all around. Lonely Planet placed it on the top of its list of party cities.


I usually arrive into the city on the Motorway of Fraternity and Unity, which crosses the Croatian – Serbian border in a pretty poor condition. Most congress guests arrive through the Surčin Airport, which is pretty well connected with the main airline hubs, yet is in dire need of low budget airlines to seriously boost its congress tourism.
There is no point in wasting words on the residential area of New Belgrade. The destruction at the end of the nineties led to chaotic urbanisation. Breaking norms seems to be a national sport. Apartment buildings mixed with colossus of socialist architecture are a reflection of the architectural philosophy. In this area, completed with super-modern shopping centres, the Sava centre – a former pride of Yugoslavian meetings industry, is located. The functionality of the centre, which dedicated a part of its facilities to trade, never seizes to amaze me. As does the pretty well preserved interior, which seems to be retro and hasn’t changed since its beginning. The centre is far from being easy to manage and is in need of renovation, yet it is still one of the largest centres in the region and helps Belgrade secure large international conventions.

If the hotels in the vicinity, such as the golden Continental, which seems to have lost a part of its name on the way (Inter) and the Kempinski hotel will get renovated, this will definitely become the driving force of Belgrade’s meetings industry. The same area boosts some newly built hotels with conference capacities, which see the meetings industry merely as a supplementary activity (Holliday Inn and Hotel In). The Sava Island boasts the Belgrade fair, from the times of Yugoslavia, which is over dimensioned, yet very proactive and host to many interesting events.


After weaving through traffic and over the Sava bridges a completely different and my favourite side of Belgrade is revealed. Here you can find some of the most friendly congress locations with spirit. Belgrade has around 1.700 hotel rooms appropriate for conference guests in 4 and 5 star hotels. Considering its potential, the number is very low.

More than with hotels, Belgrade surprises you with numerous venues for receptions and different events. Many distinctive buildings show that it used to be the capital of our common state. This is where Belgrade’s soul is revealed and the participants get many opportunities to spend their free time in  Kalemegdan, the Belgrade fort or in one of the many parks. The size of the city needs to be taken into account and time for leisure activities should be carefully measured.

What never seizes to amaze me about Belgrade is the friendliness of the hosts. This city is the way it is because of its people who are very open and hospitable. In my opinion this is the city’s biggest competitive advantage at the moment. Meeting planners will find professional and accurate information on meetings industry on the website of the Belgrade Convention Bureau (www.tob.co.rs). This offers a comprehensive overview of meetings products, needed by meeting planners. What I miss is an overview of incentive programs offers, which exist but are defused and hard to follow.

If we consider Belgrade in the context of meetings  infrastructure, we realize investments are necessary so it will be able to compete with leading European destinations. Most facilities need renovation to get rid of the prevailing retro look from the beginning of the seventies. As the informal centre of the meeting industry in Belgrade, the area around the Sava Centre, has enormous potential which is not yet utilized due to inappropriate hotel capacities. The difference between the expectations of the planners and the reality of what you find is simply too great.


A large issue of the city is its traffic, which works in a way, while the city authorities are trying to improve it. This has to be carefully considered while planning meetings. In addition the understanding of the European customs of pricing can a bit specific sometimes, so it is worth to check twice.
With little luck you will find the right partners for your event in Belgrade in the area of agencies, which will inspire you with their passion, commitment and innovative suggestions for your event.
The divide between the current state of infrastructure and actual potential of the city – with its unique cultural and historical position in the region, is the biggest challenge for meeting planners in Belgrade.

Destination grade: 3 RECOMMENDABLE MEETING DESTINATION

Marks:
5 excellent meeting destination
4 quality meeting destination
3 recommendable meeting destination
2 average meeting destination
1 passable

Comparison with the region:

Belgrade bases its congress story on it rich culture, a central position in SE Europe and lively social life. Considering the size and potential of the city it is comparable with Bucharest and Sofia, which have a completely different spirit. I see Belgrade as a diamante in the rough, which has enormous development potential and can be geo-strategically placed side by side with world’s congress capitals – if it improves its infrastructure and puts in order the entire chain of meeting organizing.

Additonal info: www.tob.co.rs

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