WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
Congress travelogues, or Meetologues, have become a firm reference for event organisers in selecting destinations over the past decade, mainly because of their sound logic and the benefits that they bring to all parties.
Over the years, we have tested, experienced and evaluated over 80 meeting destinations in line with our Meeting Star evaluation methodology. The results are clear and public, but now we want to hear your voice and suggestion.
In your opinion, which destination deserves the title of the Best Meeting Destination in New Europe? Who is the people’s champion and what destinations do you think we should include in the competition?
Read the latest MTLG's
PIRAN- Meetologue 2015
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LOŠINJ AND CRES, Meetologue 2014
Mali Lošinj and Cres, the fragrant islands, are as magical in the winter as they are in summer. Viewed through the car windscreen, the gentle slopes towards the ferry port may seem innocuous, yet I remember how I once had to fight hard to conquer them on my bike with my ex-girlfriend and current wife. […]
ŠIBENIK, Meetologue 2014
THE HEART OF DALMATIA Being the home of Dražen Petrović, the famous basketball player, is the first association that comes to mind whenever the road takes me to Dalmatia. The legendary Croatian basketball player, for many the greatest European basketball player of all time, began to hone his talent in Šibenik; he remembers it with […]
BELGRADE, Meetologue 2014
A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS In recent years I have visited Belgrade several times, mostly for meeting purposes. At first glance, my association to Belgrade is related to a rich nightlife and general chaos. On the list of ten world cities with the best nightlife and cosmopolitan nature, it was included even by the famous […]
SPLIT, WHATS HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=28580] WHAT’S HOT 2014? Ultra Europe festival – Was last year organised for the first time at the Poljud stadium, which has turned Split into one of the most important Croatian centres of entertainment and festival tourism. Tour Diocletian’s Aqueduct Tunnels – These tunnels are one of the best preserved examples of ancient infrastructure, […]
SPLIT, meetologue 2014
CROSSROADS DALMATIA Split is full of stories and myths. First of all, the classic clash between the north and south, between Zagreb and Split, Dinamo and Hajduk. Split reproaches Zagreb with claims of centralism and exploitation of the south. The fact that Hajduk is more than just a football club with numerous fans, who stick with […]
GRAZ – WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=28312] WHAT’S HOT? American Football European championship – Will be held at the UPC Arena Graz in 2014. La Strada Street Theatre Festival – Pedestrians dancing furiously, city hikers on urban discovery tours, energy-laden popular productions, phenomenal theatre of masks going beyond all physical limits, puppet shows that make us marvel, thrilling productions for […]
OPATIJA – WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=28323] WHAT’S HOT 2014? 22nd International Congress of Tourism & Hospitality Industry 2014 – with the main objective to bring together scientists and practitioners from Croatia and abroad to exchange their knowledge and experiences, and to present their latest achievements in the field of tourism and hospitality management. Opatija’s successful bids – Opatija won […]
ZADAR – WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=28317] WHAT’S HOT 2014? The Zadar summer theatre festival celebrates its 20th anniversary – The programme is dedicated to stage pieces, which means visitors are able to follow a gripping plot of a theatre play one evening and enjoy a dance choreography the next. Event Ship Nada opened in 2013 – A multifunctional congress […]
GRAZ, Meetologue 2014
SECOND CITY FIRST Graz and Maribor have much in common, with both cities having been European Capitals of Culture. In 2003 Graz became a city with some force behind its cultural offer in the international arena, and it also seems that the European Capital of Culture gave Graz additional tourism acceleration. The centre of European […]
ZADAR, meetologue 2014
A COOL MEETINGS DESTINATION It seems that Zadar has a very specific Mediterranean rhythm and urban culture. In the morning, the old town on the peninsula is full of people who shop and fill the main street Kalelarga or a wide street. The highlight is between the eleventh hour and noon. Cafes with their specific […]
OPATIJA, meetologue 2014
VINTAGE MEETINGS The Queen of Croatian tourism can also in gloomy autumnal days surprise continentals with its sun and typical Austro-Hungarian patina. Opatija is also reminiscent of the elite places on the Côte d’Azur and seems that at the turn of the century it arose as a response to the fashion fads of Paris. If […]
