The eleventh edition of the Meetings Week Poland conference took place in Warsaw on 12–13 June 2023, highlighting innovative solutions and the importance of collaboration in the meetings industry. Organised by the TUgether Meetings and Events Industry Council in partnership with the Polish Tourism Organisation, the event served as a professional and educational platform, bringing together experts from across Poland to share valuable insights and experiences.
The conference was officially opened by Łukasz Adamowicz, President of the TUgether Meetings and Events Industry Council, and Anna Salamończyk-Mochel, Vice-President of the Polish Tourism Organisation. Meetings Week was condensed into two dynamic days filled with engaging sessions, experience sharing, and the development of valuable professional connections.
The new formula of MWP 2023 – comprehensive discussions touching on the entire Meeting and Event Industry – has worked out well. The feedback from the participants was very positive. Taking responsibility for the organisation of the event by TUgether proves its maturity, but also builds a solid foundation on which we can grow our industry’s special day in the future. We opted for the in-person formula to emphasise networking, which is something we don’t have time for on a daily basis during the time of intensive reconstruction. The human dimension is extremely important to us because events and the MICE industry are created by people. Discussions about strategy and professionalisation clearly show the directions of MICE development, which, as research shows, has not yet returned to the levels from 2019, said Łukasz Adamowicz, President of the TUgether Meetings and Events Industry Council.
The aim of this year’s conference was to strengthen the development of the industry through innovative solutions and cluster approach, as well as education and professionalisation within the industry.
For the eleventh time, the Polish Tourism Organisation, within which the Poland Convention Bureau operates, is a substantive partner and co-organiser of the Meetings Week Poland conference, which for years has served the industry’s integration, cooperation and contributed to the transfer of knowledge on the latest developments and trends. The meetings industry sector is one of those that particularly appreciate the need to improve competences, including in the field of techniques of reaching the client, organising events or communication, said Anna Salamończyk-Mochel, Vice-President of the Polish Tourism Organisation.
The positioning of Poland as a tourist brand is shaped by all stakeholders within the tourism sector, including the meetings industry, from central government and local authorities to trade organisations, business associations, entrepreneurs, and local communities.
Together or Separately – Is Cooperation Worthwhile?
On Monday, the first discussion panel explored the topic of industry collaboration, examining the unity that emerged during the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing benefits of collaboration.
The PTO expert workshop, held as part of the Eventprofs Creators Lab with Rafal Szymanski and focused on social selling via LinkedIn, also attracted considerable interest. The session covered key aspects such as the pivotal role of e-marketing in promoting and shaping the image of event companies, and the strategic importance of LinkedIn as a platform for professionals and businesses. With its broad range of opportunities for brand building and social selling, LinkedIn was presented as an essential tool.
Rafał Szymański, a specialist in social selling and B2B sales on LinkedIn, demonstrated how to use the platform effectively, highlighting the difference between genuine social selling and mere social spamming during his presentation at the Creators Lab at Meetings Week Poland 2023.
There are already over 24,000 Polish companies on LinkedIn that employ ten employees or more, so they can be MICE customers. At the same time, 37,000 people in HR departments work in decision-making positions in these companies. I am glad there were questions from the audience, because it shows that the event and hotel industry is aware of the importance of social media in the process of acquiring and maintaining relations with a business client”, added Szymański.
While on this subject, we would like to encourage you to follow the Poland Convention Bureau on LinkedIn.
Interpreters` services no longer required, or Chat GPT and other content generating technologies – benefits and challenges for MICE industry providers
Another popular panel was titled: “Interpreters’ Services No Longer Required? ChatGPT and Other Content-Generating Technologies -Benefits and Challenges for MICE Industry Providers.” In this engaging session, conference interpreters shared the often-hidden intricacies of their profession. Members of the Polish Association of Conference Interpreters (PSTK), an affiliate of TUgether, stepped out from behind their booths to offer fascinating insights into the realities of simultaneous interpretation. They highlighted how new technologies are reshaping their work, enabling real-time translation into multiple languages for meetings, events, conferences, and congresses, reaching global audiences without incurring significant additional costs.
