Organisers of the New Deal Europe Marketplace and Forum 2025 have described the positive feedback after this year’s event as “overwhelming”.
More than 200 delegates attended the Congress Centre in central London on March 25, including representatives from all 12 destinations in southeast Europe.
The B2B marketplace delivered more than 1,500 meetings between the destination representatives and tour operator and travel agent buyers from the UK, Europe and the US, while a forum session discussed how destinations in the New Deal Europe region can boost visitor spend.
More: New Deal Europe Marketplace and Forum 2025 to be ‘biggest yet’
New Deal Europe co-founder Tine Murn said: “Thanks to the quality of attendees we attract, we have managed to build this event into one of the most well-regarded and attended regional B2B events in London.
“The positive feedback from participants at this year’s event has been overwhelming.
“We know for sure that many new programmes to the region were established based on meetings that happened at our past events, and it is clear that the connections made here this [year] will greatly benefit tourism development in the southeast Europe region in the future.”
Before the forum session, European tourism association (ETOA) statistician David Edwards shared data suggesting most destinations in southeast Europe earn considerably less per tourist than more established European destinations.
Panellists then discussed their views on how to boost visitor spend without raising prices to the point where they harm visitor numbers.
Next year’s marketplace and forum will take place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London on March 24.
New Deal Europe is the regional representative of the ETOA in southeast Europe and the Balkans.
Photo credit: Sarah Lucy Brown