Press Release

Slovenia is the host of the

“Lufthansa City Center General Assembly”

2 November 2017 – For the first time, Slovenia and Portorož are hosting the “Lufthansa City Center General Assembly,” which is attended by approximately 440 members of the Lufthansa City Center (LCC) network from no fewer than 70 countries, representatives of companies from the tourism industry, and mainly owners and directors of German, European, and global tourism companies operating under the Lufthansa City Center franchise. By hosting this prestigious event, Slovenia continues to successfully run as a candidate for hosting events of renowned international tourist associations.

From today, 2 November, until Sunday, 5 November, the annual LLC General Assembly, the most important event of one of the leading networks of travel agencies for luxury travel, is taking place in Portorož. The event that takes place every year in a different destination is hosted this year in Slovenia by the Slovenian Tourism Board (STO) and the Portorož Tourist Association (Turistično združenje Portorož). The four-day event that began today allows Slovenia to be positioned as an important European tourist destination among tourism business professionals. In past years, Slovenia has already hosted events of renowned international tourist associations, such as the annual conference of the largest British tourist association, ABTA, in 2014, a meeting in the field of the new 16+1 platform, i.e. the cooperation between the countries of central and eastern Europe and China, in 2015, and the ECTAA annual meeting in 2016.

Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology:“The geostrategic location of Slovenia in the heart of central Europe provides great potential for our country that has been proving itself in tourism through the now already constant increase in the inflow of overnight stays by foreign guests. As such, it is also an incredibly suitable destination for congress tourism. On the one hand, this type of tourism can serve as a reason for staying in our country longer in the form of a holiday, or on the other, it can be a very valuable experience supporting the promotion of our country as a destination. Therefore, the fact that the LCC network of travel agencies has selected Slovenia as a destination for holding important events for its members for the second time is that much more exciting. Last year, we hosted for the first time the representatives and agents within the LCC network at a regional annual meeting. The study tours that followed the two-day conference were certainly the thing that convinced the participants to select Slovenia for this year’s general assembly. We are particularly proud of this, as last year’s host was the Italian capital, Rome. I believe that we will be capable of taking advantage of the opportunities provided by hosting such high-profile representatives, as they are in contact with millions of people in their countries who are eager to travel.”

The increase in Slovenia’s recognisability as a green, active, and healthy destination for five-star experiences for high-end guests is one of the key goals of the Slovenian Tourism Board. Therefore, hosting this year’s event held by the renowned LCC network is of great importance for Slovenia as a tourist destination.

“It is my pleasure to see that it was Slovenia that was selected as the host by the organisers of the general assembly of the renowned association Lufthansa City Center, as we will be able to present Slovenia to no fewer than 440 influential representatives of the global tourism industry from 70 countries as a hospitable, green, active, and healthy destination for five-star experiences and as a country ideal for excellent congresses and business meetings” stressed Maja Pak, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board.

The decision to choose Slovenia and Portorož as the host of the LCC General Assembly was made in late 2016 at last year’s annual LCC General Assembly. Excellent infrastructural conditions and the high-quality performance of congresses and business events in Slovenia convinced LCC representatives to hold their most important meeting, i.e. the annual LCC General Assembly, in Slovenia.

Uwe Müller and Andi-Julian Leta, directors of Lufthansa City Center, emphasised the reasons for choosing Slovenia as the host of LCC’s most important event.

“There are many reasons for organising our General Assembly in Slovenia. One of the reasons is the incredible diversity of nature and landscape and its incredibly great tourist potential that is still insufficiently known in many countries. The second reason is that Slovenia is home to one of LCC’s longest members – LCC Kompas,” says Uwe Müller, Director of LCC.

Andi-Julian Leta, Director of LCC stressed that one of the reasons for choosing Slovenia was that it was a particularly attractive tourist destination, and he also emphasised numerous attractions: “Very few countries offer such a mix of the Alps, rich forests, and a picturesque coastal region. For a number of years, I have been excited about the great number of world-class athletes in nearly all sports – which is impressive considering the relatively small number of people, just two million. The fact is that Slovenia offers many other attractive things, even for experienced tourism experts.”

The participants of the General Assembly will be able to enjoy a rich professional programme with many speakers and interesting workshops, and learn about Slovenian tourist destinations first hand during selected study tours around Slovenia organised by the Kompas Travel Agency.

Mateja Sušnik, Director of the Incoming Department of the company Kompas d.d.: “The global association LCC – Lufthansa City Center connects more than 800 small and medium-sized travel agencies from 80 countries of the world with this airline under a single brand. As such, this is a unique association in the travel industry. Kompas became a member soon after it was established in 1991. We are proud and honoured that after 23 years of membership, we, as the local DMC, are the host of the Annual Conference and General Assembly of this organisation. Our cooperation is an example of constant and fruitful work and harmonious growth, mainly in the field of customised business and

holiday tourist services. We will do our best to ensure that the 500 participants of the conference not only get fresh ideas at workshops and lectures and find new business opportunities, but that they also leave with a lasting impression of the green, active, and healthy Slovenia.”

“It is our pleasure that no other than the destination Portorož and Piran is the host of an important event of the Lufthansa City Center association of travel agencies and tour operators. The event is a unique opportunity to present our destination to no fewer than 440 agents from all continents and also to forge new business contacts. It is our task to excite the guests at the event and to give them the opportunity to experience and feel everything that Portorož and Piran have to offer,” stressed Igor Novel, Director of the Portorož Tourist Association.

Slovenia hosted representatives and agents who are members of the LCC network for the first time in May 2015 at a regional annual meeting attended by more than 90 agents from over 30 countries, and after the two-day business conference, the participants learned about our country first hand as they took part in multiple study tours.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Slovenian Tourist BoardDimičeva 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaPhone no.: 00386 (0)1 5898 550, fax: 00386 (0)1 5898 560Rebeka Kumer Bizjak, Global Public Relations, press@slovenia.info www.slovenia.info/press