MTLG 2017 Results: M Meeting Destinations

dubrovnik-croatia

MEETING STAR 2017

The long awaited 2017 MTLG results, the fruit of hard graft, solid field work and unflagging enthusiasm are finally here. We are confident that our objective evaluation will help event organisers and at the same time allow destinations to implement the further improvements required to overcome their comparative disadvantages and keep promoting their destination in the best possible light. Now, let’s take a closer look at the destinations that made it on top, the ones that struck bottom and everyone in between of this year’s evaluation.

M – MEETING DESTINATIONS
Destinations than can host up to 1000 congress attendees
Check out the new MTLG categorization for 2017 here.

PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

4* and 5* hotel rooms4,165
4* and 5* hotels29
Destination population42,615
Banquet hall maximum capacity700
Largest hall in the city900 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,200

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

DUBROVNIK INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.94
General and transport infrastructure:4.56
Tourist infrastructure:4.90
Meeting infrastructure:4.80
Subjective grade:4.77
Marketing Buzz:4.39
ICCA index:3.35
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.44
Numbeo Safety Index:4.79
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.81
DESTINATION MARK:4.27

1. DUBROVNIK, CROATIA 4.27/5


Dubrovnik is the flagship of regional tourism and is commonly the first association of meetings organizers we meet daily. It is the closest in the region to renowned Mediterranean convention destinations Cannes and Monte Carlo, and it will be even closer after the completion of the convention center. So far the center is successfully replaced by modern and well-equipped centers at hotels such as Dubrovnik Palace, Excelsior, Bellevue, Grand Villa Argentina, Importanne Resort, Dubrovnik President, Valamar Lacroma and Radisson Blue. Well-developed is the entire conference infrastructure including destination management and creative agency scene.
The city is safe and one of the tourist icons of the Adriatic and justifiably the most painted tourist skyline with unprecedented experiential diversity for conference guests.

THE ALPINE LAKES EXPERIENCE

villach_austria
4* and 5* hotel rooms517
4* and 5* hotels5
Destination population61,221
Banquet hall maximum capacity400
Largest hall in the city4,500 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,060

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

VILLACH INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.72
General and transport infrastructure:4.74
Tourist infrastructure:4.69
Meeting infrastructure:4.53
Subjective grade:4.62
Marketing Buzz:4.44
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:4.42
Numbeo Safety Index:4.95
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.43
DESTINATION MARK:4.06

2. VILLACH, AUSTRIA 4.06/5


Villach is the second largest city of Carinthia and its tourist sights attract an enormous amount of visitors. Villach has also become established as a small Silicon Valley in the Alps, with an international character reflected in the town‘s infrastructure. The main reason for a meetings industry in this
part of Austria are the numerous incentive programmes, all of which you can engage with in a very clean enviroment. The most charming aspects are the Carnithian way of life, cultural diversity and a general sense of casualness. In our opinion the main advantages are the size and the feeling of familarity, along with a modern congress infrastructure. Locals also like to emphasise the border location, sat at the crossroads of three nations, which hasn‘t been totally picked up in a congress
sense. Locals also like to emphasise the border location, sat at the crossroads of three nations, which hasn’t been totally picked up in a congress sense.

CONVENTIONLAND

4* and 5* hotel rooms525
4* and 5* hotels11
Destination population99,110
Banquet hall maximum capacity500
Largest hall in the city6,400 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity668

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

KLAGENFURT INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.73
General and transport infrastructure:4.72
Tourist infrastructure:4.70
Meeting infrastructure:4.52
Subjective grade:4.67
Marketing Buzz:4.52
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.70
Numbeo Safety Index:4.81
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.43
DESTINATION MARK:3.98

3. KLAGENFURT, AUSTRIA 3.98/5


Klagenfurt is a likable alpine congress destination with rich cultural heritage and high experiential diversity. Key advantage is definitely fairy tale like well-maintained and pleasant environment, quality offer that is above average in regional sense, and professionalism of suppliers. Position at the crossroads of important routes is also an important factor in competitiveness of this destination. The city is an important inter social and European transit region that is easily reachable thanks to modern highways and rail connections. Klagenfurt as the center of Carinthia with its tidiness, safety and ratio between price and quality is one of the best convention destinations in the wider region. The city builds its meetings offer on a sustainable development.

