DESTINATION BY ROB GILL
“The cost of incidentals can be lower in eastern Europe, and location does sway it too”
for sightseeing and team-building activi- ties,” says Capita’s Elborough. “Budapest’s monuments and spas make it an attractive city for conferences and incentives.” Meetings organisers also cite strong support from ground suppliers for their popularity. Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) Meetings and Events operations director Liz Quinton says “they seem to bend over backwards to give good rates”. Anitra Elliott, operations manager for
ATP Event Experts, adds that Prague and Budapest are “as user-friendly but much more cost effective” than other major regional cities such as Berlin.
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ALL POINTS EAST Poland is becoming more popular as a meetings destination, both for the capital Warsaw and the historic city of Krakow, which CWT’s Quinton says is becoming “an up-and-coming destination in eastern Europe”. The capitals of the three Baltic states of Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga) and Lithuania (Vilnius) are also getting more interest from the meetings market. Riga, for one, has seen its profile raised through its current status as a European Capital of Culture for 2014, while Tallinn has been shaking off its image of being a destination for stag and hen parties.
Chambers Travel’s Leeson says: “Tallinn is a city with a fantastic mix of history and digital technology. The old town has some impressive and unique venues and is rec- ognised as one of the most technologically advanced cities in Europe, with wifi access practically a basic human right. “Growing private sector internet and communication technology is a priority in Estonia. And, near to Tallinn’s airport is Technopolis, the city’s version of Silicon Valley, so it’s a destination growing in popularity with technology companies.” Capita’s Elborough also highlights Tallinn as a host city, as well as the Slovakian
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