Business tourism
Meetings industry is a thriving sector in Azerbaijan, and it is one of the priorities of the government. Azerbaijan has a proven track record as a destination with both the capacity and the capability to host large meetings and events. In recent years this was showcased most notably with the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012.The government has taken important steps to enable the development of the sector by encouraging the sustainable development of the socio-economic and cultural fields. As a result, organization of the high-quality internal and external exhibitions, international forums and conferences can be witnessed. In June 2015 the country is hosting the first European Olympic Games with expected arrival of more than 6000 athletes from 49 countries. And in coming years, further mega-projects are planned including Formula 1 Grand Prix racing in Baku.
There are many reasons to choose Azerbaijan as your next meeting destination. The country’s political and economic stability, reliability and authenticity creates perfect environment to make your meetings successful. It is accessible to reach from anywhere in the world and short transfers between the airport and meeting venue save you time and money.
Once you are in Azerbaijan it will immerse you into its magic vibe. You will be climbing a fortress tower so old that historians have lost track. Then stroll back to a pampering at one of Baku’s range of impressive new five star hotels or to a modest but hospitable family pension tucked into Baku’s medieval warren of old-city alleys. In less than a decade a remarkable mixture of Parisian-styled stone palaces and breathtaking marvels of 21st century modernist architecture have multiplied. Few architectural sights have a greater wow-factor than the Zaha Hadid-designed Heydar Aliyev Centre or the trio of sinuous silver Flame Towers that crown the city’s western flank.
Baku will delight your palate as much as your camera. Tantalising restaurants range from minimalist works of 21st-century art to olde worlde charmers wafting with 19th-century ambience through jeweled exotic teahouses, cosy coffee shops and genuinely ancient caravanserais tucked into the labyrinthine streets of Baku’s Old City.
You could speed across this compact country in just a few hours but within its modest boundaries, Azerbaijan presents an amazing variety of climates, cultures and scenic wonders. A day trip is enough to see mud volcanoes and oaks, poppy fields and deserts, timeless villages and 21st-century cities.
In order to increase awareness about the country’s Meetings Industry potential and create a driving force for development and innovation in this field, Ministry of Culture and Tourism together with its private sector partners have formed Azerbaijan Convention Bureau (AzCB). AzCB is a national non-profit-making and impartial organization that unites a strong network of private and public sector partners – leading hotels and destination management companies along with the national airline AZAL in order to create new and innovative opportunities to facilitate partnerships with the international Meetings industry.AzCB team is dedicated to helping Meetings Industry professionals with all aspects of event planning. Their services are offered free of charge and include but not limited to assisting with offers and availability for accommodation and meeting facilities, suggestions for pre- and post- convention tours or trips, incentive and social programmes as well as evening functions. The Bureau also regularly publishes Azerbaijan Meeting Planners Guide, which provides comprehensive information about the country and its meetings potential.
The experts at AzCB are always happy to share their wealth of knowledge and contacts with you, providing free and impartial advice and assistance.
