Estonian Convention Bureau

From April 5 to 7, professional event planners from 12 countries around Europe took part this year’s ‘Meet Estonia’ fam trip in Tallinn, a gathering designed to give them a taste of what the country has to offer as meetings destination. Organised by the Estonian Tourist Board in cooperation with the Estonian Convention Bureau, the event offered its 28 guests the chance to experience the historic wonders of Tallinn first-hand, as well as visit nearby nature areas, take part in site networking events and site inspections, and meet top local suppliers.

The three-day programme kicked off with an opening reception at the 600-year-old Tallinn Town Hall, hosted by the city’s vice mayor Arvo Sarapuu, followed by a theatrical, torchlight walking tour through the cobblestone streets of Tallinn’s Old Town. Over the next couple of days participants visited popular event sites such as the Seaplane Harbour, TV Tower and the Culture Hub as well as the construction grounds of the new Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel, scheduled to open this summer. 

In addition to checking out other top conference hotels and attractions – and of course sampling some top-notch local cuisine – the participants were able to tap into their creative sides thanks to a crash course in sculpture making at a workshop directed by none other than Tauno Kangro, Estonia’s best-known master of the discipline, and a leather workshop led by artist Stella Soomlais. 

Some of the participants extended their stays in Estonia with a post tour in beautiful Lahemaa National Park. The add-on programme included a nature walk along the Viru Bog Nature Trail where there was a surprise concert awaiting the guests, an overnight stay at the luxurious Vihula Manor, spa treatments, a bicycle tour of Altja fishing village and a mojito-making workshop.

 A handful of other participants were treated to a post-tour of Tartu, the nation’s off-beat university town. The guests were accommodated at the city’s finest hotel, Hotel Antonius. Their tour of the ‘city of good thoughts’ included visits to key sites of Tartu University, the new Estonian National Museum (slated to open this September) and the elaborate AHHAA Science Centre, where they were were wowed by the popular Science Theatre show.

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