BOHINJ, WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=27205] WHAT’S HOT 2014? 8th International Wild Flower Festival. Bohinj is known worldwide for its biotic diversity. During the festival every May and June you can take part in different thematic photographic, botanical and ornithological tours, enjoy the local cuisine and other events. Mountain huts and tourist farms in the idyllic alpine scenery with […]
HVAR, WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=27257] WHAT’S HOT 2014? Hvar celebrates 145 years of organised tourism Restoration of The Hvar public Theatre – works on improvement of the Arsenal building are in progress, as a prerequisite for the restoration of the Theatre itself and the revitalisation of the cultural and dramatic life of this one-of-a-kind veteran of the world’s […]
ISTANBUL, WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=27213] WHAT’S HOT 2014? Istanbul Convention Bureau successfully hosted ECM Summer School in Istanbul – the 27th edition of European Cities Marketing (ECM) Summer School was in Istanbul at the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul. Istanbul re-brands – »Istanbul: the best place to connect«: This was partly in response to the fact that Istanbul first broke […]
HVAR, meetologue 2014
ROOM WITH A VIEW Evergreen Hvar is one of my favourite Adriatic islands. I no longer count how many times I have visited the island. Most of the experience is a summer–holiday – I spent several summers on the island where I cooked octopus, baked fish and enjoyed the beautiful nature. We never get bored of it. This is the life that recharges your batteries for the year ahead, where the delightful climate helps you to forget your everyday problems and,above all, the unbeatable Hvar home […]
SÁRVÁR, WHAT’S HOT 2014?
WHAT’S HOT 2014? 34th Anniversary of International Folklore Festival – The Nádasdy castle Culture Centre and Library has organised the International Folklore Festival since 1981. The Festival has recently evolved into the most significant Folklore Festival of the Transdanubian Region. From 2014, the Park Inn by Radisson Sárvár Resort & Spa has been […]
SÁRVÁR, meetologue 2014
PANNONIAN MELANCHOLY A visit to Hungary does not go by without thinking about the Pannonian Sea, that in ancient times covered today’s plain. Over time, it retreated and left in the lowest area what is now known as Lake Balaton. The Pannonian Sea left a rich legacy to the country in the form of oil, […]
SARAJEVO – WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=26668] WHATS HOT 2014? 30th Anniversary of Winter Olympic Games in 2014 – Sarajevo will prepare numerous theatre plays, concerts, films, exhibitions and performances, and guest appearances of prominent international artists. 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I – the year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War […]
SALZBURG – WHAT’S HOT 2014?
[metaslider id=26613] WHAT’S HOT 2014? 1. Congress Subsidy – the City of Salzburg supports domestic and foreign events and offers subsidies to organisers of scientific events, travel agencies and PCOs, to attract events to Salzburg . 2. Cheap bus travel – a special Congress ticket allowing delegates to travel on the city buses all day […]
ČATEŽ, meetologue 2014
TOURIST GAZELLE Almost not a year passes without a summit of Slovenian and Croatian politicians at the Mokrice castle. Just off the Croatian-Slovenian border the location has played host to a number of historical events. The idyllic setting of the castle with the golf course and castle park is the flagship of the region’s congress […]
SOČA VALLEY- meetologue 2014
EPICENTRE OF INCENTIVE INSPIRATIONS Residents of Posočje are accustomed to alternating national flags, being at a windswept location at the crossroads of major empires and Slavic, Latin and Germanic worlds. When visiting the Kluže fortress at the door to the Soča valley you can relive fateful moments from World War I with the help of enthusiasts […]
SALZBURG – meetologue 2014
SALZBURG GIVES YOU WINGS [metaslider id=24941] The stunning architecture and an interesting similarity between the postcards of Salzburg and Ljubljana is usually my first association of this romantic and idyllic place. Above Salzburg is the mighty Hohensalzburg fortress, the largest, fully-preserved fortress in Central Europe, with the Alps in the background. [dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”900px” […]
SARAJEVO – meetologue 2014
BETWEN EAST AND WEST [metaslider id=24470] The fragile peace in Bosnia is occasionally interrupted by incidents that don’t undermine the feeling of security. The city is opening up to new capital and building sites are open all over the city despite the economic woes. The meetings industry is not yet among the key products of […]
ISTANBUL – meetologue 2014
SIZE DOES MATTER [metaslider id=23971] Does size matter? ‘Absolutely’, argue the meetings industry representatives of Istanbul. So too thinks Remco Norden, the charismatic director of the largest hotel convention centre in Europe, who is at the head of the 500 member team of the Hilton Bomonti hotel. This is one of the largest hotel convention […]
