The Meetings Space in Dubrovnik Brings Together 250 International Business Events Professionals

From the 22^nd to the 24^th of October 2026, Dubrovnik hosted the international business forum The Meetings Space, which brought together around 250 participants, including 88 international event organisers (hosted buyers) and more than 140 service suppliers.

Over two and a half days, pre-arranged B2B meetings, business networking and destination familiarisation programmes were held. The business programme was hosted by Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, which provided participants with hotel and hospitality facilities for meetings, networking and evening programmes.

The forum offered international organisers an opportunity to establish new business contacts, exchange experiences and discover what Dubrovnik and its surrounding area have to offer for organising conferences, corporate events and incentive programmes.

Targeted Business Meetings with International Organisers

The central part of the programme consisted of individual one-to-one business meetings, allowing event organisers to speak directly with hotels, destinations, destination management companies and other service providers. The participation of 88 selected international buyers and more than 140 suppliers created opportunities for concrete discussions about future projects, the exchange of information and the development of new partnerships.

For Dubrovnik, the forum was an opportunity to present its offerings directly to international organisers, from hotel and conference facilities to unique venues, gastronomy and authentic experiences that can enrich the accompanying programmes of business events.

The Convention Bureaus of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board (DTB) and the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) participated as destination partners, jointly presenting the opportunities offered by Dubrovnik and Croatia in the international business events market. Representatives of the two institutions held approximately 25 pre-arranged meetings with selected organisers from the United Kingdom and other European markets. This joint approach made it possible to connect Dubrovnik's specific offerings with Croatia's wider range of opportunities as a destination for international conferences, meetings and incentive travel.

Lazareti as a Venue for Welcoming Guests and Networking

The official opening programme was marked by an evening gathering at the historic Lazareti complex, jointly organised by DTB and CNTB. The organisation of the event and on-site coordination were undertaken by the destination management company DT Croatia – Dubrovnik Travel, which was also responsible for transfers and the organisation of destination activities during the participants' stay.

The historic setting of Lazareti, local gastronomy and informal activities designed to help participants get to know one another provided a suitable setting for the start of the forum and the establishment of initial business contacts. The evening gathering also demonstrated how Dubrovnik's cultural heritage can become an integral part of international business events, offering organisers an experience that goes beyond the standard conference format.

Business Programme Beyond the Conference Halls

The second day of the forum combined business meetings with opportunities to explore the destination. Alongside the continuation of individual meetings at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, participants had the opportunity to discover Dubrovnik by land and sea through activities organised by DT Croatia – Dubrovnik Travel. The programme included various ways of experiencing the city and its surroundings, including boat excursions, kayaking and other outdoor activities.

A special extension of the programme was organised for a group of approximately 40 selected organisers, who participated in an additional 24-hour familiarisation trip following the conclusion of the main forum. This gave them the opportunity to explore Dubrovnik and the wider destination in greater detail, investigate potential venues and activities, and gain a more concrete understanding of the possibilities for organising future events.

Hosting The Meetings Space represents another opportunity to position Dubrovnik internationally as a destination that successfully combines professional business events infrastructure with rich cultural heritage, gastronomy and diverse experiences. The cooperation between the Dubrovnik Convention Bureau, the Croatian National Tourist Board, DT Croatia – Dubrovnik Travel and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik also demonstrated the importance of destination partners working together to present their offerings to the international market.