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Meeting industry news in Estonia June 2009 |
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Estonia and Tallinn climb high in ICCA destination rankings |
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Both Estonia and Tallinn have gained significant ground in the International Congress and Convention Association's rankings of top meeting destinations in 2008.
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A new report by the ICCA puts Estonia in 43rd position, with 37 association meetings held in the country last year. The ranking makes Estonia the number one ICCA destination country in the Baltic States. The figures mark a jump from 2007, when Estonia came in at 48th with 23 association conferences held in the country.
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An even more dramatic gain was shown by Tallinn, which climbed to 65th place in 2008 from 83rd place in 2007. The city hosted 24 association conferences last year compared with the 16 conferences it held in 2007. The rankings list included 266 destination cities around the globe.
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The ICCA rankings cover meetings organised by international associations which take place on a regular basis and which rotate between a minimum of three countries. This year the ICCA Data researchers identified 7,475 events that took place in 2008, a rise of approximately 800 over 2007. The full ICCA statistics report for 2008 will be released in early June.
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Estonian Convention Bureau launches new website |
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The Estonian Convention Bureau proudly announces the launch of its brand new website, an easy-to-use tool that will serve international event organisers better than ever. Created by the award-winning Velvet design agency, the site delivers both a fresh, improved look and vastly increased user-friendliness. Among the site's new features are a rolling column of updated news on the Estonian conference industry, a quick and easy online 'Request for proposal' form, and downloadable marketing materials. The site's core content highlights Estonia's three main conference cities, Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu, lists details of specific conference and event venues, and provides ideas for incentive programs. The new site can be found at www.ecb.ee.
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Government to start conference support scheme |
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Starting this summer, organisations and institutions planning large conferences in Estonia may be eligible for a huge chunk of financial support from the Estonian government Under a scheme that's being worked out by Enterprise Estonia and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, organisations holding large conferences will be able to apply to have up to 30 percent of their costs covered. The funds can be used for any conference-related expenses such as accommodation, printed materials and PCO costs. The aim of the programme is to promote Estonia as a conference destination and increase the number of overnight stays in the city. Details of the scheme will be available in coming weeks.
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Tallinn Convention Bureau publishes new incentive brochure |
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In May the Tallinn Convention Bureau published its latest edition of “Tallinn Incentive”, a high-quality brochure that lists dozens of options for exclusive, unforgettable group activities in and around the city.
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Printed in magazine-sized B5 format, the brochure includes everything from exotic, high adrenaline adventures like hovercraft racing, learning Aikido techniques and breaking out of a Soviet-era prison to more relaxed activities like sculpture classes, wine tasting and thematic tours of Tallinn's Medieval Old Town.
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These incentives are designed to work either as prize holidays or as activities to accompany conferences. In addition to full-days and half-days out, the list includes team-building exercises, entertaining dinners and coffee breaks. Each incentive is listed with a brief description along with name and website of the organiser.
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The brochure can be ordered or downloaded via the Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau's website, www.tourism.tallinn.ee.
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Coinciding with the release of the new incentive brochure, an updated version of the Tallinn Conference Directory has also been issued.
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Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel opens its doors in Tallinn |
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Tallinn's hospitality industry took its latest leap forward on April 28 with the grand opening of the Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel. The 301-room facility, located just outside the city's famous Old Town, features a state-of-the art conference centre, an aqua and sauna centre, a wellness spa, an Asian restaurant and a bakery café. Guests here also have access to attached Meriton Grand Hotel Tallinn next door, with its additional restaurants and meeting rooms. More information about the hotel can be found at www.meritonhotels.com.
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Concert and Conference Centre Solaris to light up in autumn |
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The much-anticipated Solaris, Estonia's largest conference and event centre, is scheduled to launch its operations this autumn. Advance bookings for the mammoth facility are already under way, with next year's European Film Academy Awards among the early takers. Other events have been booked as far ahead as 2012: the European Gynaecologists’ Conference and the Congress of the International Federation for European Law-FIDE will bring in 1,500 and 600 delegates respectively. The multifunctional venue, which occupies a prime location in downtown Tallinn, features a grand conference hall that can accommodate up to 1,800 people theatre style. The centre includes 12 additional meeting rooms, a seven-screen multiplex cinema, an art gallery, a jazz club and a fitness centre, as well as a number of restaurants, cafés and shops. See www.solaris.ee for more.
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Conference and Concert Centre Tallinna Linnahall renovated by 2011 |
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One of the city's largest event venues, is to be given a new breath of life thanks to a reconstruction contract signed in May between the City of Tallinn and a new investor, Tallinn Entertainment LLC. Originally built for the Olympiad in 1980, the sprawling Linnahall is considered an architectural monument, and the renovation will preserve most of its original look. Plans are to complete the project for 2011, the year Tallinn will assume its role as a European Capital of Culture. The centre’s seaside location, its proximity to the ferry terminals, and the fact that it’s five minutes´ walk from Old Town make it a popular site. Its main concert and conference hall accommodates 4,300 delegates and has long been a prime venue for major events including festivals, theatrical performances, concerts, fashion shows, conventions, public meetings, sports events, film showings, and the like.
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New direct flights from Amsterdam and Berlin |
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In early June Estonia's national carrier, Estonian Air, will begin direct service between Tallinn and two new destinations – Amsterdam and Berlin. The addition puts the total number of European cities with direct flights to Tallinn at 22. From June 7 Estonian Air, in cooperation with KLM, will be operating flights between Tallinn and Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights to Berlin Tegel, available on Mondays and Fridays, begin June 8. One-way fares on the two routes start at €105 and €83 respectively. Contact www.estonian-air.com for schedules and booking.
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Estonian Convention Bureau is a national convention bureau. ECB is a member-based non-profit organization made up of Estonia's top hotels, conference organizers and conference cities. ECB is your partner for any and all meetings, incentives, conventions and events you plan to hold in Estonia. For further information, please check our web site www.ecb.ee or contact as at -372 6 450 086 or info@ecb.ee
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