BUDAPEST
CONGRESS QUEEN OF THE DANUBE The second largest city of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy is one of my favourite European capitals, where I feel at home. Even in times of gray it seemd to me colourful, cheerful and full of power of life. Through numerous visits I observed the transition of the city into today’s […]
TOP 10 BIG AND MEDIUM MEETINGS DESTINATIONS 2013
[metaslider id=19640] 1. PRAGUE, Czech Republic, population: 1.272.690 Destination grade: 4,64 SLAVIC PARIS Prague has for a long time not been an Eastern European gem, but a true European tourist metropolis with a diverse and comprehensive offer, luxury hotels and sometimes too high prices. The story is reminiscent of Škoda, of which the Czechs […]
TOP 10 SMALL REGIONAL AND LOCAL MEETINGS DESTINATIONS 2013
Editorial Board of Kongres magazine again prepared an overview of the top meeting destinations in the region, which have been evaluated in the context of the project KONGRES MEETOLOGUE. Within the project we are discovering lesser known destinations and compare them with the more well-known and established ones. [metaslider id=19608] To date, we have visited […]
BOHINJ
HIDDEN SUSTAINABLE MEETINGS GEM [metaslider id=19667] Quite a number of weather proverbs are associated with Bohinj, such as the one that ‘in Bohinj the rain has got young ones’ or the famous proverb that ‘we Bohinjci are in the middle of paradise, where winter lasts seven months’. Due to the valley location the microclimate of […]
OPATIJA
VINTAGE MEETINGS [metaslider id=19537] The Queen of Croatian tourism can also in gloomy autumnal days surprise continentals with its sun and typical Austro-Hungarian patina. Opatija is also reminiscent of the elite places on the Côte d’Azur and seems that at the turn of the century it arose as a response to the fashion fads of […]
TOP 10 REGIONAL MEETINGS DESTINATIONS TO WATCH IN 2014
We predict the top 10 hottest new and fresh meeting destinations in SEE for 2014 In addition to the most popular convention destinations in the region, which in the international meetings market are already well established, we announce some destinations whose time is still to come. Some are entirely new convention players such as Goriška […]
GORIŠKA BRDA – COLIO
FERTILE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES It is widely known that if you marry a ‘Brika’ (a woman from Goriška brda), you do not need a dog, as is sung by the well-known singer-songwriter Iztok Mlakar. How much truth is in this I haven’t tried, but the locals are known for being persistent, fearless and hard working […]
TOP 10 CAR LAUNCH DESTINATIONS IN SEE
Premieres of new vehicles and other automotive events are an exceptional international promotion of a destination and an excellent business opportunity for all participating. Organisers plan events carefully at least a year in advance, as it is necessary to obtain a number of permits, to carefully select partners and choose a scenic route for the […]
TOP 10 AFFORDABLE TAXI FARES IN SEE
Taxi in Bucharest and Sofia are the most affordable in SEE region. In the world we found the overall most expensive taxi ride in Copenhagen, Geneve and Tokio. [metaslider id=12876] Source: Numbeo, 2013 Post Views: 1,073
PODČETRTEK
THE SUCCESS STORY Smallest place in our analysis is big in its offer and an example to all of us involved with tourism. Once a remote and poor community, in the 60-ies of the last century focused on tourism. Its epicentre is a thermal spring, around which a success story was created. At every step […]
TOP 10 SMALL CONVENTION CENTRES IN REGION
TOP 10 SMALL CONVENTION CENTRES theater max. capacity to 1000 1. Congress Centrum Alpbach, Austria Opened: 1999 6 halls, theater max. 500 Green meetings 2. Brdo Congress Centre, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia Opened: 2007 8 halls, theater max. 550 Glass modernity 3. Ferry Porsche Congress Center Zell am See, Austria Opened: 2007 8 halls, theater […]
ŠIBENIK
THE HEART OF DALMATIA Being the home of Dražen Petrović, the famous basketball player, is the first association that comes to mind whenever the road takes me to Dalmatia. The legendary Croatian basketball player, for many the greatest European basketball player of all time, began to hone his talent in Šibenik; he remembers it with love and […]
TOP 10 BIG CONVENTION CENTRES
TOP 10 BIG CONVENTION CENTRES theater max. more than 1000 1. Salzburg Congress, Salzburg, Austria Opened: 2001 15 halls, theater max. 1324 Right in Salzburg city centre 2. Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia Opened: 1982 17 halls, theater max. 1541 Richest tradition of event management in Slovenia 3. Austria Center Vienna, Austria […]
HVAR ISLAND
ROOM WITH A VIEW Evergreen Hvar is one of my favourite Adriatic islands. I no longer count how many times I have visited the island. Most of the experience is a summer-holiday, I spent several summers on the island where I cooked octopus, baked fish and enjoyed the beautiful nature. We never get bored of […]
