On December 3, 2023, a key meeting organized by the Poland Convention Bureau was held at the Ibis Styles Wrocław Centrum hotel, bringing together representatives of Polish convention bureaus. The event was closed to the public. Participants had the opportunity to delve into the most important aspects of the functioning and development of the meetings industry in Poland.
Issues discussed during the meeting
Introduction – presentation of the current situation in the industry
Reports and rankings for 2024 – a comprehensive summary of the achievements of the Polish sector
Recommendation program 2025-2026 – strategic directions for the development of a certification program for convention bureaus, PCOs, and ITCs
Digital Marketing – the latest trends and communication tools
Educational project Creators’ Laboratory 2023-2025 – an innovative approach to content creation
Promotional plans for 2025 – marketing directions and joint projects
New support programs for the industry
Calendar of international trade fairs in 2025
A handful of information from the meeting
The jointly created report “The Meetings and Events Industry in Poland 2024” was the fifteenth anniversary edition. It summarises the results for 2023 and includes statements from industry representatives on the changes that have taken place over the last 15 years. The document presents data from three main sources, including international organisations (ICCA, UIA), local and regional convention bureaux, and recommended congress and incentive travel organisers. Here are some key figures from the report:
Types of events in Poland in 2023:
Conferences and congresses: 54% (an increase of 12% compared to 2022)
Corporate and incentive events: 41%.
Trade fairs and exhibitions: 5%.
An increase in the number of reported data was recorded.
Poland’s position in global rankings – ICCA
Poland achieved its highest ever ranking of 17th place
Warsaw: 30th place (53 meetings)
Krakow: 47th place (43 meetings)
Gdańsk: 84th place (27 meetings)
Wrocław: 150th place (15 meetings)
Poznań: 184th place (12 meetings)
Łódź: 248th place (8 meetings)
Poland’s position in global rankings – UIA
Poland ranked 21st with 122 meetings
Warsaw and Krakow: tied for 42nd place (32 meetings each)
Other cities: 58 meetings
In addition, ESG activities and initiatives undertaken by Krakow and Gdańsk were discussed. Sustainable development in the GDS Index is an initiative that assesses the level of sustainability of destinations based on 70 criteria divided into four main categories:
Environmental protection: climate action, air quality, emissions, transport, presence of green spaces.
Social activities: information accessibility, safety, inclusiveness.
Supplier activities: standards in hotels, restaurants, airports, agencies, and conference facilities.
Destination management: strategies and policies, management processes, certifications, research, and reporting.
The GDS Index initiative emphasizes the importance of responsible management of cities as meeting places and event venues, promoting actions for sustainable development.
The 2023-2024 Creators’ Laboratory educational project, aimed at three target groups: professionals, university staff, and students, was also summarized. So far, over 700 people have taken part in the initiative, including 670 workshop and meeting participants and 40 people who used online consultations. A total of 58 hours of workshops, sessions, and consultations were held, with the participation of nine experts, including seven external specialists. The meetings took place in five cities in Poland. The Poland Convention Bureau announced the continuation of activities and further events in other cities in 2025.
Calendar of key events
January 22, 2025: presentation of POT PCB certificates to convention bureaus, PCOs, ITCs, and the Creators’ Laboratory with foreign experts in Warsaw
February 18-20, 2025: Conventa trade fair in Ljubljana
May 20-22, 2025: IMEX Frankfurt trade fair (national stand)
October 7-9, 2025 IMEX America trade fair in Las Vegas (national stand)
November 18-20, 2025 IBTM World trade fair in Barcelona (national stand)
This regular meeting was an excellent platform for the exchange of experiences and knowledge. The main purpose of the meeting was to summarize the activities to date, set directions for development in the coming years, integrate the meetings and events industry, and develop joint promotional strategies by Polish convention bureaus. The December meeting in Wrocław confirmed that the Polish MICE industry is dynamic, development-oriented, and open to innovation.
