Planned Programme |
MICE Business Day 2026 — Professional Programme
20 October 2026 (Tuesday)
09:00–10:30 | Plenary Opening
- 9:00 – 9:10 Pál Zoltán Gál, Managing Director of the organizing company, Turizmus Kft. — welcome address
- 9:10 – 9:40 Presentation by Botond Boros, CEO of Visit Hungary — Hungary on the international MICE map — where should we position ourselves for 2027?
- 9:40 – 10:05 Presentation by Gergely Baráth, Director of Destination and Organizational Development at Visit Budapest — New Directions for Tourism in Budapest: What Role Will Business Tourism Play?
- 10:05 – 10:30 Presentation by Botond Feledy, Director General of the Hungarian Institute of Foreign Affairs — The uncertain years of global political transition
10:30–11:00 | Coffee Break
11:00–12:20 | Morning Panel
11:00 – 11:40 Round-table discussion: The Price of a Record — From the World Championship to Corporate Events — What does a world-class sporting event leave behind beyond the records? How can a destination benefit from it, and which lessons can be applied to the world of MICE events?
- Dávid Szántó, Deputy State Secretary for Sport Professional Affairs and Sports Programmes
- Ferenc Dénes, sports economist
Moderator: Zoltán Szujó
11:40 – 12:20 – Round-table discussion: Redesigning the Danube—Crisis Management and Adaptation in River Shipping
- Lilla Lassú, Vice President of MABEUSZ, Co-owner and Managing Director of Inspiration Travel Hungary
- Katalin Sarlós, Owner-Managing Director, SVÁDA Office
- László Somodi — Managing Director, MAHART PassNave
Moderator: Zoltán Szujó
12:20–14:00 | Lunch Break
13:15 | Optional site visit at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest
14:00–15:20 | Afternoon Panel
14:00 – 14:40 Round-table discussion: Five Generations, One Event: How Can the Industry Keep Its Young Talent? — Today, as many as five generations may be working side by side in the events industry, each with different motivations, expectations and working cultures. What are young professionals looking for in a workplace, how are leadership and retention strategies changing, and what can the industry do to offer an attractive long-term career path?
- dr. Klaudia Szeidl — Head of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the Budapest University of Economics, Assistant Professor
- dr. Viola Horváth — Founder and Head of the protégé. mentoring programme
- Rudolf Semsei — Owner-Managing Director, Budapest Party Service Kft.
- Gábor Nagy – Founding Partner and Co-Owner of Eventrend Group
Moderator: Nóra Róbert — Senior Lecturer in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the Budapest University of Economics, and Chair of the MaReSz Education Committee
14:40 – 15:20 Round-table discussion: New Life Within Old Walls: From Office Buildings to Hotels in Budapest — A wave of conversions on the Budapest hotel market — how does an office building become an internationally branded hotel, and what does this mean for Budapest's MICE competitiveness?
- Bálint Botos — CFA - Forestay Group, CEO
- Balázs Csörget — Head of Hotels Division, CBRE Hungary
- Dr. Mihály Schrancz — Founder-Owner and CEO, Realis Group
Moderator: Bálint Rippert — Senior Manager, Tourism Industry Expert, PwC Hungary