Lviv Convention Bureau and industry leaders discuss proactive strategies for business events recovery post-war, embodying an unwavering spirit of optimism.
Lviv’s business events community transforms challenges into solutions amidst war’s impact. Humanitarian hubs, charitable initiatives, and innovation mark their response.
Yuliia Katynska, Deputy Director of Lviv Convention Bureau explained why the glass is half full, not half empty: “At Lviv Convention Bureau, we are already planning for post-war business recovery and our strategy for restoring business events. We are talking with our partners on how to communicate correctly so that conventions and congresses will return to us. Every business is now holding its front line now but the war will end. And Lviv will be ready to welcome back international meeting organizers and delegates.”
Anna Petrova, owner of MMP Forums and BTL Group concurred: “I think that as soon as it’s possible to host groups, as soon as it’s possible to host exhibitions, conferences, congresses, there will be a boom. I’m sure of it. We only have to be strong.”
Together in peace, unbroken in war
Indeed, Ukraine’s indefatigable spirit among its business events community has kept morale up and the horizon optimistic. When the war started, Ukrainian PCO Global Events who normally organizes festivals and conferences, started humanitarian hubs and collected essentials for those in need. Other PCOs organized logistics near borders, railway stations and local institutions collected money for humanitarian aid. All of them acted as ready volunteers, making Lviv the biggest volunteer hub in Ukraine.
Catering companies and restaurants worked with charities to distribute food. One of them, Fest Catering Company, together with the international World Central Kitchen, fed almost 35,000 people a day in Lviv. Hotels opened their rooms to the displaced while restaurants prepared food for defense forces. In fact, two new hotels opened in Lviv during the war. One is Best Western Market Square and the second is Emily Resort and SPA. Their bars and cellars have become bomb shelters for civilians. The Leopolis Hotel Lviv provided rooms and meeting space for foreign volunteers in addition to providing shelter for people from Kyiv and the eastern regions. In the basement where there used to be a cigar room, is now a storage area, with thermos flasks, generators, rechargeable lamps and candles. Additionally, Leopolis Hotel which has been operating in Lviv for 15 years and completed a major renovation just before the war started, has initiated the “Joy of Play” project with Finnish companies and individuals to build children’s playgrounds in Lviv and Kyiv. The hotel management will supervise the Lviv project on-site as the hotel is next to a school.
The glass is half full, not half empty
In November 2022, Lviv won the title of European Youth Capital 2025. A jury awarded Lviv the honour in recognition of the city’s plan which encouraged young people to stay in Ukraine, to return those who fled the country and to build connections between the young people in Ukraine and the rest of Europe. European Youth Forum Board Member Tom Matthew said, “Despite the challenges, Lviv introduced a detailed plan that is full of hope and aspiration.”
Another competitive bid secured by Lviv when the country is at war, was the 6th International Conference “UNESCO Historic Cities, heritage of Peace” which will take place in 2025. The old part of Lviv is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the largest number of architectural monuments in Ukraine. Oresta Remeshylo-Rybczynska PhD, Associate professor, Architect ICOMOS (International Council of Monument and Sites) and Rotary International member, presented the city at the last conference in Siena, Italy in April. Other upcoming international conferences booked for Lviv are listed as below.
In an interview in December 2022, the Finnish owner of the earlier mentioned Leopolis Hotel, Victor Hartwall said: “It is clear that when the war ends and the situation stabilizes, investors will come, realizing how people work here and with what energy, strength, etc.”
“Because the Unbroken Spirit runs deep in Lviv, our glass is definitely half full, not half empty. We look forward to hosting more international conventions which will undoubtedly leave valuable legacies for Lviv and Ukraine.” concludes Yuliia.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
