![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Ivan-Gaji\u0107-Direktor-prodaje-i-marketinga.jpg\")
On\u00ad this\u00ad occasion,\u00ad we\u00ad met\u00ad with\u00ad Mr Ivan Gajic, Director of Sales and Marketing of the Regent Hotel, \u00adto\u00ad tell\u00ad us more\u00ad about\u00ad the\u00ad past\u00ad months\u00ad and\u00ad plans\u00ad for\u00ad the\u00ad end\u00ad of the\u00ad year\u00ad/\u00adspring\u00ad 2020.
\nWhat will you remember as a company in 2019?
\nThis year will be memorable as it was our first jubilee as August 1st marked the fifth anniversary of the ope\u00adning of Regent Porto Montenegro. On the eve of the anniversary, the BAIA was the third wing to open at the hotel after an investment of \u20ac36 million. We have now architecturally completed the hotel project and today we offer our guests a diversified selection of rooms, residences and elite pentho\u00aduses, which we consider to be the best gift for the five-year anniversary for our guests. The unobtrusive luxury and great design are the work of international architectural firm WATG and Tin Zervudachi, a celebrated interior designer from the eminent Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi company, who, through our two existing wings, is behind the already recognizable na\u00adutical design. Most of the rooms have views of the sea, the Bay of Kotor and the hotel\u2019s infinity pool, wh\u00adich was named one of the 30 best hotel pools in the world in 2018. Personalized guest services, a rich restaurant offering, and the Spa continues to be, in addition to exceptional comfort, the prime feature of any stay at Regent Porto Montenegro.
\nWhat kind of identity Regent and Porto Mon\u00adtenegro bear as the business destination?
\nMontenegro is very interesting business destination. However we believe that we succeeded differentiating ourselves as the ideal car la\u00adunch destination. Parallel to the great collaboration with the in\u00adternational MICE agencies, we take pride in the fact that our partners from the region and many other countries around the world have chosen us to host some of the most important confere\u00adnces and corporate events for their company and business partners. With 230 corporate events behind us, we can conclude that we\u2019ve had an exceptional year. Customised guest service is our trademark and we were thrilled to be recognized for this in this year\u2019s Forbes Tra\u00advel Guide \u2013 the only independent rating system for hotels, restaurants and spas globally \u2013 which scored our hotel highly for customer service. Even though that the service and the hotel facilities are rated, most of the standards \u2013 up to 75% refer to the service. Reasons for this are substantial guests\u2019 expectations of the five star hotel; each detail counts as much as the content of a stay and visits of the cultural and natural attractions. We are proud of the progress we made as a system; we have welcomed numerous positive reactions of the guests which ultimately led to the positive business results especially in the Food and Beverage department. It is worth noting that last year we became part of IHG, a global hotel group with over 5,723 hotels worldwide. Integrating our
\nsy\u00ads\u00adtems, as well as the combination of ex\u00adpe\u00adrience within the reservation, sales and marketing systems has been our main goal to reach our target audience worldwide and in the region.
![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Salon-Boka-1.jpg\")
What business clients may expect from Regent hotel in the future?
\nNew offerings that we would like to highlight are the numerous options available for creating great incentive trips and team buildings within the hotel and Porto Montenegro nautical village. Numerous facilities and activities are available to create the ideal package according to the needs of employees for team buildings and incentive trips. Sports such as tennis, sailing and SUP boarding are all available, as well as exploring the hinterland of Boka Kotorska, relaxing spa experiences, wine tasting, gourmet workshops and competitive cooking workshops under the supervision of our experienced chef. I would like to highlight the expansive area of Porto Montenegro Arena which has extraordinary intelligent content thought through; activities such as archery, cricket, croquet, miniature golf and laser clay shooting are available as the interesting elements for the team building trips.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/10-godina-retro.jpg\")
In terms of business, what do you remember the past 10 years by?
\nI am extremely grateful that I have testified to the development of the luxury hotel industry within the region and very proud of my humble contribution to the same. The period of 10 years I will remember after inspiring leaders that I have had honor working with, digitization of business and number of agencies and tour operators I have worked with solely via internet and achieved extraordinary results..
\nWhat has your business journey looked like since then?
\nDuring my 14 years of career in hospitality, I have held various sales and marketing management roles within international hotel chains. I joined Regent as Director of Sales and since 2018 I am honored to lead Sales and Marketing department at Regent Porto Montenegro. I have enjoyed each and single chapter of the business growth.
\nWhat are you particularly proud of from the last decade?
\nI am proud of each single step taken and every single resolved challenge. However the results make memories. I do belong to the generation that believes that teamwork and the satisfaction of each and single employee at workplace is important; only this kind of synergy can bring results at the personal and professional level and extraordinary results.
\nThe post Five Years of Southern Shine appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Regent Porto Montenegro, synonym of luxury in the region this year, recently marked five years of successful business.\nOn\u00ad this\u00ad occasion,\u00ad we\u00ad met\u00ad with\u00ad Mr Ivan Gajic, Director of Sales and Marketing of the Regent Hotel, \u00adto\u00ad tell\u00ad us more\u00ad about\u00ad the\u00ad past\u00ad months\u00ad and\u00ad plans\u00ad for\u00ad the\u00ad end\u00ad of the\u00ad year\u00ad/\u00adspring\u00ad 2020.\nWhat will you remember as a company in 2019?\nIvan Gajic\nThis year will be memorable as it was our first jubilee as August 1st marked the fifth anniversary of the ope\u00adning of Regent Porto Montenegro. On the eve of the anniversary, the BAIA was the third wing to open at the hotel after an investment of \u20ac36 million. We have now architecturally completed the hotel project and today we offer our guests a diversified selection of rooms, residences and elite pentho\u00aduses, which we consider to be the best gift for the five-year anniversary for our guests. The unobtrusive luxury and great design are the work of international architectural firm WATG and Tin Zervudachi, a celebrated interior designer from the eminent Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi company, who, through our two existing wings, is behind the already recognizable na\u00adutical design. Most of the rooms have views of the sea, the Bay of Kotor and the hotel\u2019s infinity pool, wh\u00adich was named one of the 30 best hotel pools in the world in 2018. Personalized guest services, a rich restaurant offering, and the Spa continues to be, in addition to exceptional comfort, the prime feature of any stay at Regent Porto Montenegro.\nWhat kind of identity Regent and Porto Mon\u00adtenegro bear as the business destination?\n\nMontenegro is very interesting business destination. However we believe that we succeeded differentiating ourselves as the ideal car la\u00adunch destination. Parallel to the great collaboration with the in\u00adternational MICE agencies, we take pride in the fact that our partners from the region and many other countries around the world have chosen us to host some of the most important confere\u00adnces and corporate events for their company and business partners. With 230 corporate events behind us, we can conclude that we\u2019ve had an exceptional year. Customised guest service is our trademark and we were thrilled to be recognized for this in this year\u2019s Forbes Tra\u00advel Guide \u2013 the only independent rating system for hotels, restaurants and spas globally \u2013 which scored our hotel highly for customer service. Even though that the service and the hotel facilities are rated, most of the standards \u2013 up to 75% refer to the service. Reasons for this are substantial guests\u2019 expectations of the five star hotel; each detail counts as much as the content of a stay and visits of the cultural and natural attractions. We are proud of the progress we made as a system; we have welcomed numerous positive reactions of the guests which ultimately led to the positive business results especially in the Food and Beverage department. It is worth noting that last year we became part of IHG, a global hotel group with over 5,723 hotels worldwide. Integrating our\nsy\u00ads\u00adtems, as well as the combination of ex\u00adpe\u00adrience within the reservation, sales and marketing systems has been our main goal to reach our target audience worldwide and in the region.\n\n\nWhat business clients may expect from Regent hotel in the future?\nNew offerings that we would like to highlight are the numerous options available for creating great incentive trips and team buildings within the hotel and Porto Montenegro nautical village. Numerous facilities and activities are available to create the ideal package according to the needs of employees for team buildings and incentive trips. Sports such as tennis, sailing and SUP boarding are all available, as well as exploring the hinterland of Boka Kotorska, relaxing spa experiences, wine tasting, gourmet workshops and competitive cooking workshops under the supervision of our experienced chef. I would like to highlight the expansive area of Porto Montenegro Arena which has extraordinary intelligent content thought through; activities such as archery, cricket, croquet, miniature golf and laser clay shooting are available as the interesting elements for the team building trips.\n\nIn terms of business, what do you remember the past 10 years by? \nI am extremely grateful that I have testified to the development of the luxury hotel industry within the region and very proud of my humble contribution to the same. The period of 10 years I will remember after inspiring leaders that I have had honor working with, digitization of business and number of agencies and tour operators I have worked with solely via internet and achieved extraordinary results..\nWhat has your business journey looked like since then? \nDuring my 14 years of career in hospitality, I have held various sales and marketing management roles within international hotel chains. I joined Regent as Director of Sales and since 2018 I am honored to lead Sales and Marketing department at Regent Porto Montenegro. I have enjoyed each and single chapter of the business growth.\nWhat are you particularly proud of from the last decade? \nI am proud of each single step taken and every single resolved challenge. However the results make memories. I do belong to the generation that believes that teamwork and the satisfaction of each and single employee at workplace is important; only this kind of synergy can bring results at the personal and professional level and extraordinary results.\nThe post Five Years of Southern Shine appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2019-12-20T09:20:53+01:00", "date_modified": "2019-12-20T09:20:53+01:00", "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/naslovna-126.jpg", "tags": [ "hotel", "Hotel Regent Porto Montenegro", "INTERVIEW", "regent porto montenegro", "Destinations", "Hotels and venues", "Interviews", "MUST READ", "WHERE AND WHY" ], "summary": "Regent Porto Montenegro, synonym of luxury in the region this year, recently marked five years of successful business." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/top-of-the-hub-the-recipe-for-perfect-event/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/top-of-the-hub-the-recipe-for-perfect-event/", "title": "Top of the Hub \u2013 the Recipe for Perfect Event!", "content_html": "General Manager Petar Medjedovic, together with his team, is constantly working on improving and perfecting the offering. And here\u2019s how it all started almost a decade ago…
\nWhat made Top of the Hub a must for hosting events?
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Petar-Me\u0111edovi\u0107.jpg\")
We recognized the potential of the space on the top floor of the most modern office building in the region \u2013 Usce Tower \u2013 and knew that it had to become what it is today. The fact is that Top of the Hub is a venue trusted by the most promising and creative companies in the region when it comes to event organization. In addition to this, we think our big success is that these companies are our clients. At the very start, the vision was clear \u2013 creating a multi functional event center for hosting diffe\u00adrent types of corporate and other events. The venue\u2019s advantages are many, and the key is the location, view, and parking for all guests. In addition, our sales team manages to pack every supporting se\u00adgment and additi\u00adonal content into a single whole. It\u2019s no secret that se\u00adri\u00ado\u00adus work is the key to success. I would also add serio\u00adus products. I think that no space can repeat this result (exclu\u00adding the hotel offering).
\nWe are also grate\u00adful for our success to Usce Tower, abo\u00adve all for the trust it has given us.
![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/HYBR2107.jpg\")
Next year is especially important for Top of the Hub since you\u2019ll be celebrating a full decade of exist\u00adence. During this time, you have hosted numerous different events. Are there any that you particularly remember?
\nOver the past nine years, Top of the Hub has been trusted by more than 500 corporate clients. The list of those we single out is on the References page on our website (www.topofthehub.rs).\u00a0 I remember many events, from those attended by top government officials, ambassadors, and prominent businessmen to events hosted for companies that are only emerging and at the very start of their growth. If I have to single out one event, I would pick Nordeus\u2019 third birthday party, back in 2013. I want for each of our future clients to follow in Nordeus\u2019 footsteps, via Top of the Hub.
\nWhat do you find particularly challenging in event planning?
\nEvent management is a very responsible and complex work that requires absolute commitment to the client. Our greatest challenge is creating an adequate and original idea. Every day we find ourselves in the situation where the client looks around the venue and explains what the event is about, expecting us to help find the ideal solution for the event scenario. We design each segment in collaboration with the client and take part in the execution itself \u2013 from the event concept itself and the decoration to the full catering service. Although a large number of clients have passed through our venue, we strive to always form an original whole and provide our clients and guests with a unique and unforgettable experience.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Hello-Facebook-Belgrade-129.jpg\")
What is your business philosophy?
\nSince the beginning we have been constantly improving and perfecting our products and services, so we have a plan to completely renovate the venue as early as next year. I see progress in implementing global trends locally. Our business philosophy is to provide maximum quality and convenience to the client with the least stress possible. We always provide the highest qu a lity service because we believe that the best advertisement for us are the successful events entrusted to us. This is surely also the reason why there are many companies that come back to us year after year. During these almost ten years, we have achieved tremendous success in our field and we will strive to justify our clients\u2019 trust in the years to come.
