Ljubljana, 21 October 2025 – A press conference was held today at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), presenting the achievements of the Slovenian Congress Ambassador Programme and the strategic guidelines of the Slovenian Convention Bureau (KUS). The event was organised by the Slovenian Convention Bureau, with the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) as its strategic and financial partner, in cooperation with Ljubljana Tourism, five destination clubs and other partners from the professional community who contribute their expertise and networks to the development of this important sector in Slovenia.
For over two decades, the Slovenian Convention Bureau has been connecting partners, members, institutions and professionals who together develop and strengthen the sector of professional and scientific meetings and events. As a non-profit organisation, the Bureau serves as an expert intermediary between event organisers and service providers, with the main objective of promoting and marketing Slovenia as a boutique, sustainability-oriented and internationally recognisable destination for hosting scientific and professional meetings and events.
The Director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, Mr Fredi Fontanot, emphasised that the Bureau’s mission is to foster cooperation among national partners and the international professional sphere: “The Slovenian Convention Bureau is the heart of the professional and scientific meetings sector. For over twenty years, we have been connecting people, knowledge and ideas, building Slovenia’s reputation as a responsible, innovative and open country of knowledge. Our vision is clear – to strengthen Slovenia’s position as a destination that connects the world through inspiring people, environment and opportunities.”
Karmen Novarlič, Head of Business Communications at the Slovenian Tourist Board, highlighted the importance of strategic partnership: “As a key strategic partner, the Slovenian Tourist Board provides financial and substantive support to the Slovenian Congress Ambassador Programme. The programme is not just a project, it is a national platform that connects experts from various disciplines and promotes knowledge exchange, experience sharing and the organisation of events that place Slovenia on the global map of professional and scientific meetings.”
The Slovenian Congress Ambassador Programme, now in its seventh year, brings together more than one hundred Slovenian professionals and experts from the fields of science, medicine, business and academia. Its main purpose is to encourage Slovenian experts to use their knowledge, reputation and international connections to attract important congresses, symposia and professional meetings to Slovenia.
At the press conference, Iain Bitran, Executive Director of the International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) and the first international Slovenian Congress Ambassador, shared his perspective on collaborating with Slovenia as a destination for international events. In 2023, he organised the ISPIM Innovation Conference in Ljubljana, one of the leading global events in the field of innovation management.
He emphasised the importance of a strong and recognisable national brand in positioning Slovenia on the international map and highlighted the long-term legacy value that such professional events bring to destinations: from building lasting international connections to encouraging the exchange of knowledge and innovation across various professional and business sectors.
According to the KONGOST Study (Turistica, 2023), the average expenditure of participants at professional events in Slovenia is 3.3 times higher than that of leisure tourists, confirming the high added value of this sector for Slovenia’s economy and society.
According to the Slovenian Convention Bureau, Slovenia annually hosts more than 200 major international professional and scientific events, each bringing together more than one hundred participants. On average, these events attract around 550 attendees and last approximately three days.
Considering the average daily expenditure of about €480 per participant, the annual revenue generated by this segment of the professional and scientific meetings sector exceeds €158 million.
As a key partner of the Slovenian Congress Ambassador Programme, Ljubljana Tourism plays an essential role in strengthening the reputation of the capital as a reliable, professional and sustainably oriented destination for professional and scientific meetings.
In 2024, Ljubljana hosted 99 business events with more than 22,700 participants, representing a nearly one-quarter increase compared to the previous year. In the latest ICCA statistics, the city climbed to 39th place worldwide and 23rd place in Europe. These achievements confirm that Ljubljana, through its professional reputation, innovative approach and coordinated collaboration among all stakeholders, successfully competes with the world’s leading meeting destinations and actively helps shape the future of the professional and scientific meetings sector.
In conclusion, the partners jointly emphasised that cooperation and strong partnerships among all stakeholders will remain key to the continued success and growth of Slovenia as a knowledge-based destination and internationally recognised hub for scientific and professional meetings.
For further information:
Slovenian Convention Bureau
🌐 www.slovenia-convention.com
📧 info@slovenia-convention.com
and
Slovenian Tourist Board
🌐 www.slovenia.info
📧 pr@slovenia.info
Photo: Jan Zorič
