![\"Spozna](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/WP_20160513_19_59_24_Pro.jpg\")
Mrs. Snezana Vejnovic from\u00a0Talas-M DMC and Mr. Daniel Marusic from Dubrovnik Travel \u2013 DT Croatia shared with SEEbtm magazine\u00a0about how they came up with the idea for the partnership and how exactly they work together, about\u00a0the advantages and the drawbacks they face, as well as about their plans for the future.
\nSEEbtm:\u00a0How did the idea of creating a group\u00a0of DMCs for the Southeast Europe\u00a0region come about?
\nSnezana: The idea came about organically,\u00a0as a development of our work\u00a0in the tourism industry. When you\u2019re\u00a0a professional in what you do, you\u00a0simply live your work and, naturally,\u00a0you have visions.
\nThe idea for creating the group of\u00a0DMCs appeared very early on \u2013 at\u00a0the time when the region practically\u00a0had no infrastructure whatsoever for\u00a0the development of MICE, with the\u00a0exception of Dubrovnik \u2013 and we saw\u00a0the path of our growth and ourselves\u00a0as leaders in this branch of tourism in\u00a0our destination.
We have been investing huge amounts\u00a0of time and energy in educating and\u00a0understanding the MICE business,\u00a0as well as in developing programs,\u00a0discovering new amenities and features,\u00a0following trends, and creating\u00a0programs out of the box.
\nCroatia has already travelled this road,\u00a0Montenegro entered the scene with\u00a0its first five-star hotel only ten years\u00a0ago, and then Slovenia and Serbia\u00a0came after. It turned out that we were\u00a0right in our thinking and the market\u00a0responded accordingly \u2013 the first business\u00a0results were quick to follow.
\nWe\u00a0are proud of our portfolio because it\u2019s\u00a0backed by hard, dedicated teamwork.
\nSEEbtm: Can you tell us a bit about the marketing of the region? Where do you act together as a group, and where do you venture into business separately?
\nDaniel: Talas-M and DT frequently\u00a0act together, and in some\u00a0markets separately \u2013 depending\u00a0on the market itself.
\nWe were doing marketing together\u00a0for quite some time, before\u00a0tourist organizations or even the\u00a0media or other DMCs even realized\u00a0that we have to collaborate\u00a0and that the market needs it.\u00a0Before the competition was\u00a0even contemplating it and while\u00a0it was still learning the ropes in general, we were already much\u00a0more ahead and we saw these\u00a0possibilities.
Today, when the \u201csecret\u201d\u00a0to our success is out in the open,\u00a0we are working solely on the quality\u00a0of service and the security of doing\u00a0business with us, while others copy us\u00a0or criticize us or ignore us for political\u00a0reasons.
\nWe realize that being at the\u00a0top is always hard, and that staying\u00a0there is harder still. By acting together\u00a0we still achieve more, also cutting\u00a0costs at the same time.
\nSeasonal destinations are most certainly\u00a0hugely popular and always will be,\u00a0but our region offers year-round solutions for all types of programs: urban\u00a0centers \u2013 Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana,\u00a0as well as seaside and sunshine \u2013\u00a0Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar,\u00a0Istra, and Portoroz, and the joys of\u00a0winter are sure to be found in Kranjska\u00a0gora, Kolasin, Kopaonik, etc.
\nWe often appear as a group in all significant\u00a0trade shows and workshops in\u00a0MICE.
In addition, we are regional exclusive\u00a0members of the best and oldest\u00a0DMC group Euromic, whose offices in\u00a0Brussels and Chicago manage marketing globally across every continent.
\nWe are also exclusive regional members\u00a0of the Ovation Global DMC\u00a0network. The DT group was voted the\u00a0best DMC group in the network.
\nDT was awarded the first ISO certificate\u00a0as a DMC in the region, and it has\u00a0been holding a AAA credit rating for\u00a0years now.
Talas-M won several national awards\u00a0for its achievements; it had the most\u00a0demanding incentive projects, etc.
\nToday, when you mention Ovation\u00a0or Euromic among true, experienced\u00a0world-class professionals, you immediately\u00a0know that you\u2019re talking about\u00a0the highest level of the MICE business.