\n\n
The post Top of the Hub \u2013 the Recipe for Perfect Event! appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "You must have had an opportunity to attend an \u201cevent at the top of Belgrade\u201d so me time. Yes, this has become synonymous with Top of the Hub \u2013 a venue over looking the entire city.\nGeneral Manager Petar Medjedovic, together with his team, is constantly working on improving and perfecting the offering. And here\u2019s how it all started almost a decade ago…\nWhat made Top of the Hub a must for hosting events?\nPetar Medjedovic\nWe recognized the potential of the space on the top floor of the most modern office building in the region \u2013 Usce Tower \u2013 and knew that it had to become what it is today. The fact is that Top of the Hub is a venue trusted by the most promising and creative companies in the region when it comes to event organization. In addition to this, we think our big success is that these companies are our clients. At the very start, the vision was clear \u2013 creating a multi functional event center for hosting diffe\u00adrent types of corporate and other events. The venue\u2019s advantages are many, and the key is the location, view, and parking for all guests. In addition, our sales team manages to pack every supporting se\u00adgment and additi\u00adonal content into a single whole. It\u2019s no secret that se\u00adri\u00ado\u00adus work is the key to success. I would also add serio\u00adus products. I think that no space can repeat this result (exclu\u00adding the hotel offering).\nWe are also grate\u00adful for our success to Usce Tower, abo\u00adve all for the trust it has given us.\n\nNext year is especially important for Top of the Hub since you\u2019ll be celebrating a full decade of exist\u00adence. During this time, you have hosted numerous different events. Are there any that you particularly remember?\nOver the past nine years, Top of the Hub has been trusted by more than 500 corporate clients. The list of those we single out is on the References page on our website (www.topofthehub.rs).\u00a0 I remember many events, from those attended by top government officials, ambassadors, and prominent businessmen to events hosted for companies that are only emerging and at the very start of their growth. If I have to single out one event, I would pick Nordeus\u2019 third birthday party, back in 2013. I want for each of our future clients to follow in Nordeus\u2019 footsteps, via Top of the Hub.\nWhat do you find particularly challenging in event planning? \nEvent management is a very responsible and complex work that requires absolute commitment to the client. Our greatest challenge is creating an adequate and original idea. Every day we find ourselves in the situation where the client looks around the venue and explains what the event is about, expecting us to help find the ideal solution for the event scenario. We design each segment in collaboration with the client and take part in the execution itself \u2013 from the event concept itself and the decoration to the full catering service. Although a large number of clients have passed through our venue, we strive to always form an original whole and provide our clients and guests with a unique and unforgettable experience.\n\nWhat is your business philosophy? \nSince the beginning we have been constantly improving and perfecting our products and services, so we have a plan to completely renovate the venue as early as next year. I see progress in implementing global trends locally. Our business philosophy is to provide maximum quality and convenience to the client with the least stress possible. We always provide the highest qu a lity service because we believe that the best advertisement for us are the successful events entrusted to us. This is surely also the reason why there are many companies that come back to us year after year. During these almost ten years, we have achieved tremendous success in our field and we will strive to justify our clients\u2019 trust in the years to come.\n \nThe post Top of the Hub \u2013 the Recipe for Perfect Event! appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2019-12-12T13:59:04+01:00", "date_modified": "2019-12-12T13:59:04+01:00", "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/A8377676-59E3-48B7-8C12-018A638F9868.jpg", "tags": [ "INTERVIEW", "EVENT ORGANIZATION", "Interviews", "MUST READ", "NEWS" ], "summary": "You must have had an opportunity to attend an \u201cevent at the top of Belgrade\u201d so me time. Yes, this has become synonymous with Top of the Hub \u2013 a venue over looking the entire city." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/whatever-you-do-it-s-important-to-do-your-best/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/whatever-you-do-it-s-important-to-do-your-best/", "title": "Whatever You Do, It\u2019s Important to Do Your Best", "content_html": "He started his career in the hospitality industry in America. He brought the know-\u00adhow he acquired there back to Serbia and for 10 years has been successfully implementing it in the work he does. He points out how proud he is of overcoming many obstacles and choices he made. Today, he is trying to give a chance to young people and he therefore carefully observes his team members and identifies where their strengths lie.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/VIP-Lounge.jpg\")
In addition to the enviable level of education you got, what do you feel helped you 10 years ago in Serbia when you first started your career and also helped you establish yourself as one of hospitality industry leaders in the region?
\nThere are many things that contributed to my success. First of all, there\u2019s work and education, then, I was lucky and what comes in third is the good timing of my return to Belgrade. Back then, the hospitality industry, with new foreign brands, was still in early stages and accordingly there weren\u2019t many people who had an innovative approach to this branch of industry. There weren\u2019t enough educational institutions, schools and universities, which would allow students to acquire necessary skills as is the case today, when besides studying they can also get practical training, which is enormously important for any real expert. I\u2019d say that it was the education that helped me the most on my professional journey, then practice but also social intelligence which is good \u02bapointer\u02ba for decision\u00ad making. I was 30 when I became Manager of the Continental, the biggest hotel in the region at the time. Since the hotel\u2019s occupancy was far from satisfactory, I organized a meeting with the employees and had a talk with them. I asked them if they thought it was better for them to have two occupied rooms at a higher rate or eight occupied rooms at a lower rate. I can tell you that the conclusion we reached then helped me understand why Genex, which once was a large and serious company, collapsed. People wanted to work less, not more. I had come from a regulated system in America, where I advanced step by step and so I gave myself a period of one year to see how I would do on this market. At the time, the Delta company acquired the Continental and basically that\u2019s when my professional development in Serbia started. Back to your question, I will tell you an anecdote which is an excellent illustration of the combination of components I mentioned. I\u2019d known Mr Miskovic by reputation only, as the CEO of the company. Other managers from the company told me that if I did my job properly, my work would for sure be recognized. But despite this, I knew that there was a door I needed to open myself because there was no one else to do it instead of me. He regularly went to hairdresser\u2019s at the Sava Centre\u2019s gangway and I saw that he went there every three weeks. I decided that I would wait for him every time he went there because I knew I had just those 45 seconds when he went up the stairs leading to the parlor and another 45 second when he was on his way down. This was when I spoke to him. And he did indeed recognize in me the desire to develop, learn and make a difference.
\nThe average rates in Ljubljana and Zagreb are significantly higher compared with Belgrade. A part of the problem is that there are too many hotels in our capital and it is only natural that occupancy is not very high, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The other part of the problem is that we do not appreciate ourselves as much as we should.
\nA decade ago, you were one of the first people in the hospitality business to introduce the \u02baValue for Money\u02ba business philosophy. You impacted market changes, you made other people in the industry fight harder for their guests. Are rates in Belgrade today lower compared with the region?
\nThe average rates in Ljubljana and Zagreb are significantly higher compared with Belgrade. A part of the problem is that there are too many hotels in our capital and it is only natural that occupancy is not very high, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The other part of the problem is that we do not appreciate ourselves as much as we should. If all of us join forces and start holding our market in higher regard, we\u2019ll create higher rates. If we do things in this way, and I repeat, we jointly and in a synchronized manner increase rates, within three to four years our rates can be as high as they are in the capitals of Slovenia and Croatia.
\nHow important are role models? Do you think that in your case they provided guidance on your professional journey?
\nBut of course! Throughout my career I have had role models and so, yes, I do think they are very important. I am proud to say that over time the number of these people is getting higher. At first, my role models were my father, who used to tell me that I should always do my best, whatever I did, and my uncle, who made it possible for me to get my education. Later, I met Mr Michael Hickey, General Manager of the Hyatt in Boston, where I worked at the time. I remember that when he promoted me to the Operations Manager, I came to the meeting wearing a black shirt and orange tie. He congratulated me and took me to his office, gave me some money and told me to buy new, white shirts. He taught me that a white shirt will always give you a professional look and I still use that simple trick today. When I came back to Belgrade, I had the privilege of meeting Mr Miskovic and working with the man who introduced really major changes in Serbia. I have learnt a lot from him, not only about business but also how to build personality by acquiring new knowledge. Because what you learn while getting regular education is never enough. Every day is a possibility to learn something new because, as he says, the man\u2019s value is measured by how much he/she knows and basically that\u2019s something no one can take away from you. One of the important things my role models told me was that it is very important to always be determined when taking decisions. If there is a problem, I do whatever I can to solve it as soon as possible. Of course, sometimes there are situations you need to think through, discuss, ask for advice, wait for a while but that too needs to be efficient. Perhaps this is why \u02basleep on it\u02ba has a somewhat different meaning for me. This certainly does not mean that I make decision hastily but let\u2019s just say that I have developed various mechanisms to make them more promptly. As for female role models, they\u2019re my mother and my wife. To cut the story short, what matters is that your role models push you to want more and reach higher.
\nThe Indigo will be ready for soft opening between May and June next year. The hotel will be telling a \u201cneighborhood story\u201d, rooms will be decorated with details resembling that part of Dorcol, every room will be furnished differently and the entire concept of this hotel will be far from the corporate concept. For example, all items in the minibar will be free of charge.
\nIs there something that you believe is specific for Serbian hospitality industry today?
\nWhat I have noticed in certain sectors in Serbia, especially in Sales in Marketing, which in my opinion are among the most important in this industry, is that we always see the same people around. I don\u2019t think this is good and I strive to change this. And now I\u2019ll explain how. In our Sales Department, in a team of 15 people there is a manager who used to be a waitress in our New Bar, manager who was a receptionist, manager who worked in the restaurant, manager who wanted to be an actor\u2026 We have literally developed these staff members and all of them are excellent at their jobs. We were not afraid to embrace differences, if I may say so. Managers in Serbia reluctantly give chances to people who\u2019ve never done a certain job. For example, this is something I haven\u2019t noticed anywhere else but here.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Fine-Dining-Restaurant-Prime.jpg\")
Another thing that is Serbia\u00ad specific is a result of us not being part of the EU. Belgrade, as opposed to other capitals in the region, has by far the highest number of hotels and foreign hotel chains. This is why people who work here in the hospitality industry find it very hard to leave Serbia and find work in the region because work permit is hard to obtain abroad so they are actually forced to work here for employers who offer higher salaries. This brings us back to what I already noted, that we always see the same people around. They do get higher salaries, they are sought after, but young people have to be given opportunities again and we need to put our trust in them. This is what I call injustice. I believe that the job of a good team leader, or any person holding a higher position within a sector, is to observe and recognize people\u2019s talent and likes and in this manner open new windows of opportunity for young people with potential. I deeply believe in in\u00ad-house promotion.
\nThe opening of the Indigo in Belgrade is long\u00ad-awaited. When do you expect that you\u2019ll be able to welcome the hotel\u2019s first guests?
\nThe Indigo will be a truly special hotel, its location is Knez Mihailova Street. Construction works are going as planned. I think it\u2019ll be ready for soft opening between May and June next year. The hotel will be telling a \u02baneighbourhood story\u02ba, rooms will be decorated with details resembling that part of Dorcol, every room will be furnished differently and the entire concept of this hotel will be far from the corporate concept. For example, all items in the minibar will be free of charge. What do I mean by this? First of all, atmosphere will be laid back, waiting staff\u2019s uniforms will be jeans, shirts and sports shoes, they\u2019ll be allowed to wear beards/piercings/tattoos. The rooftop restaurant will overlook the entire city and we will serve there something we named \u02baSerbian tapas\u02ba, and there will also be a gin bar. Target group for the Indigo are hedonists who work in the city center and who want to spend time in laid-back atmosphere.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Hotel-Indigo.jpg\" "\\"Hotel")
With the opening of the Intercontinental in Ljubljana, Delta Holding demonstrated how serious it was in terms of expanding into the regional market. What are the next steps in that sense?
\nWe\u2019re building Holiday Inn in Ljubljana in March next year, and that is an investment of EUR 25 million. We\u2019re looking for suitable location in Zagreb because we want to be present in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. We\u2019re close to reaching agreement about the construction of a hotel in Skoplje, which has become an interesting market for us. As for Montenegro\u2019s coastline, we are not interested in this destination because of seasonality and there\u2019s already a sufficient number of hotels in Podgorica.
\nWe\u2019re building Holiday Inn in Ljubljana in March next year, and that is an investment of EUR 25 million.
\nThe Sava Congress Center in Belgrade is a \u02bathorn in the side\u02ba as regards major international congresses and for years, if not decades, and the disproportion between the quality offered by hotels and the Center has been far too obvious. On the other hand, Delta has been releasing information about prospective private-\u00adpublic partnership with the City regarding the Sava Center renovations. Can you see this problem being solved within the next two years?
