Aerial view of Aries Hotel & Spa, in Wisla
With 179 international association meetings organised in 2023, Poland has applied its strategic efforts and investments in multiple regions to enhance the meetings and events sector. To this end, the Silesia Convention Bureau organised its first presentation tour of its destinations last year, which we had the pleasure of witnessing up close.
In recent years, Poland has emerged as one of the most competitive and sought-after countries in the meetings industry, emphasising the diversity of its cultural assets, the richness of its natural heritage, and the reputation of historic cities with more remote regions. According to the results of the latest report, Impact of Events in Poland 2023 – Economic Impact of the Meetings Industry on the Polish Economy, the sector plays a crucial role in the Polish economy, contributing significantly to job creation (215,000 jobs), gross value added (PLN 22,973,680,700 or around five billion euros) and the country’s GDP (approximately 1%). On the other hand, Poland achieved its best result in history in the ICCA 2023 country rankings, coming in 17th place – a significant advance of six positions from 23rd place in the previous report. This growing influence and ability to host international association events has spread to the four corners of the country. It has accelerated various regions into important roles in revitalising the economy and building Poland’s strong position on the MICE stage. Last year, the Polish Tourism Organisation decided to show the world another historic region with high growth potential, including lesser-known destinations with more aff ordable budgets: Silesia (check out the introductory story in our HQ #109.)
As one of the smallest voivodeships in terms of area, Silesia tells a centuries-old story through its geographical, historical and cultural diversity, which leads to a paradoxical vision where small old towns with fortresses and palaces coexist with young urban centres and revitalised postindustrial facilities. Here, brutalist buildings rise, and steel and metal giants paint an industrial canvas, leaving an indelible mark on society and its historical past. Within these apparent paradoxes, the Silesian Voivodeship is today also one of the greenest regions in Poland, which influences the sustainable direction and strategy of the convention bureau in the events it organises. For example, it is home to Poland’s largest metropolis, a multi-city agglomeration with a population of 2.2 million, which generates enormous urban, economic and social potential. This sets it apart from other regions in Poland, with cultural tangents that cross the borders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Following an invitation from the local convention bureau, we had the opportunity to tour some important landmarks in a region rich in natural resources, historic industrial areas and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. “We wanted to show the contrast of our region, and I think that, during these two days, the combination of the post-industrial environment and the green natural heritage was able to provide valid options for both event spaces and incentive activities,” says Sebastian Gronet, project manager of the Silesia Convention Bureau (SCB). During the two-day tour, our media group visited the rehabilitated corners of the Guido mine to show the possibilities for incentives and events in the area, as well as the green and natural side around the Beskidy Mountains in the town of Wisła, with a culinary workshop. To complement these points, we experienced the comfort of the hotels and indulged our senses in the region’s traditional restaurants.
In Zabrze, our first gastronomic spot was the postindustrial Szyb Maciej, which is made up of three levels of a building adapted for catering and events. The restaurant sits in a shaft tower encased in a mining space. On the first floor, there is a bistro, and on the second level, an elegant modern restaurant. On the third level, a banqueting hall. The building is the only facility in the province of Silesia that is part of the Route of Industrial Monuments, a collection of the most important monuments of the industrial era in Europe. The interiors, as well as the courtyard, provide a perfect setting for galas, receptions and outdoor events. This region is famous for its mines that have been transformed into tourist attractions, museums and venues in recent times. The Guido Mines combines all these aspects. Six kilometres away from the restaurant, we find this historic deep coal mine that has been converted into a museum, an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and a cultural heritage site on the Silesian register. At a depth of 320 metres, we were thrown to a fun but demanding team-building activity simulating the rigorous mining labour in the darkness of its tunnels. Guido is also home to the deepest bar in Europe, the Pump hall, which welcomes hundreds of tourists, and it is also available for incentive groups and delegates, hosting around 150 people together with its concert hall.
In Wisła, we stayed at the relaxing and luxurious Aries Hotel & Spa at the foot of the Beskidy Mountains. Overlooking the Vistula River, this boldly decorated, sustainable mountain chalet has 89 rooms, including 14 suites, a restaurant seating 60 guests, a lobby bar, three conference rooms accommodating up to 150 people, a spa area with four saunas, a swimming pool, and two outdoor jacuzzis, a wedding gazebo, and an idyllic riverside area. The fully soundproofed conference space, which can be divided into three rooms, features modern equipment and various facilities for organising business meetings in an awe-inspiring bucolic setting. The hotel also includes a striking orangerie and offers versatile room formats, accommodating up to 210 guests overall, providing a perfect combination of comfort, multi-purpose solutions, and high-quality service. The visit ended with some culinary workshops and a brief exhibition of Silesia’s rich folklore at Olimpijczyk Cottage – a country house inspired by the sporting career of Olympic athlete Jan Legierski, that includes a restaurant, a traditional museum and accommodation. “We’re one of Poland’s newest convention bureaus, just over a year old, so we feel a little underestimated and undiscovered on the global MICE market. Our greatest asset lies in the fact that many visitors are curious to find out more about a region that is fresh in the minds of conference organisers,” says Gronet.
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