The optimism permeating Poland’s capital was palpable from the building’s observation deck on the building’s 30th story, high above the streets of Warsaw. It was intended to build several more of the dramatic Manhattan-style skyscrapers in the direction of the airport. Chopin International Airport is conveniently located in the heart of the city, as seen by the frequent sight of incoming flights. There was a 17% increase in passenger traffic to Polish airports in 2017. Since the beginning of 2019, LOT Polish Airlines has been offering twelve weekly trips out of London City Airport, connecting the economic hubs of two major European capitals.
Polish stocks rose on the back of this optimism, and the country was elevated to the developed-nation category of the FTSE Russell Index in 2018. Between 2007 and 2017, the number of events hosted in Warsaw more than doubled (by 144%, according to the ICCA). Furthermore, in recent years, a number of large exposition and convention facilities have been built to serve the expanding market.
The Palace of Science & Culture
Warsaw Skyline with the Palace of Culture and Science, PolandImage source: vladivlad/Shutterstock.com
Joseph Stalin proposed building the Palace of Science and Culture in 1955 as a “gift from the Soviet people to the Poles.” Varsovians’ recollections of the Soviet period are so strong that they claim, “The best view of the city is from the top of the Palace since one cannot see the building itself.”
However, this historical landmark is a massive, multi-level behemoth with four theaters, a cinema, three museums, a dancing school, four universities, and a Congress Hall that will soon reopen after extensive restorations. Thanks to its 10,000 square meters of exhibition space and its ability to hold congresses and conferences with up to 4,000 attendees.
PGE Narodowy stadium
Stadion Narodowy – Home Stadium of the Poland National Football Team, Warsaw, PolandImage source: aaron choi/Shutterstock.com
Across the Vistula River in the Praga district was the crown-shaped national PGE Narodowy stadium, sometimes known as the red and white “Nest,” which was another impressive monument to see. This architecturally sophisticated and multipurpose arena, opened on the eve of Euro 2012 as the centerpiece site of the football championships, has the capacity to host worldwide events with its state-of-the-art conference center and 22,000 sq. m. of exhibition space.
A windsurfing competition and a car racing display were both hosted by PGE Narodowy within a matter of days, adding to the organization’s event resume. In addition to hosting a concert by the Rolling Stones in 2014, the stadium also hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2014 and the NATO Summit in 2016.
Praga
Aerial View of Church and Buildings in Goclaw Housing Estate, Warsaw, PolandImage source: aaron choi/Shutterstock.com
Concert hall, congress center, and hotel construction plans are still in the works for the area immediately around the stadium, all of which will contribute to the continuing revitalization of the “Praga” district
Praga, being on the other side of the Vistula from the city center’s destruction, was spared the worst of the war’s devastation. The “hipster” neighborhood is often visited by incentive tours before and after events due to its unique character and the interesting stories it can tell about Warsaw’s turbulent past.
The Neon Museum, which preserves signs that once illuminated the capital and instilled post-war confidence through the “great neonization” campaign, can be visited on a tour in one of the museum’s ten vintage communist-era “Nysa 522” vans (which seat seven people) or five vintage buses (which seat between thirty-four and forty-eight people).
Polish Vodka Museum
Museum of Polish Vodka at Koneser Square, Warsaw, PolandImage source: aaron choi/Shutterstock.com
There’s also the Polish Vodka Museum, where you can learn about the 500-year history of the Polish Vodka via interactive displays. Large rooms for MICE events are available in the buildings nearby, including the historic 1897 Koneser Vodka distillery.
Back on solid ground in Warsaw’s historic district, we’ve learned that the city’s exhibition and trade fair industry is a major economic generator and a way of raising Warsaw’s reputation abroad.
Robert Zapulski, Director of the Marketing and Print Festival, which will take place in September 2023, claims that Davide Odella, Sales Director of EXPO XXI Warsaw, is a prominent venue with over 20 years of experience and 3000 events under its belt.
The Ptak Warsaw Expo International Exhibition & Congress Centre
Expo XXI Convention Center International Expocentre Building in Warsaw, PolandImage source: aaron choi/Shutterstock.com
The Ptak Warsaw Expo International Exhibition and Congress Centre debuted in 2015 and was recently rated first in Poland and 19th in Europe, considering total venue area, by the “Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI),” making it a competitor to EXPO XXI. Featuring six rooms with a total area of 143,000 square meters, Ptak is the largest exhibition center in all of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Because of its size and scope, the venue is able to accommodate both business-to-business and business-to-consumer events. Warsaw Industry Week, Go Active, and the Warsaw Motor Show are just a few of the almost 30 in-house events that Ptak Warsaw Expo organizes and develops each year; attendance at these events increases by more than 30% annually. In21Win CEO and Board Advisor Zaneta Berus said that despite Ptak’s relative youth as an organizer, the company has already earned a stellar reputation as a leading trade fair organizer and venue in Warsaw.
Global Expo
Poland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai – Showcasing Sustainability and Future InnovationImage source: aaron choi/Shutterstock.com
Built on the site of the old FSO Car factory, Global Expo integrates post-industrial architecture with innovative technology. It has the biggest conference and banquet space in the city at 2015 square meters.
Odella applauds the following recently established exhibition spaces:
“Mokotów/Sluzewiec, a once industrial district, is seeing increased demand for lodging as a result of the influx of tourists visiting the city’s many new exhibits. In close proximity to Chopin International Airport, this neighborhood has become a symbol of globalization thanks to the presence of several international corporations, hotel chains, and housing complexes.”
Warsaw, Poland, has shown to be a city that can constantly reinvent itself, and the investments, facilities, and key triumphs in the exhibition business are a solid indicator of the city’s current and future prosperity.
Despite the fact that Expo XXI, Ptak, and Worldwide Expo are defining Warsaw’s global presence for big event organizers, they are just a small part of a much larger ecosystem within the city’s MICE portfolio, which is perfectly in sync with a newfound cultural vitality and competitive pricing.
Due to these key factors, Warsaw is rapidly becoming the economic and technological hub of Central and Eastern Europe.
Fact File
STAY: The Vienna House Mokotow, is a 164-room hotel with 180 m2 of meeting space that was built with millennials in mind. Services such as free high-speed WiFi, an open-plan lobby, a bar, and a restaurant with co-working tables encourage innovation. The Vienna House Hotel Group now operates five hotels in Poland, with plans for much more.
FLY: LOT Polish Airlines
