A current comparison of the closest competitors on the 2013 ICCA scale following the Kongres travelogue methodology – meetologues.
| OPATIJA | PORTOROŽ |
|---|---|
| Population: 11.659 | Population: 2.849 |
| ICCA Country and City rankings 2013: NA | ICCA Country and City rankings 2013: 328th place 6 meetings |
| Sunshine hours: 2230 per year | Sunshine hours: 2385 per year |
| + 170 years of tourism tradition is based on the positive energy of the riviera and the exceptional natural conditions. This is a great sign for the revival of Opatija congress tourism, which has recently relaxed slightly in comparison with the hyperactive Croatian Adriatic competitors. The city already boasts the entire infrastructure, but it is beaten mostly by an unfavourable image and somewhat slow adjustment to the new congress market conditions. A change of the structure of hotels is also necessary, as ‘cosmopolitan’ Opatija today only boasts three hotels in the 5-star category, whilst in Dubrovnik there are now 14. An elegant tourist lady to which years are showing and appears at times a bit tired, but is still very charming. It will need a facelift as soon as possible and a vitamin treatment to be able to fully compete with the competitors on the Croatian Adriatic, and above all to fight for its congress place in the battle with Dubrovnik. | + The historic laurels of the leading Adriatic congress desti- nation are slowly starting to gather dust. Portorož is still in hard competition with Dubrovnik, Opatija and new Adriatic congress destinations that are developing all the time. A rich congress history, tradition and the existing infrastructure are a competitive advantage. The meetings industry is by no means a tree to sleep under and simply harvest its fruit of wealthy congress participants. Despite that, Portorož has proven resilient and adaptable many times in the course of history, so some innovativeness and marketing opportunities should ensure it has a bright future. Political stability, security, e-services and professionalism are the strongest parts of the offer. Portorož does somewhat worse in the area of political support of the meetings indus- try, ratio of quality to price, hospitality of the locals and the general competitiveness of the destination. |
| Opatija meetings flashpoints: | Portorož meetings flashpoints: |
| 1. The Villa Angiolina: One of the most beautiful venues in Opatija. The Villa is ideal for ceremonial meetings, gala dinners, or cocktail parties that require a luxury ambience. | 1. Congress centre Bernardin: With 19 modern multifunctional halls and a total capacity of 2,600 people is the first and the largest convention centre in Slovenia. |
| 2. The Hotel Kvarner: The hotel’s Crystal Ballroom (655 m2) is the perfect venue for larger congresses and events. The hall’scapacity can be additionally increased by setting up a marquee on the terrace. | 2. Convention Centre Portus, LifeClass Hotels & Spa: It consist of six hotels, including the 192-room Grand Hotel Portoroz and the 160-room Slovenija, 16,000 square feet of event space for up to 1,200 persons, and a conference center for 520. |
| 3. The Grand Hotel Adriatic: Hosts 150 to 200 national and international congresses, conferences and meetings every year. The most important facility of the hotel’s convention centre is the amphitheatre-shaped congress hall with 550 seats. | 3. Metropol Conference Centre: The business center offers 5 conference halls of various sizes. While the biggest hall can seat 150 people, the other ones seating 30 people are perfect for smaller meetings or workshops. |
| 4. The Hotel Ambasador: Boasts a modern, fully equipped convention centre suitable for hosting meetingss of all types and sizes. | 4. Convention Centre Kempinski Palace: Offers 7 meeting rooms. The magnificent Crystal Hall Ballroom, known for its majestic balls held in the early 20s for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy, is a perfect choice for glamorous events. |
| 5. The Milenij Grand Hotel: 4 opatijska cvijeta features the large Tamaris convention centre, consisting of seven multi-functional, multi-purpose halls with a total capacity of 1,000 delegates. | 5. Conference hall Piranesi - Hotel Piran: Boutique and full of charm. The view of the wide-open sea or the medieval Piran will make your stay at Hotel Piran a unique experience. |
| STAY: Hotel Milenij/ 5***** | STAY: Grand Hotel Bernardin/ 5***** |
| FINAL MARK: 3,98/5 | FINAL MARK: 3,96/5 |
OPATIJA: FINAL MARK; 3,98/5
PORTOROŽ: FINAL MARK; 3,96/5
OPATIJA:3,98/5
[xyz-ihs snippet=”KONGRES-WINTER-ISSUE-2015″]
