CONVENTA is the 1st Meetings and Incentive Travel show for the region of Southeast Europe. The event will attract over 120 exhibitors from the SE Europe and over 200 buyers from the whole Europe.

An attractive hosted buyer programme has been prepared for qualified buyers. This will enable them to maximize their time at the CONVENTA show.

Exhibiting companies range from congress centres, convention hotels, special venues, convention bureaus, tourist boards, PCO's, DMC's, event agencies, airlines, transportation companies, catereres, media, suppliers of technical equipment and other providers to the meetings industry from the Southeast Europe.

At the show there will be scheduled meetings giving buyers the possibility to maximise their time at the show. Buyers will be able to book appointments with exhibitors on-line prior to the show.

More about Conventa

PRESS RELEASE

Hotel Palace belonging to the chain of luxury hotels Kempinski is announcing a new growth of commercial and Slovenian tourism of high quality 

Portorož, 11. June 2008 – Companies Istrabenz hoteli Portorož, d. o. o., and Kempinski Hotels S.A. have concluded a contract according to which the hotel chain Kempinski is taking over governance and management of the hotel Palace in Portorož for the period of 20 years. With the first Slovenian luxury hotel the city of Portorož is again becoming a tourist destination even for the most demanding international guests.

Hotel Palace is joining the world wide chain of luxury hotels Kempinski while in final phase of renovation governed by the company that owns it, Istrabenz hoteli Portorož. With the contract on management that was concluded with Kempinski Hotels S.A. the renowned hotel acquired the right to use the name and the trademark Kempinski, and is entering the marketing system of Kempinski company. The renovated hotel shall therefore be named Kempinski Palace Hotel. With its 185 rooms and suites it will combine the best of the tourist tradition in Portorož and the offer of modern luxury hotels.

Marino Antolovič, the chief executive officer of Istrabenz Turizem, d.d., responsible for coordinating the tourist activity of Istrabenz, stated that the entry of the hotel Palace into Kempinski chain marks the joining of Portorož to those destinations that shape the pinnacle of the quality of international tourist offer. The strategic goal of Istrabenz Group regarding management of its investment into tourism, which is to continue raising of the whole tourist destination in quality and to give the development of tourism a new momentum, which are also key goals of the decision for rebuilding the hotel Palace, is thereby accomplished. "The opening of the hotel Palace in 1910 meant that the time for high tourism in Portorož was ripe. Today, a decade and a half after extensive investments, extension and rebuilding of tourist services of central hotel companies and after the ownership consolidation, a new period is beginning in Portorož. The Kempinski Palace Hotel is the milestone, imposing higher standards of the tourist offer quality and places it on the global tourist map.

Kempinski Hotels S.A. decided for partnership on the ground of similar reasons.
"Renewed hotel Palace is the first luxury hotel in Slovenia that gives its distinct mark to the destination as well as to hotel business in general. We are very proud to be able to add this jewel of historic importance to our collection. Hotel Palace impersonates the distinguished past of Portorož from the beginning of 20. century and we are certain it will become one of the most desired destination for more demanding travellers with the renovation of hotel Portorož", states Reto Wittwer, the president and chief executive officer of the Kempinski chain.

Opening of the refurbished hotel Palace in cooperation with Kempinski chain will give Portorož one of the most luxurious and renowned hotels between Dubrovnik and Venice.

The European Regional Development Fund granted the project approximately 4,2 millions of Euros after the company Istrabez Hoteli Portorož, d.o.o. successfully candidated for this project of renovation and extension of the hotel Palace at the public tender for co-financing of tourist infrastructure.

Slovenia presented itself at IMEX show in Frankfurt between 22 - 24 April 2008. Over 20 suppliers to the meetings industry including CVB's, airline congress centres, convention hotels, DMC, PCO, Incentive agencies presented its product and services.
The stand was enriched by the animator Primoz Trubar who was born 850 years ago and wrote the first Slovenian book.

During the summer months, the Congress and Events Management department of Cankarjev dom has modernised its web presence. The www.cd-cc.si/kongres site remains bilingual (Slovene, English), but it has been upgraded both in terms of broader contents and better structure.

The essential novelties are 3-D presentations of the halls, interactive ground plans as well as a detailed listing of services and available technical equipment. Visitors will undoubtedly appreciate useful links to general information web pages, such as tourist information, public transport timetables, exchange rates, visas, and weather forecast.

The first Slovenian meetings industry magazine called "Kongres" was published just before IMEX. Thirty co-founders of the magazine are Slovenian suppliers to the meetings industry. The magazine is covering various topics related to the meetings business and is written in Slovenian and English language.

The magazine is aimed to bring Slovenia closer to the meeting and incentive organizers in both the associations and corporate market. The editorial board consist of Slovenian and international meetings industry professionals.

For further information please contact Mr Gorazd Cad, Editor-in-Chief under gorazd.cad@go-mice.eu

On 29 and 30 March 2007 Slovenian Convention Bureau in cooperation with Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre organised first Slovenian meetings and incentive travel exchange. The two days event attracted 54 exhibitors covering all major venues and service providers to the meetings industry. Simex also attracted over 100 buyers coming from the association, corporate and governmental sectors. There were also couple of agencies looking for new information and products on this market.

In the morning hours suppliers and buyers had scheduled meetings while in the afternoon there were educational sessions such as presentation of MPI (Meeting Professionals International) and its activities, best practices of the members of the Slovenian Convention Bureau and round table with representatives from buyers and suppliers side.

There was plenty of time for networking during coffee breaks, lunch, after work drink and informal evening on the first day.

SIMEX has proved that there is a need for event of this kind and we have already fixed the date for 2008. This is 24 - 25 JANUARY 2008

Should you be interested in attending the show as a hosted buyer we kindly ask you to get in touch with us info@slovenia-convention.com