PRAGA
Even before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, my first major trip was to the then East of Europe, to Prague. The monotony and grayscale of the life then, upon the collapse of the Soviet empire, did not spoil a great first impression. Perhaps because of its Slavic soul the city was especially close to my heart. […]
GRAZ
Graz and Maribor have much in common, with both cities having been European Capitals of Culture. In 2003 Graz became a city with some force behind its cultural offer in the international arena, and it also seems that the European Capital of Culture gave Graz additional tourism acceleration. The centre of European culture is embodied […]
LAŠKO AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Laško lies almost in the heart of Slovenia and was first mentioned many centuries ago. It is surrounded by picturesque Posavsko hribovje hills. The Laško area however includes genuine and special places such as Rimske Toplice, Jurklošter, Zidani Most and others. Laško is well known for its brewing industry as it is home to the […]
ZAGREB White Zagreb town
Zagreb generally makes a good impression on the visitor. The impression is sometimes interrupted by ragged facades and sporadic traffic chaos, which is the result of the size of the city. Generally, the city is safe, clean, comfortable and friendly to congress participants. The good ratio between price and quality is especially attractive; this has […]
GRAZ Second city first
International Congress guests, probably because of the mighty shadow of Vienna, do not expect much of Graz, but in the end, they are pleasantly surprised. Graz has for many years been a model of congress destination marketing and management. If we look from the perspective of public and private infrastructure, Graz is the most developed […]
LJUBLJANA The most beautiful city in the world
Ljubljana has comparative advantages and the experience necessary to occupy a better position in the market of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in particular. Analysis of the relevance and effectiveness of competitiveness factors of the convention destination, Ljubljana reveals that the location factor, conference facilities and outside congress activities, are assessed as successful and are at […]
Turkey
In a country where the East meets the West, where the attractive oriental exotic is dressing with European elegance and where the wild lunar landscape is populated by perhaps the hottest and the most charismatic people in the world. A paradise for lovers of sun and sea, archaeology, unique accommodation, culture, trekking, delicious food, water […]
Slovenia
A small land of many beauties that Lonely Planet has ranked among the top 10 global destinations. It offers everything large ones have. And much more. From snowy mountains to the sunny coast, from hills dotted with vineyards and flowery planes to Gothic churches, baroque palaces and historic castles. With its incredible mix of landscapes […]
Serbia
A unique country, full of warm hospitality and undiscovered paths. This land of surprising contrasts can boast the natural beauty of valleys and mountains, rivers and lakes, and in its turbulent history, it has also created a rich treasure trove of culture. To its original atmosphere certainly adds the fact that this is one of […]
Montenegro
Montenegro is considered to be St. Tropez of the South-East Europe and from year to year, it is gaining in its elite sign. Land of spectacular beaches, dramatic peaks and canyons, elegant palaces and ancient towns has become one of the most attractive tourist regions in recent years. When you see and feel its amazing […]
Macedonia
There is something mysterious in its mountain wilderness. It is a true paradise for all pristine nature lovers and a right place for researchers of ancient ruins. In addition to spectacular peaks, lakes and rivers and mystic monasteries its biggest feature is amazing hospitality and cordiality of its people which make the visit of this […]
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Italy, one of the most widely acclaimed countries in the world, despite its tourist popularity continues to surprise and impress. Friuli – Venezia Giulia is one of its smallest, but also one of the most versatile regions. Intact in its pristine beauty it is still an undiscovered tourist gem, ideal for visitors who want to […]
Croatia
In the land of a thousand sunny islands and attractive historical towns you will never be bored. This is a country, where one always runs out of time for everything to do it. Although at first glance, it gives the feeling that mostly sunny beaches and water activities are struggling for the attention of travellers […]
Bulgaria