MEETINGS IN EMBRACE OF ALPINE BEAUTIES

Schladming
4* and 5* hotel rooms2,251
4* and 5* hotels48
Destination population4,402
Banquet hall maximum capacity800
Largest hall in the city1,400 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,200

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

SCHLADMING INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.74
General and transport infrastructure:4.77
Tourist infrastructure:4.62
Meeting infrastructure:4.53
Subjective grade:4.61
Marketing Buzz:4.25
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.70
Numbeo Safety Index:4.81
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.57
DESTINATION MARK:3.96

4. SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA 3.96/5


Schladming is a big skiing centre, the scene of the best slalom races of the season aswell as other internationaly known sport competitions. Besides that it is also an excelent congress venue and a place, which stays in fond memory of every guest. We can say without a doubt that the tourist developement in Schladming is a success story and we are certain that will also be the case in the future. Contributing to the success were mostly sporting events, on which they have built extensively. With event organisation, the destination has gained a lot of experience, which can now be transfered into the congress field.

WHERE MEETINGS MEET HISTORY AND ELEGANCE

4* and 5* hotel rooms1,800
4* and 5* hotels22
Destination population11,659
Banquet hall maximum capacity600
Largest hall in the city1,728 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity900

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

OPATIJA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.73
General and transport infrastructure:4.56
Tourist infrastructure:4.61
Meeting infrastructure:4.76
Subjective grade:4.77
Marketing Buzz:4.44
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.49
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.52
DESTINATION MARK:3.92

5. OPATIJA, CROATIA 3.92/5


170 years of tourism tradition is based on the positive energy of the riviera and the exceptional natural conditions. This is a great sign for the revival of Opatija congress tourism, which has recently relaxed slightly in comparison with the hyperactive Croatian Adriatic competitors. The city already boasts the entire infrastructure, but it is beaten mostly by an unfavourable image and somewhat slow adjustment to the new congress market conditions. A change of the structure of hotels is also necessary, as ‘cosmopolitan’ Opatija today only boasts three hotels in the 5-star category, whilst in Dubrovnik there are now 14.

THE IMAGE OF HEAVEN

bled_slovenia
4* and 5* hotel rooms693
4* and 5* hotels8
Destination population6,322
Banquet hall maximum capacity400
Largest hall in the city500 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity514

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

BLED INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.85
General and transport infrastructure:4.61
Tourist infrastructure:4.45
Meeting infrastructure:4.62
Subjective grade:4.65
Marketing Buzz:4.19
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.37
Numbeo Safety Index:4.14
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.16
DESTINATION MARK:3.91

6. BLED, SLOVENIA 3.91/5


As a recognisable brand Bled stands out among other congress destinations in the region. It most closely resembles Dubrovnik, which caught up with the pre-war congress tempo by taking the right steps. Currently the biggest disadvantage is the lack of a clear focus towards quality rather than mass tourism. This is most clearly seen in the restaurant, night life and shopping offer. As a result the current perception of quality is lower than with largest competitors. In Bled the saying ‘Less is more’ is very true. The potential for the meetings industry is immense, it just needs to be harnessed in the right way.

ROVINJ GIVES YOU WINGS

4* and 5* hotel rooms1,342
4* and 5* hotels6
Destination population14,294
Banquet hall maximum capacity800
Largest hall in the city1,600 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,000

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

ROVINJ INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.71
General and transport infrastructure:4.45
Tourist infrastructure:4.54
Meeting infrastructure:4.55
Subjective grade:4.59
Marketing Buzz:4.25
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.87
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.51
DESTINATION MARK:3.89

7. ROVINJ, CROATIA 3.89/5


If at the destination you have owners who have clear goals and who look at congress tourism strategically, then in a short time you can do a lot. It is possible to revitalize the old factory premises and build a superior conference hotel.
Maistra in Rovinj has undoubtedly left its mark. Taking into consideration the geographical location of Rovinj as one of the closest Mediterranean congress destinations for Central and Western Europe, the future of this industry is guaranteed. Missing is only a convention bureau, which would know how to step out of corporate governance of the destination and would be able to serve as attorney of the meetings industry. Otherwise, forecasts of mayor Sponza that Rovinj will be more exclusive than Dubrovnik, can be realized.

