Slovenia Meetings Out-of-the-Box Workshops in Benelux

In December 2015, working together with Slovenia’s meeting and incentive providers, the Slovenian Convention Bureau presented Slovenia Meetings to 50 meeting planners from Benelux eager to learn about Slovenia and experience its energizing atmosphere.

The Slovenian Convention Bureau organized two workshops in Amsterdam and Brussels in cooperation with reputable Belgian agency Contour Consult. December 14th was all about business and pleasure, Dutch clients and Slovenian meetings industry representatives experienced an ice skating clinic. The following active part featured the gamification concept, a hot topic widely discussed in the events industry as of late. All of the participants joined a “Pub Quiz” – an activity that increased participants’ interaction, networking and learning about Slovenia Meetings.

Mr Tony van der Vegte, Managing Director, Van der Vegte Travel Consultancy, The Netherlands, stated: “Thanks very much for the pleasant, out of the box, evening at the Slovenia Meetings Workshop in Amsterdam. It was a nice atmosphere and very nice representatives of your country.”

On December 15th Belgian meeting planners got introduced to Slovenia Meetings through exquisite culinary session guided by a well-known Chef Ana Roš and her partner Valter Kramar, who is an exceptional connoisseur of wines and cheeses. Some of the invited clients will also join the Conventa 2016, the New Europe exhibition for meetings, events and incentives which is going to take place from 21st to 22nd January 2016 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The following part featured an exciting prize draw for Benelux clients. Business, pleasure and the Slovenian energy were the right answer of how to connect mutual business interests at both workshops.

Slovenia is a young country, and new to MICE, so most attendees haven’t been here before. This makes Slovenia appealing for today’s delegates and meeting planners who crave something new, different, off-the-beaten track.

Mrs Silke Schlinnertz, Head of Operations, Communications & Events, Euroheat & Power, Belgium, exchanged her thoughts about the workshop: “I would like to thank you and your team for a very well organised, friendly and enjoyable evening in Brussels. You managed to created an open atmosphere, like sitting with friends around the table and having a nice chat instead of different sales pitches – I really appreciated it! Ana is (as you promised) one of the best chefs so a big thank you to her and also to Valter for sharing their passion with us! In short: congrats to you and the entire team once again!”

“It had been a long time but some Slovenian energy came back to Amsterdam and Brussels in the past days ….The Slovenian Convention Bureau and partners organized two MICE events in the Benelux this week. On Monday the 14th of December, Dutch MICE organizers were invited for an active networking event at the iconic Jaap Eden hall ice skating ring where their knowledge of Slovenia was tested during a pub quiz and a skating clinic was also optional followed by a dinner. On December 15th, newly opened restaurant Chyl in Brussels was privatized and top Slovenian Chef Ana Roš showed guests how to make her homemade bread. Valter Kramar presented Slovenia through stories of wine. On top of that Ana pampered guests with her culinary delights and of course these were accompanied by excellent Slovenian wines. During two days, 50 MICE organizers from the Benelux were welcomed all together and guests learned the four faces of Slovenia and what it has to offer for the conference & incentive planner.” said Mrs Marianne Hoogeveen, Manager, Contour Consult, Belgium.

Mrs Nuša Šolar from the Union Hotels, Slovenia added: “Workshops in Amsterdam and Brussels were a great success. We’ve never had so many satisfied clients on our workshops before and I’m sure that the word about Slovenian energy is already spreading around Europe. With this innovative approach we are really becoming friends with the planners in the industry and the business will follow for sure. Check social media; we are definitely going into the right direction.”

The big advantage of being small is that you can focus on the little things. The details. The personal touches that make your meeting really matter. That make it real. Authentic. Both workshops in Amsterdam and Brussels, weren’t just about business but also created a pleasant experience for everyone involved – through the personal touch and a good deal of Slovenian energy.