Poland has plenty of surprising MICE news again. We are happy to share it with you!
1) Polish branch at IBTM World Virtual
From December 8 to 10 this year, the IBTM World Virtual International Trade Fair will be held in a virtual space, where the Polish Tourism Organization – Poland Convention Bureau together with Polish exhibitors will present their booth. The Polish National Stand (consisting of 16 virtual stands) at IBTM World Virtual 2020 will consist of: Convention Bureau – Wrocław, Creative Poland DMC, DMC Poland, Gdańsk Convention Bureau, ICE Kraków Congress Centre, Jan-Pol DMC Poland, Kraków Convention Bureau, Lubelskie Convention Bureau/ Lubelskie Centrum Konferencyjne, Mazurkas DMC Poland – MCC Mazurkas Conference Centre & Hotel, Perfect Image DMC, PolandPops Meetings & Incentives, Poznań Convention Bureau/ Poznań Congress Center, Trip Group, Travel Projekt DMC, Warsaw Convention Bureau/ Furnel Travel DMC.
– We are pleased that the Polish offer at IBTM World Virtual is so widely and diversely represented by industry, cities and regions. Virtual trade shows have allowed us to welcome more exhibitors than real life shows, where their number depends on booth space. Some entities will be appearing at the fair for the first time, while others are with us every year. However, we must not forget that this is a kind of experiment, in which we all participate, exhibitors and customers alike. I hope that despite the difficult situation in the world and the new form of the fair, our representation will conduct good trade talks, which will lead to real meetings and events in Poland in the future – said Rafał Szlachta, President of the Polish Tourism Organization.
In addition to business contacts, the trade show will introduce you to the latest trends in the meetings industry and deepen your knowledge by participating in online educational sessions. As every year, the media partner of the fair is Think MICE magazine, whose editors have prepared an English-language edition of the magazine with topics devoted to the promotion of Poland and the Polish meetings industry.
We invite you to participate in the IBTM World Virtual and meetings with Polish exhibitors.
Link: https://www.ibtmworld.com/
2) New tool: Poland Online Site Inspection
In recent months, the world of industry meetings has changed around the globe. Activities dedicated to functioning in the new reality continue. The Polish Tourism Organization has launched a new tool for the meetings industry called Poland: Online Site Inspection on pot.gov.pl website. It is an online catalog of places to organize meetings and events in Poland.
Created in cooperation with the Poland Convention Bureau team and municipal and regional convention bureaus, the catalog contains selected information about the potential of the meetings industry in Poland, including: conference and convention centers, hotels, restaurants and unique facilities. In addition, the so-called “business cards of cities” are presented, i.e., information in the form of infographics on the most important objects and tourist attractions, proposals for incentive programs, and multimedia materials of cities, including interactive maps, which allow the objects to be admired from a bird’s eye view. The material is intended to encourage planning and subsequent organization of meetings and events in Poland.
Acquiring and organizing events, especially international conventions, is a complex and lengthy process that requires the involvement of many stakeholders in the meetings industry. Therefore, in addition to the search engine, a key element of the Poland: Online Site Inspection tool are the contacts with city and regional convention offices, PTO recommended professional convention organizers (PCO) and professional incentive travel organizers (ITC), who are engaged in local product sales and experience building. Thanks to further collaboration with local industry partners, the tool will be continuously supplemented and developed.
Among the half-thousand facilities and attractions in the Poland: Online Site Inspection catalog, there is no shortage of conference and convention facilities that have joined the MICE Safe Site Inspection self-certification program. This is another PTO project to support the meeting industry. Creating a list of available self-certifications and the ability to use an appropriate graphic sign will not only be an effective marketing tool, but also a tool to build trust with planners and event organizers. www.pot.gov.pl/en/online-site-inspection
3) MICE Safe Site Inspection self-certification program
Among the half-thousand facilities and attractions in the Poland: Online Site Inspection catalog, there is no shortage of conference and convention facilities that have joined the MICE Safe Site Inspection self-certification program. This is another PTO project to support the meeting industry. Creating a list of available self-certifications and the ability to use an appropriate graphic sign will not only be an effective marketing tool, but also a tool to build trust with planners and event organizers.
Currently, more emphasis is being placed on smaller national events with higher hygiene and social distance requirements, and on events in the hybrid format. It is very important to feel the safety and comfort of the client and to build trust. The first recipients of business inquiries are those facilities whose image guarantees that guests invited to the event will feel professionally welcomed, and their concerns about event safety will be minimized.
The new program is intended for all entities operating in Poland related to the organization of fairs, exhibitions and congresses. Her assumptions were consulted with industry professionals involved in the conferences and conventions in Poland and with representatives of Polish marketing offices.
Link: https://www.pot.gov.pl/en/poland-convention/news/safe-mice-venue-new-self-certification-programme
MeetingsWeek Poland 2020
The eighth edition of Meetings Week Poland (MWP) was dedicated to the situation of the meetings and events industry in the new reality, trends that, according to the research, can significantly affect the market, security and image of the industry. The meeting was held according to a hybrid formula – simultaneously in five Polish cities and in the virtual space of the conference center. The program included speeches and panels with participation of Polish and international speakers, premieres and award ceremonies.
This year’s edition of Meetings Week Poland consisted of two days (September 16-17) of meetings and industry discussions, which took place in venues in five Polish cities (Katowice, Krakow, Lublin, Poznań and Warsaw) and simultaneously online. On the first day of the event, each of the venues had a local audience, with participants in the panel discussions speaking. The event was attended by several dozen speakers, representing all sectors of the meetings market.
MWP 2020 was held in Warsaw (FHouse Warsaw, Novotel Centre Warsaw), Krakow (ICE Krakow Congress Centre), Katowice (International Congress Centre & Spodek), Poznan (MTP Poznan Congress Centre), Lublin (Lublin Conference Centre) and online at the Avatarland™ Virtual Trade Fair and Conference Centre. All locations are connected live by Brill AV Media.
The Ministry of Development and the President of the Polish Tourism Organization have taken on the honorary honors of this year’s Meetings Week Poland. As a strategic partner, the event was also supported by the local government of the Lesser Poland Province. www.pot.gov.pl/en/poland-convention/news/wemeetagain-meetings-week-poland-2020-summary
