Congress delegates spend 3.5 times more money than leisure tourists

Ljubljana Tourism carried out a survey in 2018 on habits, expenditures and expectations of congress guests in the Slovenian capital. This year again, the survey confirmed that participants of international association congresses and other types of business meetings are among the most desirable visitors due to many multiplier effects and considerably higher expenditure.

Gorazd Čad

Jan 30, 2019

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WHO ARE THE CONGRESS GUESTS IN LJUBLJANA?

The survey was carried out in autumn 2018 during five international congresses and it sampled 407 participants (out of total 3,640).

Female: 38.5%
Male: 61.5%
Origin: 60 different countries
HIGHLY EDUCATED: 91% possessed an MA or a PhD Degree
YOUNGER GENERATION: 64.96% between 20-39 years old
ACTIVE: 54% with professional lecture; PASSIVE: 37.1 %; EXHIBITORS: 17.6%
SECTOR: 42.2% – public sector; 30.9 % – private sector; 17.7% – students.
87.8% attending a congress in Slovenia for the first time

ljubljana_convention_bureau — Photo credit: Alan Kosmač, Ljubljana Tourism photo library

LOGISTICS AND OVERNIGHT STAY

AIRPLANE: 78% travelled to Slovenia by plane
SUSTAINABLE MODES OF TRANSPORT INCREASING: bus and train – from 8.3% in 2017 to 12.4% in 2018
STAY: 80.99% – 4-6 nights, of which 29.63% – 4 nights
AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE STAY: 5.02 days (3.97 in 2017)
HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES, B&B: 64.8%. Hotel occupancy at the time was between 96.8-98.2% in Sep-Oct, and 90.8% in Nov.
EXTENSION OF THE STAY: 27.3% for 1 to 2 days
INCREASE IN Airbnb and in PRIVATE ROOMS: Airbnb – 18.4 % in 2018 (from 13.3% in 2017); private rooms – 30.7% (from 24.3% in 2017).

KEY MOTIVES FOR COMING TO SLOVENIA

ATTENDING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: 54.3% – once to twice a year
FACTORS IN DECISION:
- NETWORKING – average mark 4.47 (on the scale from 1 to 5)
- EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMME QUALITY – 4.11
- DESTINATION’S ACCESSIBILITY is the most important destination motive
- less important factors THE TIME OF TRAVEL, THE SAFETY of the destination, and THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE

AVERAGE SPENDING

SPENDING: 3.5 times more than leisure travelers*
511 euros/day (494 euros in 2017):
- 71,62% of the total costs are the costs of the REGISTRATION FEE, OVERNIGHT STAYS, TRANSPORT TO DESTINAION
1,533 euros during a three-day international event (1,482 in 2017)

* Based on data from the survey carried out by Ninamedia in 2018, the comparative expenditure of leisure tourists, with included accommodation and transportation to the destination, is EUR 144/day.

THE PERCEPTION OF LJUBLJANA

99% – would return to Ljubljana and are interested in the events in the region
MOST POSITIVELY EVALUATED ELEMENTS (on a scale from 1 to 5, the latter being the highest mark):
- SENSE OF SAFETY: 4.73
- CONGRESS STAFF: 4.63
- CLEANLINESS AND TIDINESS: 4.61
- KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS: 4.58
- a somewhat lower mark, yet still higher than average:
  - THE QUALITY OF ACCOMMODATION: 4.28
  - THE CONGRESS VENUE: 4.27
  - ACCESSIBILITY OF THE DESTINATION: 4.21
  - THE LOCAL CUISINE: 4.24
  - THE VALUE FOR MONEY: 4.21

OVERALL:

During a three-day international event in Ljubljana, congress delegates spend €1,533

on average

The average daily expenditure of congress delegates is €511 (three-day congress), which is

3.5 times the expenditure of leisure tourists *

Participants spent on average €97.00/day on accommodation
Participants spent on average €37.33/day on food and drinks
Participants spent €24.00/day on personal consumption

Participants spent on average €21.33/day on entertainment

Participants spent on average €30.00/day on trips

Participants spent on average €16.33/day on culture

Participants spent on average €15.67/day on transport

Congress delegates to Ljubljana spend less than the average of their spending at other destinations in the following segments:

Culture: the consumption in Ljubljana is €49.00, the average is €92.27

Transportation at the destination: consumption in Ljubljana is €47.00, and on average it is €83.36

Entertainment: consumption in Ljubljana is €64.00, and on average it is €103.64

Trips: the consumption in Ljubljana is €90.00, and on average it is €106.96

Personal expenditure: the consumption in Ljubljana is €72.00, and in average it is €103.07

***Based on data from the survey carried out by Ninamedia in 2018, the comparative expenditure of leisure tourists, with included accommodation and transportation to the destination, is EUR 144/day.

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