EVENT PROGRAMME – HOLIDAY & SPA 2022

24.02.2022, Thursday, Central Lobby, 10:00-10:30
OFFICIAL OPENING

24.02.2022, Thursday, VITOSHA HALL, 1 Level – IEC, 11:00-13:00

8th ANNUAL MEETING – DISCUSSION
of the NATIONAL BOARD OF TOURISM in partnership with the MINISTRY OF TOURISM
“INTERACTION OF THE STATE AND BUSINESS IN ONE DIRECTION”
New models for sustainable tourism and competitiveness of the tourist destination Bulgaria

24.02.2022, Thursday, MUSALA HALL, 2 Level – IEC, 11:30-13:30

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
Meeting of the Standing Committee of Local Government, Economic Policy and Tourism

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 12:00-13:00

SHARED VALUES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EVENT INDUSTRY. (MICE Forum)
Organized by PRIM EXPO and BULGARIAN CONGRESS BUREAU

How to attract and develop quality exhibitions, conferences, conventions, sports and corporate events?
In the framework of the International Tourism Exhibition HOLIDAY&SPA we are starting a professional conversation about the prospects for the event business in a discussion with event organizers, hotels and resorts, conference and meeting venues, event support services, technology providers, tour operators.

24.02.2022, Thursday, RHODOPES HALL, 1 Level – IEC, 12:30-13:30

SAMOKOV – THE BIRTHPLACE OF ST. PAISIUS OF HILENDAR
Organizer: Municipality of Samokov
Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Konstantin Rangochev – BAS, Secretary of the Association for Anthropology, Ethnology and Folklore “Angle”

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 13:15-14:15

GREECE 2022. COMPLETE RESTART OF TOURISM.
Presentation of the exhibitors from the Hellenic Republic in HOLIDAY & SPA.
Organizer: VASILIADIS TRAVEL
The Greek delegation will present to Bulgarian tour operators, hoteliers, representatives of municipalities, national and tourist associations its vision for the new tourist season 2022.

24.02.2022, Thursday, VIHREN HALL, 2 Level – IEC, 13:30-14:30

ASSOCIATION OF BULGARIAN TOUR-OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENTS (ABTTA)
Financial instruments for business recovery. Program of the National Guarantee Fund at the Bulgarian Development Bank in support of TO and TA
Presentation and discussion with the participation of Ilin Dimitrov, Chairman of the Tourism Commission of the National Assembly and Todor Todorov, Executive Director of the National Guarantee Fund.

24.02.2022, Thursday, VITOSHA HALL, 1 Level – IEC, 14:00-18:00

MINISTRY OF TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
ROUND TABLE
CHALLENGES TO THE TOURIST SECTOR AND INTERINSTITUTIONAL INTERACTION

24.02.2022, Thursday, RHODOPES HALL, 2 Level – IEC, 14:00-16:00

3th CONGRESS OF UNIVERSITIES FROM SOUTH EAST EUROPE AND ASIA “EDUCATION IN THE GLOBAL WORLD OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES”
Memorandum of cooperation in education and science and creation of a consortium in the field of student and student brigades, teaching practices and internships in the state and municipal administration, cultural institutes and commercial companies.
Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rumen Draganov

24.02.2022, Thursday, Central Lobby, 14:00-15:00 ч.

DESTINATION BULGARIA Tourism Magazine
Presentation of The Magazine by the publisher Media Company K & P Advertising.
Nominations for the annual awards in September.
Raffle for the visitors

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 14:30-15:30

WHICH ARE THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL IMPACT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
Organised by PRIM EXPO and URBO

New technologies are here to stay. Internet of Things, use of augmented reality, online platforms, chatbots, contactless and blockchain technologies, digital menus, artificial intelligence (AI), voice recognition, virtual assistants.

  • Which are the technology solutions expected to find a place in the travel ecosystem in the coming year?
  • Is high tech at risk of taking away the human face of travel?
  • How do we maintain the balance between hospitality, the warmth of face-to-face communication and the advance of virtual, contactless technology?