\nBy the end of the year, the City of Belgrade should invite a tender for the sale of the Save Congress Centre. If this happens, the Delta company will bid because we\u2019re very interested in investing more than EUR 70 million in this project and we want to turn it into state-of\u00ad-the\u00ad-art and premium\u00ad quality congress centre. This much money and plenty of knowledge can be invested only by a large and successful company such as Delta. We want to refurbish it and make it the best congress centre in the Balkans.
\nThe post Whatever You Do, It\u2019s Important to Do Your Best appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Today, Mr Zivorad Vasic is IHG Regional General Manager and manages Crowne Plaza Belgrade, InterContinental Bucharest, Hotel Indigo Belgrade (opening soon), InterContinental Ljubljana, Regent Porto Montenegro and InterContinental Sofia.\nHe started his career in the hospitality industry in America. He brought the know-\u00adhow he acquired there back to Serbia and for 10 years has been successfully implementing it in the work he does. He points out how proud he is of overcoming many obstacles and choices he made. Today, he is trying to give a chance to young people and he therefore carefully observes his team members and identifies where their strengths lie.\n\nIn addition to the enviable level of education you got, what do you feel helped you 10 years ago in Serbia when you first started your career and also helped you establish yourself as one of hospitality industry leaders in the region? \n\nThere are many things that contributed to my success. First of all, there\u2019s work and education, then, I was lucky and what comes in third is the good timing of my return to Belgrade. Back then, the hospitality industry, with new foreign brands, was still in early stages and accordingly there weren\u2019t many people who had an innovative approach to this branch of industry. There weren\u2019t enough educational institutions, schools and universities, which would allow students to acquire necessary skills as is the case today, when besides studying they can also get practical training, which is enormously important for any real expert. I\u2019d say that it was the education that helped me the most on my professional journey, then practice but also social intelligence which is good \u02bapointer\u02ba for decision\u00ad making. I was 30 when I became Manager of the Continental, the biggest hotel in the region at the time. Since the hotel\u2019s occupancy was far from satisfactory, I organized a meeting with the employees and had a talk with them. I asked them if they thought it was better for them to have two occupied rooms at a higher rate or eight occupied rooms at a lower rate. I can tell you that the conclusion we reached then helped me understand why Genex, which once was a large and serious company, collapsed. People wanted to work less, not more. I had come from a regulated system in America, where I advanced step by step and so I gave myself a period of one year to see how I would do on this market. At the time, the Delta company acquired the Continental and basically that\u2019s when my professional development in Serbia started. Back to your question, I will tell you an anecdote which is an excellent illustration of the combination of components I mentioned. I\u2019d known Mr Miskovic by reputation only, as the CEO of the company. Other managers from the company told me that if I did my job properly, my work would for sure be recognized. But despite this, I knew that there was a door I needed to open myself because there was no one else to do it instead of me. He regularly went to hairdresser\u2019s at the Sava Centre\u2019s gangway and I saw that he went there every three weeks. I decided that I would wait for him every time he went there because I knew I had just those 45 seconds when he went up the stairs leading to the parlor and another 45 second when he was on his way down. This was when I spoke to him. And he did indeed recognize in me the desire to develop, learn and make a difference.\n\nThe average rates in Ljubljana and Zagreb are significantly higher compared with Belgrade. A part of the problem is that there are too many hotels in our capital and it is only natural that occupancy is not very high, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The other part of the problem is that we do not appreciate ourselves as much as we should.\nA decade ago, you were one of the first people in the hospitality business to introduce the \u02baValue for Money\u02ba business philosophy. You impacted market changes, you made other people in the industry fight harder for their guests. Are rates in Belgrade today lower compared with the region? \nThe average rates in Ljubljana and Zagreb are significantly higher compared with Belgrade. A part of the problem is that there are too many hotels in our capital and it is only natural that occupancy is not very high, especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The other part of the problem is that we do not appreciate ourselves as much as we should. If all of us join forces and start holding our market in higher regard, we\u2019ll create higher rates. If we do things in this way, and I repeat, we jointly and in a synchronized manner increase rates, within three to four years our rates can be as high as they are in the capitals of Slovenia and Croatia.\nHow important are role models? Do you think that in your case they provided guidance on your professional journey?\n\nBut of course! Throughout my career I have had role models and so, yes, I do think they are very important. I am proud to say that over time the number of these people is getting higher. At first, my role models were my father, who used to tell me that I should always do my best, whatever I did, and my uncle, who made it possible for me to get my education. Later, I met Mr Michael Hickey, General Manager of the Hyatt in Boston, where I worked at the time. I remember that when he promoted me to the Operations Manager, I came to the meeting wearing a black shirt and orange tie. He congratulated me and took me to his office, gave me some money and told me to buy new, white shirts. He taught me that a white shirt will always give you a professional look and I still use that simple trick today. When I came back to Belgrade, I had the privilege of meeting Mr Miskovic and working with the man who introduced really major changes in Serbia. I have learnt a lot from him, not only about business but also how to build personality by acquiring new knowledge. Because what you learn while getting regular education is never enough. Every day is a possibility to learn something new because, as he says, the man\u2019s value is measured by how much he/she knows and basically that\u2019s something no one can take away from you. One of the important things my role models told me was that it is very important to always be determined when taking decisions. If there is a problem, I do whatever I can to solve it as soon as possible. Of course, sometimes there are situations you need to think through, discuss, ask for advice, wait for a while but that too needs to be efficient. Perhaps this is why \u02basleep on it\u02ba has a somewhat different meaning for me. This certainly does not mean that I make decision hastily but let\u2019s just say that I have developed various mechanisms to make them more promptly. As for female role models, they\u2019re my mother and my wife. To cut the story short, what matters is that your role models push you to want more and reach higher.\n\nThe Indigo will be ready for soft opening between May and June next year. The hotel will be telling a \u201cneighborhood story\u201d, rooms will be decorated with details resembling that part of Dorcol, every room will be furnished differently and the entire concept of this hotel will be far from the corporate concept. For example, all items in the minibar will be free of charge.\nIs there something that you believe is specific for Serbian hospitality industry today? \nWhat I have noticed in certain sectors in Serbia, especially in Sales in Marketing, which in my opinion are among the most important in this industry, is that we always see the same people around. I don\u2019t think this is good and I strive to change this. And now I\u2019ll explain how. In our Sales Department, in a team of 15 people there is a manager who used to be a waitress in our New Bar, manager who was a receptionist, manager who worked in the restaurant, manager who wanted to be an actor\u2026 We have literally developed these staff members and all of them are excellent at their jobs. We were not afraid to embrace differences, if I may say so. Managers in Serbia reluctantly give chances to people who\u2019ve never done a certain job. For example, this is something I haven\u2019t noticed anywhere else but here.\nFine Dining Restaurant Prime\nAnother thing that is Serbia\u00ad specific is a result of us not being part of the EU. Belgrade, as opposed to other capitals in the region, has by far the highest number of hotels and foreign hotel chains. This is why people who work here in the hospitality industry find it very hard to leave Serbia and find work in the region because work permit is hard to obtain abroad so they are actually forced to work here for employers who offer higher salaries. This brings us back to what I already noted, that we always see the same people around. They do get higher salaries, they are sought after, but young people have to be given opportunities again and we need to put our trust in them. This is what I call injustice. I believe that the job of a good team leader, or any person holding a higher position within a sector, is to observe and recognize people\u2019s talent and likes and in this manner open new windows of opportunity for young people with potential. I deeply believe in in\u00ad-house promotion.\nThe opening of the Indigo in Belgrade is long\u00ad-awaited. When do you expect that you\u2019ll be able to welcome the hotel\u2019s first guests? \nThe Indigo will be a truly special hotel, its location is Knez Mihailova Street. Construction works are going as planned. I think it\u2019ll be ready for soft opening between May and June next year. The hotel will be telling a \u02baneighbourhood story\u02ba, rooms will be decorated with details resembling that part of Dorcol, every room will be furnished differently and the entire concept of this hotel will be far from the corporate concept. For example, all items in the minibar will be free of charge. What do I mean by this? First of all, atmosphere will be laid back, waiting staff\u2019s uniforms will be jeans, shirts and sports shoes, they\u2019ll be allowed to wear beards/piercings/tattoos. The rooftop restaurant will overlook the entire city and we will serve there something we named \u02baSerbian tapas\u02ba, and there will also be a gin bar. Target group for the Indigo are hedonists who work in the city center and who want to spend time in laid-back atmosphere.\nHotel Indigo\nWith the opening of the Intercontinental in Ljubljana, Delta Holding demonstrated how serious it was in terms of expanding into the regional market. What are the next steps in that sense? \nWe\u2019re building Holiday Inn in Ljubljana in March next year, and that is an investment of EUR 25 million. We\u2019re looking for suitable location in Zagreb because we want to be present in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. We\u2019re close to reaching agreement about the construction of a hotel in Skoplje, which has become an interesting market for us. As for Montenegro\u2019s coastline, we are not interested in this destination because of seasonality and there\u2019s already a sufficient number of hotels in Podgorica.\nWe\u2019re building Holiday Inn in Ljubljana in March next year, and that is an investment of EUR 25 million.\nThe Sava Congress Center in Belgrade is a \u02bathorn in the side\u02ba as regards major international congresses and for years, if not decades, and the disproportion between the quality offered by hotels and the Center has been far too obvious. On the other hand, Delta has been releasing information about prospective private-\u00adpublic partnership with the City regarding the Sava Center renovations. Can you see this problem being solved within the next two years? \nBy the end of the year, the City of Belgrade should invite a tender for the sale of the Save Congress Centre. If this happens, the Delta company will bid because we\u2019re very interested in investing more than EUR 70 million in this project and we want to turn it into state-of\u00ad-the\u00ad-art and premium\u00ad quality congress centre. This much money and plenty of knowledge can be invested only by a large and successful company such as Delta. We want to refurbish it and make it the best congress centre in the Balkans.\nThe post Whatever You Do, It\u2019s Important to Do Your Best appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2019-12-04T14:18:12+01:00", "date_modified": "2019-12-04T14:18:12+01:00", "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/naslovna-119.jpg", "tags": [ "crowne plaza belgrade", "hotel", "INTERVIEW", "Hot topics", "Interviews", "MUST READ" ], "summary": "Today, Mr Zivorad Vasic is IHG Regional General Manager and manages Crowne Plaza Belgrade, InterContinental Bucharest, Hotel Indigo Belgrade (opening soon), InterContinental Ljubljana, Regent Porto Montenegro and InterContinental Sofia." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/making-changes-will-make-the-world-better-place/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/making-changes-will-make-the-world-better-place/", "title": "Making Changes Will Make the World Better Place", "content_html": "Along with his team and Marriott hotel brand he is trying to make the world better place. Read more about it in following lines!
\nWhat would you say that business guests recognize in Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel?
\nThe most recognized quality of our hotel from the beginning till today is the team. We are
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/G-din.-Robert-Gasser.jpg\")
very much focused to create a feeling of coming home for our Marriott Bonvoy and returning guests. We can see the result of being recognized as one of the top two hotels in Europe among 67 Courtyard brand hotels in Europe with highest scores in all segments of our guests\u2019 satisfaction and the convenient location for sure helps attracting guests as well. But when talking about international business guests, our Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty program, recognized as the best hotel loyalty program, with currently over 130 million members and growing, is a strong influence for guests choosing to stay with Marriott.
\nYou are a member of Marriott International for 16 years. What is the thing that connects you and keeps you with this brand?
\nThe Marriott Culture is the main reason why I am still working for Marriott. So far Marriott mostly lived up to the promises given to me 16 years ago. This culture and believe, represented by our Serve360 and Spirit to Serve activities for and with our associates, taking care for the environment where we are acting in, participating and initiating programs for the local society, in our Courtyard Belgrade cases for example with BelHospic, Elderly Home Belgrade, SOS Children Village as global Europe initiative, children shelter and more, is in Marriott\u2019s bloodline and also reflects my own and personal beliefs in helping each other.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/BEGCY-standard_twin_room.jpg\")
This summer you have hosted Food Waste conference, focused on fight against organic waste. What are the steps taken by your hotel to reduce the food waste?
\nMarriott took the lead in the hotel industry to make changes on many procedures and offers supporting the project to protect the environment. We were the first hotel company officially announcing the end of the plastic straws for all 7300+ hotels worldwide by June 2020. The Courtyard Belgrade hotel has eliminated plastic straws already in 2018 and have replaced them with reusable bamboo straws and later metal straws and for events, one time use recyclable paper straws. In 2020 we will also eliminate in all bathrooms the small plastic bottles and replace them with a refillable option. When it comes to food waste control the Courtyard lead the initiative, which was developed by WWF Adria, and became the first and pilot hotel in Serbia focusing on food waste control. The program has been developed to measure pre-\u00adservice and post-service food waste and to reduce it through different mechanism. The first step was to ensure chef\u2019s, waiters and stewards are aware of the food waste production and got techniques taught how food waste can be avoided. So far we were able to see that we have reduced our food waste, after implementing the entire program, by around 12%. Our goal for 2020 is to reduce the entire food waste by additionally 35%.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9566.jpg\")
What is your focus for next year as a team leader?
