Post-meeting tips: What the conference professionals recommend

You have reached the end of the agenda. The meeting is over. And now you would like to round off a successful conference with some continued attendee engagement? We asked planning professionals about their proven post-meeting tips and collected a variety of suggestions for your meetings in Austria. After all, personal recommendations are still always the best. With the following ideas, the period after the meeting will also be a complete success and your conference will have a triumphant finale.

Edith Mader and Maria Luise Fröch from the Convention Bureau Lower Austria explain: “One of our favourite destinations for a lively meeting in summer is the town of Baden bei Wien. Known for its imperial flair, this town – situated only 30 minutes south of Vienna – has so much more." With its various meeting and convention options, Baden is not only an excellent conference destination, but it also offers some exciting after-work activities thanks to its location in the heart of the Vienna Woods.

After attending a conference here, participants can go for a ride on (e-)mountain bikes or have a pleasant stop-over at one of the numerous wine taverns to enjoy a refreshing spritzer. Mader and Fröch highly recommend the international photography festival "La Gacilly" in Baden. Stretching for seven kilometres, this long open-air gallery presents photos shot by the best photographers in the world. When a long meeting is over, it's a great place to stretch one’s legs and admire the seasonally changing photographs on display along the street.

When one hears the name of the next location for the first time, one might not immediately think of an innovative, modern place. But this is exactly what the Tabakfabrik in Linz really is. The start-up scene has found its home base right there in the heart of the provincial capital. Not only does the Tabakfabrik have several meeting rooms, but it also boasts an open workshop space with over 90 professional machines and digital technologies that are available to use and to draw inspiration from.

If you visit the Tabakfabrik, you should also pass by at the Linzer Bier-Brauerei, where participants can brew their own beer, recommends Daniela Groffner, project manager at the Convention Bureau Upper Austria. Typical Austrian delicacies are served at the in-house restaurant "Zur Liesl" afterwards, rounding off the culinary evening programme. "The tobacco factory is also just a stone's throw away from the Donaulände – where you can while away the evening sitting next to the Danube with a view of the Ars Electronica Center and the Pöstlingberg," advises Groffner.

Meanwhile, her colleague Ingrid Pichler has a few suggestions up her sleeve for the Upper Austrian city of Steyr. The exhibition "Made in Steyr" on display in the Museum Arbeitswelt provides exciting impressions of the industrial character of the region and tells the story of the working-class population. Following that, it’s worth taking a tour with Steyr’s Night Watchmen and Watchwomen: This dine-around with lots of surprises in store is a unique journey to various culinary locations. Finally, you should absolutely stop by at Buburuza Eis near the town square – they’ve got the best ice cream far and wide!” Pichler says enthusiastically.

The city of Mozart is certainly not miserly when it comes to post-event options: Natascha Ringerthaler, sales & marketing manager at the Salzburg Convention Bureau, therefore compiled a well-rounded “best of” list for us. When you’ve taken a stroll through the Old Town of Salzburg and the Mirabell Gardens, she recommends making a detour to the historic centre, which has not been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for 25 years for nothing. Jump on the fortress railway – or be sporty and go on foot – up the Mönchsberg to the landmark of the city: the Hohensalzburg Fortress. From up there you can get a breathtaking view of the entire city. "You should definitely take the time to visit Austria's oldest coffee house, Café Tomaselli," says Ringerthaler.

Enjoy a cosy dinner in the inviting atmosphere of the Stiegl-Keller at the foot of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. With its impressive outdoor lounge, the St. Peter Stiftskulinarium restaurant is also highly recommended for a great dinner. Of course, having visited Salzburg, one shouldn't forget one or two souvenirs: That's why the Salzburg Convention Bureau has put together a concise list of the best give-aways for your conference guests.

If you’re looking for a diverse itinerary of fringe activities in Styria, Graz is the place to go. Andrea Sajben, head of Convention Steiermark, knows the city's hotspots: A walk in the spacious seminar garden of the Steiermarkhof provides a quiet end to a productive day. Scattered seating welcomes visitors to linger, whereas the slacklines provide for some outdoor physical activity. It’s well-worth also paying a visit to the in-house Hofgalerie, a space for contemporary art with an innovative programme. In summer, a barbecue accompanied by a glass of organic cuvée on the garden terrace with a view of the fascinating sculptures is an absolute highlight. "But the hip restaurant Salon Marie in the Grand Hôtel Wiesler is also a hot tip for a marvellous dinner," reveals Sajben. "And finally, you can enjoy a drink in the 80s retro charm of the Flieger Bar in Hotel Novapark Graz.”

"Tirol's oldest confectionery, Café Munding, is always an experience," says Susanne Assmann, meeting coach at the Innsbruck Convention Bureau. In Munding's bakery, guests can actually bake their own “golden roof shingles,” Tirol's sweetest souvenir. Sven Colin Preukschat, Sales Corporate at Congress Messe Innsbruck, recommends having lunch at the restaurant Das Kofel. You reach it after a short walk from the middle station of the Patscherkofel gondola. With an amazing backdrop, afternoon workshops and outdoor yoga sessions can be held there as well. Kathrin Horntrich, project manager at Convention Bureau Tyrol, suggests an outdoor cinema of a special kind. First walk through Innsbruck's Old Town, then take the Hungerburg funicular up to the Hungerburg district and from there continue on with the cable car. Arriving at 2,000 metres above sea level, participants can grab a deck chair and simply relax, soaking up a stunning natural spectacle: blue skies, cloud formations, fresh air and the vastness of the Tirolean mountains.

On the other hand, should anyone be planning a conference near Lake Achensee, for example at ENTNERS am See, take advantage of the cool lake for some soothing water treading after a long day in a meeting room, Horntrich advises. "Your guests will definitely remember a boat trip across Lake Achensee with dinner on board," he adds. The high-tech event centre Gurgl Carat in the middle of the Ötztal mountains is also ideal for all kinds of meetings and offers a varied line up of fringe events for your supporting programme. Managing director Felix Kupfer recommends taking the gondola right next to the building to go up to the Hohe Mut Alm.

There you can indulge in the region’s most delicious Kaiserschmarrn accompanied by views of 21 three-thousand-metre peaks and glaciers. For those who prefer to stay down in the valley, go for a walk through the wonderfully fragrant Swiss stone pine forest. “The adjoining via ferrata along the gorge is recommended for the daring visitor. After that, a cup of coffee on the sun terrace of the Zirben Alm is a must. A short stroll back to the village leads to a superb evening location: Alpine tapas and a nice glass of wine at See You – paired with a fabulous view,” adds Kupfer.

Anyone who is holding a meeting near Feldkirch should definitely visit the Villa Müller on the Ardetzenberg. The charming town property with a lovingly maintained vintage ambience is captivating. It’s the ideal place for a cup of coffee with a view over Feldkirch. You can surprise your guests with a gin workshop held in the villa’s 750-square-metre garden. The Convention Partner Vorarlberg team also recommends taking a walk in the centre of Feldkirch.

A stop at the Kolibri ice cream parlour should be on everyone’s list and (Insider tip!) everyone should absolutely try the “Queen of Summer” ice cream flavour. In 2017, it won first place at the World Gelato Tour Germany. In the evening, head to Kuche und Klub for a 3 or 5-course surprise menu, where creative dishes are served in stylish atmosphere. No less recommendable is the Bunt Bar. With an extensive drinks’ menu, a large outdoor dining area and good music, it has all the ingredients to make guests want to linger for longer.

You would like to organise a meeting inspired entirely by sustainable measures? In Vienna there are countless opportunities for green events with an appropriate supporting programme. For example, plan your meeting in Hotel Schani located in the new urban area of the Sonnwendviertel or in the Boutique Hotel Stadthalle, where the highest environmental standards are observed. Afterwards, Simon Kromer, Team Corporate and Green Meetings expert from the Vienna Convention Bureau, recommends a sightseeing tour around Vienna, a city big on protecting the climate and preserving cultural heritage, with the Austria Guides for Future. They will take you through, for example, Seestadt Aspern or Sonnwendviertel.

Totally geared towards social sustainability, you can bake with grandmas and grandpas in the Generationscafé Vollpension and thus help counteract poverty in old age. Kromer has some advice for evening entertainment, too: The Luftburg, the largest organic restaurant in Europe, serves regional dishes with organically grown food. Thanks to the excellent infrastructure, all locations and programme points in Vienna can easily be reached by public transport or on foot.

Looking for more inspiration for your conference? In this article, we provide you with some ideas for creative conference breaks in order to build successful teams. And you can find even more tips for exciting fringe events in this article.