\nTalas-M and DT are often cited as a\u00a0example of successful DMC systems.
![\"Gala](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Gala-dinner-at-Vila-Milocer.jpg\")
Unfortunately, neither that nor our\u00a0years-long efforts in putting the region\u00a0on the map of the MICE world are appreciated\u00a0locally because over the last\u00a0few years a number of instant MICE\u00a0workers and businesses have sprouted\u00a0up that tailor history and experience\u00a0in their own \u201cinstant\u201d ways.
\nIn short, Talas-M and DT are globally\u00a0recognized regional DMC leaders, and\u00a0that is the only thing that matters to\u00a0us, because it proves all our efforts\u00a0and hard work, both past and present,\u00a0and you can\u2019t buy that, not with money\u00a0nor with promises.
SEEbtm:\u00a0Can you tell us a bit about the collaboration\u00a0between Talas-M DMC and\u00a0DT Croatia in selling travel packages\u00a0between Montenegro and Croatia,\u00a0as well as about the collaboration\u00a0between Talas-S and Talas-M DMC in\u00a0regard to selling travel packages for\u00a0incentive travel between Serbia and\u00a0Montenegro?
\nSnezana: From the very start of our\u00a0collaboration, we have been presenting all destinations as separate\u00a0wholes, with every destination being\u00a0available for incentive programs, in\u00a0addition to combining two or even\u00a0more destinations.
\nAt the very beginning, Montenegro\u00a0was treated only as a one-day extension\u00a0from Dubrovnik. We fought hard\u00a0with our marketing activities and used\u00a0every opportunity to present Montenegro\u00a0as a separate destination, and\u00a0in this we succeeded.
We are extremely transparent in our\u00a0activities, and our partners are well\u00a0aware that no matter the destination\u00a0they will be greeted by an expert whose\u00a0heart and soul belong to the region\u00a0and who has the local know-how and\u00a0works in accordance with standards\u00a0that took years to upgrade and tailor\u00a0to current requirements and trends in\u00a0the tourism industry.
\nRight after we receive the brief we\u00a0know which destination is ideal for\u00a0the inquiry and, if for example the\u00a0request cites Montenegro and we believe\u00a0that Serbia or Slovenia are more\u00a0appropriate, we make the suggestion\u00a0to the client and clearly explain the\u00a0advantages. This is one of the ways we\u00a0promote destinations of the region.
The main point is to get business and\u00a0keep it, for the destination that best\u00a0suits our customer\u2019s needs.
\nSEEbtm: What are the drawbacks of doing\u00a0business in the region this way and\u00a0what are the benefits?
\nDaniel: We have certainly contributed\u00a0to the region and the destinations\u00a0with our joint action more than any\u00a0other system of a similar kind. The\u00a0media, the competition, and other\u00a0businesses took years after we first\u00a0started to realize that we are good at\u00a0what we do and that we all benefit\u00a0from it, as well as that our work is\u00a0important and brings success to all of\u00a0us.
\n![\"Rafting\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Rafting.jpg\")
To us, all this is proof that we were\u00a0right, and this wind beneath our wings\u00a0that helps our business sail across safe\u00a0waters only makes us stronger day by\u00a0day. Many people see benefits through\u00a0a financial lens, but to us keeping\u00a0our clients satisfied, acquiring new\u00a0business, status, and global visibility\u00a0make up our success, which raises us\u00a0above everything else.
\nConsidering\u00a0that our region is still burdened with\u00a0politics and history, sometimes we\u00a0have complaints about working together,\u00a0but these are fewer and fewer\u00a0every day. Business knows no borders,\u00a0tourism knows no limits, and we are\u00a0the living proof.
\nSEEbtm: What are the similarities and what\u00a0are the differences in the ways agencies\u00a0work?
\nSnezana: I already answered this\u00a0question in part; in a word, we have\u00a0similar business standards and strong\u00a0commitment to work and promoting\u00a0both the region and the destinations.
\nMost of our differences concern aesthetics; we just can\u2019t agree on which\u00a0team is the prettiest one. We love\u00a0challenges, and at times even impossible\u00a0missions, where our strength and\u00a0our teamwork shine through. Every\u00a0destination has its specifics and this\u00a0is indeed where their differences lie.
