The National Support Programme for the Meeting Industry is a joint initiative of the Polish Tourism Organisation – Poland Convention Bureau (PCB), LOT Polish Airlines (PLL LOT) and the Polish Conference and Congress Association (SKKP) addressed to the most active Congress Ambassadors and representatives of cities, regions and the meetings industry.
How it works
The National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry is designed to help attract international business events, like congresses and conferences, to Poland by offering support in the form of LOT Polish Airlines tickets. This support helps organizers travel abroad to present Poland’s bid or bring foreign decision-makers to Poland for site inspections.
It’s a strategic partnership between tourism, aviation, and event industry stakeholders, targeting events with an international scope, a solid history, and the potential to bring value to Poland’s meetings and events sector.
The Applicant’s request for an air ticket may apply only to PLL LOT’s own flights and should be submitted at least 1 month before the planned departure date. Air tickets, which can be applied for, will make it possible to reach decision-makers, i.e. international event owners, with Poland’s congress offer.
The following events can be submitted for the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry:
- At the bidding stage, when Poland is one of the candidates considered for the organisation of the event (presentation of Poland’s offer abroad)
- In the event of a visit to a potential host city organised for a foreign Organiser in order to verify the submitted offer (site inspection)
Who can apply
The following parties may apply for the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry:
- Polish Congress Ambassadors
- Chapter of the Polish Congress Ambassadors Programme
- Polish Tourism Organisation
- Polish Conference and Congress Association
- Representatives of the Local Congress Ambassador Clubs
- Municipal and regional Convention Bureaux
- Congress organisers recommended in the PTO Poland Convention Bureau programme
- Other business event organisers, supported in the application by the municipal or regional Convention Bureau. In this case, the application requires the recommendation of the local Convention Bureau
- Congress facilities, supported in the application by the municipal or regional Convention Bureau. In this case, the facility’s application requires the recommendation of the local Convention Bureau.
At this point, we also encourage you to read information about the Polish Congress Ambassadors Programme, whose winners can apply for the programme in question.
Event Criteria
Events submitted to the Programme must meet the following criteria:
- International events with the participation of at least 100 foreign participants
- Recurring events with a history of at least 2 editions
- Meetings in the following formulas: Conferences, congresses, fairs, workshops, meetings with incentive travel elements and other business events
- The planned date of the event may not be later than 4 years from the submission of the application to the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry, and the application date may not be later than 6 months before the Event
How to apply
Application for the Programme is made by email to the following address: polandcb@pot.gov.pl. In response to the application, the Applicant will receive a form, which must be completed online.
The form must contain the following data:
- Name of the event
- Planned date of the event
- Date of announcement of the city selection decision
- Event owner
- Organiser (PCO, internal unit/department)
- Link to previous editions of the event
- A brief description of the nature of the event
- Main Partners, Sponsors, and Patrons of the latest edition of the event
- Number of participants in previous editions of the meeting, confirmed by the Organiser
- Estimated number of participants in this edition of the event
- Other cities competing in this event
- Planned conference facilities in Poland
- Indication, among others, of the countries from which the delegates will travel
- A person recommended to grant the ticket (company/institution, personal data, position)
- Proposed travel period and route
- Indication of the recommending unit (PTO, PCO, CB)
- A brief justification of the application and chances of acquiring the event for Poland
Participation in the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry obliges the Applicant (Organiser) to actively promote Poland abroad as a location to organise congresses and conferences, and in the case of a positive decision to place the event in Poland, the Organiser declares that PLL LOT will be the recommended carrier.
Additional information in Polish language: https://www.pot.gov.pl/pl/pcb/pcb-o-nas/narodowy-program-wsparcia-dla-przemyslu-spotkan
Quotes
“The market for conferences and congresses today is based on the global competition between host cities for regional and global events. The Polish Congress Ambassadors Programme of Poland proves that it is an effective instrument for increasing the number of events in Poland, and the world rankings of ICCA or UIA are tangible proof of this. Poland’s 17th position in the global ranking is not a coincidence, but the effect of strategic actions and coordinated efforts. The effectiveness of this Programme depends on various factors, but the key factor is the cooperation of stakeholders – which is why the local Ambassador Clubs are of great importance, currently operating in the Warsaw/Masovian region and the largest urban centres: Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, as well as Łódź or Gdańsk. Reactivated after a difficult time of the pandemic, the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry is an excellent support tool for the Programme. The active participation of the national carrier and its support at the application stage is invaluable, and it is proof of the real synergy between the applicant destination, the national and local Congress Bureaux and the industry itself, in which airlines are an important supplier. Without a doubt, Poland as a destination – a host, is gaining a competitive advantage in the global world of meetings”, said Paula Fanderowska, President of the Board of the Polish Conference and Congress Association.
“LOT Polish Airlines, which during the peak season operates on more than 90 routes, managing more than 350 flights daily and carrying an average of over 29 thousand passengers every day, is an indispensable partner of international events taking place in Poland. I am talking here not only about Warsaw, which is a hub for LOT and can boast the largest number of connections. This also applies to regional ports, where we are gradually developing our offer, such as the recently announced direct connection between Paris and Kraków. Our advantages include a well-designed network of connections, a modern fleet and a convenient flight schedule. Passengers also appreciate the ever-improving on-board offer and the hospitality of the staff, which is our hallmark. As a national carrier, we also play an important role of the ambassador of Poland. By bringing participants from over 40 countries around the world, we promote Polish cities on foreign markets as potential hosts of global events. The signed agreement underlines LOT’s readiness for even more intensive work with the academic community, which is also part of the implementation of the company’s strategy announced in 2023. I believe that with the reactivation of the programme, Poland will become the host of many valuable international events”, added Marta Wiśniewska, Sales Director of PLL LOT.
“During the recommendation ceremony, we also had the honour to sign the National Support Programme for the Meetings Industry, which sets the directions for the development of our sector. Together with other market leaders, we have committed to further strengthening Poland’s position as a venue for world-class events based on quality, innovation and sustainable development”, commented Anna Jędrocha, President of the Board of Symposium Cracoviense.
“Acquiring events, especially international congresses, is a complex and often lengthy process. The offer of our country highly corresponds to the requirements set by the organisers, as evidenced by the outstanding 17th place in the world ICCA ranking for 2024. Poland’s strengths include its central location in Europe, its constantly expanding network of air connections, high level of safety, cost-effectiveness and infrastructure availability. Our experience shows that the effective acquisition of association meetings depends largely on the support of regional or municipal authorities and the commitment and charisma of the Congress Ambassador who, together with the convention bureaux or PCO, acquires the event. We hope that the reactivated programme will be a tangible help and an additional impulse for active acquisition of meetings and events for Poland. We would like to invite you to apply”, said Aneta Książek, Head of the Poland Convention Bureau.
