Ljubljana Convention Bureau attended the IBTM World 2017

IBTM World, together with IMEX Frankfurt, is the largest event of the global meetings industry (MICE) in Europe that focuses on business opportunities, education and networking. This year the trade show was attended by 15,000 visitors. There were 3,000 exhibitors from around 150 countries and as many hosted buyers. In total over 74,000 meetings were held throughout the 3-day event.

2017 marks the 30th anniversary of the trade show and organizers came up with some exciting novelties, including an enhanced hosted buyers programme, extended educational programme with additional exciting speakers from the world of the global meeting industry, and the implementation of the 'start-up' pavilion, where several different start-up companies presented themselves during the show.

The educational programme offered educational sessions in different fields, ranging from the general trends in the global MICE industry, emerging technological innovations and marketing strategies to social networks, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and professional development of the individual. In addition to the Trend Watch Report 2017 lecture, prepared annually by Rob Davidson and Alistair Turner from Mice Knowledge, an extremely interesting lecture was delivered by Dame Stella Rimington, former Director General of the British Intelligence Service MI5, who spoke candidly about various topics, including global security, meetings industry and women in important leadership roles.

Team #ifeelsLOVEnia

This year a record number of slovenian exhibitors were in attendance; 17 exhibitors in total, including the Slovenian Convention Bureau and the Slovenian Tourist Board. Besides Ljubljana Convention Bureau, our capital was represented with the CD Congress Centre, GR Exhibition and Convention Center, Union Hotels, Hotel Cubo, Dekon group Slovenia, Intercontinental Ljubljana (both of them present for the first time) and Conventa Experience as a special provider. Also present were 3 DMC companies - Kompas, Intours and iDMC.

In addition to a very positive team spirit, large number of meetings and group presentations held, and several activities on social networks, the promotion of Slovenia was enhanced with a special photobooth (managed by Boštjan Kofol from Karaoke.si). Visitors were invited to take photos after choosing between several backgrounds with images of Slovenia and accompanying funny texts.

And that was not all! Icecream flavor Sladogled, designed this past summer in hotel Park in Bled, offered some extra pampering. As Sava Hotels in Bled won this year's competition for world's best icecream (according to World Icecream Index, ranking designed by marketing agency Soolnua), all visitors of Slovenian stand were invited to taste some. Their assessment? Incredibly delicious!

Promotion of the ICCA AMP 2018 in Ljubljana

On Wednesday, November 29th, the official promotional event for the ICCA Association Meetings Programme 2018 in Ljubljana took place at the ICCA stand. The conference that will take place from 9 to 11 July next year in Ljubljana is a prestigious business and educational event, intended for ICCA members' sales and marketing mid-level managers working with international associations.

The highlight of the event was the famous mascot of Ljubljana, the dragon, who managed to entertain a big group of visitors with his cheerful and very active performance, full of playfulness.

At Ljubljana Convention Bureau we are very satisfied with the outcome of this year's IBTM World trade show and the number of business contacts obtained. This was our last business event of this year - we are already looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead!