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SEPTEMBER 2024
OBJECTIVES
Join us this September to explore the beauties of Bulgaria, dive into Bulgarian cultural heritage, discover state-of-the-art infrastructure, and meet our tourism specialists and key opinion leaders.
The mission will be jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria, in collaboration with Sofia Municipality, through the Bulgarian Convention Bureau and its Partners.
The Fam trip to Bulgaria will bring together organisations from all over Europe.
The mission’s overall objective is to promote Bulgaria’s meeting assets, exchange information and provide networking opportunities for European organisations in the meeting industry with counterparts and suppliers from Bulgaria.
The objectives for the participants include:
- Explore the purpose-built venues and business hotels in the Bulgarian capital – Sofia
- Meet with local PCOs, DMCs, and suppliers
- Learn about local culture and history
- Get Inspired to plan incentive trips and events by visiting and experiencing activities in Bansko, Velingrad, and Plovdiv – MICE & SPA locations in our country
The call for expressions of interest is being launched to identify a European delegation made up of 20 representatives from organisations (please see the section “Who can participate” below) who are willing and committed to participating in the Hosted Buyer Group to Bulgaria.
By submitting an expression of interest in response to this call, you are indicating your acceptance of the call’s terms.
Further details about the event, the eligibility requirements, and how to submit an expression of interest can be found below.
This call is published on the Bulgarian Convention Bureau website.
This call is published on the Bulgarian Convention Bureau website. Expressions of interest to participate in this event must be submitted electronically by 19 August 2024, 23:59 Brussels time through: https://forms.gle/dRU7TDoaPU52CRxZ6
CONTEXT OF THE INITIATIVE
ACTIVITIES & AGENDA
Through the current Call, two options are provided to choose from:
FAM TRIP Option 1 (September 25th – 28th)
An opportunity to explore the purpose-built venues and business hotels in the Bulgarian capital – Sofia, meet with local PCOs, DMCs, and suppliers, and learn about local culture and history. In addition, a day trip to Plovdiv – the European capital of culture 2019 will further expand your knowledge about Bulgaria and its assets as a meeting destination!
Arrival date: 25 September 2024
Departure date: 28 September 2024
FAM TRIP Option 2 (September 28th – October 2nd)
An opportunity to explore the purpose-built venues and business hotels in the Bulgarian capital – Sofia, meet with local PCOs, DMCs, and suppliers, and learn about local culture and history. In addition, a two-day trip to Bansko, Velingrad, and Plovdiv – these two days will also inspire you to plan your events and incentive trips across Bulgaria by visiting, learning, and experiencing activities in other MICE & SPA locations in our country!
Arrival date: 28 September 2024
Departure date: 2 October 2024
- Site visits
- Seminar on knowledge exchange to foster EU-Bulgarian
- Pitching and Matchmaking meetings
- Walking tours
- Networking and social gatherings
- Trip to Plovdiv (Fam trip Option 1)
- Visit to Bansko and overnight stays in Velingrad in Plovdiv (Fam trip Option 2)
Based on the received applications and choices selected according to Option 1 and Option 2, the organisers will confirm the final agenda of the trip.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
This invitation is addressed to organisations interested in collaborating with Bulgarian counterparts, to organise international events and incentive trips to Bulgaria. The event will support the participation of up to 20 representatives. The organisers reserve the right to close the application process once the maximum capacity for participants is reached.
PARTICIPATION CRITERIA
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible:
- Organisation must have a minimum of 3 years of experience and a clear track record of organizing international events in Europe such as:
- International Congresses
- Conferences
- Corporate events
- Workshops
- Incentive trips/programs
- Family events
- Team building
- Sport events
- Trade shows exhibitions
- The organisation must be a legal entity established in a European Union Member State or other country participating in the Single Market Programme/ (see the list of non-EU participants here), as:
- DMC
- PCO
- Agency
- PR marketing agency
- Venue finder
- Corporate Company
- Association
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated qualitatively using the following selection criteria:
- Experience and activities in the geographical area set
- The potential of future collaboration via participation in this mission and the likelihood of developing practical cooperation (considering bringing an event in Bulgaria) as a result of the event. This declaration of interest in cooperating must be concisely stated in the questions in the application form.
The selection of applications will be based on the aforementioned criteria and information provided in the application form; in cases of equal merit, the balanced geographical and sector coverage of the EU and SMP participating countries will be considered. Moreover, priority will be given to those organisations that have previously organized events in Bulgaria and/or have concrete projects.
The organisers reserve the right to ask for additional information from the applicants, if necessary.
Attendance at all planned activities in the final agenda of the mission is compulsory.
SELECTION PROCESS
This Call for Expression of Interest has one cut-off date (deadline):
1. 19 August 2024, 23:59 Brussels time
2. A second cut-off date will be available and announced only in case of still available places after the first round of evaluation after the first cut-off date.
First cut-off
Second cut-off (only available if necessary)
All confirmed participants will be invited to re-confirm their interest to participate in the fam trip, as well as to start planning all logistical aspects. Due to the limited time, an on-time response will be highly appreciated, which will allow smooth planning and execution.
COSTS
What will be covered by the organisers:
- Return economy flight
- Accommodation in Sofia (based on the final agenda)
- Accommodation in Velingrad and Plovdiv (in case Option 2 is confirmed as the final agenda of the trip)
- Transfers from and to the airport
- Meals
- Participation in Networking and Social Activities
Note that if more than one person from the same organisation applies, only one person per organisation will be invited.
Essential requirements from buyers
- Attendance throughout the whole agenda
- Completing at least four bilateral matchmaking meetings
- Attending local on-site visits
- Submitting a debriefing questionnaire at the event’s debriefing session and/or completing an online survey immediately after the event, and a follow-up questionnaire provided as an online survey to assess follow-up activities four months following the event, with all areas filled in a sufficient amount of detail.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Expressions of interest should be submitted by 19 August (Monday) 2024, 23:59 Brussels time – first cut-off date through the following link: https://forms.gle/dRU7TDoaPU52CRxZ6
The second cut-off date will ONLY be available in case of still available places after the evaluations of the previous cut-off.
The expression of interest should include the following:
- A fully completed questionnaire
- Proof/evidence of past events
Please ensure that you submit full, accurate, and up-to-date information and contact information.
Should you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact the organasing team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Your personal data is processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 2018/1725 on the protection of individuals regarding the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies and on the free movement of such data.
