The largest international cycling conference Velo-city, hosted by Ljubljana from 14 to 17 June 2022, received the Conventa 2022 award for the best event in the B2C category (business to customer, that is, a model where a company sells its products and services to the final consumer).

With a total of 28 finalists in various categories, with 10 of them in the B2C category, a 13-member expert jury rated Velo-city 2022 Ljubljana the best based on the criteria of the purpose of the event, its execution and sustainable orientation. The jury highlighted especially the broader reach and the purpose of the event – promoting cycling in cities, which contributes to longer-term effects, better quality of life and mitigating the consequences of climate change. Eighty percent of the total score were the jury's marks and twenty percent audience's votes. Velo-city 2022 Ljubljana was held in partnership with the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre and the Dekon Group, and in cooperation with Ljubljana Tourism and the Slovenian Cycling Network.

Velo-city 2022 has brought many benefits

Matic Sopotnik, programme director of the conference at the City of Ljubljana and Deputy Head of the Department for Commercial Activities and Traffic of the City of Ljubljana, accepted the award at the Crossover event within the Conventa conference. »The conference brought great benefits to Ljubljana and all participants. With a high-quality and rich program – with many world-renowned speakers, dissemination of new knowledge, exchange of good practices, expert field visits, networking and socializing – we impressed the participants of the congress, who during their stay were able to get to know Ljubljana as a cycling-friendly city. With all the activities held in parallel, such as the bicycle parade and bicycle festival, thematic exhibitions and promotional activities, we encouraged the active participation of many citizens. And they were probably especially pleased with all the cycling improvements we have implemented in Ljubljana this year and to which this conference has contributed,« said Sopotnik.

Partnership for success

The Dekon Group prepared the conference application for the Conventa award for the best event. After the announcement of the voting results, its CEO Michael Kern said: »Velo-city 2022 is a perfect example of how our partnership has led to success. We contributed knowledge and experience in the field of professional conference organisation, while the City of Ljubljana and the European Cyclists' Federation added the content and creativity needed for an outstanding event. In addition to the award itself, which is an important recognition by prominent experts in the field of event organization and marketing, the smiling faces of the participants are the biggest compliment to all of us.«

The Velo-city 2022 Ljubljana Conference was attended by over 1,200 people from 58 countries from Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Africa. During the four days of the conference, seven plenary meetings and more than 60 parallel sessions took place, in which over 310 speakers participated and 126 exhibitors presented their activities during the conference.