Date: May 2022 Location: Serbia Organiser: M2Communications Client: Porsche SCG
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY CROSSOVER EVENT FORMAT: DIGITAL
Event description and key objectives
The launching of the new car CUPRA Formentor, was primarily supposed to take place live during 2021. Due to the numerous challenges brought by the previous year, we had to come up with a different way to present the new model on the Serbian market. We proposed to the client something that has not been seen before in our region, believing that a brand like this one deserves a completely new way of promotion.
Key challenges
Numerous challenges caused by the pandemic of the COVID 19 and the lack of chips in automotive production have led to a complete change in the work in a many fields but also the marketing industry. As CUPRA has just arrived on the market, it was a big challenge to present the brand to the public, thus creating a new order in the automotive industry in our country.
Creativity
Since the event industry stopped during the previous two years, we wanted to transfer the Formentor launch to the digital world. We wanted to directly involve the target group by providing them a unique digital experience. We created a video that is a convergence of gaming and video production. The key channel of the campaign was the micro site cuprahero.rs, whose basic content is an interactive video of a competitive nature, but also important information about the brand and the car itself. Visit https://cuprahero.rs/ We thought about who would be the main characters of the interactive video and we came up with the idea that the protagonists should be parkour heroes. We wanted for target group to be represented by ordinary people, but have something in common that is unusual but unique, parkour. Three heroes personalize CUPRA DNA – speed, agility and strength. By choosing one of them, you embark on an interactive adventure where the outcome of the video depends only on you.
Innovation
The innovation is reflected in a completely new approach to presenting the car brand and new model on the Serbian market in the digital sphere, through an interactive video. For the first time in the region, a car model was presented in the form of an interactive event based on a completely new digital user experience, which enabled greater user involvement and a more dynamic and stronger connection with a brand or product. This unique possibility of user interaction and influence on the content they are watching and their creative engagement in real time was realized thanks to a successful combination of gaming and video production.
Execution
As the idea was that each park rider encounters 4 forks in his game, we filmed 3 different outcomes of the game for all obstacles, so that the competitor could choose his path at his discretion and influence the outcome of the video itself. We allocated over 60 hours of video recording. Over 50 associates participated in the creation of the concept and the actual execution of the project. The micro website was created just for this purpose and records over 100k visits even though the game ended.
Measurable results
The success of the campaign is reflected in the results of raising awareness and drawing attention to the new model in our market, especially on Belgrade CAR Show, in May. The CUPRA stand was one of the most visited at the fair. During the three weeks of the competition part of the campaign, over 40,000 unique visits to the micro-site cuprahero.rs were recorded, 7 million impression, 90% of the target group was reached and there were 20 awarded competitors. The campaign was supported by well-known influencers from the automotive industry who counted hundreds of thousands of likes and shares on social networks.
Communication
A creative and unusual way of promoting a car brand and communicating with a dynamic target group of consumers aged between 25 and 40 was devised. Regardless of whether the user watched the content on a computer, tablet or mobile phone, interactive video allowed him to influence and interact with the video content through various tools. Also, the entire range of digital communication channels, such as social networks, blogs and podcasts, were used in the digital campaign.
The use of sustainable practices
Cupra promotion is supported at this year’s car fair, which is dedicated to eco-technology and environmental protection.
The inaugural Work. Place. Culture. Conference Dubrovnik – an experience-rich industry event bringing the concept of work from anywhere to absolutely everywhere. Three of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Remote Work led the way in Dubrovnik over three inspiring days with workshops, “netwalking” and engaging talks from the world’s leading destinations and voices in remote work. It was opened by the Croatian National Tourist Board – supporting its recent Croatia Your New Office Campaign.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Momentum This event is the third major annual event focused on digital nomads run by Dubrovnik since 2020.
2. Foster Collaboration Over 30 destinations and several digital nomad communities joined in productive dialogues and catalysed collaborative projects.
3. Leverage the growing Workation and ‘Bleisure’ (business and leisure) audience. Dubrovnik piloted Croatia’s first official tourist board workation program. The event highlighted global remote work trends and destinations reinvent.
The event highlighted global remote work trends and destinations reinventing themselves for this emerging market by developing policy, infrastructure and community.
Key challenges
Several areas stand out as the challenges for the event.
* THE WAR IN UKRAINE * HYBRID EVENT IN MULTIPLE VENUES * BUDGETS
1. THE WAR IN UKRAINE The first impact was upon announcement. Promoted as a primarily live event for the full experience, and in planning since 2021, several speakers and attendees were reluctant to book travel due to the uncertainty of the global political situation.
2. HYBRID EVENT IN MULTIPLE VENUES, ACROSS TIMEZONES This event was delivered as a hybrid – online and in person. Further, it was across multiple venues, with daily livestreaming. Speakers joined from Australia and the USA across a variety of timezones.
3. BUDGETS Covid 19 has still kept public spending and sponsorships at a conservative level. Further, looming inflation forecasts also kept the event budget to a minimum due to various global factors.
Creativity
Creativity Work. Place. Culture was an opportunity to catalyse conversations at the intersection of where Destinations meet Remote Workers: Early Phase, Emerging and Established Places.
It was also the first in-person meeting for many; prompting the need to create many memorable experiences – which, fortunately, Dubrovnik is surrounded with.
The concept was devised to connect destinations and digital nomads who are looking for “the next stop” and a community to go with it. It also looked at three levels of a destination’s ranking among remote workers: early phase, emerging and established. This served as the ‘giving circle’ where more experienced destinations could guide up-and-coming destinations and build metaphorical ‘bridges’ between places – because as we are seeing, it is the community which is key; the location second. So, when a destination serves a community, it brings an elevated experience which is mutually beneficial.
First-Time In Person This was the first time many ‘remote first’ colleagues and industry professionals had met in person. The transition from online to in-person was key – how to quickly form bonds? How to break the ice almost instantly to make the best use of time?
Iconic Venues – Matching the Conference Topic Dubrovnik has centuries of iconic settings – and many of these were used; fit to purpose. A beachside panel focused on beating burnout and business growth, demonstrating how lifestyle plays a part.
An island clouded with many myths – where peacocks roam and exotic trees flourish – the perfect setting for a deep dive into a ‘life design’ workshop – barefoot, laying down and with an individual audio experience. It was talked about for weeks after.
