Q: What does Conventa mean to you?
Conventa is a quality trade show of the MICE industry, especially important for the countries of Central and South-East Europe.
Q: Can you share a memorable experience from Conventa that is hard to forget?
There were plenty of such moments, from planning Conventa to the successful realization of the project. But the most important of all are people, my dear friends and excellent professionals – the organizers of Conventa, Miha Kovačič, Gorazd Čad and Tatjana Radovič. I will never forget a moment when I received the Hall of fame award when it was first established.
Q: Conventa is celebrating 10th jubilee in the upcoming year. What is Conventa’s message to the MICE industry?
The ten-year jubilee is the best confirmation of Conventa’s success. In my long-term managerial career, I witnessed many attempts to organize MICE trade shows around the world, but only a small number of them managed to survive. Conventa’s message is primarily to offer quality rather than quantity: a smaller number of quality buyers is always a better choice.
Q: How do you see the impact of Conventa on the region?
Conventa has positioned itself as an important trade show for the area of Central and South-East Europe with a regular place in MICE events calendar. The establishment of Slovenian Convention Bureau and launch of Kongres magazine was an important pre-condition for the successful organization of Conventa. I am proud that I could provide a friendly assistance as a previous director of Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau. I see CONVENTA as a child that has successfully grown, especially with awareness that in 2014 Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau as up to that time well known brand of Croatian and European MICE industry was unfortunately closed due to irresponsible decision. I am hoping for a better future and return of the Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau. I strongly believe that it will have a positive impact on the future of MICE and development of Conventa and Kongres magazine due to several exhibitors coming from Croatia.
Q: If Conventa were a dish, what would it be and why?
If the EIBTM in Barcelona is a starter and IMEX in Frankfurt is the main dish, Conventa is a great dessert.