SEEbtm: What are your plans for the future?
\nDaniel: Bearing in mind the situation\u00a0globally, our plans are always changing\u00a0in a dynamic way, we have no\u00a0long-term plans, except to improve\u00a0the quality of service according to\u00a0our customers and increase satisfaction among our employees, because\u00a0people are the most important link\u00a0in our chain, we wouldn\u2019t be able to\u00a0succeed if it weren\u2019t for them.
\nWe are\u00a0soon turning a new leaf, we are going\u00a0to improve and strengthen certain\u00a0joint actions even more because we\u00a0can see that we still have room for\u00a0improvement. Also, we are witness to\u00a0many organizations that see us as an\u00a0opportunity for their short-lived achievements.
\n![\"Talas-M](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Talas-team.jpg\")
Rare are those that stay in\u00a0the game for long, sooner or later\u00a0they leave, they have no consistency\u00a0in business, they have no business\u00a0strategy, and this causes great damage\u00a0because they give a bad name to this\u00a0industry in our region, which puts the\u00a0few of us good ones in a bad position\u00a0and from time to time we have a hard\u00a0time proving that our industry is not\u00a0only profit oriented, but instead it also\u00a0contributes to the reputation and the\u00a0quality of the destinations that we\u00a0offer, and that there are agencies that\u00a0work hard and invest their means and\u00a0their time in the development of the\u00a0MICE offering, taking into account all\u00a0limitations and also observing local\u00a0customs and laws and regulations\u00a0above anything.
\nIn this regard, our plans for the future\u00a0remain the same: we want to maintain\u00a0the quality of our business and\u00a0develop the talented professionals in\u00a0our teams, allowing them to grow and\u00a0be happy on a personal level.
The post DT Croatia and Talas-M DMC – Regional Cooperation Pushing the Limits in Event Planning appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Thanks to their strategic partnership and offices in Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, DT Croatia\u00a0and Talas-M provide event planners with unique and unforgettable events.\nMrs. Snezana Vejnovic from\u00a0Talas-M DMC and Mr. Daniel Marusic from Dubrovnik Travel \u2013 DT Croatia shared with SEEbtm magazine\u00a0about how they came up with the idea for the partnership and how exactly they work together, about\u00a0the advantages and the drawbacks they face, as well as about their plans for the future.\nSEEbtm:\u00a0How did the idea of creating a group\u00a0of DMCs for the Southeast Europe\u00a0region come about?\nSnezana: The idea came about organically,\u00a0as a development of our work\u00a0in the tourism industry. When you\u2019re\u00a0a professional in what you do, you\u00a0simply live your work and, naturally,\u00a0you have visions.\nThe idea for creating the group of\u00a0DMCs appeared very early on \u2013 at\u00a0the time when the region practically\u00a0had no infrastructure whatsoever for\u00a0the development of MICE, with the\u00a0exception of Dubrovnik \u2013 and we saw\u00a0the path of our growth and ourselves\u00a0as leaders in this branch of tourism in\u00a0our destination.\nSpozna Palace Dubrovnik, Croatia\nWe have been investing huge amounts\u00a0of time and energy in educating and\u00a0understanding the MICE business,\u00a0as well as in developing programs,\u00a0discovering new amenities and features,\u00a0following trends, and creating\u00a0programs out of the box.\nCroatia has already travelled this road,\u00a0Montenegro entered the scene with\u00a0its first five-star hotel only ten years\u00a0ago, and then Slovenia and Serbia\u00a0came after. It turned out that we were\u00a0right in our thinking and the market\u00a0responded accordingly \u2013 the first business\u00a0results were quick to follow.\nWe\u00a0are proud of our portfolio because it\u2019s\u00a0backed by hard, dedicated teamwork.\nSEEbtm: Can you tell us a bit about the marketing of the region? Where do you act together as a group, and where do you venture into business separately?\nDaniel: Talas-M and DT frequently\u00a0act together, and in some\u00a0markets separately \u2013 depending\u00a0on the market itself.\nWe were doing marketing together\u00a0for quite some time, before\u00a0tourist organizations or even the\u00a0media or other DMCs even realized\u00a0that we have to collaborate\u00a0and that the market needs it.