A Winning Workation With much of the world bringing on new hires during the pandemic, many teams have never met or not seen each other for years – the Win A Workation pilot served as an inspiring reconnection for the winning team – who enjoyed a reset, and new business partnerships as a result of attending the conference.
Innovation
This was the first event where global remote work leaders and the most destinations offering digital nomad friendly stays joined forces. The destinations were dynamic – and there was a strong sense of collaboration vs competition; nomads and travellers will roam – and put community first. In a sense, the destinations began the first steps to forming a community of practice.
Bringing in outdoor elements heightened the experience. For example, on the island of Lokrum, workshop attendees brought their own audio headsets for a highly personalised guided session, with the chance to reconvene as a group.
To build in more networking, the walls served as the ideal backdrop; with a netwalking session in the form of a guided tour, capped off with a keynote address from the self-proclaimed ‘King of Digital Nomads’ – a fitting setting, given Dubrovnik’s history now includes being synonymous with the Game of Thrones “King’s Landing” location.
LinkedIn is the largest online platform for professionals, with over 700 million users. Among their Top Voices series are the Top 10 Voices in Remote Work. Three of the top 10 were invited, and all accepted the invitation, to present at Work. Place. Culture. Their forward thinking insights, and immediate willingness to be part of the inaugural event shows this was a cutting-edge concept and timely platform for this growing audience.
Execution
A celebration of remote work … all planned and prepared remotely.
This event was delivered in partnership with the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, media partner Total Croatia News and event design by Saltwater Nomads. It was supported by the Digital Nomad Association (DNA) Croatia and Croatian National Tourist Board.
There were multiple venues and a global audience.
The planning and preparation was by an entirely remote and distributed team, based in Croatia, Australia and Lithuania.
Interactive and Livestreamed The program was hosted using the interactive Hopin hybrid event platform and simultaneously livestreamed via Streamyard across Hopin, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Speakers Network The speaker network joined virtually and in person. This included pre-recordings, as well as livestreamed sessions.
The event delivery was possible by the established network, support and recommendations for the City and Tourist board, DNA Croatia and partners, demonstrating a positive collaboration between public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Measurable results
Workation Bookings. LinkedIn ‘mega’ reach. Ongoing business collaborations between destinations, speakers and businesses.
Workation bookings A direct result from three sets of companies booking team reunions in Dubrovnik, after direct contact with the event organiser.
LinkedIn Mega Reach Below are sample views from a keynote speaker who will remain anonymous.
Media reach through the Total Croatia News series of articles, also published in local media.
A large component of this intended audience are on LinkedIn – with close to 1 billion members. Following the event, a senior member of LinkedIn’s remote policy contacted the event organiser, praising the format and expressing interest in future collaborations.
The event was promoted multiple times on the 80,000 member strong Remote Workers on LI group. Further, one of the top voices remained for a month as a City ambassador, promoting this stay on the platform and with the publication of a digital nomad guide to the city.
Ongoing business collaborations between destinations, speakers and businesses are a natural by-product of conferences. At Work. Place. Culture. Conference, destinations partnered with speakers and digital nomad communities – and the popular Remote Life Podcast went on to feature prominent speakers following the conference. Future exchanges are planned, including in Albania, Scotland and Australia.
Communication
The Work. Place. Culture. Conference, is an experience-rich conference designed for remote professionals and decision-makers, it aims to continue to establish Dubrovnik as a destination associated with remote work – especially developing strategic viewpoints.
In addition to a digital nomad focus, extending to matters related to all remote professionals means Dubrovnik continues to gain global media attention as it addresses sustainable tourism and how it relates to issues relevant to multiple industries and policy-setters, globally.
Now is the time companies and policy-setters need to reimagine and reconfigure what the world of work looks like. Remote professionals, especially those in distributed teams, are looking for ways to reconnect and redefine company culture, as well as influence new policies impacting performance, retention and wellbeing.
As “Work From Anywhere” (WFA) becomes a stalwart in company EVPs, destinations who support this dialogue are expected to attend, and further build their profiles.
The messaging remains consistent – and was shared across news channels, including a series of articles on Total Croatia News, and the online platforms for the City and Tourist Board of Dubrovnik, DNA Croatia and the channels of all invited speakers, destinations and digital nomad associations.
The use of sustainable practices
This event was produced with a focus on environmental, economic and social issues.
Sustainable travel: The event MC made an overland journey from the UK to Dubrovnik, using rail, road and sea to arrive.
Hybrid and Longtermism: By choosing a hybrid format, virtual attendance allows for less impact on the environment. The emphasis on longstays with the Croatian digital nomad visas supports a sustainable direction.
Economic: This event was held in a ‘lower season’ with an emphasis on corporate groups, namely the widely reported ‘off-sites’ many distributed teams are holding.
Environmental: Along with the benefits of virtual attendance on the environment, each day’s venues were mostly accessed by public transport and by walking.
Social: A longterm vision to build community was evident from the strong collaborations between speakers and destinations. Representatives from numerous destinations were present.
The panel on sustainable digital nomadism enabled viewers to understand the goals of digital nomads and their awareness of their impact, and the role of content creators, decision-makers, and tourism professionals.
Date: 10-17 June 2022 Location: Zadar and region, Croatia Organiser: Saltwater Nomads
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2C EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Festival EVENT FORMAT: HYBRID
Event description and key objectives
Where can you ‘down tools’ and reach a mountain peak with no wifi signal, see Ottoman and Roman ruins, Tesla’s birthplace or escape to a river, lake or island within 1 hour?
From 10-17 June, the first ever Zadar Digital Nomad Week was held in Zadar and the region. It follows the format of the acclaimed Zagreb Digital Nomad Week held in 2021.
Over 7 days, a selection of influencers explored the under-discovered, under-the-radar places around Zadar, even going under-ground (eg. wine cellars and caves). Online, hundreds watched over 30 speakers covering sustainability, lifestyle, women’s entrepreneurship and masterclasses in podcasting, writing and sales.
Key objectives:
Digital By Nature Build in outdoor and active elements to demonstrate building in a daily practice of ‘digital disconnection’ by reconnecting with nature.
