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Photo Credit: Prague Convention Bureau

SUBVENTIONS FOR CONFERENCES IN NEW EUROPE

ABOUT ROMAN

Having studied at the College of Management Skills and Business Development in Prague, he started his career in the MICE segment in 1996 when working as a Project Manager for the Austrian-based company AHR (Agentur für Hotels und Reisen). Afterwards, he moved into finance and administration as part of the newly established branch of AIMS International in Prague before in 2004 returning to project management and working for the congress department at AIMS International, where he reached the position of Head of the Congress Department. After the fusion of AIMS International with the AIM Group, which was completed in 2011.

Alongside the Congress Department he was also responsible for the overall Prague office as the Country Manager. In 2013, he became a member of the PCB Board of Directors and since beginning of 2016 he has been working for PCB as its Managing Director.

Q: Does your city have any strategic subvention plan for conferences?

The City of Prague has focused its support mainly on larger association meetings with more than 500 delegates.

Q: What kinds of subvention does your city offer and for what kind of events?

The Prague Convention Bureau can arrange complimentary public transport tickets for meeting organisers, which applies to association congresses for over 500 delegates. For corporate events, we can secure 50% discount on public transportation. In both cases, there are certain conditions that can be found on our website. Besides that, there is also financial support from the City of Prague assigned to association congresses with more than 700 delegates, which can be used for meeting room rental or a welcome reception.

Q: What is the most important aspect when applying for a subvention?

The financial support is available to associations, foundations and other non-profit bodies, and from a minimum of 700 delegates at least 60% need to be from abroad and spend a minimum of 2 nights in Prague. When applying for a subvention, cooperation with a local association and other counterparts is obligatory.

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Q: Does your city subvention offer include any free travel or reduced local transportation to and within the city, any free venue, free reception, free brochure or marketing?

In addition to the already mentioned free transportation passes and the financial support designated to cover the meeting room rental or welcome reception, in cooperation with Prague City Tourism we also provide clients with free city maps and Prague brochures.

Q: Are subventions the latest big thing in the meeting industry or should they be considered as the very last option for the destination to win an association meeting?

Financial support should not be the main deciding factor, but just a help to those in need of it.

Q: Tell us something about your latest success story and subvention from your city?

Last year Prague hosted the 12th European Congress of Epileptology, ECE 2016, where the financial subventions played a significant role in the decision-making process when selecting the destination. The congress attracted more than 2,000 delegates.

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
My bravest and at the same time the best thing I have ever done was the decision to have 3 kids. In this respect, you never feel alone.

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