Prague hosted Innovation Week 2025 last week — a prestigious event that annually brings together visionaries, innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts. The program featured four dynamic stages, over 150 seminars, and more than 300 inspiring speakers from both the Czech Republic and abroad.
A new vision of business travel
As part of the rich program, a panel discussion titled “A New Vision of Business Travel” took place, reflecting the ongoing transformation of the MICE industry under the influence of new technologies, the growing emphasis on sustainability, and the changing expectations of companies and travelers.
The discussion was moderated by Tereza Hofmanová from the Czech Convention Bureau, with contributions from Lenka Žlebková (Prague Congress Centre), Markéta Janatová (Barceló Group), Daniel Nedvěd (Asiana Group), and Eliška Křížová from the Brno Convention Bureau, who brought the perspective of a regional destination organization.
The discussion offered a diverse range of perspectives, bringing together experiences from across the industry — from regions and hotels to event agencies and congress centers. Sustainability and the need to naturally integrate it into event planning resonated strongly throughout. Another key topic was the idea of long-term impact (legacy).
While in the past, the success of events was measured mainly by the number of participants, today there is an increasing emphasis on the quality of the experience and its positive impact on people, the region, and the planet. There is growing interest in locality, wellbeing, and technology, which help create events with a smaller carbon footprint but a greater human impact. Participants no longer seek only traditional congresses in hotels, but rather experiential events with a story — opportunities to discover the destination, meet the local community, and experience something authentic.
At the Brno Convention Bureau, we strive for the same goal – to help organizers find the right path to events that are not only efficient but also sustainable and bring genuine value to our region and its visitors.
The program also included an Innovation Expo, which showcased more than 80 startups and projects demonstrating real-world applications of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and new technologies.
The Innovation Week attracted thousands of visitors — companies, professionals, and the general public — creating a space for in-depth discussions, inspiration, and meaningful networking.
For next year’s edition, we are considering participating as an exhibitor, to present South Moravia and its potential in the field of smart and sustainable tourism.