Ljubljana. The sixth edition of Conventa, the trade show for the South East European (SEE) meetings industry, attracted the largest number of international meeting planners in the history of the show, congress destinations are presented in the highest number so far, the organizers recorded a record number of pre-arranged meetings between hosted buyers exhibitors, more fam trips than ever were available to hosted buyers and last but not least, the educational program got new segments and has now been extended over all Conventa days.
The trade show opened its doors yesterday at GR-Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre. This year, 3.158 meetings were pre-arranged before the start of the show. Gorazd Čad, director of Go.Mice and Toleranca marketing and technical organizer of the show: “For the organization of a sales meeting you will spend on average at least 60 minutes, with no time invested in market research and other time invested in finding customers. According to the survey, Conventa saves you on average at least 60 hours of valuable time that would otherwise be spent searching for contacts and organizing meetings with potential new clients. “
Additional effort that was this year put into the search for the highest quality international meeting planners genuinely interested in the SEE region paid off. To the positive outcome certainly contributed also new foreign partners who used their many years of experience, connections and acquaintances to help find the best hosted buyers. Compared to last year, the number of international meeting planners at Conventa has risen by at least 25 percent. This means the trade show will host over 200 hosted buyers from as many as 25 countries and over 100 national and regional buyers. Moreover, an amazing 90 percent of hosted buyers are first-timers while 10 percent will be re- visiting the show. Miha Kovačič, director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau and organizer of Conventa emphasizes: “Conventa made a real breakthrough this year. After six years we have finally started to notice a specific demand from international hosted buyers expressed prior to the event. Concrete demand will be also presented to exhibitors by international hosted buyers at the event itself. “
The sixth Conventa also increased the number of fam trips, a professionally guided trips that offer hosted buyers the opportunity to personally experience the destination and confirm the offer presented to them at the trade show. With the help of convention bureaus and local providers, the organizers have managed to offer seven different programs.
The biggest added value of this year’s Conventa is certainly the most comprehensive and best educational program so far. During the traditional Conventa Academy, brand new Conventa morning energy sessions and for the first time ever also Conventa Expert’s corner. The event will officially end on Thursday, 23 January with the departures of hosted buyer on fam trips. Conventa will return to Ljubljana for another edition. The meetings floor will be hot again from 21 to 22 January 2015.