PORT OF ROSES

Portorož, Slovenia
4* and 5* hotel rooms4,500
4* and 5* hotels16
Destination population2,849
Banquet hall maximum capacity360
Largest hall in the city1,085 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,100

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

PORTOROSE INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.73
General and transport infrastructure:4.54
Tourist infrastructure:4.37
Meeting infrastructure:4.49
Subjective grade:4.70
Marketing Buzz:4.19
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.79
Numbeo Safety Index:4.48
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.52
DESTINATION MARK:3.88

8. PORTOROSE, SLOVENIA 3.88/5


The historic laurels of the leading Adriatic congress destination are slowly starting to gather dust. Portorož is still in hard competition with Dubrovnik, Opatija and new Adriatic congress destinations that are developing all the time. A rich congress history, tradition and the existing infrastructure are a competitive advantage. The meetings industry is by no means a tree to sleep under and simply harvest its fruit of wealthy congress participants. Despite that, Portorož has proven resilient and adaptable many times in the course of history, so some innovativeness and marketing opportunities should ensure it has a bright future.

CROSSROADS DALMATIA

split_croatia
4* and 5* hotel rooms1,428
4* and 5* hotels22
Destination population178,102
Banquet hall maximum capacity450
Largest hall in the city768 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity800

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

SPLIT INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.61
General and transport infrastructure:4.49
Tourist infrastructure:4.67
Meeting infrastructure:4.27
Subjective grade:4.65
Marketing Buzz:4.04
ICCA index:1.82
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.14
Numbeo Safety Index:3.96
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.81
DESTINATION MARK:3.85

9. SPLIT, CROATIA 3.85/5


Among the Adriatic congress destinations Split has become serious competition to Dubrovnik in the last years. The main disadvantages of the destination are bad cooperation between the service providers, lack of air traffic connections to key markets and not enough destination marketing. If Split gets a real convention centre in the future, it could become one of the leading congress destinations in the Mediterranean. New and excellent hotel capacities, good road connections to Europe and wonderful surroundings, with islands offering numerous incentive programme opportunities, all bolster this proposition. Split is still one of the most unexploited congress destinations in the Mediterranean.

SUNNYSIDE MEETINGS

4* and 5* hotel rooms1,642
4* and 5* hotels13
Destination population16,696
Banquet hall maximum capacity576
Largest hall in the city1,036 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,000

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

POREČ INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.56
General and transport infrastructure:4.40
Tourist infrastructure:4.59
Meeting infrastructure:4.27
Subjective grade:4.48
Marketing Buzz:4.13
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.87
Numbeo Safety Index:4.34
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.52
DESTINATION MARK:3.82

10. POREČ, CROATIA 3.82/5


Until recently Poreč was known mostly for its family tourism, which is focused on the sun and sea. In the last couple of years there have been significant moves in terms of seasonality and also the meetings industry. The whole of Istria, in fact, has a huge potential for incentive programmes. The congress infrastructure already exists, including the main culinary and sports programmes, as well as the salubrious surroundings that make them special. It’s just the appropriate connections to form real incentive products that have to be put in place, which will definitely make them seriously competitive. The list of events is getting longer every year and is moving Poreč up the ladder of event destinations in Croatia. If Poreč continues to be a tourist champion of Croatia, it will definitely make the break into the international congress scene.

AT THE JUNCTION OF ROMAN AND SLAVIC

4* and 5* hotel rooms3,000
4* and 5* hotels16
Destination population204,849
Banquet hall maximum capacity600
Largest hall in the city640 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity600

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

TRIESTE INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.57
General and transport infrastructure:4.59
Tourist infrastructure:4.56
Meeting infrastructure:4.31
Subjective grade:4.60
Marketing Buzz:3.98
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.60
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.51
DESTINATION MARK:3.81

11. TRIESTE, ITALY 3.81/5


Today, Trieste is mostly known for its coffee, rather than the meetings industry. The geo-political location could make Trieste a leading Adriatic congress destination, yet it is now being overtaken by less accessible and geographically located destinations. Solid infrastructure is a good foundation for development. The image of the city on the regional and world market needs to be improved. When key stakeholders on both sides of the border realize the potential of the city, it can become much more important than it is today.

EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE

4* and 5* hotel rooms525
4* and 5* hotels9
Destination population95,589
Banquet hall maximum capacity400
Largest hall in the city404 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity500

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

MARIBOR INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2018
Natural and cultural factors:4.66
General and transport infrastructure:4.58
Tourist infrastructure:4.59
Meeting infrastructure:4.33
Subjective grade:4.64
Marketing Buzz:4.14
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.55
Numbeo Safety Index:4.26
ACI Airport Connectivity Index3.08
DESTINATION FINAL GRADE:3.89

12. MARIBOR, SLOVENIA 3.81/5


Maribor is one of the most promising meetings destinations in Slovenia. The city is historically, ethnically and culturally extremely interesting. It gives an impression of familiarity and warmth. Transport infrastructure, mostly because of the inactive Maribor Airport, is the weakest part of the Maribor meetings industry offer. Otherwise the city is safe and pleasant to live in. Its speciality is an extraordinary access to nature. Congress offer of Maribor is concentrated in company Terme Maribor and their hotels Habakuk, Piramida (Pyramid) and Bellevue. The town is very rich with additional convention programmes suitable for incentives, but unfortunately a comprehensive offer of Pohorje and the town is under-utilised and not well presented.

CONGRESS ELEGANCE WITH FRIULIAN CHARM

udine_italy
4* and 5* hotel rooms1,727
4* and 5* hotels20
Destination population541,587
Banquet hall maximum capacity250
Largest hall in the city400 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity360

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

UDINE INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.47
General and transport infrastructure:4.68
Tourist infrastructure:4.50
Meeting infrastructure:4.33
Subjective grade:4.60
Marketing Buzz:3.97
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.58
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.52
DESTINATION MARK:3.80

13. UDINE, ITALY 3.80/5


It is a unique world in which the Latin elements from the period of Roman Empire are mixed with those of Lombard, Venetian, Austrian and Slavic. History touches you at every step, which is the perfect backdrop for a variety of innovative incentive programs. Udine has a rich quality of life, being one of the most economically developed Italian region. The city is perfectly accessible via highways, rail and air. There are plenty of hotel facilities in the city and the surrounding areas, which are a true shopping paradise with superb cuisine and some of the best Italian restaurants with Michelin stars. In the middle of one of the most important Italian wine regions you can organize you event in wineries, renovated industrial buildings or palaces. The whole offer is quality linked by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Tourist Board.

ISLAND OF SUN

grado_italy
4* and 5* hotel rooms1,100
4* and 5* hotels8
Destination population8,650
Banquet hall maximum capacity450
Largest hall in the city1,057 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity994

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

GRADO INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.60
General and transport infrastructure:4.59
Tourist infrastructure:4.43
Meeting infrastructure:4.24
Subjective grade:4.46
Marketing Buzz:3.86
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.60
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.53
DESTINATION MARK:3.77

14. GRADO, ITALY 3.77/5


The Italian city of Grado, mostly known among Central-European tourists as a summer vacation headquarters, is much more than just a tourist-infested destination. Not a lot of people know that it actually boasts a large congress centre, making it suitable for this type of tourism too. If you succeed in avoiding the summer rush hour, Grado will impress you with its laid-back rhythm, great congress offer and numerous incentive activities, such as the golf courses or the excellent Friulian culinary experiences. Grado’s true charm hides in the inviting alleyways of the old city centre, where the full congress potential is still waiting to be uncovered.

ON THE FOAMING SEA

budva_montenegro
4* and 5* hotel rooms3,620
4* and 5* hotels43
Destination population36,739
Banquet hall maximum capacity360
Largest hall in the city658 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity800

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

BUDVA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.44
General and transport infrastructure:4.38
Tourist infrastructure:4.65
Meeting infrastructure:4.62
Subjective grade:4.43
Marketing Buzz:4.08
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.31
Numbeo Safety Index:3.91
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.50
DESTINATION MARK:3.73

15. BUDVA, MONTENEGRO 3.73/5


Budva is one of the central incentive destinations on the Adriatic coast, with very successful marketing and despite numerous deficiencies in poor accessibility and current capacity selection. The development plans for the Monte Carlo of the Adriatic, openness from foreign investors and very liberal policies could position the Montenegro coast very high on the meetings industry map in the next few years, while it is already the leader in the area of incentive programs. It boasts the unique opportunity for the practically untapped Russian meetings industry, which has always had a positive relationship with Budva. If this “wild beauty” improves its accessibility, price competitiveness and infrastructure, it can be a worthy competitor as a meetings destination even in the wider region of the Mediterranean as one of the top destinations.

