The 17th Conventa
Between 18 and 20 February 2025, Ljubljana will host the 17th Conventa, the premier trade show in New Europe, dedicated to business events, congresses and incentive travel. Conventa is a regular fixture on the calendar of international event organisers and a renowned brand that attendees associate with Slovenia and Ljubljana. Since 2009, the organisers have welcomed 3,799 hosted buyers and 2,086 exhibitors through the doors of Conventa, who conducted 52,563 business meetings. This year, the number of meetings will increase by approximately 3,500.
In their green pledge, the organisers promise to organise an environment-responsible event that respects society, the local community and attendees. To this end, they will conduct several activities and precisely measure the carbon footprint, short-term impact and long-term legacy. Conventa is among a handful of global events that write sustainable reports aligned with the European CSRD Directive.
Focal points in 2025
The organisers outlined several focal points of this year’s edition:
Conventa 42° NORTH will serve as an introduction to Conventa. This educational networking event will convene stars of the European meetings industry. It will convene leading event organisers on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, between 15:00 and 19:00 in Grand Hotel Union Eurostars.
The opening ceremony culminating with the announcement of Conventa awards will take place in Union Hall on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, between 19:00 and 22:00. The organisers will honour three individuals with the Conventa Hall of Fame Award, Conventa Ambassador Award and Conventa Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Meetings Star award ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 February 2025, in the Grand Foyer of Cankarjev dom. The awards will recognise leading meeting destinations, meeting venues and industry influencers.
The presentation of the first phase of the Slovenian Convention Bureau’s new strategy is slated for Thursday, 20 February 2025, at 11:00 at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Discussion with destinations (Conventa Campfire) is envisaged as a group presentation of participating destinations. The discussions will take place on Wednesday, 19 February, and Thursday, 20 February 2025, between 09:30 and 10:00.
“We believe fam trips represent the most effective marketing method for all participating destinations.”
Before and after Conventa, attendees will have the opportunity to explore ten destinations on so-called fam trips. Fredi Fontanot, the Director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, which co-founded Conventa, stressed: “Conventa is the biggest fam trip organised by the Slovenian meetings industry for seventeen consecutive years. As part of the event, we have executed 119 Slovenian familiarisation trips since 2009. This number will increase by six this year. We believe fam trips represent the most effective marketing method for all participating destinations.”
Sustainable measures
In light of their sustainable aspirations, the organisers of Conventa highlighted the following measures they have implemented:
Holistic event management
With the help of Planet Positive Event, an innovative Slovenian tool, the organisers will measure the carbon footprint, calculate the event’s sustainability rating and regenerative effects, make an external assessment of data and create a sustainability report after the event.
Conventa Green Zone
Wednesday, 19 February and Thursday, 20 February 2025, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
As part of Conventa’s socially responsible approach, Conventa will enable innovative companies to present their services free of charge. The companies presenting their pioneering projects will be Cup Revolution, Velo Concerts, Calm Nest, Knof, Piran Sea Oasis, and Ljubljana Tourism with its innovative CO2 Offset Parks project.
Green Info Point
Wednesday, 19 February and Thursday, 20 February 2025, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
On both days, event attendees will be able to chat with green team members who will guide them across Conventa’s sustainable transformation on an interactive screen. With the help of valuable and insightful data, the green team members will debunk myths, present tools, and show the way to more environment-responsible events.
Waste(d) Goldmine (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
Wednesday, 19 February and Thursday, 20 February 2025, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
Conventa strives to reduce the amount of generated waste. To achieve this goal, the team strictly manages, disposes and weighs waste in line with Planet Positive Event’s methodology. Attendees will have the chance to join a unique waste tour to see Conventa’s Waste(d) Goldmine.
Exhibition “Less is More”
Wednesday, 19 February and Thursday, 20 February 2025, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
Prepared by the team of Planet Positive Event, this unique exhibition will explain why it is better to trust science and not intuition when organising sustainable events. Participants will learn why sustainable event organising is cheaper and regenerative.
Conventa Walk and Talk
From Tuesday, 18 February 2025, to Thursday, 20 February 2025, Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre
The organisers encourage attendees to walk to the venue by relying on a dedicated map that shows distances between event locations, the number of steps needed and number of calories burnt.
Gorazd Čad, the co-founder of Conventa, explained: “We encourage and support event organisers en route to sustainably transforming their events. The mission of Conventa is to create a movement for responsible event organising based on measuring direct, indirect, multiplicative and regenerative effects. At the same time, we want to encourage event organising within planetary boundaries by thinking of everyone’s wellbeing. That is the main reason we strive to make our event sustainable.”
INVITATION TO JOIN THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE FORMAT OF LJUBLJANA TALKS
We invite you to join us for a press conference, which will take place on WEDNESDAY, 19 February 2025, at 10:00 at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre’s Marble Hall.
SUMMARY OF KEY STATISTICS
CONVENTA’S HOSTED BUYERS
| Number of all confirmed hosted buyers | 184 |
| Number of confirmed hosted buyers from the Alpe-Adria region | 38 |
| Number of confirmed hosted buyers from Europe, the US, and the Middle East | 146 |
| Number of hosted buyers’ countries | 34 |
CONVENTA’S EXHIBITORS
| Number of exhibitors at Conventa | 124 |
| Number of exhibitors in Conventa’s Experience Zone | 10 |
| Number of exhibitors’ countries | 17 |
| Index: Hosted buyers/exhibitors | 148 |
Conventa is organised by the Slovenian Convention Bureau and Toleranca marketing in partnership with Ljubljana Tourism, the Slovenian Tourist Board and twenty strategic partners.
Press material:
