The finalists of the fifteenth Meetings Star Award competition announced
THE MICHELIN STARS OF THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY
Now in its fifteenth edition, the Meetings Star Award competition will once more crown the leading hotels, destinations and individuals within the meetings industry. The coveted awards are a recognition of quality and a benchmark in its own right. We present the finalists for 2024/2025 and eagerly await who will earn bragging rights at the award ceremony on 19 February 2025.
The Meetings Star Award for the best destinations, venues, and individuals has become a reference point in the meetings industry. The gala award ceremony will take place on 19 February 2025, in Cankarjev dom.
WHICH ARE THE BEST LARGE CONVENTION CENTRES?
This year, 31 certified convention centres received stars in the category of large convention centres (that can host more than 1,000 attendees). The certification attests to the quality of the hotels and their service.
Each convention centre can receive up to three stars in accordance with our criteria:
3 STARS⭐⭐⭐ – final score from 4.81 to 5.00
2 STARS⭐⭐ – final score from 4.61 to 4.80
1 STAR⭐ – final score from 4.41 to 4.60
Size-wise, convention centres represent the quintessential strategic infrastructure for every illustrious meeting destination. On average, convention centres boast 18.7 meeting halls. Most (42.8%) feature from 11 to 15 meeting halls. The average size of meeting halls in regional convention centres is 3,167 square metres. In our comparison, 38% of convention centres have at least one hall that can accommodate between 1,000 and 2,000 event attendees. The average-sized hall can accommodate 2,484 attendees in a theatre setting, 2,589 attendees in a standing reception and 1,721 participants for banquets.
THE FINALISTS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
AUSTRIA CENTER VIENNA
The combination of 19 halls, 180 meeting rooms and more than 26,000m2 of exhibition space and networking areas gives the Austria Center Vienna a unique advantage on the international stage.
CANKARJEV DOM
The cultural and convention focal point of Slovenia and a place where Slovenian history is happening. One can not imagine Ljubljana today without Cankarjev dom.
CONGRESS CENTRE SARAJEVO
In June 2019, the biggest congress hall in BiH and the region was opened next to the Hotel Hills. The multi-purpose congress centre boasts modern conference technology.
HOFBURG VIENNA
As an imperial conference and event centre, there is nothing like the Hofburg Vienna anywhere else in the world. For over 700 years, both past and modern history have been written within its walls.
HUNGEXPO CONGRESS CENTRE
Hungexpo is far more than a classic exhibition centre. It is the largest Hungarian convention centre and represents a transformation hub for the entire meetings industry in Budapest.
ICC KATOWICE
The International Congress Centre (ICC) in Katowice is among the best facilities in Poland for business events. Finished in 2015, the building is characterized by its post-industrial aesthetic and functional design.
ICE KRAKOW CONGRESS CENTRE
Only a handful of congress centres around the world have proven such agility, resilience and diligence to work in the interest of the entire industry.
SALZBURG CONGRESS CENTRE
The Salzburg Congress is determined to hold its market place and it is therefore virtually impossible to point at anything specifically wrong.
SAVA CENTAR
Regional competitors will need to go the extra mile to edge out this Serbian pioneer. Sava Center was built and reconstructed to play in the Champions League of the meetings industry.
ŠIBENIK CONVENTION CENTRE
A world-class venue offering 11 state-of-the-art meeting halls, the centre is spread out over three easy-to-navigate levels, each floor serving a different function.
WHAT DOES THE EVALUATION OF HOTELS INCLUDE?
The competition primarily showcases best-case examples favoured by event organisers and satisfied attendees, tailored to their needs.
The two-phased evaluation includes a self-evaluation by the hotel and an unannounced visit by the hidden congress guest. Our assessors evaluate a hotel based on clear criteria and present where the hotel can improve. The assessors are experts with a wealth of experience in the meetings industry with additional knowledge and experience from the hospitality industry.
Our evaluation matrix is named the Hidden Congress Guest evaluation, comprising 654 criteria. Each category is calculated based on the percentage of fulfilling criteria and the average grade, enabling the hotels to improve each segment and criteria.
Find out more about the award competition here.
