Lviv: forging ahead to plan for post-war business recovery. Photo Credit: Adobe stock/Sergii Figurnyi
Lviv's business events community has transformed challenges into
solutions in war time. Humanitarian hubs, charitable initiatives, and
innovation mark their response. Whilst Lviv meeting planners get
creative in troubling times, opportunities abound for international
planners to aid legacy impact events.
Yuliia Katynska, deputy director of Lviv Convention Bureau, said: “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.”
Lviv’s participation at IMEX Frankfurt 2023 gave it an opportunity to
create partnerships with industry, and to update the industry about the
city’s situation. “For example, (to inform them) that conference
infrastructure is not damaged, that in 2022 almost 600 conferences were
held in Lviv, more than 100 were international. Apart from this, we
were talking about small events that came to Lviv - to talk about city
projects and how to help rebuild Ukraine.
“For sure, there were no direct leads to ask for holding events right
now because of security issues. And we understand this very well. But
when the time is right, they will come to Lviv. And we are glad to
prepare information and support for them.”
Anna Petrova, owner of MMP Forums and BTL Group said: “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.”
PCOs adapt
When the war started, Ukrainian PCO, Global Events, which used to
organise festivals and conferences, started humanitarian hubs and
collected essentials for those in need. Other PCOs organised logistics
near borders, railway stations whilst local institutions collected funds
for humanitarian aid. As ready volunteers, PCOs have contributed to
making Lviv the biggest volunteer hub in Ukraine.
Hotel openings
Two new hotels have opened in Lviv during the war - Best Western
Market Square and Emily Resort and SPA. Their bars and cellars have
become bomb shelters for civilians.
Leopolis Hotel which has been operating in Lviv for 15 years had just
completed a major renovation before the war began. It has been offering
rooms and meeting space for foreign volunteers in addition to providing
shelter for people from Kyiv and the eastern regions. A cigar room is
now a storage area for thermos flasks, generators, rechargeable lamps
and candles. It has initiated its “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.
IT community convenes
Ukraine’s rapidly growing IT industry saw exports grow by 20.4% in 2020 according to figures from the National Bank of Ukraine.
Combining their expertise, the Lviv IT Cluster, a community of IT
companies in Ukraine, now helps modernise the command and reporting
centres of the Air Command West. The cluster has also started a Mental
Health Center for veterans and internally displaced people.
Volunteer hubs
Arena Lviv Stadium, one of the largest venues in Lviv, played host to
various events before February 2022. Today, it has become a
humanitarian volunteer hub for displaced people. More than 25,000 people
have passed through Arena Lviv. Arena Lviv employees help orientate
refugees with their new surroundings. Arena Catering which once served
football matches, assists with 24-hour food delivery.
The Lviv National Opera
The opera continues with its performances and organises events as fundraisers for humanitarian aid.
Lviv Tourism Office
The NTO has transformed its office into a media centre, helping to
create shelters and humanitarian hubs, and to organise charitable events
to raise funds for Ukraine.
Securing new bids
Upcoming international conventions in Lviv (as of 1 August 2023):
● European Society of Women in Theological Research Conference (ESWTR), 2023
● International ABDOS Conference, 2024
● Wilhelm Bernhard Workshop, 2025
● European Crystallographic Meeting (ECM) 2025
● 6th International Conference “UNESCO Historic Cities, Heritage of Peace” 2025
● International Conference on Solid Compounds of Transition Elements (SCTE), 2026
2023 events
In April 2023, Lviv hosted the International Rehabilitation Forum as a follow-up convention to a similar one a year ago.
This convention was followed by the Ukrainian-Israeli Rehabilitation
Summit in May, a platform for the development and implementation of
physical and psychological rehabilitation, and ongoing dialogue about
the formation of the post-war future and reconstruction of Ukraine.
In June 2023, 700 participants and 40 speakers converged in the city
for the Lviv Urban Forum to discuss architecture, urbanism, city
planning and the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities.
“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,” said Katynska.