Industry

The geographical centre of Europe, about 1,5 hour‘s flight from Copenhagen or Warsaw, only two hours from Frankfurt, Vienna or Moscow, the Old Town inscribed in the Unesco World Heritage Site, high-quality services and technical infrastructure, an excellent price-quality ratio. This is the capital of Lithuania – Vilnius.

According to the data, presented by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) - Vilnius takes place 53 on the list of the cities that are the most popular destinations for meeting planners. All in all, there are more than 500 cities of the world on the ICCA list, which are ranked according to the number of international events held there. Vilnius shares its place with such cities as Melbourne (Australia), Krakow (Poland) and Venice (Italy). From 2001 to 2010, the number of international events held in Vilnius that had met the ICCA criteria increased from 6 to 35. The results reveal that Vilnius is becoming more and more attractive for meeting planners and organizers on the international level thus proving to be the ideal venue for international scientific and business events.

Meetings Industry Jazzes up in Vilnius
The year 2010 was extremely important to Lithuanian capital because the city strengthened its position in meetings industry not only in Europe but also on the global map in general.

In 2010 ICCA, with the invitation of Vilnius Tourist Information Centre & Convention Bureau, organised two events that were of special importance to the city. Research, Sales & Marketing Programme (RSMP) designed for newcomers in the meetings industry who work within CVBs, hotels, etc. to help them exchange experiences, make business and win bids. The second event, the Baltic Forum, targeted at the Baltic meetings industry and its stakeholders with the aim of educating, forging relationships and creating a dialogue between various stakeholders. These were the first events organised by ICCA in the Baltic States. One of the largest conference equipment and service suppliers in Lithuania Konferenta UAB provided all the necessary technical facilities needed for the events. Meetings industry professionals attending the events pointed out that Vilnius had a very positive future as a destination suggesting high quality modern services and technologies needed for international meetings.

The participants were hosted by Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva - the largest conference hotel in the central part of Vilnius accommodating up to 600 delegates (theatre style) in the biggest hall.

According to the number of participants, the largest business event in 2010 was V Internet Governance Forum which brought together up to 1700 delegates. The Forum was held in Lithuanian Exhibition and Convention Centre Litexpo. Renovated at the beginning of 2010, Litexpo has now eleven modern conference and meetings halls, which can host from 6 to 1800 delegates, and is suitable for holding both small business meetings, negotiations and training as well as large international events – congresses and conferences.

Glance at Perspectives
In spring 2011, Vilnius will host two very significant inter-national cultural and artistic events: Graphic Design Week of the International Council of Graphic Design Association (ICOGRADA) and European Design Awards (ED-Awards). During the Design Week an international conference, cultural workshops, exhibitions and various cultural events will be organised. The world’s most famous graphic designers and specialists of visual communication design will arrive to Vilnius. The main events will be held in Design Innovation Centre of Vilnius Academy of Arts. Spring ICOGRADA Graphic Design Week will be followed by the gala ceremony - ED-Awards - rewarding the best European designers. The ceremony will take place in the Dance Theatre of the National Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis School of Arts.

In summer 2011, Vilnius city will also become the destination for the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) 35 Anniversary Conference which will also be run simultaneously with the AITO Specialist Travel Agents Conference. More than 250 tour organisers and travel agents are expected to arrive. The conferences will be held in the Contemporary Art Centre and Vilnius Town Hall. Lithuanian National Tourism Office in London, being the member of AITO, was the initiator of participation in the contest and presented Vilnius as a destination for AITO conferences. The city fought off competition from several other unnamed destinations for the events.

Jolanta Beniulienė, the head of Vilnius Tourist Information Centre & Convention Bureau, also emphasizes the facts that in 2011 Lithuania will host the European Basketball Championship, and in 2013 Lithuania will have the honour of taking the EU Presidency. “These are great challenges to Vilnius. The city and all the representatives of the tourism industry are already preparing to welcome an increased number of guests. We hope that before the beginning of the presidency the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania will be open and become the ideal venue for elegant occasions”, said Jolanta Beniulienė. “Our aim is to help our guests to discover Lithuanian capital and its possibilities. Vilnius is still a new destination where visitors can expect high-quality-services, an excellent price-quality ratio and professional attitude”.

Vilnius Convention Bureau has been successfully integrated into the international medium of meetings industry professionals and has great networking possibilities. The Convention Bureau presents Vilnius as a destination at the international exhibitions (IMEX in Frankfurt, EIBTM in Barcelona) as well as various workshops. Professional staff of Vilnius Convention Bureau is always ready to provide all the necessary information and guidance for meeting planners and organizers. For more information about Vilnius Convention Bureau and Vilnius in general visit the website www.vilnius-convention.lt