When IOM, the International Organisation for Migration, needed a PCO partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a three-day youth forum, they engaged MICE.BA. The event took place at Blidinje Nature Park, a location with no purpose-built congress infrastructure. Over 150 participants. Fifteen speakers. Simultaneous interpretation. Three full days.
This is one of the most demanding events in our portfolio and one of the most relevant references for international organisations planning events in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Event Details
Client: International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Office in BiH
Event: Youth Forum of West Herzegovina County: “Young, Green and Successful”
Type: Forum with conference, panel discussions and workshops
Venue: Restaurant Staza, Blidinje Nature Park
Dates: 6 to 8 October 2023
Participants: Over 150
Speakers and workshops: 15
Target audience: Final-year secondary school students and teachers from West Herzegovina County, NGO representatives, government institutions, local Blidinje community
What MICE.BA Delivered
MICE.BA took full responsibility for the organisation from the first planning meeting to the final report, prepared according to IOM standards.
Venue setup: We prepared the main conference space and several smaller rooms for parallel workshops. We installed the stage, LED screen, lighting and all technical equipment. Nothing was pre-installed. Everything was built on site.
Simultaneous interpretation: We engaged simultaneous interpreters and coordinated all interpretation equipment for the full three-day programme.
Participant transport coordination: We communicated with all secondary schools in the canton and organised transport for students and teachers to Blidinje Nature Park. The park is not easy to reach by public transport. Coordinating arrivals from multiple locations across the canton required careful scheduling.
Speaker programme: We sourced and confirmed 15 speakers for the three-day programme and engaged a professional programme host.
Accommodation and catering: We managed accommodation, food and beverages for all participants across all three days of the event.
Photography and reporting: We engaged a professional photographer and prepared the final report in line with IOM requirements.
Why This Event Was Demanding
Blidinje Nature Park is not a standard MICE destination. There is no equipped congress centre, no established supplier network and no ready-made infrastructure for events of this scale.
Organising a three-day forum with over 150 participants, 15 speakers, simultaneous interpretation and a programme that combined plenary sessions with parallel youth workshops on this kind of location requires a different kind of preparation. The local community and service providers in Blidinje gave the MICE.BA team strong support throughout. That collaboration between the organiser and local partners was a key part of why the event worked.
The forum also confirmed something relevant to future clients: Blidinje Nature Park can host a quality business or programme event for up to 150 participants. For international organisations looking for a setting outside the standard urban venue options, that is useful to know.
What Working with a UN Agency Requires
IOM operates with high standards for reporting, protocol and organisational precision. There is no tolerance for missed deadlines or incomplete deliverables. At the same time, the venue required building the event from scratch rather than relying on existing infrastructure.
MICE.BA delivered both. That combination, high institutional standards and the ability to work in non-standard locations, is what makes this reference relevant for international agencies looking for a PCO partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Planning a Forum or Conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
If you need a local partner for conference and event organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, send us a brief and we will respond within 48 hours.
Author: Josipa Terzić – Rezić, CIS and CCMEP Certified Professional Event Organiser
CIS – Certified Incentive Specialist (certified by SITE – Society for Incentive Travel Excellence)
CMPA – Certified Congress, Meeting, and Event Professional (certified by the HCCP – Croatian Association of Congress Professionals)
