The Slovenian Incoming Workshop (SIW), Slovenia's largest leisure B2B fair, took place in one of the country's most visited tourist destinations, the renowned town of Bled, from May 14-17, 2024. This historic town, located just a half-hour drive from Ljubljana, last hosted the event 20 years ago. The local tourism office director expressed great joy in welcoming the nearly 500-strong event back to their city, marking the second year our company has partnered with them from Hungary.

This year, we arrived with four Hungarian travel agency professionals. During the one-day workshop, participants had to conduct at least 15 pre-scheduled meetings with exhibiting partners, coordinated online in advance. The event drew nearly 300 travel organizers from 33 countries to engage with 150 local tourism providers and regional destinations to discuss future collaborations.

Following the workshop, a two-day thematic study tour was organized, offering foreign participants the choice of Culture, Active, and Thermal themes. This provided an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of other Slovenian destinations. The evening before the workshop, organizers hosted a grand opening reception in the spacious garden and beautifully scenic event halls of the Bled Rose Hotel, overlooking the lake. The event's theme was based on the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air. After the workshop concluded, participants engaged in a clever outdoor team game combining treasure hunt and escape room elements, allowing them to learn about the town's history and get to know each other better. The evening ended with a laser show and a masked party featuring a live concert at the famous Kavarna Park restaurant, setting the stage for the next day's study tours.

The event concluded with a substantial picnic featuring Slovenian culinary delights in the courtyard of the Jezersek Restaurant in Brnik.