Over the past five years the meetings industry has seen good and bad days; we were delighted at our successes and we supported each other in times of crisis. Considering that through your actions you have contributed to the development of the meetings industry, we invited you to share your views on how has the meetings industry changed over the past five years. Are you happy with results, has the level of development met your expectations, do trends move in the right direction, what are your predictions for the meetings industry over the next five years?

In the past years we have noticed that for the meetings industry, as with the economy in general, the recession had an impact in various ways. Meetings organisers have been looking out for more affordable options and the optimal ratio between quality and price; corporate events were shorter and more intense; professional events have seen fewer participants. The recession had an impact with a smaller number of team building events and incentives. Despite this we have noticed that some industries have not reduced budgets for meetings and that there is still demand for the new, unique and boutique. I believe that all of these trends will continue for some time – meetings organisers will ask for best service that they can get within their budgets and the competition will remain fierce. The biggest advantages Slovenia has – if we will know how to use them and offer them to clients – will be the quality of our service, favourable ratio between price and quality, accessibility and inventiveness of our programmes and the relative novelty of the destination.

Petra Čuk, Sportina Turizem

 

The meetings industry in Slovenia has progressed dramatically in the past five years, because of a few companies that believe in its development. Unfortunately it happens all too often that the ones that should help us the most in this situation turn their backs on us. Here I think of the state, which in my opinion has completely the wrong approach when it comes to the meetings industry and is not aware of its importance and the effects it has on the complete economy. I am not only talking of financial help and subsidies, which are inexistent or too small. What I have in mind are the basis of our work. We have the case of our national air carrier, Adria Airways. Because of the alleged loss-making they cancelled flights to some European capitals, which are key to our industry. Instead of helping us in the tough economic situation, the state is making our business harder.

Boštjan Horjak, Liberty International

 

Recently I read Patty Smith’s autobiography. Her life story is like every life story of a creative person: instructive. She needed quite some time to achieve success, much more than her roommates at the cult Chelsea Hotel in New York. When she became successful quite a few followed her and became famous too, unfortunately some are now also deceased. She succeeded because she started something completely new without even realising it. She presented her poetry that was accompanied by her friends musicians. She started the trend and her performances were visited by the top celebrities of American poetry of the time, from Allen Ginsberg to Bob Dylan.

The Slovenian meetings industry is – please do not reproach me for this seemingly inappropriate comparison – a talented young lady that only needs to take one more step to make its breakthrough. That would be nothing too demanding if she had a healthy economic climate and a favourable intellectual climate. I am not worried about the first precondition; however, I do have doubts about the second and third ones.

My wish is that on the next occasion when we will be looking at the Slovenian meetings industry of the next five years I will speak differently. For example, like the most famous story tellers. Good luck and congratulations to all the persistent ones!

Anuša Gaši, Loža

 

In the past five years things have changed dramatically and not all the changes have been negative. It is true that we have seen the onset of the crisis that made us ‘fall and hit the ground hard’ and had to fight much harder for business. The effort pays off and we value each and every group, each and every guest even more than before. We realised that we can be stronger in times of crisis, in our team, in our company, with our business partners and our competition. Yes, we can even cooperate with our competition when needed. We have all realised that we can be stronger together. We see opportunities in Europe as companies are now increasingly choosing to organise events in neighbouring countries because of the crisis. We are also becoming increasingly more socially responsible and environmentally friendly, not because this is fashionable at the moment, but the main reason being the fact that we honestly believe in these concepts and know that this is the only solution for long term success for us all. Because of these reasons, no matter how hard it will be we are confident that we will be able to do it and come out stronger together. Although it will not be easy, we see all of the problems that await us as challenges. The best times for Slovenia and all of SE Europe and its meetings industry are yet to come.

Vilijam Kvalič, Kompas

 

The meetings industry has somehow walked half of the way in the past five years. At home in media and in professional circles the industry is increasingly claiming the position of a prosperous product. Unfortunately, we have not yet achieved the desired results and it is becoming increasingly clear that more time is needed to show what kind of place it will take in the Slovenian economic environment. Internationally we are also somewhere halfway. Slovenia was appropriately presented to international business and with various innovative marketing tools our success is increasing. Personally, I believe that Slovenia will become a more successful meetings and incentives destination in the near future.