Promote Off the Beaten Path Areas We wanted to hear “I would never have come here, so glad we did”.
Empower Audience Income-generating masterclasses and workshops
Key challenges
Several areas stand out as the challenges for the event.
* SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT * HYBRID EVENT IN MULTIPLE VENUES * BUDGETS
1. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT The event venues were positioned within walking distance within the city of Zadar. Where the excursions extended to the wider region, car pooling and electric vehicles were used. Keynotes were delivered on kayaks and during an overnight mountain hike – bringing in .
2. HYBRID EVENT IN MULTIPLE VENUES – INCLUDING ON A LAKE This event was delivered as a hybrid – online and in person. Recording on water proved a challenge, mostly around safety and pausing the session twice due to currents.
3. BUDGETS Covid 19 has still kept public spending and sponsorships at a conservative level. Further, looming inflation forecasts also kept the event budget to a minimum due to various global factors.
Creativity
Zadar is ranked as one of the fastest growing hubs for digital nomads in Croatia by Nomad List. The CEO of Wifi Tribe recently dubbed it “the one to watch”. Easily accessible by road, sea and air, with an abundance of nature and recreation and a growing coworking and business community… it has fast become a “get in now” destination – and this event showcases highlights – including the wider off path region.
From 10-17 June, Saltwater Nomads presented the first ever Zadar Digital Nomad Week an event supported by the Digital Nomad Association Croatia, KPMG Croatia, Cognism, Authland, Safety Wing, the University, City and Tourist Board of Zadar. With support from the Australian and Netherlands embassies in Croatia.
The event featured over 30 speakers in person and virtually, including experts in remote work, lifestyle and business.
Its format was outdoor-rich, showing the ease and speed you can switch off and incorporate ‘digital disconnection’ into daily life.
Innovation
Zadar’s recent role in the European Union’s 2CODE project and Cross Border Coworking collaboration brought local stakeholders, such as the City of Zadar and University of Zadar (2CODE Project Partners) together. Support from the Zadar Tourist Board, tech businesses (eg. Authland and Cognism) and Inovativni Zadar demonstrate the local ecosystem is now forming a fusion between an external audience, allowing greater opportunities for collaboration.
The format of the event also demonstrated meeting the objective of focusing on nature can be achieved; live participants can enjoy an in-person experience, which can then be edited for later viewing. This in itself is in alignment with the asynchronous (asynch) approach many remote workers and digital nomads take in their work.
Asynch, public-private collaboration and an emphasis on nature have interweaved to create a week-long program which is skills-building, network-building and improving wellbeing.
Execution
In person, Zadar Digital Nomad Week drew on the nature-based elements in the region. While online, skills building with on-demand replays.
A ride in a Tesla to Tesla’s birth place in Smiljan, 50 kilometres ‘as the crow flies’ from Zadar.
Nin Mud Baths
An overnight hike in the Velebit Mountain Ranges at National Park Paklenica
Maskovica Han – the western-most example of Ottoman architecture in Europe
Croatia’s largest lake, Vrana Lake – a RAMSAR wetland site and bird sanctuary
An award winning suburban winery, for a live podcasting masterclass with wine tasting.
Networking overlooking the Kornati archipelago
An interactive “puzzle picnic” with clues across Zadar, including the Zadar Sea Organ
Tax, Career and LinkedIn masterclasses in coworking spaces
Nomad Table, a dining meetup, held next to Byzantine and Roman era monuments in the heart of the city.
And… a glimpse of Antarctica. Our final day keynote speaker is a 44-time guide to the ice continent, sharing her experience as a nomad in Antarctica.
Measurable results
Key influencers in the remote working field shared their involvement in Zadar Digital Nomad Week across their online channels. Here are some results.
LinkedIn: Featured posts on the largest LinkedIn group, “Remote Workers on LI”, with exposure to over 80K members. There was an average of 95-lifetime views per online session (11 total). Total 1,045 replays of the online sessions.
Speakers and Media Platform Audience
The 11 online speakers have a collective audience of over 3M followers across social media and podcast channels.
Total Croatia News articles – 4 in total. Platform reach is 600,000 per month on website.
LinkedIn speakers’ highest performing posts average 400 engagements per post.
Masterclasses and Workshops: 300% growth on LinkedIn from one masterclass participant.
New clients for speakers – 39 new signups for instructors who offer consulting and courses.
Website newsletter sign ups – 89 newsletter signups with 26 Zadar nomad booking enquiries received for 2022 visits.
Communication
The long-term communication goals are to position Zadar as an ideal base for the nature-loving nomad and remote worker passing through the region. The wide range of speakers were mostly experts in content creation, tech and the remote work lifestyle. This ensures this segment of the intended audience, i.e. those with great flexibility to work and travel, could be empowered and consider Zadar, with the city and region as the backdrop to the 7 day program.
Using LinkedIn to stream and promote through speaker profiles is a key strategy; this platform has over 700 million users who are a direct fit with the audience the event served. Key media platforms include Total Croatia News for ongoing coverage of digital nomad themes in Croatia. And the large networks of keynote speakers from Expat in Croatia and Travel off Path ensure a wide audience can gain insights into opportunities in the city.
The use of sustainable practices
This event was produced with a focus on environmental, economic and social aspects.
Sustainable travel: Car-pooling, non motor transport (eg. kayaks and hiking) and electric vehicles. Walking and bike-sharing were the main modes of transport around the city.
Economic: Focusing on under-discovered and off the path cities and regions ensures rural economies can benefit from a longterm visitor, who often visits during ‘off-peak’ periods.
Environmental: Along with the benefits of virtual attendance on the environment, each day’s venues were mostly accessed by walking, car-pooling and electric vehicle. It is worth noting, the mountain hike was ‘zero trace’ with all trash items (eg. food packaging) needing to be taken off the mountain, as the huts do not allow trash.
Social: The emphasis on networking and focused attention in workshops and masterclasses has generated ‘accountability partnerships’ and ongoing mentoring and guidance from instructors. Engagement with local stakeholders has generated new professional and personal connections; it was a window into a new world for many providers (eg. wineries, cowork space staff and even drivers).
Hybrid and Longtermism: With a hybrid format, virtual attendance allows for less impact on the environment. The key speakers had remained in Croatia for an average of 1 month, opting for immersion rather than fly-in, fly-out visits.
Date: 11th – 12th October Location: Belgrade Fair, Serbia Organiser: M2Communications Client: Government of the Republic of Serbia
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2C EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Association Conference, Congress EVENT FORMAT: HYBRID
Event description and key objectives
The biggest political event in 2021, the 60th anniversary of the Non–Aligned Movement, was held at the Belgrade Fair on 11th and 12th October. The main goal was to gather the highest representatives of non-aligned countries and to give them unique experience. Our team is entrusted with creative concept and executive production of this meeting for the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
Key challenges
The biggest challenge was to realize the highest political gathering of over 120 foreign delegations and more than 1000 participants in Belgrade, despite the COVID 19 pandemic and the restrictions it brings. The other challenge was to adapt the venue of the event to the needs of the production in order to fully respond to the creative concept of the conference.
Creativity
The event was officially opened with an audio-visual spectacle: an integrated animation broadcast via mapping on the floor in the central part of the hall, on four large LED screens and to a special installation above the delegate table made of transparent LED screens. Art direction was based on the motifs of water colors, which are melted and changed colors evoked the story of the origin of the Non-Aligned Movement, its history and symbols, as well as its goals which they aspire to in the future. The impressive installation in the main hall attracted special attention hall, on an area of as much as 220 square meters. The installation consisted of living nature full of flowers and greenery, which symbolize Serbian landscapes.
Innovation
Technical aspect of the event was very innovative. There were face tracking cameras, transparent LED screens, animation broadcast via mapping on the floor in the central part. But, most importmant was an ambience of the conference. A combination of a high – tech equipment and warm natural installations were an unprecedented setting for a political event.
Execution
An event of this type required the highest technical and logistic requirements and level of production. The execution of this project required one month of pre-production process and over 150 associates. Five automatic smart motion cameras covered Hall 5 of the Belgrade Fair.
Measurable results
The two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was attended by more than 300 domestic and foreign journalists, who have written and published over 200 announcements and reports from Belgrade. It is particularly significant the fact that Serbia, by organizing such a large international event, has gained attention foreign policy success.
Communication
The event from Belgrade was covered on all domestic media channels, as well as on the leading ones world TV stations, including CNN, BBC, regional media house Al Jazeera and many others.
The use of sustainable practices
For this occasion and marking six decades since the first conference of the Non–Aligned Movement, 60 tree seedlings were symbolically planted in park of Friendship. Namely, the idea for the formation of a Memorial Park of Friendship came from the Young Highlanders who, in the name of holding the First Non-Aligned Conference in Belgrade in 1961, decided to establish a memorial park as a symbol of the struggle for peace and equality of all peoples in the world.
Together with a number of actors, BANG organized an incredibly important event: Hela Sverige skramlar (Sweden in solidarity with Ukraine). Basically, the event was about creating a manifestation for peace and respect and to do that, we wanted to create something within the category we ourselves are active in – a large live event with fundraising opportunity for those in need affected by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On April 2, we gathered the Swedish artist elite in the Avicii Arena in Stockholm to raise money and show the world that we as a nation stand up for democracy and humanity. Key objectives for the event: – Raise 42 million SEK which was the previous record. – Get everyone to work pro bono. -Partner revenues of SEK 500,000. -Selling more than 7,000 tickets. -Having more than a million viewers. – Get everything done in a month. – Get all TV channels and media houses to work together.
Key challenges
There were loads and loads of challenges for the project. Shortage of time was of course one which also presented a number of consequential challenges when it comes to the venue, the artists, the suppliers and everything surrounding that. Also – the whole industry had been shut down for 2 years during the pandemic losing almost their entire revenues and struggling with support packages from the government to survive. We decided about a month before the event that we should do it. Getting everything in order in time was the biggest challenge. Apart from that – getting partners and everyone involved and asking them to work pro bono. Political challenges were also constantly present in the project.
Creativity
It takes a lot of creativity to pull off an event like this in under a month. A lot of organizations, partners and artists had to collaborate in order to succeed – pro bono.
Innovation
For the first time – all Swedish leading live entertainment companies joined forces to arrange this charity concert with some of Sweden’s most prominent artists. This time in solidarity with Ukraine and based on three areas – humanitarian crisis, human rights and democracy.
Execution
On the night of the fundraising event, some of Sweden’s biggest artists performed in Avicii Arena to show their support for people in need and promote human rights and democracy. The fundraising concert was conducted in the presence of, among others, H.K.H. Prince Carl Philip, H.K.H. Princess Sofia and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Stockholm – Andriy Plakhotnyuk, together with 6,000 people in the audience. Hela Sverige Skramlar för Ukraina (Sweden in solidarity with Ukraine) was broadcast live on SVT 1, TV4 Play, Viaplay, Discovery +, Swedish Radio P4, Aftonbladet and Expressen. The concert raised money for the Red Cross, Proliska, UN Women Sweden, Fight for Right, Civil Rights Defenders and The Media Initiative for Human Rights. SVT and Sveriges Radio raised money for Radiohjälpen. TV4 Play, Viaplay, Discovery +, Aftonbladet and Expressen raised money for the Red Cross. We had a steering group that was based on all conceivable areas of the project and had daily reconciliations.
Measurable results
All of the key objectives were met. Hela Sverige Skramlar för Ukraina (Sweden in solidarity with Ukraine) collected more than SEK 75 million – one of Sweden’s largest fundraisers of all time. In addition, the guests’ gifts were quadrupled by the partner Max Burgers.
Other numbers: – 28 artists, bands and speakers. – 6000 in the audience. – 2,500,000 viewers. – 420,000 radio listeners. – 150 articles and reports were written about the concert.
Communication
The total amount collected, in connection with Hela Sverige Skramlar för Ukraina (Sweden in solidarity with Ukraine), was SEK 75,805,615, which makes the collection one of the largest ever in Sweden. Furthermore, an interview with Björn Ulvaeus was be broadcasted via CNN, in more than 200 countries. In other words, Hela Sverige Skramlar för Ukraina (Sweden in solidarity with Ukraine) has created history and is now of international interest.
