Hidden Congress Guest Results 2014 – 2015
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NEW EUROPE MEETINGS INDUSTRY MAGAZINE KONGRESNA ZVEZDA MEETINGS STAR 2015 KONGRES MAGAZINE REPORT HIDDEN CONGRESS GUEST RESULTS 2014 – 2015 5 categories, 12 hidden guests 465 evaluation criteria 35 evaluated City Meeting Hotels 33 evaluated Resort Meeting Hotels 14 evaluated Spa Meeting Hotels 16 evaluated Boutique Hotels 15 evaluated Congress and Convention Centres ISSN 1855-8615 9 771855 861009 www.kongres-magazine.eu Kongres magazine TESTING TO THE LIMIT Based on 113 hidden guests’ ratings, which have been published in the Kongres Magazine, we selected the winners of the MEETING STAR AWARD 2015. of congress and event organisation; • expertise in Slovenian and interna- WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR 5 categories, 12 hidden guests tional meeting tourism standards COLLABORATION? 465 evaluation criteria with specific knowledge of standards’ control (DIN – Deutsche Industrie The evaluation rubric includes over 456 35 evaluated City Meeting Hotels Norm, ICCA – International Congress measurable evaluation criteria, which are and Convention Association, IAPCO – 33 evaluated Resort Meeting Hotels divided into the following categories: International Association of Professional 14 evaluated Spa Meeting Hotels Congress Organisers, APEX – Accepted A. First contact with the customer Practice Exchange, AIPC – International 16 evaluated Boutique Hotels B. General impression upon arrival at the Association of Congress Centres, MPI – hotel 15 evaluated Congress and Meetings Professionals International); C. Entry hall – lobby • familiarity with trends in the meeting indus- Convention Centres D. Employees’ attitude try on the Slovene and international market; E. Reception • recognition of specific needs F. Hotel room and wishes of participants; G. Hotel bed • knowledge about key factors that influence H. Bathroom and restroom the selection of a congress venue location; Congress guests are the most demanding and I. Hotel breakfast • familiarity with all elements required at the same time they have the highest pur- J. Hotel bar and restaurant for successfully holding a congress chasing power, and in tourism, this has been K. Congress halls (technical requirements, catering ser- a well known truth for a long time. Generally, L. Extras vices, extras, security, protocol etc.); they spent a longer amount of time in the hotel, M. Sales procedures and communication have greater levels of contact with personnel Furthermore, our evaluators have verified refer- and avail themselves of more hotel services. As Each category is evaluated based on the ences in assuring the quality of their own work a rule, they expect a higher level of services and percentage of compliance with the prereq- in the meeting industry and this allows them to therefore they deserve the utmost attention. uisites and an average score – this way in- give an impartial opinion on behalf of the client dividual criteria can be improved. and ensures a maximal reliability of the method. The results for the year 2015 are known. On the Our hidden guests are objective, fair, precise upcoming pages you will find the results of the Moreover, in the framework of the eval- and reliable, well organised and pay attention biggest regional testing of congress centres, uation rubric a subjective assessment is to detail. hotels and destinations. offered, which can be used to improve performance in the following areas: This award is being organised for the six time WHAT IS THE COURSE OF in a row, but the principle remains the same; THE EVALUATION PROCESS? • Architecture and aesthetics the winners are selected by hidden congress The evaluator visits a randomly selected hotel • Reputation and credibility guests. An expert examines and evaluates the or participates in one of the hotel’s or congress • Communication quality of restaurant, hotel and other services centre’s events, where they evaluate the perfor- • Price as a hidden guest. mance of the hotel’s services using an evalua- • Extras tion rubric. At certain points of the evaluation • Location WHO IS THE HIDDEN rubric personal comments and pictures or video • FLOP negative surprises CONGRESS GUEST? proof are added to the rating. • TOP surpluses An expert with several years of experience in the field of congress organisation, and with knowl- edge in hotel and restaurant management. For guaranteeing objectivity the following knowl- edge and competencies are required: • at least 15 years of experience in the field 2 Kongres magazine KONGRESNA ZVEZDA MEETINGS STAR 2015 The winners in individual categories for the year 2015 are: CITY MEETING HOTEL SPA MEETING HOTEL Luxury: Boutique: PARK HYATT VIENNA, Vienna, SPIRIT HOTEL, Hevisz, Austria / score 4.89 Hungary / score 4.52 4.89 4.52 Premium: CROWNE PLAZA BELGRADE, Belgrade, BOUTIQUE MEETING HOTEL Serbia / score 4.49 Boutique: 4.49 VILA MENEGHETTI, Bale, Croatia / score 4.85 RESORT MEETING HOTEL 4.85 Luxury: HOTEL REGENT PORTO MONTENEGRO, CONVENTION & CONGRESS CENTRE Tivat, Montenegro / score 4.90 Convention: 4.90 ICE KRAKOW CONGRESS CENTRE / Premium: score 4.88 VALAMAR LACROMA, Dubrovnik, 4.88 Croatia / score 4.50 HOTEL SPLENDID, Budva, Montenegro/ score 4.50 4.50 ABSOLUTE WINNERS HOTELS with Highest Score 2015 CONVENTION CENTRES with Highest Score 2015 1. HOTEL REGENT PORTO 1. ICE KRAKOW MONTENEGRO, 4.90 CONGRESS CENTRE, 4.88 Tivat, Montenegro / score 4.90 Krakow, Poland / Score 4,88 2. PARK HYATT VIENNA, 2. SALZBURG CONGRESS, Vienna, Austria / score 4.89 Salzburg, Austria / Score 4,87 4.89 4.87 3. ICE KRAKOW CONGRESS 3. CANKARJEV DOM, CENTRE, Poland / score 4.88 CULTURAL AND 4.88 CONGRESS CENTRE, 4.85 Ljubljana, Slovenia / Score 4,85 3 Kongres magazine TOP 10 CITY MEETING HOTELS Today we have evaluated 35 city meeting hotels. Here are our top ten: 1. PARK HYATT VIENNA Vienna, Austria 4.89 A unique blend of tradition and modernity, this is a temple of the best hotel aesthetics, which is essentially intimate, sophisticated, respectful of its history and not at all boastful. All of this inspired us during our visit and we believe that the newly opened hotel has set new standards in the regional hotel industry, where absolutely nothing has come about by chance. A superior hotel is one that is a remarkable storyteller of timeless stories, just as is the case of what we enthusiastically experienced in Vienna. 2. HILTON IMPERIAL DUBROVNIK Dubrovnik, Croatia 4.84 Last year the hotel won the award for the leading hotel in each brand of the Hilton Worldwide chain – Connie Award. It has convinced us with its luxury and superior level of customer service. A hotel with a soul that speaks for himself is also an excellent choice for congresses, if your budget allows it. The hotel has witnessed many historic congress events and banquets, which will not disappoint you even today. It is a hotel institution with a soul. 3. RADISSON BLU OLD MILL HOTEL Belgrade, Serbia 4.82 Radisson Old Mill took a risk and it has succeeded. It seems they have captured just the right aesthetic balance. Top quality ingredients are never wrapped with ballast and the new space is balanced with the story of the former mill. The result is an elegant concept of an authentic hotel, a cult restaurant and a dynamic lounge bar, which gives a new dimension to Belgrade tourism and sets new standards. 4. ESPLANADE ZAGREB Zagreb, Croatia 4.81 The hotel is an excellent choice for business and congress guests and is probably the regional flagship in terms of service quality, customer care, prestige and image. Staying at the hotel is a special experience, with a package that gives you a real feeling of luxury. 5. HOTEL MARK LUXURY Prague, Czech R. 4.80 As a rule, luxury hotels must surprise us. In this respect The Mark is special because of its timeless elegance. In every sense there is nothing that disturbs the view; it seems that everything is in its rightful place and the hotel is proving that this kind of lifestyle is certainly still worth something. The Hotel Mark has two main advantages over other hotels: the first its garden and the second is being in one of the best locations in Prague, next to the Municipal House, the Czech National Bank and just a few steps away from the Prague triangle at the intersection of Hybernska, Na Prikope and Republic Square. 4 Kongres magazine TOP 10 CITY MEETING HOTELS TESTING BEST HOTELS TO THE LIMIT AND CONVENTION Today we have evaluated 35 city meeting hotels. Here are our top ten: CENTRES 2015 6. METROPOL PALACE Belgrade, Serbia 4.79 The legend has returned to Belgrade. Through a long renovation the histor- ic heritage has been excellently rebuilt and today the hotel is flirting with premium hotels in the major metropolitan cities of the region. Warm colours, superior lighting, retro furniture and services at an appropriate level place it among the best hotels in the Balkans. If you want to impress your conference guests, then at the moment this hotel is the best choice in Belgrade. It is the hotel from which the memory of the good times returns, which many people are missing today. 7. GRAND HOTEL UNION Ljubljana, Slovenia 4.71 The taste of meeting organisers can be unpredictable and difficult to follow, but the choice of Grand Hotel Union is definitely a right one, due to the ex- cellent convention halls and, of course, the flexible and friendly staff. In the Ljubljana conference offer the Grand Hotel Union reigns. An excellent hotel for convention gourmets and a true flag bearer of the Ljubljana hotel conference offer since 1905. 8. HOTEL EUROPE SARAJEVO Sarajevo, BIH 4.70 It has long been known that hotels need a good story, and not many have a story like Hotel Europa. It started in late 1882 and continued after its renovation. There hasn’t been an important event to characterise the city that didn’t pass through this legendary institution.