THE MICHELIN STARS OF THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY

Now in its fifteenth edition, the Meetings Star Award competition will once more crown the leading hotels, destinations and individuals within the meetings industry. The coveted awards are a recognition of quality and a benchmark in its own right. We present the finalists for 2024/2025 and eagerly await who will earn bragging rights at the award ceremony on 19 February 2025.

The Meetings Star Award for the best destinations, venues, and individuals has become a reference point in the meetings industry. The gala award ceremony will take place on 19 February 2025, in Cankarjev dom.

WHICH ARE THE BEST BOUTIQUE CONVENTION CENTRES?

This year, 17 certified convention centres received stars in the category of boutique convention centres (that can host up to 1,000 attendees). The certification attests to the quality of the hotels and their service.

Each convention centre can receive up to three stars in accordance with our criteria:

3 STARS⭐⭐⭐ – final score from 4.81 to 5.00 
2 STARS⭐⭐ – final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 STAR⭐ – final score from 4.41 to 4.60 

Size-wise, convention centres represent the quintessential strategic infrastructure for every illustrious meeting destination. Boutique convention centres may be smaller in size, but their versatile and often flexible architecture makes them a superb choice for smaller conferences and meetings.

THE FINALISTS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

brdo_congress_centre
Photo Credit: Brdo Congress Centre

BRDO CONGRESS CENTRE

What is necessary to appreciate is what is hidden below the minimalist exterior of this centre. It is different, zen-like and exudes elegant luxury.

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Photo Credit: Region Villach Tourismus GmbH/Michael Stabentheiner

CONGRESS CENTRE VILLACH

The Congress Center Villach is one of the most modern and attractive venues in Austria. Organizers of national and international conferences with up to 2,000 people are optimally catered for in Carinthia’s largest convention centre.

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Photo Credit: Congress Saalfelden

CONGRESS SAALFELDEN

Congress Saalfelden Event Centre is a perfectly equipped venue outside the city of Salzburg. The seminar rooms of various sizes and the large hall with its own stage offer plenty of space for events for up to 1800 people.

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Photo Credit: Congress Schladming

CONGRESS CENTRE SCHLADMING

Congress Schladming is synonymous with modern architecture, environmentally friendly building technology, multi-functional use, gastronomic perfection and state-of-the-art technology, all in the heart of Austria.

alpbach_congress_centre

ALPBACH CONGRESS CENTRE

Congress Centrum Alpbach is inextricably linked to the village and its surrounding region. As an additional advantage, the picturesque nature of the Alpbachtal valley offers diverse options for events both in summer and winter.

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Photo: Ferry Porsche Congress Centre

FERRY PORSCHE CONGRESS CENTRE

The Ferry Porsche Congress Center meets every demand and has been designed to provide maximum flexibility. The up-to-date interior beautifully highlights the modern exterior of the building.

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Photo: Kolcesey Centre

KOLCESEY CENTRE DEBRECEN

Kölcsey Centre, besides being a popular conference venue, has a wide range of fascinating cultural events (stage performances, concerts, and exhibitions) on schedule all year round.

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Photo: LCK Lublin Conference Centre

LCK LUBLIN CONFERENCE CENTRE

The Lublin Conference Center is a prime example of the necessity of building conference centres as catalysts for developing the meetings industry. A significant contribution comes from the exceptional team, who passionately promote the centre.

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LIVE CONGRESS LEOBEN

Stylish ambience and state-of-the-art conference technology right in the heart of the city of Leoben, combined with the A renovated underground parking garage, make this building a unique event location.

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TIMISOARA CONVENTION CENTRE

In the western part of Romania, Timișoara Convention Center represents a versatile facility in which the spaces can be fully customized to your needs.

WHAT DOES THE EVALUATION OF HOTELS INCLUDE?

The competition primarily showcases best-case examples favoured by event organisers and satisfied attendees, tailored to their needs.

The two-phased evaluation includes a self-evaluation by the hotel and an unannounced visit by the hidden congress guest. Our assessors evaluate a hotel based on clear criteria and present where the hotel can improve. The assessors are experts with a wealth of experience in the meetings industry with additional knowledge and experience from the hospitality industry.

Our evaluation matrix is named the Hidden Congress Guest evaluation, comprising 654 criteria. Each category is calculated based on the percentage of fulfilling criteria and the average grade, enabling the hotels to improve each segment and criteria.

Find out more about the award competition here

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