Miha Kovačič, Slovenian Convention Bureau

 

Looking from the outside, the meetings industry is changing at the speed of light. New technologies and their implementation into planning and operational implementation, the emergence of new structures (core PCO) and new ways of managing associations, the appearance of new and fashionable destinations, pricing policies, trends in catering and social programmes and an awareness of environmental issues on a local and global level are definitely areas which we had to learn anew and adjust to. If we scratch below the surface, the essentials remain unchanged. Business as a whole depends on our feelings and trust. If we trust someone and if the conditions are right, the meeting will be carried out. Because we have a lot to offer to our clients I am glad that Slovenia made a leap in its international profile. That is our formula for success.

Maja Vidergar, Cankarjev dom

 

I believe that the Slovenian Meetings Industry has seen positive development in the past five years, despite numerous ups and downs. Progress can be observed in all areas, from investments in meetings infrastructure and improved quality and competitiveness to improved integration and the professionalism of personnel. Since the creation of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, which constructively linked key meeting services suppliers and raises the status of tourism development at a national level as one acting in the public interest, it has successfully implemented its ‘Push Up’ marketing campaigns. These not only raised the visibility of Slovenia on the international scene but also the standardisation of the bureau’s members and an improved reputation of the Slovenian meetings industry players in Europe. The numerous professional education options within the realm of Academy Conventa, the organisation of the regional exhibition Conventa and numerous other activities that were implemented in this period have all helped to position the ‘meetings product’ in Slovenia. In the past couple of years this ‘product’ was recognised as one of the most important of Slovenian tourism and activities within the strategic partnerships between the Slovenian Convention Bureau and the Slovenian Tourist Organisation that have been successfully carried out and upgraded in the past couple of years. In this period the Slovenian Convention Bureau has also taken some knocks, which we managed to overcome with economic assistance.

In conclusion I can say that results have been satisfactory. Everything has not been achieved yet, but we are on the right path. Some areas have to be improved. Here I would like to point out flight connections, partnerships between destinations, regulation of funding of the Bureau, increased support from the state when it comes to helping us bring larger events to Slovenia, and following trends in the field of sustainable meetings management. The direction we will take depends on positioning of the meetings industry in strategic documents that are currently being prepared. Meetings industry professionals have acted proactively and prepared a resolution with which we want to call on the government for greater support in the further development of the ‘meetings product’.

We are currently living through an era of great challenges. Usually this type of situation shows how successful we are, as only the ones that have strategic and clear common objectives and are working together will be able to survive. I believe that in the future a proactive, innovative approach to marketing and organised development of the ‘meetings product’ will be of great importance. We will only succeed through appropriate co-operation of business and the state.

Azra Botonjič, Slovenian Convention Bureau

 

Over the last years we have witnessed many changes globally, the suppliers and destinations have to respond to quickly. A rapid development of new technologies, stronger role of social media as a new communications and marketing platform, the growing importance of sustainable development, flexibility of the offer and included added value, centralised procurement in corporations, strengthened regulations in the field of pharmacy and ROI, are only a few of the factors which contributed to the transformation of all segments of the meetings industry. At the same tame we were influenced negatively by the global economic crisis, which hurt our industry as well.

In Slovenia and Ljubljana I can highlight a few positive changes in the last five years: investments into building new or renovating existing congress and hotel facilities, a more visible promotional breakthrough on the foreign markets – also with the help of Conventa and Kongres magazine (Congratulations for five years!), higher professionalisation of the industry, supported by young staff, no increase of funds, but more innovativeness, stronger links between all stakeholders. The meetings industry has been proclaimed dead many, many times (let’s recall the internet revolution!), but miraculously it always survived and revived itself. I believe in the future existence of direct interpersonal connections and communications in exchanging knowledge, despite the growing technological development. I hope Europe won’t become a sleeping beauty with the inevitable development of Asian destinations and BRIC countries.

Tatjana Radovič, Ljubljana Tourism / Convention Bureau

 

In the last few years the meetings industry has been one of the fastest growing segments of tourism. A specific tourist product with high added value, with its complexity and successful uniting of regional products it ensures high multiplicative effects. For the future we can foretell the importance of de-seasonality of Slovenian tourism, intensive partner cooperation on all levels (and over the borders), inclusion of all stakeholders with a goal to place Slovenia alongside key destinations and into the portfolios of important buyers. Ambitious growth of Slovenia as a congress destination can be achieved with a thorough policy, by setting strategic and action plans and observing and implementing them.

These are just a few suggestions that I want to share with the readers, decision-makers and distinguished colleagues. This is how Slovenia could put itself on the European and global meetings map successfully.

Karmen Novarlič, Slovenian Tourist Board

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