Indeedn its essence Slovenia is a green destination. With around 60 % of its surface covered in forest, Slovenia is the second most forested country in Europe. Just 60 kilometres from the capital city Ljubljana one can even find virgin forest. Slovenia is among the most biologically diverse countries in the world. Also due to the indigenous species of the Carnolian bee, Slovenia can be portrayed as a European biotic park. Indeed, one of the most prevalent feature of Slovenia, attracting its guests, is its clean, unspoiled environment characterized by calm, relaxing atmosphere. Visitors hence perceive Slovenia as an environmentally attractive destination.

Increasingly, Slovenian meeting and incentive providers focus on implementing sustainable business practices and development of innovative sustainable products and services. For instance, meetings in Slovenia can be held in conference hotels awarded with Green Globe Certificate or EU Flower. Delegates can enjoy culinary arts, which are based on certified eco ingredients, while tasting organic Slovenian wines along with drinking water directly from the tap. On an incentive trip or study tour, delegates can experience authentic local traditions presenting Slovenian history and cultural heritage. As Jana Apih, Director of Toleranca Marketing, states “it is our responsibility to preserve the meeting destination of Slovenia so that future destinations will be able to hold their conferences, congresses, incentives, events in an honestly green destination.”

With a view to preserving natural assets of Slovenia, the Slovenian Convention Bureau launched “BeBee” campaign. The BeBee campaign aims to increase the number of bee colonies, slowing down the negative trend reflected in the loss of bee colonies. Caring for the bees shows our concern for nature, clean environment and quality of life. In this manner, the BeBee campaign represents one piece of the puzzle in our aspirations of preserving nature.

Accordingly, the Slovenian Convention Bureau became an annual patron of the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia and its Carnolian Bees Conservation Trust. The Carnolian Bees Conservation Trust aims to protect Carnolian bees and promote the tradition of beekeeping in the Slovenia. In collaboration, the BeBee campaign enables one beekeepers' club in a Slovenian primary school to set up a beehive to learn breeding the bee colonies. Thus, “the BeBee campaign presents a strategic measure of the Slovenian meeting and incentive community with a potential to have a considerable impact on environmental protection and social wellbeing,” says Miha Kovačič, Director of Slovenian Convention Bureau.

Meeting professionals, being aware of environmental and social issues of global warming, climate change, discrimination, social exclusion and poverty, can take an active role in bringing positive results for the local as well as global society. “The BeBee campaign calls upon meeting professionals to support the work of the beekeeper’s club in increasing the number of bee colonies, and thus sign the BeBee petition,” says Gorazd Čad, Director of Go.Mice agency.

Nowadays, meeting planners can hold and delegates can attend meetings in Slovenia endowed with a wealth of natural resources and rich, local tradition. So as to preserve the green character of Slovenia for future generations, meeting professionals can become actively involved in the “BeBee” campaign and thus make a positive step in environmental protection.

To join the BeBee campaign, please visit http://www.bebee.slovenia-green-meetings.si/bebee. For more information on BeBee campaign and upcoming BeBee Facebook game we kindly invite you to attend the BeBe press conference on Thursday 26 May, from 10:30 to 11:30, at IMEX in Symmetrie 4.