24.02.2022, Thursday, MUSALA HALL, 2 Level – IEC, 15:30-16:30

QUENDOO – Presentation of the new software platform for hotels and holiday properties in Bulgaria

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 16:00-17:00

MELIÁ HOTELS INTERNATIONAL
THE DREAM SUMMER HOLIDAY IN BULGARIA – IT’S POSSIBLE IN SOL MELIÁ HOTELS!

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 17:10-17:45

TRAVEL MIND
How to be adaptable and successful in times of change: The most important things, synthesized in 30 minutes

  • What should we do to develop a successful tourism business despite the various difficulties? Specific examples and ideas from practice will be considered.
  • What are the current trends and opportunities in the tourism industry and communications?
  • Why only digital marketing and new technologies will not make our business successful?
  • How not to miss the foundation while trying to follow the all trends and innovations?

24.02.2022, Thursday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 18:00-19:00

WELCOME DRINK

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25.02.2022, Friday, MUSALA HALL, 2 Level – IEC, 10:00-13:00

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
Meeting of the Standing Committee of the NAMRB on Economic Policy and Tourism

25.02.2022, Friday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 10:30-11:30

TOURISM GUARANTEE FUND – STABILITY OF THE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMER PEACE OF MIND
Organised by ALLIANCE FUTURE FOR TOURISM, PRIM EXPO

The creation of a Tourism Guarantee Fund will provide crisis protection, in the event of the bankruptcy of tour operators, agents and airlines, for both companies and customers.

  • Legal frameworks
  • Financial model
  • State participation

25.02.2022, Friday, RHODOPES Hall, Level 1, IEC, 11:00-12:00

PROFESSIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT
PKF tourismexperts GmbH

Tourism destination development is a complex topic, that needs specific know-how about the peculiarities of our industry. The presentation will identify key success factors for a professional and sustainable tourism destination development.

Speaker: Christopher Hinteregger

Christopher is a tourism expert with more than 15 years of experience in the field of tourism and destination development. Since 2003 he implemented more than 75 tourism projects in 25 countries and is a regular speaker at international tourism conferences.

Christopher also lectures “destination development” at different universities since 2015 and regularly cooperates with the UN World Tourism Organization.

25.02.2022, Friday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 12:00-13:00

Clash with Ivan and Andrey – OTA vs TO/TA
Organised by PRIM EXPO and URBO

  • Is modern technology blurring the distinction between traditional (TO/TA) and online (OTA) travel agencies? Travel agencies have been fighting in the market against direct booking sites and online booking providers not since yesterday.
  • How clearly can one define the advantages that consumers get when they work with a TO/TA or an OTA?

25.02.2022, Friday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 13:00-13:15

BULGARIA WANTS YOU
Presentation of the project

25.02.2022, Friday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 13:30-14:30

TO SELL AN EXPERIENCE
PRIM EXPO and URBO, Moderator: Ruslan Yordanov

  • National tourism marketing in crisis conditions – problems and opportunities
  • How to take advantage of trends in destination marketing?
  • How does marketing react to changes in tourist behaviour?
  • The role of local culture and traditions;
  • To what extent are we succeeding in creating ‘marketable tourism products’?
  • Is there a policy and strategy in relation to national values?
  • Problems and opportunities, infrastructure, insufficient information, lack of communication.
  • Successful examples;

25.02.2022, Friday, RHODOPES Hall, Level 1, IEC, 14:30-15:30

ALBENA TOUR
Presentation

25.02.2022, Friday, Holiday Hall, Exhibition Hall 1, IEC, 15:00-16:30

TOURISM PERSONNEL
Organised by ALLIANCE FUTURE FOR TOURISM, PRIM EXPO

The lack of personnel with special skills, well-qualified and motivated to work in the tourism market is a constant problem.

  • Are there enough professionally trained people for all positions in the industry – tour operators, agencies, catering and hospitality;
  • Is tourism training relevant to the needs of the business and the specific requirements of different sectors to meet the changing demands of the tourism business;
  • Is there a connection between training institutions, young professionals and business in the country;
  • Less theory, more practice, including a better connection with business through internships and apprenticeships.