\u00a0Before the competition was\u00a0even contemplating it and while\u00a0it was still learning the ropes in general, we were already much\u00a0more ahead and we saw these\u00a0possibilities.\nToday, when the \u201csecret\u201d\u00a0to our success is out in the open,\u00a0we are working solely on the quality\u00a0of service and the security of doing\u00a0business with us, while others copy us\u00a0or criticize us or ignore us for political\u00a0reasons.\nWe realize that being at the\u00a0top is always hard, and that staying\u00a0there is harder still. By acting together\u00a0we still achieve more, also cutting\u00a0costs at the same time.\nSeasonal destinations are most certainly\u00a0hugely popular and always will be,\u00a0but our region offers year-round solutions for all types of programs: urban\u00a0centers \u2013 Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana,\u00a0as well as seaside and sunshine \u2013\u00a0Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar,\u00a0Istra, and Portoroz, and the joys of\u00a0winter are sure to be found in Kranjska\u00a0gora, Kolasin, Kopaonik, etc.\nWe often appear as a group in all significant\u00a0trade shows and workshops in\u00a0MICE.\nIn addition, we are regional exclusive\u00a0members of the best and oldest\u00a0DMC group Euromic, whose offices in\u00a0Brussels and Chicago manage marketing globally across every continent.\nWe are also exclusive regional members\u00a0of the Ovation Global DMC\u00a0network. The DT group was voted the\u00a0best DMC group in the network.\nDT was awarded the first ISO certificate\u00a0as a DMC in the region, and it has\u00a0been holding a AAA credit rating for\u00a0years now.\nTalas-M won several national awards\u00a0for its achievements; it had the most\u00a0demanding incentive projects, etc.\nToday, when you mention Ovation\u00a0or Euromic among true, experienced\u00a0world-class professionals, you immediately\u00a0know that you\u2019re talking about\u00a0the highest level of the MICE business.\nTalas-M and DT are often cited as a\u00a0example of successful DMC systems.\nGala dinner at Villa Milocer, Montenegro\nUnfortunately, neither that nor our\u00a0years-long efforts in putting the region\u00a0on the map of the MICE world are appreciated\u00a0locally because over the last\u00a0few years a number of instant MICE\u00a0workers and businesses have sprouted\u00a0up that tailor history and experience\u00a0in their own \u201cinstant\u201d ways.\nIn short, Talas-M and DT are globally\u00a0recognized regional DMC leaders, and\u00a0that is the only thing that matters to\u00a0us, because it proves all our efforts\u00a0and hard work, both past and present,\u00a0and you can\u2019t buy that, not with money\u00a0nor with promises.\nSEEbtm:\u00a0Can you tell us a bit about the collaboration\u00a0between Talas-M DMC and\u00a0DT Croatia in selling travel packages\u00a0between Montenegro and Croatia,\u00a0as well as about the collaboration\u00a0between Talas-S and Talas-M DMC in\u00a0regard to selling travel packages for\u00a0incentive travel between Serbia and\u00a0Montenegro?\nSnezana: From the very start of our\u00a0collaboration, we have been presenting all destinations as separate\u00a0wholes, with every destination being\u00a0available for incentive programs, in\u00a0addition to combining two or even\u00a0more destinations.\nAt the very beginning, Montenegro\u00a0was treated only as a one-day extension\u00a0from Dubrovnik. We fought hard\u00a0with our marketing activities and used\u00a0every opportunity to present Montenegro\u00a0as a separate destination, and\u00a0in this we succeeded.\nWe are extremely transparent in our\u00a0activities, and our partners are well\u00a0aware that no matter the destination\u00a0they will be greeted by an expert whose\u00a0heart and soul belong to the region\u00a0and who has the local know-how and\u00a0works in accordance with standards\u00a0that took years to upgrade and tailor\u00a0to current requirements and trends in\u00a0the tourism industry.\nRight after we receive the brief we\u00a0know which destination is ideal for\u00a0the inquiry and, if for example the\u00a0request cites Montenegro and we believe\u00a0that Serbia or Slovenia are more\u00a0appropriate, we make the suggestion\u00a0to the client and clearly explain the\u00a0advantages. This is one of the ways we\u00a0promote destinations of the region.