\n\u00b7 To continue the success story being top ranked hotel in Marriott\u2019s guests satisfaction matrix.
\n\u00b7 Further development of talents for our career pipe line. Both within our hotel as successors of any team members moving forward within Marriott or for associates we developed further in their career, which can then find an opportunity in new projects in Serbia or for those willing to be relocated with in the Balkans or worldwide.
\n\u00b7 To have fun together with the team making #MarriottBonvoyMemories for our guests during their stays.
\n
In terms of business, what do you remember the past 10 years by?
\nI think as a milestone of the overall business I would say it was the very surprising Marriott\u2019s takeover of Starwood. It was so much kept in secret that even long time associates haven\u2019t seen that coming back in 2015. Privately, for sure, it was meeting my wife at work in a Marriott hotel in Munich. She was the Cluster Director of Finance and I was on task force there to analyze and look into F&B performance and improvement opportunities of that particular hotel. She was the reason why later I accepted the job offer at that hotel, where I turned my observations into reality.
\nWhat has your business journey looked like since then?
\nI have started my career as chef apprentice in Germany. After certain locations in Germany I went on to Bermuda Islands to work for an Italian Restaurant Company and after that, I have started my Bachelor study at the Hotel Business and Administration School in Heidelberg/Germany. I have founded my own consulting company which I have sold on a later stage and used the money for a year traveling experience through Australia and Thailand. After my return I have started my second life, which was entering the Marriott family at the Munich Marriott Hotel as Maitre d\u2019 hotel and later becoming F&B Service Manager. From there I have moved with Marriott to Shanghai as Director of Restaurants, further to Beijing for an opening of a 1,312 bedrooms Marriott hotel in 2008 for the Olympic Games, back for another opening of a 400 bedroom hotel in Shanghai before my way brought me back to Europe with signing as Director of F&B at the Copenhagen Marriott. After Copenhagen, my way brought me to Lisbon, back to Munich, further to Istanbul before arriving three years ago as GM at the Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel.
\nWhat are you particularly proud of from the last decade?
\nI am very proud that I have achieved the position of GM based on solely my hard work I have put in for and with Marriott. I was able to develop in all my stations so many young talents which have continued their caeer with Marriott and most of them officially call me \u02bamentor\u02ba and still keep in touch with me. Makes me feel old by now, but it still brings great satisfaction. Secondly, I am very proud what we as a team have achieved at the Courtyard Belgrade Hotel over the last years. In 2017, we have achieved 15 local and international awards for different kind of achievements
\nThe post Making Changes Will Make the World Better Place appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Mr Robert Gasser, GM of Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel, is part of the Marriott family for 16 years.\nAlong with his team and Marriott hotel brand he is trying to make the world better place. Read more about it in following lines!\nWhat would you say that business guests recognize in Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel? \nThe most recognized quality of our hotel from the beginning till today is the team. We are\nMr Robert Gasser\nvery much focused to create a feeling of coming home for our Marriott Bonvoy and returning guests. We can see the result of being recognized as one of the top two hotels in Europe among 67 Courtyard brand hotels in Europe with highest scores in all segments of our guests\u2019 satisfaction and the convenient location for sure helps attracting guests as well. But when talking about international business guests, our Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty program, recognized as the best hotel loyalty program, with currently over 130 million members and growing, is a strong influence for guests choosing to stay with Marriott.\nYou are a member of Marriott International for 16 years. What is the thing that connects you and keeps you with this brand? \nThe Marriott Culture is the main reason why I am still working for Marriott. So far Marriott mostly lived up to the promises given to me 16 years ago. This culture and believe, represented by our Serve360 and Spirit to Serve activities for and with our associates, taking care for the environment where we are acting in, participating and initiating programs for the local society, in our Courtyard Belgrade cases for example with BelHospic, Elderly Home Belgrade, SOS Children Village as global Europe initiative, children shelter and more, is in Marriott\u2019s bloodline and also reflects my own and personal beliefs in helping each other.\n\nThis summer you have hosted Food Waste conference, focused on fight against organic waste. What are the steps taken by your hotel to reduce the food waste? \nMarriott took the lead in the hotel industry to make changes on many procedures and offers supporting the project to protect the environment. We were the first hotel company officially announcing the end of the plastic straws for all 7300+ hotels worldwide by June 2020. The Courtyard Belgrade hotel has eliminated plastic straws already in 2018 and have replaced them with reusable bamboo straws and later metal straws and for events, one time use recyclable paper straws. In 2020 we will also eliminate in all bathrooms the small plastic bottles and replace them with a refillable option. When it comes to food waste control the Courtyard lead the initiative, which was developed by WWF Adria, and became the first and pilot hotel in Serbia focusing on food waste control. The program has been developed to measure pre-\u00adservice and post-service food waste and to reduce it through different mechanism. The first step was to ensure chef\u2019s, waiters and stewards are aware of the food waste production and got techniques taught how food waste can be avoided. So far we were able to see that we have reduced our food waste, after implementing the entire program, by around 12%. Our goal for 2020 is to reduce the entire food waste by additionally 35%.\n\nWhat is your focus for next year as a team leader? \n\u00b7 To continue the success story being top ranked hotel in Marriott\u2019s guests satisfaction matrix.\n\u00b7 Further development of talents for our career pipe line. Both within our hotel as successors of any team members moving forward within Marriott or for associates we developed further in their career, which can then find an opportunity in new projects in Serbia or for those willing to be relocated with in the Balkans or worldwide.\n\u00b7 To have fun together with the team making #MarriottBonvoyMemories for our guests during their stays.\n\nIn terms of business, what do you remember the past 10 years by? \nI think as a milestone of the overall business I would say it was the very surprising Marriott\u2019s takeover of Starwood. It was so much kept in secret that even long time associates haven\u2019t seen that coming back in 2015. Privately, for sure, it was meeting my wife at work in a Marriott hotel in Munich. She was the Cluster Director of Finance and I was on task force there to analyze and look into F&B performance and improvement opportunities of that particular hotel. She was the reason why later I accepted the job offer at that hotel, where I turned my observations into reality.\nWhat has your business journey looked like since then? \nI have started my career as chef apprentice in Germany. After certain locations in Germany I went on to Bermuda Islands to work for an Italian Restaurant Company and after that, I have started my Bachelor study at the Hotel Business and Administration School in Heidelberg/Germany. I have founded my own consulting company which I have sold on a later stage and used the money for a year traveling experience through Australia and Thailand. After my return I have started my second life, which was entering the Marriott family at the Munich Marriott Hotel as Maitre d\u2019 hotel and later becoming F&B Service Manager. From there I have moved with Marriott to Shanghai as Director of Restaurants, further to Beijing for an opening of a 1,312 bedrooms Marriott hotel in 2008 for the Olympic Games, back for another opening of a 400 bedroom hotel in Shanghai before my way brought me back to Europe with signing as Director of F&B at the Copenhagen Marriott. After Copenhagen, my way brought me to Lisbon, back to Munich, further to Istanbul before arriving three years ago as GM at the Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel.\nWhat are you particularly proud of from the last decade? \nI am very proud that I have achieved the position of GM based on solely my hard work I have put in for and with Marriott. I was able to develop in all my stations so many young talents which have continued their caeer with Marriott and most of them officially call me \u02bamentor\u02ba and still keep in touch with me. Makes me feel old by now, but it still brings great satisfaction. Secondly, I am very proud what we as a team have achieved at the Courtyard Belgrade Hotel over the last years. In 2017, we have achieved 15 local and international awards for different kind of achievements\nThe post Making Changes Will Make the World Better Place appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2019-11-20T13:51:41+01:00", "date_modified": "2019-11-20T13:56:06+01:00", "author": { "name": "Milica Novak", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/milicanovak/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Milica-Novak.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-115.jpg", "tags": [ "hotel", "INTERVIEW", "Interviews", "MUST READ" ], "summary": "Mr Robert Gasser, GM of Courtyard Belgrade City Center Hotel, is part of the Marriott family for 16 years." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/salzburg-congress-a-green-location-certificate-owner/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/salzburg-congress-a-green-location-certificate-owner/", "title": "Salzburg Congress \u2013 a Green Location Certificate Owner", "content_html": "Also, it is becoming more and more popular with event organizers since Salzburg Congress is a proud owner of Green Location certificate. On that issue and others regarding \u201cgreen activities\u201d, we have discussed with CEO at Salzburg Congress, Mr. Herbert Brugger.
\n![\"Mr](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Gospodin-Herbert-Brugger-Generalni-menad\u017eer-Salzburg-Congress-centra.jpg\" "\\"Mr")
As our cover story for this issue are CSR activities, one of them are definitely Green Meetings. Could You tell us more about your Green Meeting Certificate?
\nEnvironmental protection and ecological sustainability are issues of ever-increasing significance \u2013 and that\u2019s certainly the case as regards the staging of events and congresses. Salzburg Congress is a certified \u201cGreen Location\u201d, which in turn entitles us to issue certificates for events that qualify as \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d \u2013 guaranteeing an honest approach to events that meet the very highest standards. \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d enhance credibility by signalizing the fact that a company or organization is prepared to be subjected to scrutiny by a third party in order to benefit the environment. At certified events the participants are directed to EcoLabel hotels, the catering companies are obliged to used regionally farmed and sourced products, FSC-certified pens are used, and there is a conscious effort to avoid the use of large amounts of paper and other materials.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/paracelsussaal.jpg\")
Do the event organizers recognize the importance of Green Meetings and in which extent?
\nGreen meetings and events are far more than a trend and have long since become a matter of honor in the event sector. They are a clear sign that organizers are taking the issues of quality, energy consumption and environmental management very seriously and wish to set a good example for others.
\nPlease describe how does Green Meeting look like at Salzburg Congress?
\nThere is comprehensive list of criteria to work through in order to gain certification as a Green Meeting at Salzburg Congress. At the time the contract is signed the managers of the event are expected to inform Salzburg Congress as to whether the event should be held subject to the principles of ecological sustainability. This gives the organizers plenty of time
\nto advertise the \u201cGreen Meeting / Green Event\u201d status when attracting participants, speakers and other event partners.
![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/europa_saal_3.jpg\")
Regarding activities, tell us about the trend towards internationalization at Salzburg Congress?
\nThe proportion of international and Europe-wide congresses being held at Salzburg Congress is increasing steadily. In 2017 that share was at around 75%. Significant investment in technological infrastructure has enabled the facility to meet the highest expectations of even the most technically demanding congresses. So far this year we have been very pleased with
\nthe degree of capacity utilization. The quality and scale of the events have been well-suited to the facility and they fit perfectly into our portfolio. There is a good balance between new and regular customers. In particular, the latter appreciate the standard of technical infrastructure and the way in which we have continued to develop the venue. In fact, on a technical level, we have always made sure we are one step ahead of the trends, which is something that has already gained us an international reputation.
![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/vorplatz_salzburgcongress.jpg\")
Could You tell our readers something about future plans in terms of \u201cgreen activities\u201d?
\nOur goal is to preserve natural resources, and to optimize energy efficiency and regional profit generation. This strategy has the utmost priority in a city like Salzburg, whose beautiful old town is a registered UNESCO world heritage site. Every day we take on and share this responsibility with our suppliers and service providers, associates, customers and our dedicated team of employees to guarantee the conceptual and practical implementation of \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d. It\u2019s a job we live and breathe!
