LOT Polish Airlines, the Polish Tourist Organization – Poland Convention Bureau (POT PCB) and the Association of Conferences and Congresses in Poland (SKKP) have announced the reactivation of the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry.
The relevant agreement was signed on January 22, 2025, at the Copernicus Science Center during a meeting organized on the occasion of the presentation of POT recommendations for PCO, ITC, and Convention Bureaux for 2025-2026. Participants were presented with the main objectives of the program, which aims to support the meetings industry in attracting international congresses and conferences.
The Support Program for the Meetings Industry is based on the assumptions of the Polish Congress Ambassadors Program, which has been implemented since 1998 jointly by the POT, PCB, and a non-governmental organization, the Association of Conferences and Congresses in Poland. The aim of the support program is to provide airline tickets to representatives of the world of science, culture, sport, business, and other circles (so-called Congress Ambassadors) so that they can actively participate in the process of attracting further international meetings and business events, i.e., conferences, congresses, and trade fairs, to Poland.
Events in the bidding stage, when Poland is one of the candidates considered for hosting the event (presentation of Poland’s offer abroad), and for visits to potential host cities, organized for the purpose of conducting a visit to the potential host city, can be submitted to the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry. bidding stage, when Poland is one of the candidates considered for hosting the event (presentation of Poland’s offer abroad) and for the purpose of visiting a potential host city, organized for a foreign organizer in order to confirm the submitted offer (so-called site inspection). Events already awarded to Poland will receive information about the possibility of participating in the LOT International Events program dedicated to the meetings sector.
Today, the conference and congress market is based on global competition between host cities for regional and global events. The Polish Congress Ambassadors Program proves that it is an effective instrument for increasing the number of events in Poland, and the ICCA and UIA world rankings are tangible proof of this. Poland’s 17th place in the global ranking is not a coincidence, but the result of strategic actions and coordinated efforts. Many factors determine the effectiveness of this program, but the key one is cooperation between stakeholders, which is why the local Ambassador Clubs currently operating in the Warsaw/Mazovia region and the largest urban centers are of great importance: Krakow, Wrocław, Poznań, as well as Łódź and Gdańsk. Reactivated after the difficult pandemic period, the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry is an excellent tool to support the Program. The active participation of the national carrier and its support at the application stage cannot be overestimated and is a testament to the true synergy between the applicant destination, the national and local Convention Bureau, and the industry itself, in which airlines are an important supplier. Without a doubt, Poland as a destination and host is gaining a competitive advantage in the global world of meetings, said Paula Fanderowska, President of the Board of the Association of Conferences and Congresses in Poland.
LOT Polish Airlines, which operates over 90 routes at peak season, with over 350 flights a day and an average of over 29,000 passengers a day, is an integral partner of international events taking place in Poland. I am not only thinking about Warsaw, which is a hub for LOT and boasts the largest number of connections. This also applies to regional airports, where we are gradually expanding our offer, such as the recently announced direct connection between Paris and Krakow. Our strengths include a well-designed route network, a modern fleet, and convenient flight times. Passengers also appreciate our regularly improved in-flight offer and the hospitality of our staff, which is our hallmark. As the national carrier, we also play an important role as an ambassador for Poland. By bringing participants from over 40 countries around the world, we promote Polish cities as potential hosts of global events on foreign markets. The agreement underscores LOT’s readiness to work even more intensively with the academic community, which is also part of the company’s strategy announced in 2023. I believe that thanks to the reactivation of the program, Poland will host many valuable events of international reach,” added Marta Wiśniewska, Sales Director at LOT Polish Airlines.
During the recommendation ceremony, we also had the honor of signing the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry, which sets the directions for the development of our industry. Together with other market leaders, we have committed ourselves to further strengthening Poland’s position as a venue for world-class events based on quality, innovation and sustainable development, commented Anna Jędrocha, President of the Management Board of Symposium Cracoviense.
Attracting events, especially international congresses, is a complex and often lengthy process. Our country’s offer meets the requirements of organizers to a high degree, as evidenced by Poland’s record 17th place in the ICCA world ranking in 2024. Poland’s strengths include its central location in Europe, a constantly expanding network of air connections, a high level of security, affordability, and infrastructure. Our experience shows that the successful acquisition of association meetings largely depends on the support of regional or municipal authorities and the commitment and charisma of the Congress Ambassador, who works with the convention bureau or PCO to secure the event. We hope that the reactivated program will provide tangible assistance and an additional impetus for actively attracting meetings and events to Poland. We cordially invite you to apply, said Aneta Książek, Head of the Meetings and Events Office at the Poland Convention Bureau.
The following are eligible to apply for the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry:
– Polish Congress Ambassadors
– The Chapter of the Polish Congress Ambassadors Program
– Polish Tourist Organization
– Association of Conferences and Congresses in Poland
– Representatives of Local Congress Ambassadors Clubs
– Municipal and regional Convention Bureaux
– Congress organizers recommended in the Poland Convention Bureau POT program
– other business event organisers supported in their application by municipal or regional Convention Bureaux. In this case, the application requires a recommendation from the local Convention Bureau
– congress facilities supported in their application by municipal or regional Convention Bureaux. In this case, the application from the facility requires a recommendation from the local Convention Bureau
Events submitted to the Program must meet the following criteria:
– events of an international nature, with at least 100 foreign participants
– events of a cyclical nature, with a history of at least two editions
– events in the following formats: conferences, congresses, fairs, workshops, meetings with elements of incentive travel, and other business events
– the planned date of the event must not be later than 4 years from the date of submission of the application to the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry, and the date of application must not be later than 6 months before the event
The Applicant’s demand for airline tickets may only concern PLL LOT’s own connections and should be submitted at least 1 month before the planned date of departure.
Participation in the National Support Program for the Meetings Industry obliges the Applicant (Organizer) to actively promote Poland abroad as a venue for congresses and conferences, and in the event of a positive decision to locate the event in Poland, the Organizer declares that PLL LOT will be the recommended carrier.
Applications for the Program should be submitted electronically to: polandcb@pot.gov.pl. In response to the application, the Applicant will receive a form to be completed online.
