30 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE SEE MEETINGS INDUSTRY 2014
TOP MEETING ARCHITECTS (DMO, CVB, …)
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Based on 204 completed surveys of Kongres magazine’s readers and after a detailed analysis we have created a scale of the 30 most influential people in the SEE Meetings industry in 2014. They all have contributed to the development of the region and you have chosen the best of the best!
Candidates were assessed on the following key criteria:
• Achievement of the best financial and other multiplier effects of the meetings industry in 2014 that was significantly above the average;
• Implementation of the most demanding improvements and innovations in their field, which also includes successfully implemented projects that signaled the year 2014 as a special one;
• Help in enhancing the reputation and visibility of the meetings industry in 2014;
• Innovations that facilitate the work of meetings organisers, or have shown the direction for the future.
1. Romana VLAŠIĆ, TZ Dubrovnik
Director of TZ Dubrovnik and with many concrete years of experience in business has given acceleration to the promotion of Dubrovnik. This is now the most recognisable congress brand of the region and a player in the first congress European league. Dubrovnik could claim that the year 2013 was its year on the conference scene, since almost all the important events of this year were held in this very beautiful city. Among other things, the meetings of NATO, the FIS International Ski Federation, FIA – International Automotive Association and FIFA all took place in Dubrovnik.
2. Miha KOVAČIĆ, Slovenian Convention Bureau
Active for a decade as the director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, which enjoys an outstanding reputation abroad. In 2013 he was invited to the “Advisory Board” of a new international trade show, the “UK Meetings Show”. Through a number of innovative marketing and CSR projects he continually takes care of the growth of the Slovenian meetings industry. The editorial board put a particular emphasis on the Conventa project that, as a brand, has become synonymous with the SE Europe congress product and has significantly assisted with the placement of the region on meetings planners’ list of destinations.
3. Nik RAČIĆ, Ex-Croatia Convention Bureau
Nik Račić is the second winner of the IMEX Academy Award for lifetime achievement. As a former president of the Skal association he has done so much for the development of the meetings industry of Croatia. Despite the turbulence in the Croatian National Tourist Board Nik Račić is a man who can, through his connections, do a lot for the meetings industry. He is also being placed on the scale with a call to find him a right place in the Croatian meetings industry
4. Zlatan MUFTIĆ, Zagreb Convention Bureau
With a wide range of activities he is charged with getting Zagreb on to the congress market. It is to his credit that Zagreb is today a modern and distinctive convention destination. Through active participation in all of the regional and international initiatives Zagreb is today a stable, growing congress destination, which over the last few years has been steadily increasing its market share in the associations and corporate markets.
5. Barbara VAJDA, Ljubljana Convention Bureau
She has ensured that the meetings industry is embedded in the tourism policy and practice of Ljubljana and as one of its key products and as part of its repositioning. Her work is characterised by an understanding of the meetings industry and the international tourism market place. She also deserves her place on this list for actively co-designing the Conventa project. The Conventa Invitation with Coffee would not exist without Barbara Vajda.
6. Slaven RELJIĆ, Ex-Croatia Tourist Board
A fresh start and a man of the meetings industry on the key marketing function of Croatian tourism is an important event and it comes with a great responsibility to set the meetings industry on the list of key products that will help contribute to the de-seasonalisation of Croatian tourism. This is also an important event as an opportunity to strengthen presence in the professional and business environments. Slaven has many years of experience in economics and undoubtedly has all the credentials for success.
7. Tatjana RADOVIČ, Ljubljana Convention Bureau
Tatjana Radović has candidacies that she has been preparing with passion and dedication in her blood. In carrying out her role she has for a number of years been linking key Ljubljana meeting suppliers, which this year came together in the Ljubljana Strategic Bidding Team. This gave an additional boost to the work of connecting with the Slovenian Convention Bureau and to a number of important projects of associations obtained for the coming years. The latest success is a successful acquisition of the ABTA Conference, which took place in 2014 in Ljubljana.
8. Dimitrij ROTOVNIK, Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre
Without the vision of Cankarjev Dom’s legendary director, there wouldn’t be a Slovenian meetings industry today. He still promotes congress activity with incredible enthusiasm. He earned this ranking with his team because of the total renovation of Cankarjev dom in the midst of the worst recession in memory. This renovation has placed it among the best European convention centres.
9.Miloš MILOVANOVIĆ, Serbia Convention Bureau
In a record time he managed to place the devastated meetings industry of Serbia on the international conventions map and has set up the entire congress infrastructure. According to the ICCA statistics Serbia is one of the fastest growing destinations that has everything that larger and more developed destinations have. Miloš is on the scale also because of the many innovative marketing campaigns conducted in 2013, among which the first destination apps and a game on social network Facebook really stand out.
10. Gordana PLAMENAC, Serbia Convention Bureau
The recipient of the prestigious IMEX Academy Award as the director of the Tourist Organisation of Serbia has generated an appropriate supportive environment that has enabled the re-growth of the Serbian meetings industry. With this she has facilitated the work of Miloš Milovanović and the Serbian convention Bureau. Serbia is an example of excellent co-operation between tourism policies and the convention industry. Gordana Plamenac is on the scale because of an excellent international network of connections and the visionary management of tourism policy.
NEWCOMERS VOTED BY READERS:
Mladjan MIŠKELJIN, Serbia Convention Bureau
In 2008 he was elected as one of world’s top 20 young meeting industry professionals by International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and in 2009 he received “Destination pro” distinguishment of the USA-based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) association. Since 2014 he has been coordinating SCB activities, of which most importantly the bidding process for international events, congress ambassador programme, statistical research project and international market development for the local service providers.
Goran PAVLOVIĆ, Opatija Convention Bureau
In 2008 he started working for the Opatija Tourism Office as the Head of the Convention and Incentive Bureau. In his current role, Goran is responsible for the promotion of Opatija as a convention destination in Croatia on the domestic and international markets. He successfully completed the ECM Summer School program in 2008 and DMAI Destination Sales Training programme in 2009, so he has been designated to receive the DMAI/ECM Destination Pro certificate. Since June 2013 he has been a Board member of European Cities Marketing, the network of European tourist and convention cities.