The use of sustainable practices
One of the most important duties of governments is to maintain and support human rights. Social sustainability is founded upon human rights. All participants were in the project pro bono and the raised funds, including all ticket revenues and revenues from supporting partners, was distributed to 6 selected charity organizations which supported the work with the ongoing and constantly worsening humanitarian crisis and also for democracy and human rights.
Date: 14-17 June 2022 Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Organiser: DEKON Group Client: City of Ljubljana, ECF
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2C EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Association Conference, Congress EVENT FORMAT: LIVE
Event description and key objectives
Velo-city is the annual flagship event of the European Cyclists’ Federation, the event plays a valuable part in promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport for all. Velo-city is where advocates, cities, decision makers, academics, researchers and industry leaders meet to shape the future of cycling. This conference offers a knowledge-exchange and policy-transfer platform to the growing number of more than 1400 Velo-citizens from over 60 countries involved in the policy, promotion and provision for cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development. The conference exhibition showcases the latest innovations for a better cycling experience in cities and beyond! The conferences are designed to encourage cycling as part of daily transport and recreation. Another important part of every Velo-city conference is the Bike-Parade, making the event very visible all over the city, and is attended by most of the participants and concluding in a casual evening event.
Key challenges
1. The uncertainty of the COVID pandemic. Having the event moved twice (original date June 2020, then autumn 2020), for 2021 Velo-city went to Lisbon, only to finally happen in Ljubljana 2022. During the months before June 2022 it hasn’t been clear if the participation numbers will pick up, or if another lockdown will again stop everything.
2. This conference had four partners, the host City of Ljubljana, the event ‘owner’ ECF, the venue GR, and DEKON as the PCO. While all partners wanted to deliver the best Velo-city conference ever, the roads to success haven’t always been the same. The host city wants at all costs to showcase its vibrant creativity and vision to create multi-purpose, shared spaces and its quality of life, ECF wants to deliver a high-level program which brings together those involved in the policy, promotion and the provision of cycling facilities and programs. DEKON’s role was inter alia to ensure all this within a tight and due to COVID vague budget.
Creativity
Every year, Velo-city brings together a growing number of more than 1400 participants from over 60 countries who are involved in the policy, promotion and provision for cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development. The conference exhibition showcases the latest innovations for a better cycling experience in cities and beyond! Velo-city is the World Cycling Summit serving as a global platform for knowledge exchange and policy transfer. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and challenged our view of reality. Cycling plays a significant role in driving and maintaining the increase in active mobility beyond the crisis and in achieving our global climate goals. Therefore Velo-city 2022 Ljubljana’s main theme was “Cycling the Change” and it covered the following five, extremely relevant subthemes:
• Rethinking urban space • Focus on citizens, stakeholders and community • Policies for more cycling • Green tourism, green economy • Urban mobility innovation.
Innovation
The event has been held on six stages in parallel, with seven plenaries, including the mayor’s forum. The plenary stage was round, visible from the auditorium, grouped around in 270°with a big LED widescreen in the back. A marked cycling track led from the street, via the exhibition, till the plenary stage. Every plenary session started with the conference theme song ‘Change is Strange’ (lyrics and composed by a City representative – you will hear it in the attached video). In fact, the conference theme song has been played all over the city, live at the opening, also live at the bicycle festival after the bike parade, as well as at the gala at Ljubljana castle. The mayor’s forum, a wish of the host city and its mayor, has been held with private sessions as well as a vibrant panel discussion, translated into several also regional languages. A relaxation zone with sunbeds has been established in the courtyard of the GR, especially during breaks the perfect place to enjoy icecream.
Execution
Velo-city is the World Cycling Summit serving as a global platform for knowledge exchange and policy transfer. Since the event has been held as a joint project of the City of Ljubljana, ECF, and DEKON Group as the PCO, close communication between the different teams has been key. A clear distribution of tasks stood at the beginning, and frequent zoom and some onsite meetings kept focus. The City and ECF jointly controlled the pre-event communication via different media channels, and developed a comprehensive program around the topic ‘Cycling the Change’. The City also organized an impressive bike parade, ending in an evening event and concert. DEKON has been in charge of all logistics, i.e. staging, AV, F&B, exhibition, bicycle logistics/rentals, sponsorship and budgeting. The registration/abstract management system of DEKON has been used. All partners have been always informed where the other teams are standing, a very close cooperation between the teams has been the key to success.
Measurable results
The conference itself has been the biggest citywide event since COVID, attracting about 1.300 participants from around 60 countries. It has been visible all over the city, and the 10 km long Bike parade has been attended by not only by most of conference participants, but also countless citizens of Ljubljana, making it in total more than 3000 bikers, flooding the city and enjoying an open-air concert and cycling festival at Congress Square, ending the day. Some Figures: The Major’s forum has been attended by 5 mayors 7 plenaries were held, also 60 sessions, all on 6 stages. 5 technical tours were conducted twice/day 1.300 participants and 60 exhibitors/partners were taken care of by 10 DEKON Staff + GR Staff and 24 local temp staff The overall budget has been over 850.000 Euros.
Communication
For ECF, Velo-city 2022 has been a full success and a noticeable return to their previous impact after the 2020 edition cancelled due to COVID, and a small hybrid event in 2021. The 2022 edition saw again advocates, engineers, planners, architects, researchers, environmentalists, business and industry representatives joining forces with public authorities at all levels at regional, national or international level. They were able to share knowledge and foster policy transfer in order to build effective trans-national partnerships to deliver benefits worldwide. Velo-city 2022 has been a strong and vital sign of the whole cycling industry and for the association ECF. On the other hand, representatives from the host city had the local as well as regional and international exposure they were seeking, with the very visible bike parade and by inviting for example to the mayor’s forum to discuss privately as well as on stage hot issues on city planning and innovation.
The use of sustainable practices
Since its first edition in 1980, Velo-city has played a valuable part in promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport for all and this has also been clearly communicated via the different media channels. On-site the use of Jezersek catering throughout the conference, serving local and regional produce, using ceramics tableware and classic silverware, guaranteed this from the F&B point of view. Water has been served glasses out of glass bottles, coffee from ceramic cups. The conference venue GR offers throughout the venue waste separation bins and is part of the Green & Safe initiative of Slovenia. Most participants joined the conference by bicycle or by walking every morning and many used the EuroVelo routes, a network of 17 long distance cycle routes uniting the European continent, to travel to Ljubljana. Use of reusable Exhibition System (same as Conventa). The Host City Ljubljana became already in 2014 the first European Capital to move towards Zero Waste.