\nThe post Salzburg Congress \u2013 a Green Location Certificate Owner appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Salzburg is a city in central Austria, at the northern edge of the Alps. It is a very popular tourist destination for its Baroque architecture and general prettiness and is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.\nAlso, it is becoming more and more popular with event organizers since Salzburg Congress is a proud owner of Green Location certificate. On that issue and others regarding \u201cgreen activities\u201d, we have discussed with CEO at Salzburg Congress, Mr. Herbert Brugger.\nMr Herbert Brugger, CEO at Salzburg Congress\nAs our cover story for this issue are CSR activities, one of them are definitely Green Meetings. Could You tell us more about your Green Meeting Certificate?\nEnvironmental protection and ecological sustainability are issues of ever-increasing significance \u2013 and that\u2019s certainly the case as regards the staging of events and congresses. Salzburg Congress is a certified \u201cGreen Location\u201d, which in turn entitles us to issue certificates for events that qualify as \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d \u2013 guaranteeing an honest approach to events that meet the very highest standards. \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d enhance credibility by signalizing the fact that a company or organization is prepared to be subjected to scrutiny by a third party in order to benefit the environment. At certified events the participants are directed to EcoLabel hotels, the catering companies are obliged to used regionally farmed and sourced products, FSC-certified pens are used, and there is a conscious effort to avoid the use of large amounts of paper and other materials.\n\nDo the event organizers recognize the importance of Green Meetings and in which extent?\nGreen meetings and events are far more than a trend and have long since become a matter of honor in the event sector. They are a clear sign that organizers are taking the issues of quality, energy consumption and environmental management very seriously and wish to set a good example for others.\nPlease describe how does Green Meeting look like at Salzburg Congress?\nThere is comprehensive list of criteria to work through in order to gain certification as a Green Meeting at Salzburg Congress. At the time the contract is signed the managers of the event are expected to inform Salzburg Congress as to whether the event should be held subject to the principles of ecological sustainability. This gives the organizers plenty of time\nto advertise the \u201cGreen Meeting / Green Event\u201d status when attracting participants, speakers and other event partners.\n\nRegarding activities, tell us about the trend towards internationalization at Salzburg Congress?\nThe proportion of international and Europe-wide congresses being held at Salzburg Congress is increasing steadily. In 2017 that share was at around 75%. Significant investment in technological infrastructure has enabled the facility to meet the highest expectations of even the most technically demanding congresses. So far this year we have been very pleased with\nthe degree of capacity utilization. The quality and scale of the events have been well-suited to the facility and they fit perfectly into our portfolio. There is a good balance between new and regular customers. In particular, the latter appreciate the standard of technical infrastructure and the way in which we have continued to develop the venue. In fact, on a technical level, we have always made sure we are one step ahead of the trends, which is something that has already gained us an international reputation.\n\nCould You tell our readers something about future plans in terms of \u201cgreen activities\u201d?\nOur goal is to preserve natural resources, and to optimize energy efficiency and regional profit generation. This strategy has the utmost priority in a city like Salzburg, whose beautiful old town is a registered UNESCO world heritage site. Every day we take on and share this responsibility with our suppliers and service providers, associates, customers and our dedicated team of employees to guarantee the conceptual and practical implementation of \u201cGreen Meetings\u201d and \u201cGreen Events\u201d. It\u2019s a job we live and breathe!\nThe post Salzburg Congress \u2013 a Green Location Certificate Owner appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2018-11-21T10:49:22+01:00", "date_modified": "2018-11-21T10:49:22+01:00", "author": { "name": "Milica Novak", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/milicanovak/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Milica-Novak.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-61.jpg", "tags": [ "green location", "INTERVIEW", "salzburg", "Destinations", "Interviews", "MUST READ", "NEWS" ] }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/expect-leading-international-event-meetings-events-industry/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/expect-leading-international-event-meetings-events-industry/", "title": "What to Expect on Leading International Event for Meetings and Events Industry?", "content_html": "SEEbtm:\u00a0How many exhibitors and buyers\u00a0do you expect this year at ibtm world?
\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0ibtm world is the leading international\u00a0annual event for the meetings\u00a0and events industry and is also the\u00a0flagship of the ibtm events portfolio.\u00a0Thousands of products and services\u00a0that support the sector come together\u00a0in Barcelona each year.
\nOn average there are 3,000 exhibitors\u00a0representing international DMC\u2019s,\u00a0hotels, destinations, CVB\u2019s, venues,\u00a0event services, technology companies,\u00a0PCO\u2019s and brands that are\u00a0integral\u00a0to the industry.
With Hosted Buyers and trade visitors,\u00a0ibtm world creates a community\u00a0of some 15,500 industry professionals\u00a0doing business, networking\u00a0and joining the education sessions.
\nSEEbtm:\u00a0Can you tell us something about\u00a0the profile of the buyers? Are buyers\u00a0mainly corporate or Associations, the\u00a0average size group and similar?
\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0To be accepted onto the ibtm world\u00a0Hosted Buyer programme all\u00a0applicants\u00a0are required to demonstrate\u00a0that they have responsibility\u00a0for placing international business.
\nThe profile of the buyers include\u00a0association, corporates, PCO\u2019s and\u00a0agencies and have a number of job\u00a0roles but they all have to qualify\u00a0their eligibility based around a set\u00a0of criteria including their annual\u00a0budgets,\u00a0purchasing authority and\u00a0future business objectives.
\nibtm world does work with selected\u00a0Group Co-ordinators who commit\u00a0to recruit 10 or more senior level\u00a0buyers to attend with them at the\u00a0event. Equally over 20% of the\u00a0programme\u00a0is based on individuals\u00a0who prefer to create their own\u00a0timetable\u00a0at the show. With some\u00a04,000 places available the international\u00a0team behind the creation of\u00a0the Hosted Buyer programme looks\u00a0to qualify attendees from all over\u00a0the world.
Those wanting to apply\u00a0to attend ibtm world 2016 or find\u00a0out more about the programme can\u00a0email ibtmworld.hosted@reedeco.uk
\n![\"ibtm](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IBTMWORLD_OPENING.jpg\")
SEEbtm:\u00a0If you could single out one current\u00a0trend with the deepest influence\u00a0(by your opinion) in the meetings\u00a0industry, what would it be?
\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0Probably the one that seems to\u00a0dominate\u00a0the most right now is\u00a0the continuing advancements and\u00a0innovation\u00a0that technology brings\u00a0to this sector.
\nTechnology has been the number\u00a0one driver of change for this industry\u00a0with so many influencing\u00a0factors\u00a0that require event planners\u00a0and producers to think more about\u00a0how best to engage audiences.
\nMeetings planners all across the\u00a0globe are placing more and more\u00a0emphasis on incorporating the\u00a0latest\u00a0technological inventions into\u00a0their meetings and events.
Rob Davidson, Managing Director\u00a0of MICE Knowledge predicted in\u00a0his 2015 Trends Watch Report that\u00a0communications technology was\u00a0one of the top sectors to experience\u00a0growth in 2015 and that as technology\u00a0continues to advance, cyber\u00a0security is becoming an increasingly\u00a0important issue among MICE professionals;\u00a0over 44% of technology\u00a0company CEOs regard information\u00a0security (cyber) risk as the biggest\u00a0risk to their organization.
\nDavidson\u2019s research also concluded\u00a0that fostering innovation and implementing\u00a0disruptive technologies are\u00a0the top strategic priorities and seen\u00a0as a key strategy for growth.
\nFor example, over 50% of technology\u00a0CEOs are devoting significant\u00a0capital to new product development\u00a0and the same percentage are\u00a0investing\u00a0in machine-to-machine\u00a0technologies, industrial intranets\u00a0and other aspects of technology.
![\"ibtm](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IBTM-WORLD-2016.png\")
To support this sector and the\u00a0need\u00a0for the industry to keep up\u00a0to date with it all, we have focused\u00a0on showing technology \u201clive\u201d in an\u00a0area we call ibtm world Innovation\u00a0Zone. It is here where attendees\u00a0can experience, interact with, and\u00a0learn about the latest technology\u00a0innovations and revolutionary\u00a0solutions.
\nEach year our independent\u00a0panel of judges shortlist ten\u00a0applicants for the Technology and\u00a0Innovation Watch Award who are\u00a0then given the opportunity to conduct\u00a0live demonstrations of their\u00a0\u201cwinning\u201d products to attendees.
Applications for the ibtm world Innovation\u00a0Zone will go live this summer\u00a0and we can\u2019t wait to see who\u00a0the next 10 rising event technology\u00a0stars will be at this year\u2019s show!
\nSEEbtm:\u00a0And one short question for the\u00a0end, why did EIBTM changed its\u00a0name to ibtm?
\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0The change took place 2 years ago\u00a0and was part of an overall re brand\u00a0for the global portfolio of events.
\nIt became crucial that each event\u00a0had a clear position in the market,\u00a0locally, regionally and internationally,\u00a0ensuring that our flagship event\u00a0in Barcelona was positioned and\u00a0branded\u00a0as the \u201cworld event\u201d \u2013\u00a0hence ibtm world.
The post What to Expect on Leading International Event for Meetings and Events Industry? appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "This year ibtm world will be held from 29th November to 1st December, at convention\u00a0center Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. For this number of SEEbtm magazine we talked\u00a0with Mr. Graeme Barnett, Senior Exhibition Director, who gave us some insights\u00a0of the ibtm world, as well as his opinion about new trends in MICE industry.\nSEEbtm:\u00a0How many exhibitors and buyers\u00a0do you expect this year at ibtm world?\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0ibtm world is the leading international\u00a0annual event for the meetings\u00a0and events industry and is also the\u00a0flagship of the ibtm events portfolio.\u00a0Thousands of products and services\u00a0that support the sector come together\u00a0in Barcelona each year.\nOn average there are 3,000 exhibitors\u00a0representing international DMC\u2019s,\u00a0hotels, destinations, CVB\u2019s, venues,\u00a0event services, technology companies,\u00a0PCO\u2019s and brands that are\u00a0integral\u00a0to the industry.\nWith Hosted Buyers and trade visitors,\u00a0ibtm world creates a community\u00a0of some 15,500 industry professionals\u00a0doing business, networking\u00a0and joining the education sessions.\nSEEbtm:\u00a0Can you tell us something about\u00a0the profile of the buyers? Are buyers\u00a0mainly corporate or Associations, the\u00a0average size group and similar?\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0To be accepted onto the ibtm world\u00a0Hosted Buyer programme all\u00a0applicants\u00a0are required to demonstrate\u00a0that they have responsibility\u00a0for placing international business.\nThe profile of the buyers include\u00a0association, corporates, PCO\u2019s and\u00a0agencies and have a number of job\u00a0roles but they all have to qualify\u00a0their eligibility based around a set\u00a0of criteria including their annual\u00a0budgets,\u00a0purchasing authority and\u00a0future business objectives.\nibtm world does work with selected\u00a0Group Co-ordinators who commit\u00a0to recruit 10 or more senior level\u00a0buyers to attend with them at the\u00a0event. Equally over 20% of the\u00a0programme\u00a0is based on individuals\u00a0who prefer to create their own\u00a0timetable\u00a0at the show. With some\u00a04,000 places available the international\u00a0team behind the creation of\u00a0the Hosted Buyer programme looks\u00a0to qualify attendees from all over\u00a0the world. \nThose wanting to apply\u00a0to attend ibtm world 2016 or find\u00a0out more about the programme can\u00a0email ibtmworld.hosted@reedeco.uk\nibtm world – openning 2015\nSEEbtm:\u00a0If you could single out one current\u00a0trend with the deepest influence\u00a0(by your opinion) in the meetings\u00a0industry, what would it be?\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0Probably the one that seems to\u00a0dominate\u00a0the most right now is\u00a0the continuing advancements and\u00a0innovation\u00a0that technology brings\u00a0to this sector.\nTechnology has been the number\u00a0one driver of change for this industry\u00a0with so many influencing\u00a0factors\u00a0that require event planners\u00a0and producers to think more about\u00a0how best to engage audiences.\nMeetings planners all across the\u00a0globe are placing more and more\u00a0emphasis on incorporating the\u00a0latest\u00a0technological inventions into\u00a0their meetings and events.\nRob Davidson, Managing Director\u00a0of MICE Knowledge predicted in\u00a0his 2015 Trends Watch Report that\u00a0communications technology was\u00a0one of the top sectors to experience\u00a0growth in 2015 and that as technology\u00a0continues to advance, cyber\u00a0security is becoming an increasingly\u00a0important issue among MICE professionals;\u00a0over 44% of technology\u00a0company CEOs regard information\u00a0security (cyber) risk as the biggest\u00a0risk to their organization.\nDavidson\u2019s research also concluded\u00a0that fostering innovation and implementing\u00a0disruptive technologies are\u00a0the top strategic priorities and seen\u00a0as a key strategy for growth.\nFor example, over 50% of technology\u00a0CEOs are devoting significant\u00a0capital to new product development\u00a0and the same percentage are\u00a0investing\u00a0in machine-to-machine\u00a0technologies, industrial intranets\u00a0and other aspects of technology.\nibtm world 2016\nTo support this sector and the\u00a0need\u00a0for the industry to keep up\u00a0to date with it all, we have focused\u00a0on showing technology \u201clive\u201d in an\u00a0area we call ibtm world Innovation\u00a0Zone. It is here where attendees\u00a0can experience, interact with, and\u00a0learn about the latest technology\u00a0innovations and revolutionary\u00a0solutions.\nEach year our independent\u00a0panel of judges shortlist ten\u00a0applicants for the Technology and\u00a0Innovation Watch Award who are\u00a0then given the opportunity to conduct\u00a0live demonstrations of their\u00a0\u201cwinning\u201d products to attendees.\nApplications for the ibtm world Innovation\u00a0Zone will go live this summer\u00a0and we can\u2019t wait to see who\u00a0the next 10 rising event technology\u00a0stars will be at this year\u2019s show!\nSEEbtm:\u00a0And one short question for the\u00a0end, why did EIBTM changed its\u00a0name to ibtm?\nGraeme Barnett:\u00a0The change took place 2 years ago\u00a0and was part of an overall re brand\u00a0for the global portfolio of events.\nIt became crucial that each event\u00a0had a clear position in the market,\u00a0locally, regionally and internationally,\u00a0ensuring that our flagship event\u00a0in Barcelona was positioned and\u00a0branded\u00a0as the \u201cworld event\u201d \u2013\u00a0hence ibtm world.\nThe post What to Expect on Leading International Event for Meetings and Events Industry? appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2016-07-26T15:14:22+02:00", "date_modified": "2016-07-26T15:14:22+02:00", "author": { "name": "Miona Milic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/miona/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20240224-WA0003-e1728981138373.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IBTMWORLD-MLS1.png", "tags": [ "barcelona", "Graeme Barnett", "hosted buyer", "ibtm world", "INTERVIEW", "Interviews", "Trade Shows" ] }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/conference-industry-a-major-asset-of-falkensteiner-hotel-belgrade/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/conference-industry-a-major-asset-of-falkensteiner-hotel-belgrade/", "title": "Conference industry a major asset of Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade", "content_html": "Hotel offers a modern design, comfort, excellent service and a high level of conference\u00a0space functionality.