THE HEART OF DALMATIA

4* and 5* hotel rooms2,676
4* and 5* hotels8
Destination population46,332
Banquet hall maximum capacity220
Largest hall in the city600 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity500

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

ŠIBENIK INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.68
General and transport infrastructure:4.44
Tourist infrastructure:4.56
Meeting infrastructure:4.07
Subjective grade:4.48
Marketing Buzz:3.98
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.14
Numbeo Safety Index:3.94
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.85
DESTINATION MARK:3.72

16. ŠIBENIK, CROATIA 3.72/5


Šibenik very rarely raises any association with the meeting industry. In the process of transition from an industrial city into a tourist destination it has not yet asserted its image among competing cities. Despite this, it is a fact that it has excellent conditions and is somehow considered to be a hidden jewel of the Croatian congress offer. For ease of accessibility it may be a suitable location for small association conferences as well as a variety of incentive programmes.

A PHOENIX BETWEEN EAST AND WEST

kosice_slovakia
4* and 5* hotel rooms800
4* and 5* hotels12
Destination population355,047
Banquet hall maximum capacity350
Largest hall in the city400 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity350

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

KOSICE INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.64
General and transport infrastructure:4.66
Tourist infrastructure:4.72
Meeting infrastructure:4.37
Subjective grade:4.66
Marketing Buzz:4.07
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.08
Numbeo Safety Index:3.86
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.04
DESTINATION MARK:3.71

17. KOSICE, SLOVAKIA 3.71/5


If Bratislava is the capital of the country, then Kosice can be declared its creative centre, one that impresses with vibrant urban zones, positive diversity and an urban transformation of the city throughout layers of history. Košice seems pleasant for the accommodation and organisation of congresses and also seems a very tolerant city. A border location has greatly contributed to that, which has made residents more tolerant, but it is precisely this border diversity that defines the vitality and resistance of the city. The specific local identity gives the city its charm and soul, and it ranks it among one of the most promising Eastern European convention destinations.

A CITY WITH CHARACTER

rijeka_croatia
4* and 5* hotel rooms450
4* and 5* hotels4
Destination population97,910
Banquet hall maximum capacity180
Largest hall in the city250 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity677

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

RIJEKA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.56
General and transport infrastructure:4.46
Tourist infrastructure:4.47
Meeting infrastructure:4.17
Subjective grade:4.45
Marketing Buzz:3.92
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.52
Numbeo Safety Index:4.35
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.05
DESTINATION MARK:3.70

18. RIJEKA, CROATIA 3.70/5


The extended region of Kvarner has the huge potential to become a leading meetings destination. Individual congress cities together with the islands of Opatija, Lošinj and Cres are the heart of a very rich product. It is a complex offer, appropriate for associations as well as corporate events. Comparing Rijeka to Split it’s possible to see just how fast the tourist-congress transformation can happen. With its Mediterranean – industrial character Rijeka has no competitor in the Adriatic; the urban scene is so very alive and contains a rich cultural offer. Plenty of congress stories are just waiting for discovery.

A COOL MEETINGS DESTINATION

zadar_croatia
4* and 5* hotel rooms1,824
4* and 5* hotels18
Destination population75,082
Banquet hall maximum capacity150
Largest hall in the city1,000 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity400

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

ZADAR INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.60
General and transport infrastructure:4.47
Tourist infrastructure:4.82
Meeting infrastructure:4.17
Subjective grade:4.64
Marketing Buzz:3.94
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.14
Numbeo Safety Index:3.94
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.19
DESTINATION MARK:3.69

19. ZADAR, CROATIA 3.69/5


Zadar with over 4000 beds, several campgrounds and resorts is a developed summer destination for leisure and a yachting paradise. The charming city with thousand years of cultural heritage, the proximity of the islands, five national parks and improving flight connections has a number of good reviews by foreign media describing it as a cool convention destination. The city is an ideal destination for organization of smaller conferences and incentives for up to 100 participants. Currently, the main drawback are congress facilities that are not offering enough space for bigger business events, as well as congress infrastructure which is not yet built and in function. Once everything is in place, Zadar will certainly be an important congress player.

