Events in Slovenia

Throughout the year, visitors to Slovenia can enjoy thousands of cultural, ethnographical, gastronomical, sporting, trade fair, and other events of interest to tourists. The most internationally well-known events take place mostly in Ljubljana and Maribor, which are now recognized as major European festival cities, but visitors can also experience numerous lively events elsewhere, even in the smallest villages.

Cultural events of special importance include the International Graphics Biennial, which has almost a half-century tradition and a worldwide reputation; the Ljubljana International Summer Festival, which features the giants of classical music; the Ljubljana International Jazz Festival, and the Druga Godba Festival of Alternative Music; Maribor's Lent Multicultural Festival; the Brežice Festival of Early Music; the art-oriented LIFFE International Film Festival; and many other festivals of theatre, dance, and other creative fields. Numerous cultural and entertainment events take place especially in summer, and in many cities and towns the revival of medieval traditions provide them with a unique atmosphere and setting.

Slovenia is the venue for numerous major international sport events: Kranjska Gora and Pohorje host World Cup downhill skiing competitions, Planica hosts ski jumpers, and Pokljuka hosts biathlon competitors. Slovenia is also the scene of international bicycling, football, handball, gymnastics, and other competitions.

Numerous ethnographical events across Slovenia present authentic Slovene folk traditions, crafts, and customs. The Carnival parades in Ptuj, Cerknica, and numerous other places with original Slovene costumes and masquerade figures are undoubtedly among the most colourful events. In many places, events are linked to local handicraft traditions.

Congresses and Meetings in Slovenia

Still not enough known as a business tourism destination on the international scene, Slovenia is nevertheless a captivating country. A veritable crucible of cultures and landscapes, characterised by a richness of contrasts, this Central European country, bordering with Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, offers an infinite variety of original ideas for organising meetings and business events.

Ljubljana, the capital, has been and continues to be the motor behind the development of Slovenia's meetings market. Aware of the potential that this lucrative sector represents, the city does not stop in the expansion and improvement of its installations and services, and is being quickly followed by other Slovenian localities and resorts.

Meeting venues in Slovenia are a suitable option for events of various formats and types, and are well equipped to handle association meetings, corporate events and incentives. Anything from 20 to 2,000 delegates can be accommodated by the facilities available in congress centres, hotels, scientific institutions, historic buildings, and other settings that provide modern technical support of an international standard. Experienced professional congress organisers and destination management companies can assist Meeting Planners with every detail of an event.

Slovenia has been actively present on the European conference map for more than twenty years, but its tradition in hosting meetings of international significance stretches back to the year 1821, when the Congress of the Holy Alliance was held in Ljubljana. Times have changed since then, but Slovenia has remained an attractive site for all kinds of meetings. A reference list of past events, including international and European congresses, intergovernmental, diplomatic and other meetings, proves the successful and ongoing development of the conference product.

The three most established conference destinations in the country are Ljubljana, Bled and Portorož, while Maribor can be regarded as a rising star.

In the capital, LJUBLJANA, the driving force behind the city's cultural, artistic and congress activities since 1980 has been Cankarjev dom, a multi-purpose centre with 36,000 sq m of high-tech event space that can accommodate up to 5,000 visitors at the same time in some 20 halls / rooms ranging from 20 to 1,700 seats. An experienced and highly professional in-house PCO team is also on hand, backed up by fully comprehensive meetings technology. Cankarjev dom, which manages a yearly average of 150 national and international conferences and convention-related events, is a member of ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association), IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organisers) and AIPC (Association nternationale des Palais de Cngres).

Several hotels also provide an array of meeting facilities: the most important is the four star Grand Union Hotel & Conference Centre (ICCA member), which offers a total of 9 conference rooms ranging from 40 to 180 seats. The Union has extended its meetings facilities with the very recently concluded refurbishment of a beautiful Secessionist congress hall, opened in early May 2002, which has room for a maximum of 700 delegates in the plenary, and 330 seats respectively in 3 other halls. This venue has added a new dimension to the quality of Ljubljana's the conference product, and started its operation with a series of international meetings, including the International Press Institute World Congress.

Another fine venue to mention is the five star Lev Hotel, with space for up to 400 participants in the main hall. Other smaller facilities for up to 400 delegates are available in some other hotels, a number of faculties, scientific and economic institutions, at the World Trade Centre and the Fairgrounds.

