EUROPE – Conventa, the specialist industry trade show for Southeast Europe, has continued its six-year growth curve, with organisers reporting a significant growth in exhibitor numbers.
The two-day show closes in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana today (22 January).
One attendee, Anne Lise Gangstad, project manager at Berg-Hansen from Norway said: “We are experiencing that a lot of our customers have already been to quite a few destinations around Europe and are now looking for something new and exciting. Thus we have to be one step ahead.”
Miha Kovačič, director of Slovenian Convention Bureau and organiser of Conventa, said: “The 7th edition calls itself New Europe and it comes big. We broke all the records again this year. More than 130 exhibitors from 15 countries are presenting their offer to more than 160 selected hosted buyers from 31 countries.”
Zdravko Počivalšek, minister of economic development and technology of the Republic of Slovenia said: “Over the past six years, Conventa has proven to be the leading business-to-business event in the meetings industry in the region, and the best event for meeting prime partners in the MICE business. Conventa is a successful example of a regional collaboration.”
Petra Stušek, acting MD at Ljubljana Tourism, added: “As the host destination and a partner of the main organiser since its inception, we do not perceive the Conventa show just as an important regional meetings industry business event . Over the years we have strived to support Conventa’s development and growth and recognised it as one of our most important marketing projects at the destination level, through which Ljubljana is strengthening its brand and position on the international meetings industry market.”
For the first time organisers have welcomed exhibitors from Greece, Azerbaijan and Russia to the show.
Organisers claim Conventa buyers on average conducted 22 meetings per show.
Karmen Novarlič, head of the Slovenian Tourist Board, said: “At a time when digitisation is becoming a key marketing and sales tool in tourism, personal contact between suppliers and potential buyers remains indispensable.”
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