\nThe main point is to get business and\u00a0keep it, for the destination that best\u00a0suits our customer\u2019s needs.\nSEEbtm: What are the drawbacks of doing\u00a0business in the region this way and\u00a0what are the benefits?\nDaniel: We have certainly contributed\u00a0to the region and the destinations\u00a0with our joint action more than any\u00a0other system of a similar kind. The\u00a0media, the competition, and other\u00a0businesses took years after we first\u00a0started to realize that we are good at\u00a0what we do and that we all benefit\u00a0from it, as well as that our work is\u00a0important and brings success to all of\u00a0us.\nRafting\nTo us, all this is proof that we were\u00a0right, and this wind beneath our wings\u00a0that helps our business sail across safe\u00a0waters only makes us stronger day by\u00a0day. Many people see benefits through\u00a0a financial lens, but to us keeping\u00a0our clients satisfied, acquiring new\u00a0business, status, and global visibility\u00a0make up our success, which raises us\u00a0above everything else.\nConsidering\u00a0that our region is still burdened with\u00a0politics and history, sometimes we\u00a0have complaints about working together,\u00a0but these are fewer and fewer\u00a0every day. Business knows no borders,\u00a0tourism knows no limits, and we are\u00a0the living proof.\nSEEbtm: What are the similarities and what\u00a0are the differences in the ways agencies\u00a0work?\nSnezana: I already answered this\u00a0question in part; in a word, we have\u00a0similar business standards and strong\u00a0commitment to work and promoting\u00a0both the region and the destinations.\nMost of our differences concern aesthetics; we just can\u2019t agree on which\u00a0team is the prettiest one. We love\u00a0challenges, and at times even impossible\u00a0missions, where our strength and\u00a0our teamwork shine through. Every\u00a0destination has its specifics and this\u00a0is indeed where their differences lie.\nSEEbtm: What are your plans for the future?\nDaniel: Bearing in mind the situation\u00a0globally, our plans are always changing\u00a0in a dynamic way, we have no\u00a0long-term plans, except to improve\u00a0the quality of service according to\u00a0our customers and increase satisfaction among our employees, because\u00a0people are the most important link\u00a0in our chain, we wouldn\u2019t be able to\u00a0succeed if it weren\u2019t for them.\nWe are\u00a0soon turning a new leaf, we are going\u00a0to improve and strengthen certain\u00a0joint actions even more because we\u00a0can see that we still have room for\u00a0improvement. Also, we are witness to\u00a0many organizations that see us as an\u00a0opportunity for their short-lived achievements.\nTalas-M DMC team\nRare are those that stay in\u00a0the game for long, sooner or later\u00a0they leave, they have no consistency\u00a0in business, they have no business\u00a0strategy, and this causes great damage\u00a0because they give a bad name to this\u00a0industry in our region, which puts the\u00a0few of us good ones in a bad position\u00a0and from time to time we have a hard\u00a0time proving that our industry is not\u00a0only profit oriented, but instead it also\u00a0contributes to the reputation and the\u00a0quality of the destinations that we\u00a0offer, and that there are agencies that\u00a0work hard and invest their means and\u00a0their time in the development of the\u00a0MICE offering, taking into account all\u00a0limitations and also observing local\u00a0customs and laws and regulations\u00a0above anything.\nIn this regard, our plans for the future\u00a0remain the same: we want to maintain\u00a0the quality of our business and\u00a0develop the talented professionals in\u00a0our teams, allowing them to grow and\u00a0be happy on a personal level.\nThe post DT Croatia and Talas-M DMC – Regional Cooperation Pushing the Limits in Event Planning appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2016-07-04T13:42:19+02:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-20T09:18:02+02:00", "author": { "name": "Mirjana Novitovic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/officebs/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/slika-.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Valencia-286-17-nov-9677.jpg", "tags": [ "croatia", "dt sroatia", "event organization", "incentive", "MICE", "montenegro", "talas m dmc", "Interviews" ] } ] }