URBAN MEETINGS

pula-mtlg
4* and 5* hotel rooms372
4* and 5* hotels2
Destination population57,460
Banquet hall maximum capacity180
Largest hall in the city1,000 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity700

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

PULA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.58
General and transport infrastructure:4.45
Tourist infrastructure:4.43
Meeting infrastructure:4.08
Subjective grade:4.36
Marketing Buzz:3.85
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:3.87
Numbeo Safety Index:3.79
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.16
DESTINATION MARK:3.66

20. PULA, CROATIA 3.66/5


Pula is a city of intoxicating flavours, scents and multiple images. Only when you experience it, it becomes clear why it’s also a great meetings destination. Pula as a regional centre of Istria is in terms of congress tourism currently less developed than some tourist destinations in Istria. The role of the regional congress centre took Rovinj with intensive investment, partly Poreč and cities of NW Istria. Current investments of company Arenaturist incite very high degree of optimism since the city acquired a high quality infrastructure. Along with the urban culture of the city and number of higher education institutions, the potential for congress tourism in Istria is among the largest.

REGION’S WARMEST CITY

podgorica_montenegro
4* and 5* hotel rooms1,125
4* and 5* hotels22
Destination population204,877
Banquet hall maximum capacity480
Largest hall in the city422 m2
Teatre style hall maximum capacity715

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

PODGORICA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.60
General and transport infrastructure:4.54
Tourist infrastructure:4.56
Meeting infrastructure:4.38
Subjective grade:4.40
Marketing Buzz:4.00
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:2.56
Numbeo Safety Index:3.41
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.57
DESTINATION MARK:3.60

21. PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO 3.60/5


For now Podgorica can rarely be found on the meetings industry map. Considering the outstanding potential it will over time come to have all that is necessary to be a true meeting destination. Among its advantages there is its strategic position, which enables easy access to the most attractive parts of Montenegro for incentives. Among the weaknesses we have to point out the current state of the meeting infrastructure and its transport isolation. Being an air travel destination it is highly dependant on the number of flight connections, including low cost ones. A convention bureau for the town would greatly help in positioning the destination, which it deserves as a capital city. The town is developing quickly and is looking for the right image, torn between the classic tourism flow and the idea of development into a meeting destination.

OPEN TO THE WORLD

lviv_ukraine
4* and 5* hotel rooms913
4* and 5* hotels18
Destination population728,350
Banquet hall maximum capacity400
Largest hall in the city1,300 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity1,200

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

LVIV INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.56
General and transport infrastructure:4.41
Tourist infrastructure:4.70
Meeting infrastructure:4.31
Subjective grade:4.55
Marketing Buzz:4.56
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:1.94
Numbeo Safety Index:3.13
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.67
DESTINATION MARK:3.58

22. LVIV, UKRAINE 3.58/5


If Kiev is the heart of Ukraine, then Lviv is its soul. That’s certainly how it is seen by the locals. In 2009 Lviv became officially recognized as the Ukrainian capital of culture, reflecting its status as a creative and educational centre that impresses with its vibrant urban spirit. When you learn that every fifth resident of Lviv is a student, then this is not so surprising. The city has been at the crossroads of East and West for the past eight centuries and is today successfully using its rich history and tradition to create a pleasant and creative atmosphere for meeting planners and participants.

COLOURFUL CONGRESS VARIETY

subotica_serbia
4* and 5* hotel rooms436
4* and 5* hotels9
Destination population97,910
Banquet hall maximum capacity270
Largest hall in the city570 m2
Theatre style hall maximum capacity400

INDIVIDUAL GRADES

SUBOTICA INDIVIDUAL GRADES 2017
Natural and cultural factors:4.48
General and transport infrastructure:4.16
Tourist infrastructure:4.41
Meeting infrastructure:4.13
Subjective grade:4.40
Marketing Buzz:3.91
ICCA index:1.02
Numbeo quality of life Index:2.84
Numbeo Safety Index:2.97
ACI Airport Connectivity Index2.18
DESTINATION MARK:3.45

23. SUBOTICA, SERBIA 3.45/5


Subotica has a soul. It is a city where it seems that time has stopped. The proud town centre merges almost imperceptibly into the surrounding melancholy plains. Economically and culturally Subotica is one of the most developed cities in Serbia. Congress guests will be impressed by the multicultural spirit and European charm, which is reflected in a large number of special venues in a small area. Well-developed albeit not connected is the offer of various incentive programmes. Subotica has a functioning Congress bureau, the hotel facilities are good and the culinary tradition is an extra plus. All of this represents an exciting congress package calling out for more penetrating international or at least regional marketing to exploit the full potential of the city. We see this especially in the development of incentive programmes and smaller professional meetings and conferences taking advantage of the scientific and cultural potential of the city. To top it all off, Subotica offers a lot of music for little money.

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