\nPerfect for business travel and conferences as well as for sightseeing trip to this\u00a0booming metropolis in the Balkans.
1. Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade****s\u00a0operates since December 2012. Could you look back on current business\u00a0and tell us what are the plans for\u00a0the future?
\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade has celebrated\u00a0its second birthday in December\u00a0last year. We are very satisfied\u00a0with the results we achieved which\u00a0are quite good for the first two years\u00a0of business. With its modern design,\u00a0excellent service and teamwork above\u00a0all, hotel has been a real novelty\u00a0among the other city hotels and we\u00a0are very pleased that the guests have\u00a0recognized it.
\nSo far, the hotel has been visited by\u00a0many guests from all around the Europe\u00a0and Serbia. We are very satisfied\u00a0with the positive response from all\u00a0the guests who stayed in our hotel.
\nHowever, there is always space for further\u00a0development.\u00a0As for our future plans, they have been\u00a0clearly specified in the business\u00a0strategy of the hotel.
\nThe main goal of Falkensteiner Hotel\u00a0Belgrade is to develop itself as the\u00a0market leader in the segment of corporate\u00a0guests.
\nThat means that our attention will be\u00a0turned mainly to business travellers\u00a0and conference industry, but our offer\u00a0will certainly include all the comfort\u00a0that the foreign enthusiasts of\u00a0the city tourism require.
Therefore every month, we are trying\u00a0to attract individual guests, with new\u00a0and attractive offers.
\n2. You mentioned that the main objective\u00a0of the Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade\u00a0is to become a leader in corporate\u00a0guests segment and conference\u00a0industry. What are the main advantages\u00a0of the hotel on the basis of which\u00a0you implement these objectives?
\nWhen it comes to the meeting and\u00a0events, in such a short time Falkensteiner\u00a0Hotel Belgrade has taken a\u00a0competitive spot in Serbian capital\u00a0with its excellent service in congress\u00a0tourism.
\nOur hotel offers first class conference\u00a0facilities spread across 700 square meters.
\nThere are also two boardrooms with\u00a0the capacity up to 12 and 16 people,\u00a0and each room is equipped with the\u00a0most modern technology, such as\u00a0LED screen, video projector, flipcharts\u00a0and other necessities.
\nBesides, Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade\u00a0is situated in the heart of business\u00a0and commercial zone of New Belgrade,\u00a0near the city centre and big shopping\u00a0centres, with great connection\u00a0to the airport, which is at the same\u00a0time a great advantage of every business hotel.
\nCompared to our competitors, our hotel\u00a0offers a wider selection and higher\u00a0quality of services with an excellent\u00a0combination of the traditional hospitality\u00a0and the modern world trends.\u00a0Belgrade, as the regional city, has strong\u00a0needs for such hotel especially\u00a0now, with omnipresent increasing trends\u00a0of new investments.
\nFrom small business meetings, press\u00a0conferences, seminars and congresses\u00a0to weddings, Falekensteiner Hotel\u00a0Belgrade provides a \u201cturn-key\u201d service\u00a0where\u00a0our expert sales team takes\u00a0over organization of the events from\u00a0the idea to the realization, in accordance\u00a0with the wishes and the requirements\u00a0of clients.
\n![\"Falkensteiner](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/falkensteiner-hotel-belgrade-meeting-room2.jpg\" "\\"Falkensteiner")
3. Could you point out some of the events\u00a0organized in your hotel that you\u00a0are particularly proud of?
\nOne of the biggest events held in Belgrade\u00a0was the Third Meeting of Heads\u00a0of Government of China and Central\u00a0and Eastern Europe in December\u00a02014.
\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade hosted\u00a015 Prime Ministers and delegations of\u00a0countries participating the meeting,\u00a0during which bilateral meetings were\u00a0also organized in the hotel.
\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade is also\u00a0known as a host of many sport events\u00a0in the country.
\nBeside tennis national team during\u00a0Davis Cup and national teams of World\u00a0Women\u2019s Handball Championship,\u00a0hotel hosted national teams of European\u00a0Rowing Championship in 2014.
\n\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade is a\u00a0superior four star hotel which enchants\u00a0with its impressive futuristic\u00a0exterior furnished with the supreme\u00a0equipment and warm atmosphere.\u00a0170 rooms and suites, out of which\u00a028 Luxurious Royal rooms, 7 Junior\u00a0Suites and 1 Senior Suite, with the\u00a0saloon for cigar lovers, business saloon\u00a0with a balcony on the 9th floor,\u00a0the City SPA centre, as well as the\u00a0conference space with banquet\u00a0hall\u00a0on 700 square meters, these are all\u00a0key elements of the hotel.
\n
\n The entire project and modern design\u00a0with its various purposes in the\u00a0business zone of Belgrade, was created\u00a0by Boris Podrecca, the worldwide\u00a0famous architect.
The post Conference industry a major asset of Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "This new city hotel is in Belgrade\u2019s vibrant business and entertainment district,\u00a0close to the city centre and with a great connection to the airport.\nHotel offers a modern design, comfort, excellent service and a high level of conference\u00a0space functionality.\nPerfect for business travel and conferences as well as for sightseeing trip to this\u00a0booming metropolis in the Balkans.\n1. Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade****s\u00a0operates since December 2012. Could you look back on current business\u00a0and tell us what are the plans for\u00a0the future?\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade has celebrated\u00a0its second birthday in December\u00a0last year. We are very satisfied\u00a0with the results we achieved which\u00a0are quite good for the first two years\u00a0of business. With its modern design,\u00a0excellent service and teamwork above\u00a0all, hotel has been a real novelty\u00a0among the other city hotels and we\u00a0are very pleased that the guests have\u00a0recognized it.\nSo far, the hotel has been visited by\u00a0many guests from all around the Europe\u00a0and Serbia. We are very satisfied\u00a0with the positive response from all\u00a0the guests who stayed in our hotel.\nHowever, there is always space for further\u00a0development.\u00a0As for our future plans, they have been\u00a0clearly specified in the business\u00a0strategy of the hotel.\nThe main goal of Falkensteiner Hotel\u00a0Belgrade is to develop itself as the\u00a0market leader in the segment of corporate\u00a0guests.\nThat means that our attention will be\u00a0turned mainly to business travellers\u00a0and conference industry, but our offer\u00a0will certainly include all the comfort\u00a0that the foreign enthusiasts of\u00a0the city tourism require.\nTherefore every month, we are trying\u00a0to attract individual guests, with new\u00a0and attractive offers.\n2. You mentioned that the main objective\u00a0of the Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade\u00a0is to become a leader in corporate\u00a0guests segment and conference\u00a0industry. What are the main advantages\u00a0of the hotel on the basis of which\u00a0you implement these objectives?\nWhen it comes to the meeting and\u00a0events, in such a short time Falkensteiner\u00a0Hotel Belgrade has taken a\u00a0competitive spot in Serbian capital\u00a0with its excellent service in congress\u00a0tourism.\nOur hotel offers first class conference\u00a0facilities spread across 700 square meters.\nAll clients can choose between\u00a0four conference rooms with the capacity\u00a0up to 150 people, and which,\u00a0upon the wish of our clients, can be\u00a0combined by moveable walls. \nThere are also two boardrooms with\u00a0the capacity up to 12 and 16 people,\u00a0and each room is equipped with the\u00a0most modern technology, such as\u00a0LED screen, video projector, flipcharts\u00a0and other necessities.\nBesides, Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade\u00a0is situated in the heart of business\u00a0and commercial zone of New Belgrade,\u00a0near the city centre and big shopping\u00a0centres, with great connection\u00a0to the airport, which is at the same\u00a0time a great advantage of every business hotel.\nCompared to our competitors, our hotel\u00a0offers a wider selection and higher\u00a0quality of services with an excellent\u00a0combination of the traditional hospitality\u00a0and the modern world trends.\u00a0Belgrade, as the regional city, has strong\u00a0needs for such hotel especially\u00a0now, with omnipresent increasing trends\u00a0of new investments.\nFrom small business meetings, press\u00a0conferences, seminars and congresses\u00a0to weddings, Falekensteiner Hotel\u00a0Belgrade provides a \u201cturn-key\u201d service\u00a0where\u00a0our expert sales team takes\u00a0over organization of the events from\u00a0the idea to the realization, in accordance\u00a0with the wishes and the requirements\u00a0of clients.\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade – meeting room\n3. Could you point out some of the events\u00a0organized in your hotel that you\u00a0are particularly proud of?\nOne of the biggest events held in Belgrade\u00a0was the Third Meeting of Heads\u00a0of Government of China and Central\u00a0and Eastern Europe in December\u00a02014.\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade hosted\u00a015 Prime Ministers and delegations of\u00a0countries participating the meeting,\u00a0during which bilateral meetings were\u00a0also organized in the hotel.\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade is also\u00a0known as a host of many sport events\u00a0in the country.\nBeside tennis national team during\u00a0Davis Cup and national teams of World\u00a0Women\u2019s Handball Championship,\u00a0hotel hosted national teams of European\u00a0Rowing Championship in 2014.\n\nFalkensteiner Hotel Belgrade is a\u00a0superior four star hotel which enchants\u00a0with its impressive futuristic\u00a0exterior furnished with the supreme\u00a0equipment and warm atmosphere.\u00a0170 rooms and suites, out of which\u00a028 Luxurious Royal rooms, 7 Junior\u00a0Suites and 1 Senior Suite, with the\u00a0saloon for cigar lovers, business saloon\u00a0with a balcony on the 9th floor,\u00a0the City SPA centre, as well as the\u00a0conference space with banquet\u00a0hall\u00a0on 700 square meters, these are all\u00a0key elements of the hotel.\n The entire project and modern design\u00a0with its various purposes in the\u00a0business zone of Belgrade, was created\u00a0by Boris Podrecca, the worldwide\u00a0famous architect.\n\nThe post Conference industry a major asset of Falkensteiner Hotel Belgrade appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2015-03-23T16:37:04+01:00", "date_modified": "2017-03-22T11:19:07+01:00", "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/aleksandar_vasilijevic_251113_tw1024.jpg", "tags": [ "belgrade", "conference rooms", "fALKENSTEINER HOTEL BELGRADE", "hotel", "INTERVIEW", "meetings industry", "Hotels and venues", "Interviews" ] }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/zagreb-steadily-growing-in-mice/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/zagreb-steadily-growing-in-mice/", "title": "ZAGREB STEADILY GROWING IN MICE", "content_html": "![\"Zlatan](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/zlatan_muftic-2.jpg\" "\\"Zlatan")
1. Could you present the Zagreb convention offer in three main points?
\nIn the first place, Zagreb has a diversified high-quality offer. Most convention capacities are concentrated in 5- and 4-star hotels, with global brands present as another asset.
\nIt is the very segment where we have a high ranking as a destination.
\nThe international airport Zagreb and its connection to all major European cities and hubs is what makes Zagreb accessible from any part of the world all year long.
\nZagreb is the centre of the economic, academic and scientific life of Croatia, one of the major factors in attracting conventions and other types of meetings. The most important component is no other than people.
\nMany scientists and professors of international stature and careers are a major asset of Croatia\u2019s capital.