A representative from one of Poland’s leading congress venues, the Targi Kielce Congress Centre, shared perspectives on the growing “festivalisation” of trade fairs—the trend of enriching traditional fairs with accompanying events—and the increasing shift of such events into the digital space.
Industry experts also examined the value of meetings and events by discussing findings from the report “Event Marketing 2022/2023: The Challenges of the Meetings and Events Industry in Uncertain Times.”
The first day concluded with a lively panel discussion titled “Legal Pitfalls in the Work of Event Organisers – Not Only in Tourism,” which addressed the application and interpretation of the Act on Tourist Events and Related Tourist Services. The panel also highlighted the role and responsibilities of the newly established Tourism Market Monitoring Centre.
We are pleased that during the 11th edition of Meetings Week Poland, we were able to take part in numerous discussion panels and discuss important challenges facing the meetings industry. During the second day in the discussion session called “POLAND: attractive and safe destination. How to convince others that this is the case”, we analysed events such as the ICCA Congress in Kraków, the WUF World Urban Forum in Katowice or Routes Europe in Łódź, which prove the cooperation of many entities involved in acquiring international events for Poland. Just as importantly, we are very satisfied that we could meet again and talk among specialists and practitioners who make up our dynamic industry, said Aneta Książek, Head of the Poland Convention Bureau.
Day 2 Meetings Week Poland
The second day of the Meetings Week Poland conference was once again filled with insightful discussions and presentations focused on the Polish meetings and events industry.
The day began with a session showcasing successful examples of attracting major international events to Poland, including the ICCA Congress in Kraków, the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Katowice, and Routes Europe in Łódź. Experts presented detailed case studies and shared their experiences in organising these high-profile events, providing valuable insights and learning opportunities for all participants.
🌟 Drugi dzień Meetings Week Poland 2023 rozpoczyna BLOK 1: Jak pozyskaliśmy MEGA WYDARZENIA dla POLSKI?
💚 Na początku case study KONGRES ICCA w KRAKOWIE, czyli jak udało się pozyskać to wydarzenie dla Krakowa i Polski. #PolandCVB #meetingsweek23 #iccaworld #eventprofs #Kraków pic.twitter.com/rmhLtFTKHu— Poland Convention Bureau 🇵🇱 (@PolandCvB) June 13, 2023
The second session focused on the impact of events on promoting Poland and driving the growth of the meetings industry. Speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders, including hotels, event agencies, artists, interpreters, congress organisers, trade fair operators, transport providers, and other service suppliers. The discussion underscored that successful outcomes in the meetings industry are closely tied to effective cooperation across all these sectors.
A key focus of the discussion was the CSRD directive, which introduces new requirements for reporting on sustainable business practices. Adopted by the European Commission in April 2021, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive aims to enhance the transparency and quality of corporate sustainability disclosures.
Speakers examined how this directive will affect the meetings and events industry, a sector already undergoing significant transformation. In the coming years, the CSRD is expected to usher in a major shift in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind.
The third session addressed the current state of the market, as well as the potential and growth prospects of the meetings and events industry. Speakers explored the evolving dynamics of the sector at both global and regional levels, highlighting key challenges and emerging opportunities. They emphasised the importance of adaptability in the face of change and the need to actively seek out new avenues for sustainable growth
Collaboration was the cornerstone of this year’s successful edition of Meetings Week Poland.
A comprehensive overview of the topics discussed across all panels at this year’s event was delivered by representatives from the Polish Tourism Organisation, industry bodies, and employers’ organisations. The analysis of the current state of the meetings and events industry was further enriched by contributions from invited decision-makers and 48 MICE industry experts who led the various discussion panels.
Meetings Week Poland 2023 was organised by the TUgether Council of the Meetings and Events Industry in partnership with the Polish Tourism Organisation. The conference was held on 12–13 June in the conference rooms of the Airport Hotel Okęcie in Warsaw.
Jarosław Marciuk; Photo credits: Katarzyna Cegłowska
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