The Ljubljana-based Kompas, an international travel company as well as the major tour operator in Slovenia, has a Congresses & Special Events department that operates as a DMC and PCO specialist for events held in Ljubljana and all over Slovenia (ICCA Member).

BLED, a picturesque lakeside town set beneath the Alps, is one of the leading resorts in the country with a tradition in hospitality that stretches one and a half century back. Well known to leisure tourists, it is becoming increasingly attractive to meeting planners, being an ideal destination for medium - sized meetings and incentives with up to 500 delegates.

Bled features a small Convention Centre (main hall 500 seats, 3 breakout rooms of 150 and 2 x 30 seats) and several four star hotel properties (Kompas Hotel, Golf and Park Hotels) with meeting facilities for 200 to 400 delegates in total.

The recent refurbishment of the elegant five star Grand Hotel Toplice, concluded in May 2002, includes the rearrangement and enlargement of their meeting facilities. The Golf and Park Hotels are also planning an extension, due to be on the market next year. These investments will certainly add even more quality to the Bled conference product.

One of its assets is also a renowned 27-hole golf course, set in one of the most attractive panoramas in all of Slovenia.

The Bled-based Albatros Congress & Tourist Agency has been an experienced and reliable partner to meeting planners organising events in this resort or around Slovenia since 1986.

PORTOROŽ began to develop its tradition of hospitality as a climatic health resort and is now one of the leading leisure tourism destinations in Slovenia. It has one of the best-equipped marinas on the Adriatic and offers a diversity of quality products and services, including the meetings segment.

The main venues are the five star Grand Hotel Emona Resort & Conference Centre with a total seating for 1,500 delegates (680 in the main hall, planning a considerable extension in 2003) and the Avditorij Cultural and Congress Centre, featuring conference rooms and two halls with a capacity for up to 850 delegates. A recent development in Avditorij is a covered amphitheatre with 1,800 seats. For some events, Avditorij is also offering the elegant and freshly refurbished Tartini Theatre (260 seats), located in the nearby historic town of Piran. Auditorium’s Professional Congress Organiser guarantees highly professional services in pre-conference time, perfectly realised program and conference closure with expected success.

Two other hotels companies in Portorož provide fine conference facilities: one is the Grand hotel Metropol (five stars, a total of 350 seats), and the other is the four star Morje Hotels. The latter has just expanded its meeting facilities and now has a total seating for 900 delegates in flexible arrangement. This new development has arrived on the market in May 2002.

MARIBOR, Slovenia's second city, has serious ambitions in this regard. A strong selling point is the new convention centre at the luxurious Habakuk Hotel , opened in May 2002 (500 seats in the main hall, plus 6 rooms ranging from 45 to 180 seats), which will complement the existing facilities at the Narodni dom Cultural Centre, the Piramida Hotel and some university halls.

NOVA GORICA, located close to the Italian border, is otherwise known as the main gambling centre in Slovenia. The modern HIT Hotel Casino Perla has recently extended its previous meeting facilities (small conference hall with 110 seats) with an extra space for 200 more delegates.

Several out of the 15 natural health resorts in Slovenia are focusing on business tourism, too. A special mention goes to Terme Čatež, otherwise known as the largest thermal riviera in the country, with facilities for a total of 1.450 participants (900 seats in the main hall), and 120 more at the nearby Mokrice Castle Hotel. The latter is a superb historic venue, often used for smaller intergovernmental meetings, which also boasts a beautiful 18-hole golf course.

The diversity of the conference offer in Slovenia is not fully comprised in the above lines, which only provide a brief outline of the main structures. Several mountain resorts, such as Kranjska Gora (small conference centre in Hotel Larix opened in end 2001, a development planned in Hotel Kompas at the end of 2002 with flexible space for 400 delegates), Bovec, the Lake Bohinj area, the Logarska Valley as well as some smaller cities in Slovenia are also suitable options for smaller meetings, combined with a host of leisure activities that are available throughout this compact country, which is indeed an expert in living well.

Slovenia is also a veritable paradise for sportsmen and active tourists. In its small area, only half the size of Switzerland, you can practice, all year round, all types of outdoor sports, including golf, fishing, rowing, canoeing, hiking, skiing, ballooning, gliding, skating, plus a host of adrenaline sports, such as rafting, hydro speed, canyoning etc.

An exceptional historic, architectural and ethnographic heritage, high-profile cultural events, its simple, yet varied and exciting gastronomy, surprising wines and the genuine hospitality of the people enhance its abundant natural riches, including the dramatic Karst scenery and caves. And it definitely offers good value for money.