The seventh edition of MEETEX – the Croatian Meeting Experience Summit – took place in Zagreb from the 1st to the 3rd of April 2025. This national MICE marketplace once again brought together the best of the business events industry. The unique event connected Croatian stakeholders from the congress and incentive industry with selected international buyers – agencies and corporations seeking new, authentic, and high-quality destinations for their groups and clients.
The MEETEX program was carefully designed to blend education, business meetings, and informal networking. Special attention was given to talks by two international experts. Sandra Loidolt, an HR consultant from Vienna, shared her extensive experience in organizing large international conferences, revealing what goes on “behind the scenes” and the key elements of successful event execution.
Equally inspiring was the talk by Rob Davidson, a renowned figure in the business travel and events industry. He spoke about the importance of unique and unconventional venues in event planning. Davidson highlighted the growing demand for spaces that offer an experience, tell a story, and provide emotional value – all of which Dubrovnik offers through its unique and historic venues.
Dubrovnik in the Spotlight of Global Event Planners
The Convention Bureau of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board actively participated in MEETEX with 30 pre-scheduled meetings with hosted buyers from Europe, Canada, and the Middle East. The interest in Dubrovnik as an incentive destination, as well as for corporate meetings and conferences, was exceptional. Potential partners inquired about availability for 2026 and beyond.
Mario Tozzi, a representative of the agency Welcome Europa from Romania, praised the excellent organization of MEETEX and expressed satisfaction with his participation: “Attending MEETEX was an incredible experience. We had the opportunity to speak with many representatives of Croatia’s MICE industry, and I’m particularly interested in Dubrovnik for incentive groups in 2026. The city has a great atmosphere and real potential for organizing quality events.”
Michael Welsh from Canada shared a similar view: “I own an agency in Toronto, and we’re always looking for new destinations for our clients. Croatia – and especially Dubrovnik – remains undiscovered for many Canadians. This gives us a chance to offer something fresh and exciting. Dubrovnik has strong potential as a MICE destination.”
From Business Meetings to Experiencing Dubrovnik First-hand
To further strengthen the impression and experience, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board’s Convention Bureau, with support from partners, organized a three-day post-MEETEX fam trip for five selected hosted buyers from the UK, Canada, and Germany. Held from the 3rd to the 5th of April 2025, the fam trip gave guests a first-hand introduction to the destination, infrastructure, and authentic experiences Dubrovnik has to offer.
Participants stayed at Hotel Kompas, enjoyed a wine experience at D’Vino Wine Bar, and dined at the Arsenal restaurant. The second day's program included a tour of the Old City and visits to key meetings and event venues such as Lazareti, Revelin, the Museum of Modern Art, the Rector’s Palace, a meeting with the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik sales team, followed by an exclusive boat trip and oyster tasting in Mali Ston.
They also visited Sun Gardens Dubrovnik and dined at the well-known Posat restaurant. The final day was reserved for presentations from the Adriatic Luxury Hotels and Valamar hotel groups, followed by a light lunch before departure.
This comprehensive approach – combining business discussions with personal experience of the destination – is key to building strong relationships and motivation for future collaboration.
Participation in MEETEX 2025 confirmed that Dubrovnik remains one of the most attractive choices for international business events. Productive meetings, positive reactions from potential partners, and an exceptionally rated fam trip demonstrated the importance of experiencing the destination first-hand, as well as the value of professional local support. Dubrovnik offers not only stunning scenery but also knowledge, infrastructure, and passion – everything needed for organizing impactful events that leave a lasting impression.