Having a Dedicated Convention Bureau with Political Support Is a Game Changer

Enjoy Slovakia DMC was started in 2003 by Marek Farkaš and Maroš Borský to make Slovakia a more prominent European destination, and generate business through marketing activities. At that time, different kinds of business events in Slovakia were a relatively new concept, and the goal of the destination management company (DMC) was to become a leader in the country for business events and incoming tourism. The DMC’s philosophy, which has remained unchanged since launch, is to be experts in their destination, Slovakia, focusing on the capital Bratislava. As the company grew, it became clear that they needed an international connection in addition to their local knowledge. The insight led the DMC to join the Ovation Global DMC network as its strategic partner in Slovakia.

According to Marek Farkaš, the strongest argument for creating events in Bratislava with their DMC is that Bratislava has great conditions for hosting a successful event: Very good flight connections via two international airports, in Vienna in Austria and Bratislava itself. It is a compact city with a well-designed urban layout, making logistics easy and providing extensive walking options. It has a rich heritage, a historic Old Town, and good infrastructure, including hotels, venues, and restaurants. It is a safe city with a mild climate, making it an all-year-round destination.

“Every company brings its communication style and work to each project, driven by the people behind it. Finding a partner who meets your expectations is crucial when organising an event. As a boutique-style agency, our ethos is embodied in our name; we want you to enjoy working with us in our destination,” says Marek Farkaš.

Enjoy Slovakia DMC’s most crucial question is whether they hope for political and economic stability and peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. These factors significantly influence the global financial situation, and the business event industry is highly sensitive to such issues. Stability is crucial for fostering a positive environment for business and the business events industry, ensuring steady growth and prosperity for the sector.

“The logic is clear: the more meetings and events infrastructure is built, the more valued and desirable the destination becomes, ultimately bringing more business to Bratislava. However, the presence of business events expertise, which our company plays a part in, is equally important in developing an authentic and credible destination. Our twenty years of experience provides useful advice and adds value to our customers’ events,” says Marek Farkaš. Regarding the political understanding of the business events industry in Slovakia, he explains:

“We see a constant interest from national and local politicians in supporting our industry. Tourism and business events are recognised as vital sectors that drive economic growth. Unlike the oversaturation of tourism seen in some destinations, our focus is on the high end of the industry. The government’s commitment is evident from the establishment of a new Ministry of Tourism, which underscores a strong interest in developing our sector. In 2025, Slovakia Travel, the marketing organisation that promotes Slovakia in the tourism sphere, will exhibit for the first time at Imex America, presenting opportunities for events in Slovakia. We are preparing to join them in promoting our services at this destination.”

Enjoy Slovakia DMC are addressing the inbound marketing challenge of making Bratislava and Slovakia more attractive as event destinations. While there is already significant awareness of Slovakia, their goal as an experienced local DMC is to elevate Bratislava and Slovakia into desired destinations, thereby increasing the number of high-quality events hosted there.

“And as a developed European economy, Slovakia and its people are increasingly aware of the importance of addressing the sustainability questions. With extensive hydroelectric power generation and the addition of more nuclear capacity last year, Slovakia is among very few nations to produce virtually all of its electricity via carbon-free methods, meaning that event activities here have a very light carbon footprint. The country also recently launched a nationwide deposit-based glass, aluminium and plastics recycling scheme. 

“Another consideration is that Bratislava’s geographical position near the centre of Europe reduces both travel times and environmental effects of travelling to our destination, which is something that will contribute greatly to the country’s long-term sustainability legacy”, says Marek Farkaš.

“As a longstanding local business, we place considerable emphasis on the training and support of our employees and on sustaining the relationships we have developed with businesses across the country and city over the years by sharing this web of experience with our colleagues.

“We also see that there will be more interest in organising incentives and small events in Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city, located in the east of the country. We are currently studying the local business events scene and preparing some interesting incentive products that can be offered on the east end of Slovakia.”

The Bratislava Convention Bureau, BCB, which operates under the umbrella of the Bratislava Tourist Board, plays a crucial role in promoting their destination. Having a dedicated convention bureau with political support is a game changer.

“We work closely with the Bratislava Convention Bureau and exhibit at major business events fairs. The BCB serves as a beacon, highlighting the destination’s credibility. With the convention bureau, buyers might view the destination as a serious contender for their events. We’ve experienced this first-hand when, in past years, we exhibited at IBTM World or Imex in a side-alley booth without the BCB’s anchor presence at the fair.”

Marek Farkaš’s vision, looking to the future with a five- to ten-year perspective, is to remain focused and fully briefed on what might lie in store, keeping an eye on the development of the world through business intelligence.

“We are about to experience a generational change that will impact our industry greatly. The continent will become more socially and ecologically conscious, leading clients to prefer short-haul destinations within Europe. With changing weather patterns, resulting in milder winters here and more severe heat in the south, Central Europe, including Slovakia, is set to become increasingly attractive as a year-round destination. And we have been running our DMC for over two decades. Throughout this journey, we have faced numerous challenges, gained invaluable experience, as well as making costly mistakes. All of these experiences have compelled us to grow personally, and reinvent ourselves to adapt to changes. Despite the ups and downs, we continue to enjoy and value our work.”