Tanja Bogdanov: “Belgrade is East and West, put together in a blender and stirred”

Q1: What makes your destination truly unique for meeting planners?

Out of all Europe’s beautiful and dynamic capitals, Belgrade is the only one offering a mix of world-class venues, rich cultural heritage and a vibrant social scene. The city is super-connected, with short, direct flights to major world hubs and with EXPO 2027 on the horizon, Belgrade is now undergoing a massive transformation, with over €12 billion in planned investments, including infrastructure, hospitality and event spaces, ensuring that meeting planners will have access to cutting-edge facilities nowhere else to be seen in “New Europe”.

Q2: If your destination were a personality, how would you describe it?

Belgrade is East and West, put together in a blender and stirred. I see the city’s character as an audacious visionary—bold, resilient, and always evolving. It carries the wisdom of its historical roots while embracing the exciting AI-driven future with open arms. Belgrade has that infectious energy and a spirit that refuses to be defined. I am sure all frequent comers know exactly what I am talking about.

Q3: What are the three key experiences that every event attendee should have when visiting your destination?

Belgrade’s River Culture – Few other experiences match the full splendour of speedboat matinées while cruising by riverbanks of the Danube – the heart and soul of Southeast Europe;

Learning immersion – A visit to the iconic Nikola Tesla Museum, a private concert at the colossal St. Sava Temple or a walk through the Bohemian Quarter, which made even Alfred Hitchcock end his diet, will provide a deep dive into Belgrade’s soul;

Gastronomic excellence – Food is where cultures truly collide in Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires may be long gone, but their stodge lingers on, making Serbian national cuisine a strong and fabulous fusion of an overwhelming variety of tastes.

Q4: How is your destination innovating in the business events sector?

Thanks to galloping digitalization, Belgrade is undergoing a true renaissance in the world of business events. EXPO 2027 will introduce state-of-the-art venues and smart-city technologies to enhance the attendee experience. Additionally, we are actively developing AI-driven experiential event solutions and hybrid formats to cater to global audiences. I am proud to say that we are at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging new technologies to create seamless and immersive event experiences.

Q5: What sustainable practices have you integrated to make meetings and events more environmentally responsible?

After decades of rooting different sustainability practices in our event DNA, DMC Vekol partnered with Planet Positive Event to become the only event agency in Serbia to offer environmental footprint tracking and ESG certification for events. This tool allows us to optimize resource use but also offer a wide range of compensatory practices to our clients. Translated into numbers, one of our recent success stories was measuring the ESG footprint of Hemofarm’s New Year’s party, where we achieved an outstanding result of only 6.9 kilos of food waste for an event scale of 500+ invitees (<14gr per person) — the company’s benchmark and green record.

Q6: How do you balance heritage and modernity to create an appealing business tourism experience?

Belgrade offers the best of both worlds. Our creative concepts integrate iconic locations, such as the Serbian Royal Palace, with AI elements like interactive installations, digital storytelling and high-tech audiovisual setups. This fusion creates a deeply immersive experience that resonates with attendees while showcasing Serbia’s ability to innovate without losing its identity.

Q7: How do you support local businesses, suppliers and venues in growing their appeal for international meetings?

For decades, DMC Vekol has served as a driving engine for a chain of partners in the MICE industry in Serbia, fostering growth and evolution. We work closely with top-tier local suppliers to raise service standards and adopt best international practices together. By collaborating with local artisans, we ensure our services always offer authenticity. Our mission is not only to deliver outstanding events but to elevate the entire industry by setting new benchmarks in service excellence.

Q8: What initiatives do you have in place to ensure long-term growth in the MICE sector?

The upcoming EXPO Belgrade 2027 is a game-changer, which will hammer the city on the global meetings and events map. Investments in new convention centres, luxury hotels and transport infrastructure will ensure that Belgrade remains competitive long after the EXPO. In parallel, Montenegro – as our other top-tier destination – is seeing exponential growth in luxury hospitality, with new five-star resorts and enhanced connectivity, which makes it Belgrade’s natural extension for premium incentive travel and executive retreats.

Q9: What advice would you give to destinations looking to elevate their profile in the meetings industry?

Destinations should define their unique identity and communicate it effectively to global markets. Clearly articulate what sets your location’s personality apart, whether it’s aesthetics or a distinctive business ecosystem. A strong narrative, backed by digital content supply, ensures that your destination remains top of mind for event organizers.

Find out more about Vekol DMC here.