Q: What trends do you think we will see in meetings and events in your city in the next 12 months?
From our point of view, the most important thing today is to ensure safety in the holding of any events. The advantage of Eastern Bohemia in this field is that there is no big agglomeration and it is still a safe region within the heart of Europe.
Q: How is your city positioned as a meeting destination today and what are its positive attributes that are often overlooked?
Unfortunately, there are no great congress hotels and venues in our region, but we do have some facilities located in beautiful countryside. What is more, every part of the region is very well accessible by all means of transport.
Q: How hard is it to get the message out about all that your city has to offer?
We try to take part in various domestic worshops, meetings or trade events where meeting planners are also in attendance and every year we also organise the so called “MICE Trip to Eastern Bohemia”, as a part of which the participants visit some of the top MICE venues in the region.
Q: How do you see relationship between the meetings industry and the tourism industry?
Our regional office (East Bohemia Convention Bureau) is the DMC part called Destination Management Company Eastern Bohemia, which is why I am convinced that these two sectors have much in common. Of course, meeting industry deals are often with much more exclusive requirements.
Q: Tell us something that might surprise meeting planners about your city?
Not only the city of Pardbubice, but all of the Eastern Bohemia region is unique for its local traditions: breeding horses, traditional gastronomic products (honey, ginger bread, plum brandy), Hlinecko Shrovetide Processions (listed in UNESCO cultural heritage) – places and products like this can really enrich the accompanying programmes of every event.
Q: Can content marketing drive meeting planners to your destination?
On our web site (www.eastbohemiaconvention.cz) we have something like a manual for meeting planners, which I think is a very good way to draw the attention of somebody looking for some information about organising events to our region. So, content marketing can certainly help us to promote our destination.
