Top 10 S MTLG Destinations 2020

Ever since 2010, the Editorial Board of Kongres Magazine has been presenting fresh and interesting meeting destinations to international meeting planners. Each destination is evaluated based on 75 different criteria that enable a fair comparison of the destinations. Meeting organizers appreciate the expertise, value and practicality of this guide through congress destinations.

S – MEETING DESTINATIONS
Destinations that can host up to 500 congress attendees

1. BOHINJ, SLOVENIA  4.02/5

The majority of congress guests will be sworn lovers of nature and its aesthetic value. Bohinj is a place that is created for sustainable conference programmes and for active incentive experiences. It is a place where without any hesitation you can drink water from the public water supply and from its clean streams. Even the basic network of thematic paths offers ideas for authentic congress programmes. In Slovenia, the beauty of Bohinj can only be matched by its neighbours across the peaks in the Soča Valley, or in Kranjska Gora.

2. KRANJSKA GORA, SLOVENIA 3.99/5

The most important winter sports centre in Slovenia has among the Slovenian ski resorts the strongest brand, which is known worldwide mainly due to the Cup Vitranc. Slowly and steadily it has also developed a summer tourist offer, which enables the development of congress tourism. Both seasons are now virtually in balance. With the latest changes in the field of hospitality, it will surely strengthen its position as an important centre for the implementation of incentive programmes and small conferences. Due to the recognition of the ski jumps in Planica and Vitranc Cup it has a high priority over other rivals in the region. It is an important boutique congress destination for quality mid-size corporate events up to 350 participants.

3. PODČETRTEK, SLOVENIA 3.98/5

The 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-ties of the last century focused on tourism. Its epicentre is a thermal spring, around which a success story was created. At every step the locals you meet, be it a wine-grower, a caterer or a priest will let it be known that you are welcome. There are few places where the only driving force of the economy is tourism. Because in these places the industry has never developed, today this can be considered as one of their advantages. Podčetrtek has great potential in the field of congress tourism. It is an authentic and in many ways a sustainable congress experience.

3. NASSFELD, AUSTRIA 3.98/5

In the last couple of years, the tourist offer of Nassfeld has seen some big investments. More than 26 million euros have been put into the Nassfeld ski resort (together with Pressegger See) in the last two years. The four valleys on the Austro-Italian border offer 110 kilometres of ski slopes, with 30 modern ski lifts ensuring smooth connections between them. Nassfeld is also famous for its high number of sunshine hours, as the protective effect of the Hohe Tauern mountain range blesses the town with the most sun in the region. This means that there are plenty of options for incentive and team building programmes in nature throughout the year. Natural conditions and high quality of hotel accommodation positions Nassfeld among the most attractive incentive destinations in Central Europe.

4. GORIŠKA BRDA, SLOVENIA  3.97/5

A number of the features of Brda make it special and unique in the wider area. In the first place is its openness to the sea, creating a pleasant Mediterranean climate, followed up by its natural beauty with rich cultural heritage and eco-preserved countryside with exceptional culinary and wine offer, unrivalled in the region. A panorama of hills with a cluster of agglomerations and subdivided farmland and countless terraced vineyards is certainly one of the most beautiful Italian-Slovenian landscape-aesthetic experiences. In the field of tourism-convention offer, Brda is perhaps the future formula of tourism development: “less is more”. The convention fate of Brda and Collio is in co-operation and joint promotion.

4. HVAR, CROATIA 3.97/5

None of the more than 1,000 Croatian islands has such karma and recognition as Hvar. Definitely, a “must” Croatian destination, right behind Dubrovnik. Distance from the mainland gives it a touch of boutique smallness. On the beauty of the island, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, there is no point in wasting words, since there is no shortage of various urban legends and superlatives. Among other things, it used to be called Austrian Madeira. In Hvar, the urban has been coexisting with the rural for centuries.

5. MALI LOŠINJ, CROATIA  3.96/5

Lošinj and Cres are the only Adriatic islands that successfully deal with sustainable tourism and are amongst the more eco-friendly islands of Kvarner. They differ from the more famous Dalmatian isles, with their nature preservation, systematic sustainable development and cultural heritage. All these activities are well managed and present a huge opportunity for the sustainable meetings industry in harmony with the capabilities of the islands. The key challenge is the invisibility on the meetings industry radar, lacking the recognisable incentive brands to build high-quality boutique and intimate stories. If local suppliers can develop from these points, they will be able to benefit from the current trends in the industry. I am certain their first clients will be the existing loyal guests of Cres and Lošinj.