Land that has been hidden for many years from the world, has finally blossomed in all its glory. Although small, it offers a lot to its visitors in all seasons: primal sandy beaches, attractive ski resorts, endless opportunities for hiking, mysterious monasteries and churches, and stunning historical monuments. Modern cities and remote rural areas, where […]
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, the land of the heart, as it is called because of its shape, really touches your heart. It has always been a wonderful meeting point of eastern and western cultures, as it bears the stamp of two completely different empires, Turkish and Austrian-Hungarian. Land of good food, outstanding, open people and fun […]
Austrian Styria and Carinthia
Carinthia and Styria are the hidden jewels of Austria. High peaks, deeply hollowed valleys and glittering lakes, golden sunny wine growing hills, authentic medieval villages and fairytale castles, and also to be remembered the prominent charm of Graz and Klagenfurt – this is a winter paradise for ski lovers, which in the summer with its […]
LOŠINJ AND CRES
LOW-CARBON INCENTIVE ISLAND View from Osorscica Mountain Mali Lošinj and Cres, the fragrant islands, are as magical in the winter as they are in summer. Viewed through the car windscreen, the gentle slopes towards the ferry port may seem innocuous, yet I remember how I once had to fight hard to conquer them on my […]
BLED
THE IMAGE OF HEAVEN Bled is among Slovenia’s top tourist icons: the lake with the island, Bled Castle, the legendary cream cakes, traditional pletna boats and the alpine setting are all a part of this truly beautiful Slovenian tourist city. Assessing an icon is not an easy thing to do, as it’s sometimes hard to […]
TRIESTE
Impressions at the junction of Roman and Slavic Aerial View of Trieste With the removal of the border between Slovenia and Italy, which left a huge mark on the recent history of the area, the question arises, whether Trieste will once again become a model of symbiosis. In the history the city mostly lost […]
SARAJEVO
Congress impressions between East and West Bridges on Miljacka river To understand the spirit of Sarajevo you should first indulge in ‘A Reader in History’, the series of stories by Miljenko Jergović, which describes memories from the author’s childhood and also my childhood. For starters, what is the difference between the Fildžan used by Muslims […]
SPLIT
KONGRES IMPRESSIONS FROM THE HEART OF DALMACIJA “Mediteranski brevijar” by Zagreb author and scholar Predrag Matvejević is an award winning work I recommend to all lovers of the Mediterranean, the cradle of western civilization. It’s a book full of folksy anecdotes, smells, turbulent history, architecture, natural phenomena and tradition. Everything, in fact, that makes […]
PORTOROŽ
From Portorož’s rich tourism history the story I remember most is that of the Benedictine monks who in the 13th century treated symptoms of rheumatism with the sea-mud from the nearby salt-pans. The convent of Saint Lawrence stood on the site of today’s hotel Metropol. The Josephinian Reforms signalled the last works of the monks […]
BUDVA
When organizing congresses on the infamous Montenegro coast, it is best to have some local contacts and colleagues, which makes the process much easier. In the last few years I have met quite a few, all of them professionals who make business in Montenegro considerably easier. They defy the stereotype that all Montenegrins are a […]
SKOPJE
In the last days Skopje has been filling the pages of newspapers due to 22 meter statue of Alexander of Macedonia they are planning to erect in their main square. The number of building sites in Skopje simply cannot be overlooked. Within the framework of the project Skopje 2014 they plan to build an arch […]
BELGRADE
I’ve had the chance to visit Belgrade many times in the last ten years, mostly for meetings purposes. My first association with this city is the rich nightlife and a bit of chaos all around. Lonely Planet placed it on the top of its list of party cities. I usually arrive into the city on the […]
DUBROVNIK
Congress geography of the former Yugoslavia recognized city locations of Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade, and Adriatic locations Portorož, Opatija and Dubrovnik. These cities are still by some accounts still seen as locations from the olden days. I was first turned to Dubrovnik by legendary professor Ignacij Voje, one of the experts on SE Europe […]
ZAGREB
I’ve been to the Croatian capital very often and the first things I’ve been noticing lately are the numerous new buildings and new modern trams. The latter have reminded me I am in a true metropolis since childhood. Today’s Zagreb has about 800,000 inhabitants, with suburbs a little over a million. To me Zagreb has […]
SOFIA
I mostly arrive to Sofia through the supermodern airport renovated in 2006, or by road through Serbia passing the border crossing Dimitrovgrad. Even though Bulgaria is a member of the European Union the crossing doesn’t look very European. I often find myself reminiscing about the long gone days of waiting at the border in the […]