\n2. What\u2019s the biggest impression Zagreb made on the event organizers?
\nOpenness and hospitability of their hosts \u2013 from technical staff to citizens of Zagreb who are always willing and glad to assist our city\u2019s guests, as well as the combination of the city\u2019s organizational capacities and its beauty and safety.
\nGuests are enthralled to be able to use breaks from lectures or business arrangements and visit the city\u2019s main attractions in relatively short time. Equally important is the sense of safety that guests feel in our city, which is quite relevant an issue now that safety is in focus.
\n![\"Mimara](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Westin-Hotel-_-Mimara-Museum.jpg\")
3. Zagreb also offers special convention venues. How much has this offer added to attracting event organisers to Zagreb?
Special venues such as museums, theatres, archives or historic halls are becoming more important as part of our convention offer.
\nNamely, most convention organisers wish to organise at least one of their events, either an opening ceremony, gala dinner or a farewell party, outside traditional hotel venues.
\nZagreb has this great advantage to feature in the very city centre \u2013 just a short stroll away from most convention hotels \u2013 a wide choice of such special halls being easily accessible and requiring virtually no transportation at all.
\n4. According to the 2013 ICCA statistics, Zagreb is ranked 79th in the world, that is a leap of 55 places in one year only. What\u2019s your comment on this result?
\n![\"Zagreb](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Zagreb-Panorama.jpg\")
At numerous MICE exchanges and workshops, we are witnessing a growing interest in Zagreb and Croatia, as confirmed by the above data.
ICCA statistics follow the segment of international associations, where Zagreb recorded the mentioned improvement.
\nEqually important though, we recorded a total of 3,793 business meetings or 420 meetings more than in 2012 according to our National Statistics Office. This is indicative of the positive trend we expect to continue, in particular in light of Croatia\u2019s accession to the EU.
\n5. To end by putting together words and pictures, can you please tell us something more about Zagreb-movies.com project?
\nOver time, for promotion purposes we produced a large number of videos, many of which were awarded at international festivals and tourist exchanges. The idea was for the videos to be gathered in one place and made available both, to the general public and to event and travel organizers.
\nThe post ZAGREB STEADILY GROWING IN MICE appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "Zlatan Muftic, Head of Zagreb Convention Bureau\n1. Could you present the Zagreb convention offer in three main points?\nIn the first place, Zagreb has a diversified high-quality offer. Most convention capacities are concentrated in 5- and 4-star hotels, with global brands present as another asset.\nZagreb offers the top-quality service and the best price/quality relationship.\nIt is the very segment where we have a high ranking as a destination.\nThe international airport Zagreb and its connection to all major European cities and hubs is what makes Zagreb accessible from any part of the world all year long.\nZagreb is the centre of the economic, academic and scientific life of Croatia, one of the major factors in attracting conventions and other types of meetings. The most important component is no other than people.\nMICE tourism in Zagreb gathers top professionals with specialised agencies (PCO/DMC), hotels and other related activities. \nMany scientists and professors of international stature and careers are a major asset of Croatia\u2019s capital.\n2. What\u2019s the biggest impression Zagreb made on the event organizers?\nOpenness and hospitability of their hosts \u2013 from technical staff to citizens of Zagreb who are always willing and glad to assist our city\u2019s guests, as well as the combination of the city\u2019s organizational capacities and its beauty and safety.\nGuests are enthralled to be able to use breaks from lectures or business arrangements and visit the city\u2019s main attractions in relatively short time. Equally important is the sense of safety that guests feel in our city, which is quite relevant an issue now that safety is in focus.\n3. Zagreb also offers special convention venues. How much has this offer added to attracting event organisers to Zagreb?\nSpecial venues such as museums, theatres, archives or historic halls are becoming more important as part of our convention offer.\nNamely, most convention organisers wish to organise at least one of their events, either an opening ceremony, gala dinner or a farewell party, outside traditional hotel venues.\nZagreb has this great advantage to feature in the very city centre \u2013 just a short stroll away from most convention hotels \u2013 a wide choice of such special halls being easily accessible and requiring virtually no transportation at all.\n4. According to the 2013 ICCA statistics, Zagreb is ranked 79th in the world, that is a leap of 55 places in one year only. What\u2019s your comment on this result?\nAt numerous MICE exchanges and workshops, we are witnessing a growing interest in Zagreb and Croatia, as confirmed by the above data.\nICCA statistics follow the segment of international associations, where Zagreb recorded the mentioned improvement.\nEqually important though, we recorded a total of 3,793 business meetings or 420 meetings more than in 2012 according to our National Statistics Office. This is indicative of the positive trend we expect to continue, in particular in light of Croatia\u2019s accession to the EU.\n5. To end by putting together words and pictures, can you please tell us something more about Zagreb-movies.com project?\nOver time, for promotion purposes we produced a large number of videos, many of which were awarded at international festivals and tourist exchanges. The idea was for the videos to be gathered in one place and made available both, to the general public and to event and travel organizers.\nThe post ZAGREB STEADILY GROWING IN MICE appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2014-11-21T11:28:27+01:00", "date_modified": "2016-12-09T15:26:48+01:00", "author": { "name": "Svetlana Gavric", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/ceca/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Ceca.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Zagreb-Panorama.jpg", "tags": [ "INTERVIEW", "zagreb", "Zagreb Convention Bureau", "Convention Bureaus" ] }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/booking-com-relentlessly-focus-on-customers/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/booking-com-relentlessly-focus-on-customers/", "title": "Booking.com- Relentlessly focus on customers", "content_html": "There is probably no person who hasn\u2019t used their online services or at least, hasn\u2019t heard about it. Booking.com is a world leader in online booking accommodation with 526,629 properties worldwide.
\n![\"Goran](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/goran-plese1.jpg\" "\\"Goran")
The company was founded in 1996,\u00a0formerly known as Active Hotels Ltd.\u00a0which changed its name to Booking.com Limited in November, 2006.\u00a0The Company is also known for its\u00a0Best Price Guarantee program, which\u00a0guarantees that the user gets the\u00a0lowest possible price at the time of\u00a0booking.
Should you find your accommodation,\u00a0with the same reservation\u00a0conditions,\u00a0at a lower rate on the Internet after\u00a0you have made a reservation\u00a0through\u00a0Booking.com, they will match the difference\u00a0between their rate and the\u00a0lower rate under the terms\u00a0and conditions\u00a0of the Best Price Guarantee.
\nIn business tourism, beside others,\u00a0Booking.com plays its role with score\u00a0review for each hotel, in decision\u00a0making. More often, you may find,\u00a0for example, score not below 8.0 on\u00a0Booking.com among decision criteria\u00a0when choosing hotel for business events.\u00a0On this occasion, we have the privilege\u00a0to have an interview with Booking.com Area Manager, Mr Goran Plese.
\n\n
1. In your opinion, what approach or\u00a0innovative service catapulted Booking.com into a world leader in booking\u00a0accommodation online?
\nBooking.com B.V. is an e-commerce\u00a0company of Dutch origins founded\u00a0in 1996, when the internet was still\u00a0relatively\u00a0young. Nowadays the company\u00a0is headquartered in Amsterdam\u00a0and employs more than 8,000 people\u00a0worldwide of which more than 3,000\u00a0in customer service centers across the\u00a0globe. Its goal is simple: to offer the\u00a0broadest range of accommodations\u00a0across the world to consumers, while\u00a0offering the best possible seamless\u00a0experience, and allowing all types of\u00a0property to market themselves professionally\u00a0to an international audience.
\nIt sounds simple and very logical but\u00a0the key to our success is a relentless\u00a0focus on how consumers use Internet\u00a0\u2013 via traditional PC\u2019s, laptops, tablets\u00a0and mobile phones \u2013 to book\u00a0accommodations\u00a0together with a strong\u00a0partnership with the owners of\u00a0accommodations.
\nAt Booking.com we believe that our\u00a0business should have a positive outcome\u00a0for everyone \u2013 our supply and\u00a0marketing partners, our clients, and\u00a0ourselves. The company gives each\u00a0employee to make decisions, as well\u00a0as responsibility for these decisions,\u00a0but when we work together-across\u00a0cultures, countries and departments \u2013\u00a0we reach the best solutions. We are\u00a0always open to other perspectives\u00a0and fresh ideas, and the best solutions\u00a0come from diversity of thought.
\n2. What was greatest challenge for\u00a0your company until now?
\nThe greatest challenge for our company\u00a0is to continue the fast pace of\u00a0growing we have experienced in the\u00a0past and are experiencing.
\nThat means we have to continuously\u00a0focusing on expanding our offering\u00a0of accommodations in line with the\u00a0needs of the customers, improve the\u00a0on line customer journey and at the\u00a0same time hire the right people to\u00a0make this happen.
\nThis is fascinating\u00a0and we are successful with it.
\n\n
3. How many employees Booking.com has? What percentage of them\u00a0works\u00a0in virtual teams vs standard in –\u00a0office environment?
\nWe currently have more than 8,000\u00a0employees worldwide with more than\u00a03,000 people in customer services.\u00a0At Booking.com we are one virtual\u00a0team with our own responsibilities\u00a0and most of us work in a traditional\u00a0office-setting in more than 100 offices\u00a0worldwide; in Croatia we opened first\u00a0office in 2011 with 10, and nowadays\u00a0we have 63 employees in three offices\u00a0(Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Porec).\u00a0From this offices we are covering Croatia,\u00a0Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina,\u00a0Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo.
\n4. Could you abstract some most\u00a0popular\u00a0destinations for SEE region\u00a0user?
\nThe most popular destinations for SEE\u00a0users are Vienna, Budapest, Dubrovnik,\u00a0Zagreb, Belgrade, London, Prague,\u00a0Istanbul, Ljubljana.
\n5. Score from reviews has a significant\u00a0influence in booking decision.\u00a0When we consider its great influence,\u00a0there could be doubts in its authenticity.\u00a0How do you prevent potential\u00a0misuses?
\n![\"Booking.com\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/2.jpg\" "\\"Booking.com\\"")
Currently we have more than 30 million\u00a0customer reviews online and\u00a0this number is increasing every day.
All our reviews on Booking.com are\u00a0verified with a number of safeguards\u00a0in place to ensure each one is Real,\u00a0Relevant and Recent:\u00a0Real \u2013 Booking.com checks every single\u00a0review to make sure it is written\u00a0by a real, verified guest, who has booked\u00a0the accommodation through\u00a0the Booking.com website or mobile\u00a0app.
\nRelevant \u2013 Booking.com reviews are\u00a0comprehensive and cover all elements\u00a0of properties. The site has a search\u00a0feature that allows users to filter reviews\u00a0by traveler type, ensuring instant\u00a0access to the opinions of customers\u00a0who best match traveler needs.
\nRecent \u2013 Booking.com only displays\u00a0reviews from the past 14 months to\u00a0ensure the most current information\u00a0and description of the experience.
\n6. Where do you see Booking.com in\u00a0five years?
\nWe will continue with further improving\u00a0of what we are good at and find\u00a0innovative ways and technologies to\u00a0help leisure and business travelers,\u00a0whatever their budgets, easily discover,\u00a0book, and enjoy the world\u2019s best\u00a0places to stay.
