Conventa has been connecting the meetings industry of New Europe for nine years. Since its outset, the show has hosted 1.887 hosted buyers from 47 countries and attracted 1.048 exhibitors from 17 countries. It has been described by many meetings industry professionals as the must-go-to event that every year commences a new business year. The newly appointed Conventa Ambassadors Pádraic Gilligan and Patrick M Delaney, Managing Partners at Irish agency SoolNua, said: “Conventa is a truly disruptive trade show for MICE that has built its uniqueness around creativity, innovation, building meaningful connections and being truly “boutique”.”
This year Conventa welcomed a record number of meeting providers and providers of technology solutions for the meetings industry. 149 exhibitors from 15 different New European countries, for the first time joined by representatives from cities like Krakow, Lviv and Košice, are presenting their services to 171 international meetings planners and around a 100 regional and Slovenian meetings planners. Miha Kovačič, exhibition director and director of Slovenian Convention Bureau, announced: “The 9th edition of Conventa is setting new standards and opening new horizons. Like never before, we are overwhelmed by interest for participation from clients. Welcoming hosted buyers from 35 countries is a new record. Not to mention that 95 percent of clients are new. Many are coming from really far away looking for something new and still undiscovered. They were able to choose among eleven Conventa fam trips that are uniting the region of New Europe. Truly amazing!”
Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic development and technology of the Republic of Slovenia, said “We are glad to notice that this event has been growing in recent years in terms of the quality of the programme and participants. We are honoured that Slovenia is a hub and central meeting point for actors from the MICE industry of Central and South-East Europe, and that every year we have some new participants from various countries overseas.”
Saving precious time and money continues to be one of the leading reasons for exhibitors to attend Conventa. Exhibitors and hosted buyers have this year pre-schedules 3.136 meetings that will hopefully result in new business connections and boost f the meetings industry of New Europe.
Gorazd Čad, co- organizer of Conventa and Editor-in-Chief of Kongres magazine explains: “For the organization of a sales meeting you will spend on average at least 60 minutes, with no time invested in market research and other time invested in finding customers. According to the survey, Conventa saves you on average at least 60 hours of valuable time that would otherwise be spent searching for contacts and organizing meetings with potential new clients. “
Conventa continues to be committed to reducing the negative environmental impacts of a trade show by implementing sustainable practices that add value to every participant and the local community. Known for building exhibitor stands from wooden crates, Conventa won the Sustainable Stand Award at IBTM in 2011. This year the organizers of the show decided to carry out all local city transfers of their guests with LLP’s new environment friendly methane buses and hybrid midi-buses. Minister Počivalšek added: “It is much appreciated that the organizers ensure sustainable transport in accordance with the principles of Ljubljana – the European Green Capital of 2016, and the first Global Green Destination award that Slovenia received in September 2016.”
Although organizers of the show are happy to see the numbers are increasing, Conventa’s focus remains on quality, not quantity. Miha Kovačič continues: “One of Conventa’s missions is to spread knowledge. We are proud to say most educational modules are complimentary. We started with a brand new concept of conference this summer when Conventa Crossover Conference hosted more than 30 national and international speakers who have shared their expertise on the future of MICE and travel marketing. We are honoured to be able to continue to educate meetings professionals also during the show. In collaboration with ICCA we are hosting a business breakfast, British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce is inviting professionals to Tea with reason, SITE prepared a great lecture on storytelling, regional buyers will be able to attend two ground breaking workshops led by Jan-Jaap In der Maur and Martijn Timmermans, while students were introduced to MICE profession at IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum. Novelty at Conventa, Experts’ Campfire sessions, will be held throughout both trade show days and will bring us a quick overview of the meetings industry trends. I wish for all participants to immerse themselves in Conventa spirit and enjoy what we call a new trade show experience. ”
Next year Conventa will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. The meetings floor at GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre will be hot again from 24 to 25 January 2018.
For more information please visit www.conventa.si
Main Partners about Conventa
“On a global scale Conventa Trade show represents the key event in the field of business or B2B meetings between providers and buyers of business events.
This year, Conventa is held for the 9th time and each year the event gains an even stronger reputation among a targeted audience of professionals. Simultaneously it also represents a meeting point of more than hundred meeting providers from Southeast European region and buyers from the entire Europe and around the globe – for the first time this year also from United States of America.
Conventa is one of those key meeting events in Slovenian tourism that are contributing to Slovenia’s reputation of being a sustainable oriented country. At the same time the show is placed at the very top of professionally executed events. Abroad, Slovenia is more and more recognised as a great host of five star adventures in the field of business and congress tourism, while the professionally organized trade show Conventa is helping greatly and reinforcing the reputation. Due to the impact Conventa has on a global scale, the collaboration with Slovenian Tourist Board is of key importance. Also in the future we will continue to draw special attention to congress and business tourism since it has great effect on the entire tourism industry, builds reputation of the tourism profession at home and abroad, has great multiplying effect, congress and business guests contribute to the capital influx of foreign guests and last but not least, congress and business tourism contributes to the sustainable development of Slovenian tourism. With Conventa trade show we confirm that at a time of increased digitalisation, personal meetings between providers and potential buyers remain indispensible.”
MSc. Maja Pak, Managing Director, Slovenian Tourist Board
“I am pleased our city is hosting already the 9th Conventa business event, an important meeting point for the exchange of ideas and initiatives in the field of business tourism traditionally marking the beginning of a new year. In the past years the trade show significantly contributed to the strengthening of Ljubljana’s place on the map of top destinations for business meetings and fortifying ties between partners from different corners of the world.”
Zoran Janković, The Mayor of the city of Ljubljana
“As the host destination and partner of Conventa, we regard that this important regional meetings industry business event has firmly established itself on the European market and developed beyond a »classic trade show« format.
With its concept and personal approach Conventa now stands for a complete experience: a high-quality and efficient business platform topped by informal networking opportunities between hosted buyers, exhibitors and other meeting industry players in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. It also showcases the wide array of possibilities for holding meetings and events in Ljubljana, Slovenia and the wider area of Central and Southeast Europe, which still has untapped potential on the international market.
Ljubljana Tourism therefore considers Conventa as one of its most important marketing projects at the destination level, by which both Ljubljana and Slovenia are continuously strengthening their brands and image abroad. And in 2018, it’s party time, with Conventa turning 10!”
Tatjana Radovič, Congress Manager, Ljubljana Tourism/Convention Bureau