Date: 13 – 15 October 2021 Location: Greece, Europe Organiser: Alpha Marketing Greece Client: Major Cities of Europe
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2C EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Association Conference, Congress EVENT FORMAT: DIGITAL
Event description and key objectives
“FROM HERE TO WHERE? SUCCEED IN THE POST COVID TRANSFORMATION”
Major Cities of Europe holds its conference each year in a different country with the objective of giving to the participants the opportunity to share international and local experiences. It is the annual occasion for distinguished international speakers to present the latest digital innovations and to share successes and issues. In recent years, the conference has taken place in Venice, Berlin, Prato, Vienna, Zurich, Hamburg etc.
The 2020 conference was postponed to 2021 due to the 2020 epidemic. At that time, the OC, with our advices, decided to have the Conference in digital mode. We needed participation of delegates and dissemination of the event. We needed, support of Companies & Auspices. The main question, was also, how to have the communication and networking as much as the live conferences. Our target was to have about 250-300 participants as previous events.
Key challenges
• The Organizing Committee, the Organizing Municipality and the Association to have an agreement for a digital event, and pay for that
• Have about 300 participants (as much as the previous live conferences)
• Have auspices and sponsors
• Have a conference budget without a money-losing
• 89% declared Absolutely satisfied
Creativity
Creativity focused on being able to digitally create an environment as close as possible to the familiar one. So there were the familiar banners of the Sponsors on the home page, the info kiosk from where he could also connect to an online video conference with the secretariat, as well as chat with any other conference participant. Also, the way in which the speakers and their presentations appeared, as well as the panels, were designed and implemented in such a way that they referred to a familiar television broadcast with the significant advantage of the possibility of interaction.
Innovation
We have chosen to have the Conference in a digital platform area. The innovation was at the below customized points that the platform had:
• Digital Event with functions as in live conferences • Having through the platform polls, gamification, Surveys, Q&A, E-mail Facility & Notifications • Simultaneous Live Stages and direction • Expo with Digital Booths • Networking & Lobbying area with chat, video call and B2B matchmaking facilities • Real Time Metrics
Execution
The organization developed without any problem and the participants declared themselves completely satisfied according to the data gathered from the satisfaction survey made with an electronic questionnaire.
• 89% declared Absolutely satisfied and satisfied
• 8% said they lacked real-time communication
• 3% said it did not satisfy them as a live event
The organising & management team was in 5 cities in Greece and Europe (Thessaloniki, Larissa, Athens, Hamburg, Prato) that all communicated in real time through chat platforms.
Measurable results
• The event had 553 participants all over Europe and some from USA, Israel, Turkey, Emirates etc
• We had auspices from all Greek authorities that are in the target of the conference
• We had 7 Sponsors
• We had 12 Communication supporters, from the biggest companies in Greece and targeted editors
• We had a surplus of 3000€ although the conference had high budget
• The Association decided to give us the assignment ALSO for the live Conference in November 2022 at the City of Larissa Greece.
Communication
There was a large advertising campaign before the conference was held in all industry media, as well as promotion of the conference through industry Exhibitions, hybrid and online. After the end of the conference there was a lot of publicity about the discussions that took place and the results that were obtained
The use of sustainable practices
• Zero carbon footprint as there was no printing involved and everything was done online.
• There were no commutes.
• There were no meals etc. On the other hand, the thematics of the conference was about sustainable cities, good practises, green development of cities etc. Our target to to minimize all potential negative impacts on the environment and leave a beneficial legacy for the host community and all involved was successful
Date: 1 March 2021 – 30 November 2021 Location: SKKP online Academy educational platform Organiser: SKKP Polish Conference and Congress Association Client: Polish MICE industry: employees of the tourism industry as well as people looking for employment in the tourism sector, students and graduates
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2I EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Educational Event / Training EVENT FORMAT: DIGITAL
Event description and key objectives
During the total collapse of the tourism industry caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the reconstruction of the market required, first of all, education, advice, a new recognition of trends in the tourism and meetings industry and adapting its offer to the demand. In order to meet these needs, SKKP started a series of 10 trainings entitled “Management in the MICE industry” offering basic knowledge about the MICE industry, but adapted to the new realities related to COVID-19. The main objectives were to help the industry become more agile and overcome crisis by providing them with the knowledge that can be easy accessible and available in a virtual space, while a live trainings and meetings were not possible. The knowledge from experts-practitioners enriched with case studies and know-how from international organizations.
Key challenges
The key challenge was a limited budget. SKKP main income comes from membership fees so there was a need to find additional funds from the external sources. We managed to get a financing from the national program of the Ministry of Labor, Development and Technology. Another challenge was to find right trainers who had a knowledge and practical experience and more over were willing to record their trainings and conduct live workshops. Each of them had to conduct 10 hours of LIVE workshops to every training they recorded. We also had a limited budget for promotion so we mainly used our social media profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn to promote the event. We managed to receive a free media support from our key industry portals MeetingPlanner.pl and ThinkMice.pl which regularly published press releases related to our event.
Creativity
One of the SKKP strategic goals is to raise knowledge and skills of the Polish industry in order to develop and maintain a professional conference services in Poland. To fulfill this goal, in October 2019 there was a SKKP Academy launched offering LIVE trainings. At the outbreak of the crisis associated with COVID-19, there was a sudden need for knowledge transfer and access to proven know-how from international organizations regarding ways to deal with this unique situation. Reliable and checked information is necessary to make right decisions. But because in person gatherings were forbidden, SKKP team came up with an idea to create an event “Management in the MICE industry – training series” on an online platform. It is a knowledge compendium of MICE but updated with examples of how other organizations are dealing with a post pandemic world, what are the best solution etc. It provides industry with inspiration and encourages to implement creative solutions in their businesses.