\nThe post Booking.com- Relentlessly focus on customers appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "One of the most-known online booking companies based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands is certainly Booking.com Limited.\nThere is probably no person who hasn\u2019t used their online services or at least, hasn\u2019t heard about it. Booking.com is a world leader in online booking accommodation with 526,629 properties worldwide.\nThe company was founded in 1996,\u00a0formerly known as Active Hotels Ltd.\u00a0which changed its name to Booking.com Limited in November, 2006.\u00a0The Company is also known for its\u00a0Best Price Guarantee program, which\u00a0guarantees that the user gets the\u00a0lowest possible price at the time of\u00a0booking.\nShould you find your accommodation,\u00a0with the same reservation\u00a0conditions,\u00a0at a lower rate on the Internet after\u00a0you have made a reservation\u00a0through\u00a0Booking.com, they will match the difference\u00a0between their rate and the\u00a0lower rate under the terms\u00a0and conditions\u00a0of the Best Price Guarantee.\nIn business tourism, beside others,\u00a0Booking.com plays its role with score\u00a0review for each hotel, in decision\u00a0making. More often, you may find,\u00a0for example, score not below 8.0 on\u00a0Booking.com among decision criteria\u00a0when choosing hotel for business events.\u00a0On this occasion, we have the privilege\u00a0to have an interview with Booking.com Area Manager, Mr Goran Plese.\n \n1. In your opinion, what approach or\u00a0innovative service catapulted Booking.com into a world leader in booking\u00a0accommodation online?\nBooking.com B.V. is an e-commerce\u00a0company of Dutch origins founded\u00a0in 1996, when the internet was still\u00a0relatively\u00a0young. Nowadays the company\u00a0is headquartered in Amsterdam\u00a0and employs more than 8,000 people\u00a0worldwide of which more than 3,000\u00a0in customer service centers across the\u00a0globe. Its goal is simple: to offer the\u00a0broadest range of accommodations\u00a0across the world to consumers, while\u00a0offering the best possible seamless\u00a0experience, and allowing all types of\u00a0property to market themselves professionally\u00a0to an international audience.\nIt sounds simple and very logical but\u00a0the key to our success is a relentless\u00a0focus on how consumers use Internet\u00a0\u2013 via traditional PC\u2019s, laptops, tablets\u00a0and mobile phones \u2013 to book\u00a0accommodations\u00a0together with a strong\u00a0partnership with the owners of\u00a0accommodations.\nAt Booking.com we believe that our\u00a0business should have a positive outcome\u00a0for everyone \u2013 our supply and\u00a0marketing partners, our clients, and\u00a0ourselves. The company gives each\u00a0employee to make decisions, as well\u00a0as responsibility for these decisions,\u00a0but when we work together-across\u00a0cultures, countries and departments \u2013\u00a0we reach the best solutions. We are\u00a0always open to other perspectives\u00a0and fresh ideas, and the best solutions\u00a0come from diversity of thought.\nThe key to our success is a relentless\nfocus on how consumers use Internet to book accommodations together with a strong partnership with the owners of accommodations.\n2. What was greatest challenge for\u00a0your company until now?\nThe greatest challenge for our company\u00a0is to continue the fast pace of\u00a0growing we have experienced in the\u00a0past and are experiencing.\nThat means we have to continuously\u00a0focusing on expanding our offering\u00a0of accommodations in line with the\u00a0needs of the customers, improve the\u00a0on line customer journey and at the\u00a0same time hire the right people to\u00a0make this happen.\nThis is fascinating\u00a0and we are successful with it.\n \n3. How many employees Booking.com has? What percentage of them\u00a0works\u00a0in virtual teams vs standard in –\u00a0office environment?\nWe currently have more than 8,000\u00a0employees worldwide with more than\u00a03,000 people in customer services.\u00a0At Booking.com we are one virtual\u00a0team with our own responsibilities\u00a0and most of us work in a traditional\u00a0office-setting in more than 100 offices\u00a0worldwide; in Croatia we opened first\u00a0office in 2011 with 10, and nowadays\u00a0we have 63 employees in three offices\u00a0(Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Porec).\u00a0From this offices we are covering Croatia,\u00a0Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina,\u00a0Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo.\n4. Could you abstract some most\u00a0popular\u00a0destinations for SEE region\u00a0user?\nThe most popular destinations for SEE\u00a0users are Vienna, Budapest, Dubrovnik,\u00a0Zagreb, Belgrade, London, Prague,\u00a0Istanbul, Ljubljana.\n5. Score from reviews has a significant\u00a0influence in booking decision.\u00a0When we consider its great influence,\u00a0there could be doubts in its authenticity.\u00a0How do you prevent potential\u00a0misuses?\nCurrently we have more than 30 million\u00a0customer reviews online and\u00a0this number is increasing every day.\nAll our reviews on Booking.com are\u00a0verified with a number of safeguards\u00a0in place to ensure each one is Real,\u00a0Relevant and Recent:\u00a0Real \u2013 Booking.com checks every single\u00a0review to make sure it is written\u00a0by a real, verified guest, who has booked\u00a0the accommodation through\u00a0the Booking.com website or mobile\u00a0app.\nRelevant \u2013 Booking.com reviews are\u00a0comprehensive and cover all elements\u00a0of properties. The site has a search\u00a0feature that allows users to filter reviews\u00a0by traveler type, ensuring instant\u00a0access to the opinions of customers\u00a0who best match traveler needs.\nRecent \u2013 Booking.com only displays\u00a0reviews from the past 14 months to\u00a0ensure the most current information\u00a0and description of the experience.\n6. Where do you see Booking.com in\u00a0five years?\nWe will continue with further improving\u00a0of what we are good at and find\u00a0innovative ways and technologies to\u00a0help leisure and business travelers,\u00a0whatever their budgets, easily discover,\u00a0book, and enjoy the world\u2019s best\u00a0places to stay.\nThe post Booking.com- Relentlessly focus on customers appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2014-10-10T13:47:10+02:00", "date_modified": "2018-01-05T09:55:26+01:00", "author": { "name": "Miona Milic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/miona/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20240224-WA0003-e1728981138373.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/booking.com_.jpg", "tags": [ "booking.com", "INTERVIEW", "WHERE AND WHY" ] }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/adriatica-net-group-combining-long-standing-tradition-with-the-latest-trends/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/adriatica-net-group-combining-long-standing-tradition-with-the-latest-trends/", "title": "adriatica.net Group \u2013 COMBINING LONG-STANDING TRADITION WITH THE LATEST TRENDS", "content_html": "![\"Ivan](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Ivan-Gadze-President-of-the-Board-adriatica.net-Group-and-atlas.jpg\" "\\"Ivan")
On this occasion, we had a pleasure to talk to Mr Ivan Gad\u017ee, President of the Board adriatica.net Group and Atlas, who shared with us the secret of success of the company as well as the news and trends in business.
1. The introduction provides only short description of the Group and Atlas. How many things have been exposed to changes in tourism through the years?
\nAll the members of our Group act in synergy, in realization of common objectives. Last year, Atlas celebrated 90 years of business activities. Today, we skilfully combine a long-standing tradition and an excellent knowledge about Croatia and the region, with the latest trends which we are introducing in our business. Throughout the years, the key of our success have been our employees who are building long-term and quality relationships with the clients and the guests.
\nWhat has remained constancy during the years is our quality. The customers recognize Atlas as the agency with the best ratio of price and quality, and it was awarded with the Best Buy Award certificate, which has also been proven by numerous market researches which we regularly carry out.
\n2. Company\u2019s strategy has been changing during the years due to market conditions and trends. Could you point out to the current strategy of adriatica.net Group? What is it that the quests are asking for nowadays?
\nThe clients of today do not primarily look for destination but the sensations, created according to their current status (families, young people, pairs, seniors), but also thematic (culture, nature, vine and gastronomy…). Further, in spite of globalization, the guests are searching for authentic adventures, which they cannot experience in their own country.
\nThe logical way would be to additionally invest into new production approaches and strategic destinations to which we dedicate special attention. We must not forget that the clients are looking for an excellent ratio between the price and the quality. Even with the modest budget in MICE segment, what comes to be prominent is creativity and rich experience of our staff.
\n3. What do you think are the main advantages of adriatica.net Group?
\n![\"Gala](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Revelin-Fortress.jpg\" "\\"Gala")
The rent of accommodation capacities in Croatia which is incredibly high, adapting to global trends through implementation of the latest IT solutions, teams positioned all over Croatia and the region, significant thematic attractions all over our country… Our corporate advantages are really numerous.
\nAs for the Atlas MICE part, along with the aforesaid, the unique advantage is certainly the support of our colleagues from the rental business on the coast, and who unselfishly help us in realization of each of our events.
\n4. One can say that you influence the offer and the demand of tourism in Adriatic region, mainly Croatia and Slovenia. What are your estimations for this year, in terms of number of tourists? And what in terms of business trips and MICE sector?
\nWe expect the growth of business turnover as compared to the previous year, from almost all markets. That is the result of market investments, made into marketing and products, but also the recognisability and attractiveness of our key incoming destinations in Croatia and the region. We see higher demand for incentive programs, particularly from Scandinavia, Germany and Great Britain, and we are happy to see the slight growth in outgoing segment of business.
\n5. Is there any need for connections with other countries of the South-Eastern Europe, in terms of meeting industry market?
\n![\"Zagreb\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Zagreb-1-300x200.jpg\" "\\"Zagreb\\"")
We are continuously working on establishment and maintenance of the long-term cooperation with the companies and the institutions from the region. Development of quality relationships with our neighbouring partners is a part of our business ethics. Another comparative advantage of our company is the fact that adriatica.net Group is comprised of Atlas as Adriatic host, and Kompas as Adriatic ambassador, and goadriatica.com as the newest brand of the group.
The offices of Kompas can be found all over Europe, but also the region, which enables us to be present at the key markets and make the promotion easer. Also, the logistic support of our offices in Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy, is a precious advantage against the competitors.
\n6. What are your plans for the future business?
\nWe will continue to develop the offer at the destinations and to invest into the best technological solutions. With already known MICE destinations, our sales and marketing activities will be directed towards continuous raise of awareness of our partners about other destinations with quality MICE potentials. In short, we will be the best host for our guests, and a quality and a reliable partner for our clients.
\n\nThe post adriatica.net Group – COMBINING LONG-STANDING TRADITION WITH THE LATEST TRENDS appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "On this occasion, we had a pleasure to talk to Mr Ivan Gad\u017ee, President of the Board adriatica.net Group and Atlas, who shared with us the secret of success of the company as well as the news and trends in business.\n1. The introduction provides only short description of the Group and Atlas. How many things have been exposed to changes in tourism through the years?\nAll the members of our Group act in synergy, in realization of common objectives. Last year, Atlas celebrated 90 years of business activities. Today, we skilfully combine a long-standing tradition and an excellent knowledge about Croatia and the region, with the latest trends which we are introducing in our business. Throughout the years, the key of our success have been our employees who are building long-term and quality relationships with the clients and the guests.\nWhat has remained constancy during the years is our quality. The customers recognize Atlas as the agency with the best ratio of price and quality, and it was awarded with the Best Buy Award certificate, which has also been proven by numerous market researches which we regularly carry out.\n2. Company\u2019s strategy has been changing during the years due to market conditions and trends. Could you point out to the current strategy of adriatica.net Group? What is it that the quests are asking for nowadays?\nThe clients of today do not primarily look for destination but the sensations, created according to their current status (families, young people, pairs, seniors), but also thematic (culture, nature, vine and gastronomy…). Further, in spite of globalization, the guests are searching for authentic adventures, which they cannot experience in their own country.\nThe logical way would be to additionally invest into new production approaches and strategic destinations to which we dedicate special attention. We must not forget that the clients are looking for an excellent ratio between the price and the quality. Even with the modest budget in MICE segment, what comes to be prominent is creativity and rich experience of our staff.\n3. What do you think are the main advantages of adriatica.net Group?\n\nThe rent of accommodation capacities in Croatia which is incredibly high, adapting to global trends through implementation of the latest IT solutions, teams positioned all over Croatia and the region, significant thematic attractions all over our country… Our corporate advantages are really numerous.\nAs for the Atlas MICE part, along with the aforesaid, the unique advantage is certainly the support of our colleagues from the rental business on the coast, and who unselfishly help us in realization of each of our events.\n4. One can say that you influence the offer and the demand of tourism in Adriatic region, mainly Croatia and Slovenia. What are your estimations for this year, in terms of number of tourists? And what in terms of business trips and MICE sector?\nWe expect the growth of business turnover as compared to the previous year, from almost all markets. That is the result of market investments, made into marketing and products, but also the recognisability and attractiveness of our key incoming destinations in Croatia and the region. We see higher demand for incentive programs, particularly from Scandinavia, Germany and Great Britain, and we are happy to see the slight growth in outgoing segment of business.\n5. Is there any need for connections with other countries of the South-Eastern Europe, in terms of meeting industry market?\nWe are continuously working on establishment and maintenance of the long-term cooperation with the companies and the institutions from the region. Development of quality relationships with our neighbouring partners is a part of our business ethics. Another comparative advantage of our company is the fact that adriatica.net Group is comprised of Atlas as Adriatic host, and Kompas as Adriatic ambassador, and goadriatica.com as the newest brand of the group.\nThe offices of Kompas can be found all over Europe, but also the region, which enables us to be present at the key markets and make the promotion easer. Also, the logistic support of our offices in Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy, is a precious advantage against the competitors.\n6. What are your plans for the future business? \nWe will continue to develop the offer at the destinations and to invest into the best technological solutions. With already known MICE destinations, our sales and marketing activities will be directed towards continuous raise of awareness of our partners about other destinations with quality MICE potentials. In short, we will be the best host for our guests, and a quality and a reliable partner for our clients.\nM.M.\nThe post adriatica.net Group – COMBINING LONG-STANDING TRADITION WITH THE LATEST TRENDS appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2014-06-20T15:13:56+02:00", "date_modified": "2015-03-26T16:00:32+01:00", "author": { "name": "Miona Milic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/miona/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG-20240224-WA0003-e1728981138373.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Zagreb-1.jpg", "tags": [ "adriatica.net", "atlas dmc", "INTERVIEW", "Interviews" ] } ] }