8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Registration, welcome coffee

9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Welcome address and inaugural speeches

• Katarzyna Sobierajska, undersecretary of state, Ministry of Sports and Tourism
• Katarzyna Kacperczyk, undersecretary of state, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Rafał Szmytke, president, Polish Tourism Organization: Promotional campaigns for Poland as an effective tool for supporting Poland’s meetings industry
• Ryszard Grobelny, Mayor of Poznań,
• Michał Olszewski, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw
• Marcin Herra, president of PL 2012+ company, National Stadium operator

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Success stories of the meetings industry in European cities and regions—presentations delivered by conference guests from abroad

How to succeed on the meetings market in a relatively short time? What are the costs and results? Does the meetings industry only present opportunities for big and famous cities? Tourist fees, ways of funding convention and exhibition facilities, past experience with operators and marketing.

• Prof. Magda Antonioli Corigliano, expert on the economics of tourism, Universita Bocconi, Milan
• John Heeley, author of the book Inside City Tourism—A European Perspective
• Christian Mutschlechner, director, Vienna Convention Bureau
• Patrick Falconer, Managing Director, United Kingdom, Northern Europe, Middle East & Africa, International New York Times

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Coffee break

11:15 a.m. - 11.30 a.m.

During the Poland - Meetings Destination conference an agreement will be signed regarding the organization of the 5th Innovation Forum and the 1st Carpathian Countries Tourism Forum - Rzeszów May 27-28 2014

11:45 a.m. - 1.15 p.m.

Panel discussion involving Polish convention bureaus and foreign guests.

Debate chaired by Krzysztof Celuch, Poland Convention Bureau of Polish Tourist Organization.

Panelists:

• Anna Górska, Gdańsk Convention Bureau
• Krystian Gryglaszewski, Katowice Convention Bureau
• John Heeley, author  „Inside City Tourism – A European Perspective”
• Jan Mazurczak, Poznań Convention Bureau
• Anna Mokrosińska Łódź Convention Bureau
• Christian Mutschlechner, Director, Vienna Convention Bureau.
• Małgorzata Przygórska – Skowron, Kraków Convention Bureau
• Rajmund Papiernik, Convention Bureau Dolny Śląsk
• Magdalena Piasecka, Wrocław Convention Bureau
• Mateusz Czerwiński, Warsaw Convention Bureau

1.15 p.m. - 2.15 p.m.

Lunch/official cocktail party to open Meetings Week Poland

2.15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.

Tourist fees charged by cities and regions as an important source of funds to stimulate the meetings sector—including in Poland.

How could regulations be changed to finally enable cities and districts to collect considerable extra funds to be spent on stimulating the sector? The main obstacles and ways to overcome them.

Introduction by Alex Kloszewski, Warsaw Tourism Organization, Warsaw Destination Alliance, chairman of the debate:

Co-moderating: Juliusz Kłosowski, General Director, Warsaw Voice SA

Panelists:

• Marcin Kierwiński, Deputy, Sejm
• Joe Smoczyński, ‎Partner, Baker Tilly Poland
• Ireneusz Raś, Deputy, Sejm
• Katarzyna Sobierajska, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Sport and Tourism
• Maria Szreder, Councillor, City of Warsaw
• Bartłomiej Walas, vice President of Polish Tourist Organization John Heeley, Author of „Inside City Tourism – A European Perspective”
• Anna Jędrocha, President of Stowarzyszenia Konferencje i Kongresy w Polsce
• Ireneusz Węgłowski, Vicepresident of  Orbis SA, President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Polish Hotel Industry.
• Jerzy Ludwin, Vicepresident of Dolnośląska Organizacja Turystyczna
• Małgorzata Przygórska – Skowron, Kraków Convention Bureau

3:35 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.

How to build a convention center or a conference and exhibition complex without burning out?

Currently available facilities and those that need to be built—examples from different parts of Poland. How did the Euro 2012 soccer championships help the meetings industry and what projects failed? What extra roles can soccer stadiums play? Obstacles that need to be overcome. Presentation: Funding for tourism facilities—the methods and sources. Loopholes and barriers that need to be removed. Discussion with experts: what can really be done and what problems need to be solved?

Introduction by debate moderator Juliusz Kłosowski, The Warsaw Voice.

Co-moderating: Alex Kloszewski, Chairman, Managing Director, Warsaw Destination Alliance

Panelists:

• Magda Antonioli Corigliano, expert on the economics of tourism, Universita Bocconi, Milan (tbc)
• Janusz Nowak, Centrum Kongresowe KATOWICE
• Katarzyna Sobierajska, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Sport and Tourism
• Andrzej Mochoń, President, Targi Kielce
• Rafal Rosiejak, Head of Conference Center & MICE, PL.2012+ The National Stadium Operator 
• Olgierd Jagiełło, JEMS Architects
• Patrick Falconer, Managing Director, United Kingdom, Northern Europe, Middle East & Africa, International New York Times (tbc)
• David Henry, SVP Sales, Marketing, Distribution & Revenue Management, Orbis SA (tbc)
• Andrzej Dębiec, Partner, Hogan Lovells

4:40 p.m. - 4:55 p.m.

Summary

A working group will be appointed to draw up the complete conclusions from the conference and present them to the participants and appropriate institutions (lower house of parliament, government agencies).