The Promotional Support Programme for Meetings and Events, implemented in 2025 by Poland Convention Bureau of the Polish Tourism Organisation, has proven its effectiveness as a practical tool for attracting and promoting international events in Poland.
The first edition of the programme demonstrated that well-targeted support – including study visits, bid presentations, PR activities, promotional stands and inviting experts – can genuinely strengthen the position of Polish cities and MICE industry partners in the international competition for congresses, conferences and events.
Support for already secured events and projects in the bidding phase
The summary of the programme’s outcomes for 2025 shows a wide range of uses of the funds. Support covered both events already taking place in Poland and activities at earlier stages of attracting international congresses and conferences. Beneficiaries included city convention bureaux, Poznań International Fair (MTP), industry organisations, universities and congress ambassadors.
McMaster International Review Conference of Internal Medicine – MIRCIM
One example was the support provided to the Polish Institute of Evidence Based Medicine Foundation for the organisation of the 10th McMaster International Review Conference of Internal Medicine – MIRCIM 2025. The event took place on 8-10 May 2025 at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre and brought together physicians and experts in internal medicine.
The conference attracted 700 participants in person and 300 online. The support was used for accommodation for the speakers.
More information about the MIRCIM 2025 conference and the Polish Institute of Evidence Based Medicine Foundation.
European Rover Challenge
The programme also supported the 11th edition of the European Rover Challenge 2025 – an international competition of Mars robots organised by the European Space Foundation. The event was held on 29-31 August 2025 at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.
The support was allocated to PR services for the event, media monitoring, preparation of identification badges and graphic design support.
More information: European Rover Challenge 2025 and the European Space Foundation.
Study visits as a tool for attracting major congresses
A significant part of the programme consisted of study visits and site inspections, which are among the most important elements in the process of securing international events. They allow representatives of organisers, associations and PCO companies to directly assess a city’s potential, congress facilities, hotels, logistics and the offer of accompanying events.
Poznań International Fair (MTP)
Poznań International Fair applied for support in connection with activities related to International Water Association events. The study visit to Poznań took place on 13-15 May 2025.
The result was an invitation for Poznań and Poland to submit a bid to host the International Water Association congress in 2031 – an event with a potential of around 9,000 participants. The support included, among other things, an airline ticket, accommodation for an IWA Board representative and a networking meeting with representatives of the Polish Tourism Organisation, Poznań Convention Bureau, and Poznań University of Technology.
Additionally, in connection with IWA activities, the potential to secure the IWA LET 2027 conference (approx. 400 participants) and the IWA 2032 congress (approx. 6,000 participants) was identified. More information about the International Water Association and the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition.
Another study visit to Poznań, also organised by Poznań International Fair, was aimed at representatives of companies and partners with events ranging from 1,000 to 9,000 participants in their portfolios. Support covered airline tickets and accommodation for invited guests as well as networking meetings. One outcome was receiving RFP requests from Kuoni Tumlare for two events – for approximately 1,600 and 700 participants respectively.
ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting 2025
An important example was the organisation of a fam trip for PCOs as part of the ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting 2025. The ICCA CEC Meeting 2025 took place in Poznań on 31 August – 2 September 2025 at the Poznań Congress Center, with the study visit for invited PCO representatives scheduled in direct connection with the event.
The aim was to showcase Poznań’s infrastructure, including the MTP grounds, four- and five-star hotels, and venues for accompanying events such as Młyńska 12 and Port Sołacz.
Promotional stands and presence at precursor events
The Promotional Support Programme for Meetings and Events also covered activities carried out outside Poland at events preceding or linked to future editions of conferences.
European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection – ESH
Gdańsk Convention Bureau applied for support for its promotional presence during the 34th European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection – ESH 2025, held in Milan on 23-26 May 2025. The 2025 edition gathered over 2,050 participants from 106 countries.
A dedicated Gdańsk stand promoted the next edition of the conference, which had been secured for 2026. The estimated number of participants and recipients of the initiative was 2,000–2,500. This was an example of support that did not concern the organisation of the event in Poland itself, but rather the promotion of the host city of the subsequent edition on the international stage.
Additional information about the conference in Gdańsk: European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection – ESH 2026
Bid presentations – investment in future congresses
The programme also supported bid presentation activities – one of the key moments in the process of securing international events.
12th Annual EATSA Conference – EATSA2026 Poland
Dr hab. Piotr Zmyślony, Professor at the Poznań University of Economics, applied for support for the bid presentation to host the next edition of the Euro-Asia Tourism Studies Association conference – EATSA. The activity was linked to the EATSA 2025 conference, held on 23–27 June 2025 at the Mercure Resort Sanur in Denpasar, Bali, under the theme “Wellness and Sustainability Tourism in ‘Paradise’”.
