Destination report
Budapest and Balaton ready to do the business
CMW JOINED A FAMILIARISATION TRIP OF GROUP OF MICE PROFESSIONALS TO SAMPLE SOME OF WHAT HUNGARY’ S CAPITAL AND ITS LAKE BALATON REGION HAVE TO OFFER FOR MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES.
T he Budapest Convention
Bureau, in partnership with Black Diamond Agency and VisitBalaton365, recently designed a four-day programme to showcase Hungary as an innovative and inspiring MICE destination. Beyond presenting outstanding venues and hotels, the goal was to provide experiences that demonstrate how business events can be enriched through authentic culture, gastronomy, nature and meaningful local connections.
The programme highlighted Budapest as a compact, well-connected and experience-rich city for business events, while positioning Lake Balaton as a distinctive extension for incentives, executive retreats and pre- or postevent programmes.
The trip also brought to the fore Hungary’ s accessibility, heritage, creativity and excellent value for money, as well as the expert destination support provided by the Budapest Convention Bureau and its local partner network.
The Magyar meeting journey began with a warm welcome at Ferenc Liszt International Airport Budapest from the IMS DMC team and Budapest Convention Bureau. It is an airport recognised as the Best Airport in Eastern Europe at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026, as it has been for 13 consecutive years now.
The first stop on the itinerary was Citadella. Located on top of Gellért Hill, the site offers a spectacular panoramic view over the Danube, the Parliament, Buda Castle and the city’ s skyline.
The group continued to Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, a luxury city-centre hotel, before checking out the Budapest Marriott Hotel overlooking the Danube. The hotel offers 364 rooms and 16 meeting rooms, with the largest able to hold 650 delegates theatre style.
Rich plate of F & B experiences Budapest offers a wide variety of interactive food and beverage experiences that can the incentive group appetite. Participants can take part in:
• Hungarian cooking masterclasses, learning to prepare traditional dishes such as goulash, chicken paprikash or chimney cake.
• Wine tasting masterclasses, featuring Hungary’ s wine regions, including Tokaj, Eger, Villány and the Balaton area, and led by professional sommeliers.
• Palinka tastings, introducing Hungary ' s traditional fruit brandy and its production process.
ISSUE 144 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 17