Conventa's sweet sixteen
Since 2009, Conventa has welcomed 3,639 hosted buyers and 1,975 exhibitors who have conducted 49,263 business meetings. This year, the number of conducted meetings will increase by over 3,500. Face-to-face meetings are the essence of Conventa, a trade show that renders Ljubljana the heart of the regional meetings industry every February.
Between 20 and 22 February 2024, 112 exhibitors from 16 countries will meet with 162 hosted buyers from 31 countries. Over 350 participants will convene at the trade show, joined by an additional 160 guests at accompanying events. Thus, five hundred attendees – event professionals from the region between Helsinki and Istanbul and Milano and Baku – will transform Ljubljana into the regional hub for the meetings industry.
Bold new undertakings
Conventa will be the first event organised and evaluated in accordance with the ESRS Standards
The event will be the first ever to be evaluated with the help of Planet Positive Event, a tool developed by a group of leading Slovenian experts in sustainable event transformation. The organisers will go beyond measuring the carbon footprint by checking if Conventa meets ESRS Standards.
Maja Pak Olaj, the Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, emphasised: “Since the outset of Conventa, the Slovenian Tourist Board has been a close partner of the renowned event that has been connecting regional providers in the meetings industry with buyers from across the world for sixteen years. Conventa stands out because of its sustainability pledge and sincere aspiration to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Conventa’s initiatives, including encouraging and advocating sustainable mobility, reducing waste, measuring carbon footprint and sourcing local products align with our own mission to develop quality sustainable tourism with added value. Conventa thus leads by example and sets Slovenia on the map as a best-case example of integrating sustainability principles into organising world-class international events.”
Networking with the help of artificial intelligence
Among Conventa’s most important partners is the Austrian company B2match, a pioneering company that implements AI to enhance business matchmaking. In the past year, the company unveiled a slew of new functions based on AI that Conventa’s attendees can take advantage of.
New destinations and exhibitors at Conventa
Several new destinations and exhibitors will present their services at Conventa. Three Polish destinations will join Conventa: Mazovia Convention Bureau, Poznan Convention Bureau and Silesia Convention Bureau. A host of new hotels will debut at Conventa, too, including one of the region’s most luxury stays, the St. Regis Belgrade, alongside Hotel Nomad Bjelašnica and Hotel Imperial Plovdiv. Conventa will also host Air Montenegro, Slovakia Travel, Intercontinental Sofia, Bespoke DMC and the City of Novi Sad. Bringing innovative IT services to the show floor will be Slovenian company Acenta.
Decision-makers forum CONVENTA Crossroads
Tuesday, 20 February 2024, between 16:30 and 19:30, Center Rog
Organised by the Slovenian Convention Bureau in cooperation with the Slovenian Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sports, this exclusive event will convene 37 decision-makers, including ten representatives of leading regional destinations. Concurrently with the event, a bilateral meeting will take place between the Montenegrin Minister of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Vladimir Martinović and the Slovenian Minister of Economy, Tourism and Sports, Matjaž Han.
The organiser of Conventa Crossroads, Fredi Fontanot, emphasised that there has, unfortunately, not been a platform that would connect representatives in the meetings industry with policymakers in politics and other decision-makers. “At the event, we wish to connect and empower stakeholders about economic, societal and regenerative effects within our industry. Moreover, we wish to present best-case examples from our industry and why the best meeting destinations are successful globally.” In conclusion, Fredi added: “We wish to prompt meaningful dialogue about the future.”
Tuesday, 20 February 2024, between 17:00 and 19:30, Center Rog
The premier educational event for Slovenian event organisers was sold out almost immediately. The speakers at the event will share how to create happiness at events and how to craft events responsible to the environment, society and attendees.
Meetings Star 2024 – The “Michelin” Stars of the meetings industry
Wednesday, 21 February 2024, at 18:30, Cankarjev dom
The award competition for the best destinations, meeting venues and individuals has become a reference point and sort of “Michelin” guide of the meetings industry. Winners will be announced in fifteen categories for 2023/2024.
Meeting of Slovenian Congress Ambassadors
Wednesday, 21 February 2024, between 15:00 and 17:00, GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
The Slovenian Congress Ambassador programme holds significant importance for the success of Slovenia in the internationalisation of science, culture, sports and economy. The first meeting of the Slovenian Congress Ambassador in 2024 will take place during Conventa on 21 February 2024. The meeting will be organised by the Slovenian Convention Bureau.
Conventa Trend Bar and Ljubljana Talks at Conventa 2024
Ljubljana Talks, the legendary talk show, will return for a new edition at Conventa. Attendees will have the chance to listen to old podcasts or tune into the happenings in the hybrid studio.
Conventa After Party
Conventa’s iconic after-party will return to the CD Club, where attendees will enjoy a music show by the popular Cover Lover group.
Quality over quantity
Conventa’s guarantee of quality
This year, a record-breaking 632 hosted buyers from 36 countries registered for the event. Conventa can only accept a third of applicants – a testament to the event’s quality. The organisers only accepted 25.6% of all registered hosted buyers. Conventa’s philosophy is clear: “Quality over quantity.”
The organisers have already announced the dates for Conventa 2025, which will take place between 18 and 20 February 2025 at various venues across Ljubljana.
Summary of key statistics
| Number of all confirmed hosted buyers | 162 |
| Number of confirmed hosted buyers from the Alpe-Adria region | 38 |
| Number of confirmed hosted buyers from Europe, the US, and the Middle East | 124 |
| Number of countries hosted buyers come from | 31 |
CONVENTA’S EXHIBITORS
| Number of exhibitors at Conventa | 100 |
| Number of exhibitors in Conventa’s Experience Zone & Special Venues Corner | 12 |
| Number of exhibitors’ countries | 15 |
| Index: Hosted buyers/exhibitors | 162 |
CONVENTA’S GUESTS
| Number of attendees at Conventa Crossroads – Decision Makers Forum | 37 |
| Number of attendees at Conventa Sreča-nja (Slovenian event organisers) | 68 |
| Number of attendees at the meeting of Slovenian Congress Ambassadors | 24 |
| Number of additional guests at the Meetings Star Awards ceremony | 21 |
| Number of trade visitors | 20 |
Learn more about Conventa 2024 here.