6. ROGAŠKA SLATINA, SLOVENIA 3.95/5

It would be hard to find a more traditional health resort in Slovenia. Most other health resorts, including the neighbouring Podčetrtek, cannot boast such tradition that inspires confidence. In a few years, the place has radically changed its appearance and has excellent congress infrastructure. However, something remains missing – more convention visitors, who were once coming en masse to these places. Rogaška Slatina needs congress tourism, as is written into its DNA. It seems that it is currently defying modern times, mainly thanks to the proactive individual hoteliers. To regain a top spot more connectivity will be required, better joint promotion and all of this reflected through the establishment of a Convention Bureau.

7. BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, AUSTRIA  3.94/5

Bad Kleinkirchheim is known across the world for its skiing heritage, as the town is a long-time host of women world-cup ski races. Some might even recognize it for its thermal resort built in the 17th century. Less known is the fact that Bad Kleinkirchheim is an excellent incentive destination sprouting with a diverse and exciting offer, which spreads across both the winter and summer season. There’s also no shortage of great accommodations. The incentive programmes range from active sports activities to historical and culinary experiences. A native of the region is also the legendary Franz Klammer with whom you can even go skiing on an exciting winter incentive. What separates the town from the regional competition is a top-notch culinary offer, developed in a different way in every hotel. All of this makes Bad Kleinkirchheim suitable for more demanding incentive groups.

7. VIPAVA VALLEY, SLOVENIA  3.94/5

This until recently virtually unknown Slovenian destination is gradually being discovered as a hidden tourism gem, and social media is abuzz with rave reviews. The media too has picked up on the hype about the Vipava Valley. Much has been written about the exquisite local wines and the fine gourmet offering, but nothing beats personal accounts and travel experiences. In the Vipava Valley, these are always stellar. Michelin star-studded restaurants and even down-to-earth agritourism farms will serve much more than just tasty food. One of the most exciting discoveries in the Vipava Valley is the abundance of opportunities for exploring natural and cultural highlights, pursuing outdoor activities and hanging out with the locals.

8. NOVA GORICA, SLOVENIA 3.93/5

The two locations are the heart of the sunny and verdant Goriška plane. Due to their interesting position between the Alps and the Mediterranean, and the junction between the Roman and Slavic, it forms a historically attractive space with high experiential value and preserved nature as much as a cultural landscape. In the transport sense, it is a very easily accessible region with a high quality of living and excellent infrastructure. Both Goricas has many good restaurants and will delight lovers of gastronomy, entertainment and gaming. The hospitality of the locals and the competitiveness of the destination is placing the region on the top of young, fresh and undiscovered convention destinations.

8. SZOMBATHELY, HUNGARY 3.93/5

Szombathely and the surrounding towns are experiencing a positive transformation that is elevating their already attractive incentive experience. There are a ton of activities to fill up the schedules of your participants. In comparison to more notorious incentive destinations, Szombathely presents excellent value for money. It’s also relatively close to major European meetings industry markets and Vienna Airport is only an hour and a half drive away. The major downside is unrecognizability. Establishing a convention bureau would definitely help in terms of development, promotion and building a strong image on the scene of the meeting.

9. PTUJ, SLOVENIA  3.92/5

Ptuj is located in the northeast of Slovenia, 30 km from Maribor and 140 km from Ljubljana. Ptuj is the oldest Slovenian town and with the oldest wine cellar in Slovenia, while on the other hand, Terme Ptuj is one of the youngest Slovenian spas. Despite this, doctors attribute beneficial effects in the treatment of rheumatism to their thermal waters. A well-preserved castle with the old town centre and a wide riverbed of the river Drava give the seal of the city to Ptuj.

9. SOČA VALLEY, SLOVENIA  3.92/5

In the narrow micro-region, the Soča Valley is currently not facing increased competition. On the Italian side in Friuli Venezia Giulia, incentive tourism is underdeveloped and the development of the product in Brda and Nova Gorica is also at the beginning stages. More serious competition is in Istria and neighbouring Carinthia, as well as within the wider Slovenian Julian Alps. The main advantage of the destination is a developed incentive product, gastronomy and preserved natural and cultural heritage, which is unequalled.

10. VARAŽDIN, CROATIA  3.91/5

The city lies 81 km north of Zagreb, Croatia, and only 40 km from Ptuj, Slovenia. Varaždin is well connected as it lies right next to an important traffic route on the way from the port of Rijeka to Budapest. A city of approximately 47,000 inhabitants is friendly from a traffic point of view. You can easily reach all the city’s attractions on foot, and this makes it especially pleasant. Namely, between 1767 and 1776, the city was the capital of Croatia, and many palaces and buildings were built at that time, that still make an impression on us today. The many stories told by the buildings contribute to the interest and the symbols of angels, which can be found on many buildings, add charm to the city.