The 10th International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC) was held under the Honorary Patronage of His Excellency Mr. Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia, from 23 to 28 May 2016 in Grand Hotel Bernardin. One of the biggest events held in Portorose in 2016 was attended by more than 1.200 participants from more than 50 countries from all over the world.
Since the first LREC held in Granada in 1998, the conference has become the main event dedicated to on Language Resources (LRs) and Evaluation for Language Technologies (LT). Every two years, the event provides a forum for researchers, industrials and funding agencies from across a wide spectrum of areas to discuss problems and opportunities, find new synergies and promote initiatives for international cooperation, in support to investigations in language sciences, progress in language technologies and development of corresponding products, services and applications, and standards. In May, LREC came to Slovenia to test out the Slovenian hospitality.
For the past couple of months Bernardin Hotels & Resorts and a number of committees were working hard to make sure the event was organized at the highest level possible; from organizing, conference programme, conference editorial, local, local organizing and scientific committee to local advisory committee whose members were also Julijana Bizjak Mlakar, Minister of Culture of Republic of Slovenia, Peter Bossman, Mayor of Piran and Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana.
The conference participants came from all over the world to network and find out what is new in the LR and LT field. Pre-conference workshops and tutorials were organized on the first two days. On the 25th of May started the main conference programme that this year focused on topics like Issues in the design, construction and use of LRs, Exploitation of LRs in systems and applications and issues in LT evaluation. Next to back to back lectures, the programme was enriched with an exhibition – HLT Projects Village, that was with the support of the European Commission set up in the Emerald Hall of Grand Hotel Bernardin and the post-conference workshops.
Networking and discovering local cuisine & tradition went hand in hand at LREC. The host venue, Grand Hotel Bernardin, made sure to deliver an unforgettable social experience and amazed guests with a Gala Dinner. The glamorous evening event was set on the private beach area of Grand Hotel Bernardin giving guests a chance to enjoy exquisite culinary creations while watching the sun set. It was a perfect moment for last impressions and farewells.
Kongres Magazine