Innovation
We have prepared and recorded 10 following trainings:
1. Characteristics of the meetings market in Poland and in the world after the pandemic 2. Virtual and hybrid events 3. New technologies and digitization in the MICE sector 4. Security and safety of the organization of post COVID 19 events 5. World trends in the organization of events 6. Business networking in the new normality 7. Marketing communication, PR and social media 8. Professional organization of post COVID-19 events 9. Stages and new criteria for acquiring MICE sector events 10. Characteristics of the “Event manager” profession and new perspectives. Each training consists of two parts: theoretical (1.5 hr.) and a practical workshop (1.5 hr.). Trainings could be taken individually or in a package. The participant who decided to take a package of 10 trainings was additionally required to submit a written paper. After positive verification of 10 tests and the written paper, he received the “Event Manager” certificate.
Execution
• Six expert practitioners with over 10 years of experience in the industry were selected for recording of training sessions • SKKP obtained funding for the implementation of the project in the period from March 1 to November 30, 2021 from the Ministry of Labor, Development and Technology
• At that time, the courses were available free of charge to employees of the tourism industry, people seeking employment in the tourism sector, students and graduates of tourism faculties.
• The visualization and graphic design of the project were created (including PowerPoint presentation, certificates, promotional materials etc.)
• Training sessions were recorded, which, along with reports and additional educational materials, were successively placed on the platform
• Convenient registration was ensured – to participate in training and workshops, you needed to simply register on the platform and after receiving the activation link, you could take part in the courses at any time you choose
•10 Universities offering tourism specializations were acquired for cooperation
Measurable results
The results achieved significantly exceed the assumptions initially planned in the project:
• 878 certificates of completion of individual training courses were issued (450 certificates were assumed to be issued) • 113 people completed the full cycle of 10 courses and received the SKKP Academy Event Manager certificate • The platform currently has over 600 active users (150 users were assumed) • Cooperation was established with 10 Universities across the country, with which Letters of Intent were signed (cooperation with 7 universities was assumed). They are:
Higher School of Tourism and Ecology in Sucha Beskidzka
Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management in Gdańsk
Vistula Main School of Tourism and Hotel Management in Warsaw
Cracow University of Economics
University of Europe Fr. Józef Tischner in Krakow
Pedagogical University of National Education Commission in Krakow
Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw
WSB University in Warsaw
University of Economics in Katowice
Academy of Physical Education in Katowice.
Communication
• The project significantly raised the profile of the SKKP and the Academy itself • We strengthened our brand as the experts on the Polish market • We gained a positive image as a reliable partner • We got a great ROI – small investment and a great media coverage • We experienced a significant raise in the number of our website visitors as well as the Facebook and LinkedIn page • Thanks to the access to the e-learning platform, the industry has the opportunity to constantly improve its qualifications and adapt the methods of providing its services to the new reality after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use of sustainable practices
• We have started a cooperation with 10 Universities. They will keep using recorded trainings to enrich their lectures. The project is just a start of a long term cooperation. Two of the Universities have already asked SKKP for a patronage over their MICE related studies. With another one we will begin a research project on the legacy of business meetings. • Certificates issued for participants will be an additional asset to their resumes. Their competences increased, they got new skills, which will allow to overcome the negative effects of the pandemic • SKKP ONLINE ACADEMY is the only e-learning platform in Poland dedicated to all those interested in raising qualifications in the field of management and organization of events. It offers trainings as well as Polish and international reports and publications, related to the meetings industry. • The platform will continue to be developed. SKKP will publish on it new trainings, reports and educational materials on a regular basis and as needs arise.
Date: 25 June 2022 Location: Farm by Bardejov, Slovakia Organiser: CREATIVE PRO s.r.o. Client: VSE Holding
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2I EVENT SUB-CATEGORY: Best Incentive EVENT FORMAT: LIVE
Event description and key objectives
Sustainable family event.
Objectives: Create a live experience event, Boost the feeling of belonging, Support the idea of togetherness and all of that with sustainable approach.
1. change the way we create the activities 2. change the materials for catering dishes, water cups 3. change the materials for navigation systems 4. change the transportation to the event 5. inspire for swapping things on the market 6. reusable materials for navigations banners 7. inspire for sustainable approach of thinking
Key challenges
How to design unforgettable family event with real sustainable approach?
Creativity
We decided to create a community. We came up with the idea: The Day of OUR Energy. The sustainable live event on the farm. We built an entire “VSE town” with its town hall, marketplace, restaurant, theatre, playground, boutique, coffee shop, farm, and even radio. Participants were “citizens” of this town enjoying a town full of their energy. We created a community that enjoyed the beauty of their energy in a sustainable way.
The Day of OUR Energy was created as an event that revolved around the VSE attendees and the priceless value they represent together. For this purpose, we have built an entire “VSE town” with its town hall, marketplace, restaurant, theatre, playground, boutique, coffee shop, farm, and even radio. Participants were “citizens” of this town and were able to enjoy the day of entertainment in their own town, a town full of their energy. The participants were invited by email and informing them shortly about the event program and theme. Every registered participant, also known as a “citizen”, later received a series of short articles from “town newspapers”, covering “the life of the town”. Articles were designed as a teaser for the event and at the same time informed the employees about the vast opportunities to participate during the event. Employees joined the program by signing up for showing their talent on the stage (also known as theatre) by performing music or a dance show.
Measurable results
We created a community of 2100 participants that enjoyed the beauty of their energy in a sustainable way.
200 pieces of clothing traded on swap market/saved appx. 1000 cubic meters of water. 460 participants used the opportunity of bus transportation / saved appx. 1675kg of CO2. 102m2 of event banners recycled as 200 shopping bags 48 navigation wooden tables recycled for 19 wooden chairs. plastic saved on upcycled navigations, plastic saved on reusable catering dishes In total half ton of saved plastics.
Communication
The participants were invited by email and informing them shortly about the event program and theme. Every registered participant, also known as a “citizen”, later received a series of short articles from “town newspapers”, covering “the life of the town”. Articles were designed as a teaser for the event and at the same time informed the employees about the vast opportunities to participate during the event. Employees joined the program by signing up for showing their talent on the stage (also known as theatre) by performing music or a dance show.
The use of sustainable practices
200 pieces of clothing traded on swap market/saved appx. 1000 cubic meters of water. 460 participants used the opportunity of bus transportation / saved appx. 1675kg of CO2. 102m2 of event banners recycled as 200 shopping bags 48 navigation wooden tables recycled for 19 wooden chairs. plastic saved on upcycled navigations, plastic saved on reusable catering dishes In total half ton of saved plastics.