Ultimately, the organisation of the conference was awarded to Poznań and Kraków. The 12th Annual EATSA Conference – EATSA2026 Poland, under the theme “Bridges over Borders: Tourism in an Accelerating World”, will take place on 29 June – 3 July 2026.
Information about the conference is available at: Bridges over Borders: Tourism in an Accelerating World | 12th Annual EATSA Conference – EATSA2026 Poland.
EFFoST International Conference
Poznań Convention Bureau also applied for support for a bid presentation related to securing the 40th EFFoST International Conference 2026. The activity was carried out in connection with the 39th EFFoST International Conference 2025, held in Porto on 17-19 November 2025.
According to EFFoST information, the 40th edition of the conference will take place in Poznań on 4-6 November 2026, hosted by the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. The event scale is 800–1,000 participants.
Additional information about the conference in Poznań is available on the EFFoST International Conference 2026 page.
Corporate and industry events as a promotional opportunity for Poland
The programme also included activities related to corporate and industry events, which are important for promoting Poland as a tourist and business destination.
Europamundo Vacaciones
Warsaw Convention Bureau applied for support for the organisation of a gala and accompanying activities for the Europamundo Vacaciones 2025 Annual Operators Convention. The event took place in Warsaw on 31 October – 2 November 2025, after which participants continued the programme in other regions of Poland as part of post-tours.
Approximately 280 participants attended the conference portion in the Polish capital, and around 200 took part in the post-tour programmes. They represented more than 95 companies from 52 countries. The support covered organisational and promotional elements, including the gala, cultural programme and presentation of Poland as an attractive destination for the international tourism industry.
Additional information: Report from the Europamundo Convention 2025 in Warsaw and Europamundo Convention 2025: Poland, Here We Come!
CONNECT Route Development Forum 2026
Lubelskie Convention Bureau applied for support for a study visit related to securing the CONNECT Route Development Forum 2026 (CONNECT Aviation 2026). The event will be held in Lublin on 17-19 February 2026 and is expected to attract over 800 aviation industry decision-makers from more than 65 countries.
The support was intended to showcase the potential of Lublin, the region and Lublin Airport in the context of developing air connections and promoting the city ahead of the European Capital of Culture 2029 celebrations.
Additional information: Report from Connect Aviation 2026 in Lublin and the official CONNECT Route Development Forum website.
Success measured by relationships, visibility and secured events
The outcomes of the first edition of the programme show that promotional support matters not only at the moment of event delivery, but also – and perhaps more importantly – at much earlier stages: when a city, university, convention bureau, or organiser is only building a relationship with the event owner, preparing a bid, inviting decision-makers to Poland, or presenting a city’s candidacy at an international forum.
Particularly important are activities whose effects may become visible over a period of several years. The programme summary features events planned for 2026, 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2032. This means the programme does not serve only current promotion, but builds the possibility of attracting congresses and events for Polish cities in the future.
The first edition showed that even relatively targeted support can have strategic importance. Accommodation for speakers, a promotional stand, inviting a decision-maker, a professional study visit, a bid presentation, or PR activities are elements that often determine whether a destination is remembered, invited to the next stage, or selected as the host. In this sense, the Promotional Support Programme for Meetings and Events of Poland Convention Bureau not only supports individual initiatives but strengthens the entire ecosystem for attracting international meetings and events to Poland.
In practice, the Promotional Support Programme for Meetings and Events has become a tool that enhances Poland’s competitiveness in several dimensions simultaneously: it enables faster responses to bidding opportunities, facilitates inviting key decision-makers to Poland, supports the presence of Polish cities at precursor events, helps fund promotional and PR elements and increases the professionalism of presenting the Polish offer. The high level of interest confirms that the industry needs instruments of this type.
Information about the support programme
The Promotional Support Programme for Meetings and Events was launched at the beginning of 2025 as a tool to promote Poland in the process of attracting and organising events delivered by external entities. The initiator and coordinator of the programme is Poland Convention Bureau – the Meetings and Events Bureau of the Polish Tourism Organisation. The aim of the programme is to support professional meeting and event organisers, Polish Congress Ambassadors, convention bureaux, and other entities actively involved in attracting international business, scientific, cultural, sports and corporate meetings and events to Poland. The programme will continue in 2026. Detailed information is available on the pot.gov.pl/en/ website.
