As revenues from business tourism are gradually increasing, the Silesian Voivodeship will focus on developing this sector. The Silesian Tourist Organisation has just set up the Silesia Convention Bureau to boost this development.
The Silesian Voivodeship, located in the southern part of Poland, is characterised by its diverse tourism potential, has high-quality infrastructure, is very well-connected, and has many tourist attractions. In recent years, it has been visited by almost 6 million people. All this makes the region an attractive destination also for the organisation of business events. This potential requires formalised support.
During the inaugural conference of the Silesia Convention Bureau at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów an agreement was signed with the first eighteen consortium members. These include representatives from the world of science, large and small businesses, representing diverse services and individual sub-regions of the Silesian Voivodeship.
“Thanks to the activity of the Silesia Convention Bureau, hotels, restaurants, operators of tourist attractions, congress venues, and companies organising incentive events will benefit, as they will receive comprehensive information and tourist offer of each sub-region. Finally, the whole region will benefit from being positioned as an attractive destination in the business tourism sector. Corporate clients already account for more than half of hotel guests in the region. The formation of the Silesia Convention Bureau will bring many benefits,” said Adam Wawoczny, CEO of the Silesian Tourist Organisation.
The Silesia CVB will formally function within the Silesian Tourist Organisation using its existing legal structure and building on its reputation and experience. The Silesian Tourist Organisation, which has been conducting its activities since 2005, has a broad organisational formula perfectly suited to tourism promotion, said Agnieszka Sikorska, Director of the Silesian Tourist Organisation.
The Silesian Voivodeship is a unique and noteworthy region. It is full of paradoxes which gives it a unique character on a national scale. It is here that the largest metropolis in Poland is located.
This cluster of several cities, inhabited by 2.2 million people, generates huge urban, economic and social potential. An important element of the region is its rich cultural heritage, which distinguishes it on the map of Poland.
This is where the industry concentrated, which left its industrial mark not only on people, but also on the landscape. Revitalisation of post-industrial spaces allows, on the one hand, to preserve the richness of the past, and on the other – to boldly step into the future.
And at the same time, the Silesian Voivodeship is today one of the greenest regions in Poland. Numerous forests, landscape parks and nature reserves (one is on the UNESCO list) are a strong contrast to heavily urbanised localisations. The region has a very large landscape diversity.
Concentrated in several separate subregions – Beskidy Mountains, Cieszyn Silesia, The Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis, The Kraków-Częstochowa Jura Upland and the Land of the Upper Oder – it creates a complex ecosystem with a wide offer. It includes, among others: mountain trails, ski trails, rock climbing, bicycle paths and downhill trails, hiking in ancient forests, many monuments, as well as numerous cities with a rich history with many high-quality cultural facilities. Such a complex landscape is complemented by the best transport infrastructure in the country, combined with a rich accommodation, congress and service base.
Emerging business hotels, large conference and sports facilities (for example MCK, Spodek, Silesian Stadium, Arena Gliwice), a thriving event industry and significant scientific potential are a magnet for organising large and prestigious events in the Silesian Voivodeship.
This constantly expanding MICE infrastructure is also a driving force for the development of large-scale business tourism in the region. UN Climate Summit – COP24, World Urban Forum (WUF11), European Economic Congress (EEC), European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Intel Extreme Masters, International Congress of the Polish Cardiac Society 2022 or World Anti-Doping Conference 2019.
“We are delighted that another convention bureau has been established in Poland. From the very beginning, the Poland Convention Bureau PTO has supported the creation of a regional convention bureau for the Silesian Voivodeship and has participated in numerous consultation meetings since 2021, looking for the best ways to make it work legally and substantively, stressing each time the desirability of synergies between the city, the region and local industry,” said Aneta Książek, Director of the Poland Convention Bureau.
A convention bureau is a strategic investment, the key to success is cooperation. The Silesia Convention Bureau remains open to new partners and projects.