Date: 22-24 June 2022 Location: Bled Rose Hotel, Bled, Slovenia Organiser: EGAL, d.o.o., Ljubljana Client: Panduit EMEA
EVENT CATEGORY: CATEGORY B2I EVENT SUBCATEGORY: Best Educational Event/Training EVENT FORMAT: LIVE
Event description and key objectives
Panduit Partner Forum is a partner-centric event where technology and strategy come together to create an exceptional partner experience. Third Panduit Forum was a 3-days event hosting the participants by invitation only from the first to the last day. First two days were conference days, the third day was an entertainment day per choice.
Since 2018, EGAL as a Panduit exclusive representative company in the Eastern European countries, has organized two annual Panduit Partner Forums for partners and customers from Eastern Europe. After 2 years of only digital forums/events, this year Panduit enlarged the scope of the region, inviting also Middle East partners.
During the Forum, along with the conference part, partners, system integrators, consultants, and distributors, were able to visit the Innovation Showcase – an extensive demo area featuring Panduit key products and solutions for network, industrial and electrical infrastructure, including cabinets, cable routing systems, copper and fiber connectivity, identification and labeling solutions, audio and video systems. An immensely important part was also side events, such as music performances of renowned Slovenian musicians, enjoyable program at gala dinner, boutique tourism, and sports entertainment.
Key challenges
Key priorities for the client
Showcasing key products and solutions by experiencing Panduit innovations in the demo show room
Meetings with key decision makers for future opportunities and cooperation
Strengthening and renewing partner relationships and developing new ones within partners’ community
Key priorities for the organizer
Arranging Visa applications for approx. 40 Middle East partners as soon as possible in order for partners to receive them on time
Logistically manage all the demo show rooms to be transported on time from different European locations (Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands, Ljubljana)
Assembling the demo show room a day before the event and disassembling as well as transfering it while on entertainment activities.
The sense of partners’ feeling good
Connection of different cultures through Slovenian gastronomy, cultural program and sports activities
Connection of 5 senses to perceive stories of Panduit as well as stories of Slovenia
Creativity
Almost the whole Bled Rose Hotel, with all available halls, was booked. One meeting hall was for 1-to-1 meetings or meetings for smaller groups. Two halls were merged into one big hall room of 190 m2, which was used for the demo show room area. We have made 7 stations of showcasing products and solutions, for easier presenting to partners. The biggest hall was used for conference room as well as partly as a welcome dinner venue and a gala dinner venue. The hotel restaurant and terrace were used for caterings and informal meetings and coffee/lunch breaks.
During the preparation of this event, we started receiving enormous feedback of partners who wanted to join the event, that is why we booked also two hotels nearby, in Bled and Ribno. As the Middle East group was the biggest (approx. 50 people), we booked Grand Hotel Union in Ljubljana, so they could stay in one group for easier organization. Each participant put his/her choice of entertainment activity on the last day.
Innovation
As Panduit is the global leader in their field, our main goal was to design the demo show room with innovations, in order that partners see the novelties.
A distinguished Slovenian anthropologist Prof Lucija Mulej PhD covered the topics of trust and authenticity. An added value to participants’ knowledge which they can use in their business.
A renowned Slovenian architect Robert Klun combined two industry fields which can support each others’ business.
An enriched side program: Participants were astonished by opera singer Raiven. At gala dinner, an eminent Slovenian moderator walked participants through with all present languages at the event by inviting them to say something in their own language. Announced were awards for the best partners. A Slovenian jazz vocal quartet Vox Arsana invited participants to dance.
Participants choose a desired activity, rowing with Slovenian Olympians, visit of Bled island and castle with a tour guide, or golf in Kranjska Gora with professionals.
Execution
Organization of this event started in January 2022, first defining the magical venue. By defining demo show room equipment very soon, we avoided any possible delays with material shortages and transportation delays. The event was per invite only, targetting key business partners and their opportunities. An early action of providing official invitation/guarantee letters for Middle East partners which they needed for their Visa to be approved. Giveaways gave this event the special touch: especially ornamented biscuits with event’s logo, a magnet with a photo of Bled and event’s logo. Although there were no Covid restrictions anymore, we wanted to make sure that every participants could check with a self-test, if not feeling ok. Three specialists from Panduit World Headquarter were presenters. This was the first time that Panduit high-level management from the USA joined the event. One of the reason was also the great participants’ and management’ feedback from the last two Panduit Forum
Measurable results
Total number of participants: 111
Number of internal staff: 36 (high-level management, presenters, Sales, Marketing, Technical Systems Engineers support etc)
Number of all countries represented by participants: 18
Number of all countries represented by the client and organizer: 5
Guest speakers from Slovenia: 2 – Prof. Lucija Mulej, PhD, Slovenian anthropologist, lecturer, writer, founder of 4Q Intelligence Connectivity – Robert Klun, Slovenian architect and entrepreneur, design author of Slovenian Pavillion at Dubai EXPO 2020
Keynote speakers from Panduit USA (Panduit World Headquarter): 3
Presentations: 13
Dedicated innovation showcases in demo show room: 5
Number of stations in the demo show room: 7
Special evening events: 2 – welcome dinner with Raiven, Slovenian mezzo-soprano, pop singer, songwriter and harpist; – gala dinner with Vox Arsana, one of the best jazz vocal quartets in southern Europe;
Conferenece days: 2
Entertainment day: 1
Entertainment options: 3 – Rowing with Slovenian Olympians – Visit of Bled Island and Castle (tour guide) – Golf for beginners and HCP players in Kranjska Gora (with Slovenian golf pros)
Deliveries of demo show room were optimized to minimize transport and environment effect. Show room equipment, LED screens, pop-up walls, were either re-used or rented (that means re-usable). Arranged were group transportations for participants, having in mind environmental aspect. Through the whole event, offered was Slovenian & especially local gastronomy. With the entertainment day we enabled Slovenian tour guides, and other companies to promote their services. With the rich program we connected people, nature, culture and sports, promoting Slovenia as a tourist destination for the participants’ future holidays with families and friends. We evoked also great interest with investments into Slovenian tourism.
