Journalist at the “Gazeta Wyborcza” newspaper in Krakow. She deals with topics such as local politics, urban development, tourism and social trends. On the pages of “Wyborcza” she has repeatedly described the tensions in Krakow between tourists and residents, the activities of the city authorities related to sustainable tourism policy, including the regulation of short-term rentals, and recently also the problems of the tourism industry in connection with the COVID 19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
In 2021 she was awarded the medal of the 30th anniversary of the rebirth of local self-government.
Co-author of two books about Krakow: “Zrób to w Krakowie” (with Rafał Romanowski and Wojciech Pelowski) and “KRK Książka o Krakowie” (with Rafał Romanowski).
Julijana Antić Brautović assumed the position of Head of Culture and Heritage Department at the City of Dubrovnik in October 2021, after serving two years as the director and ten years as the Head of Marketing and Public Relations at the Dubrovnik Museums. She holds a Ph.D. in History and an MA in Economics. Before joining the Museums, Antić Brautović worked for different national, regional and local news outlets. She was the president of the Students’ Council and a Senate member at the University of Dubrovnik. She authored two exhibitions and one book and published research and professional papers in history, art history, and ethnology.
He studied in Madrid, graduating in International Business Studies at Universidad Pontificia Comillas, ICADE, and later in France, completing a Bachelor in European Business Management at Reims Management School. He also has a wide range of trainings with different postgraduate courses focused on social economy, business creation and tourism management (UOC, ITAE, ESSEC…).
Regarding experience, he has worked in several European projects and as an international consultant. He also worked as Institutional Manager of the candidacy of Cáceres to European Capital of Culture in 2016. Nowadays he is dedicated to the export of ornamental stones in international markets and in the management of tourist infrastructures in the city of Cáceres.
In addition to his work as councillor, he is also a member of the Extremadura Federation of Rural Tourism, FEXTUR, as an expert in European programmes and he is a member of the strategic team for the marketing of Extremadura 365. Furthermore, he is the representative of the Group of Tourist Apartments of the Monumental City of Cáceres and President of Extremadura Aloja, the Tourist Housing Association of Extremadura.
In the social area, he is Vice-President of FUNDHEX, Siblings Foundation for Equality and Social Inclusion and representative of FUNDHEX in the board of directors of the Extremadura Foundations Association.
Carlos Neves is Innovation Advisor of Business Association of Braga, entrepreneur, and consultant in several companies. Founder of Sintese Binaria a Circular Solutions Start-Up, and a LA2Culture, a Territory, Culture and Technology company, he is the Managing Director of SEVENFORMA, a Portuguese based company.
He worked before in the public sector, being President and Vice President of Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) and President of Managing Board of the North Regional Operational Program – managing the European Structural funds for the region.
He is National and Regional Officer in the Portuguese Engineers Professional Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros)
Lawyer, Contract Professor and PhD in computer & science law at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Alessandro is General Manager @fairbnb.coop
He is also President of Assoutenti for ER region, one of the first Italian consumers’ association. Activists for open knowledge and open source philosophy, helps people to spread and live good practices of sustainability and promotes the values and culture of mediation and alternative dispute resolution methods to improve our society.
Founder and co-owner of a restaurant and hotel group which includes, among others, the following: Kogel Mogel, Fiorentina, Wesele, Szara Gęś, Bianca, La Grande Mamma, La Campana. Since 2008, the listed restaurants have received 28 accolades by the Michelin guide (Fiorentina – BIB Gourmand 2020, Wedding 2009- 2013, La Campana 2010-2019, Kogel Mogel 2013-2019, Bianca 2015-2019) and a 5-star Balthazar Design Hotel. Graduate of the Psychology Department at the Jagiellonian University. In running a restaurant, he has always been intrigued and passionate about the process of relationality and genuine hospitality. Member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a gastronomic organisation whose mission is to promote a culture of food and hospitality. Passionate about travel inspired by fine cuisine, wine and opera.
Polish manager of culture, promotion and tourism, specialist in strategic management – co-author of the first urban promotion strategy for Krakow in Poland and co-creator of the success of tourism development in Krakow; expert in issues related to culture and art, producer and coordinator of international projects, in 2008-2010 director of the Krakow Festival Office, in 2010-2015 vice-president of Krakow for culture and city promotion, in 2015-2017 director of the Polish Film Institute. Co-author of strategic documents and public policies. Graduate of the Jagiellonian University (Polish philology, specialisation: theatre studies) in Krakow.
Since 2018, she has been CEO of Alvernia Planet SPV, which is part of the international Gremi International group.
Since 2019, she has been the programme curator of the Solidarity of Arts Festival of the European Solidarity Centre.
Since 2022 she has been the creative director of the Mastercard Off Camera Festival.
Prizes and awards:
2015 Badge “Honoris Gratia” for services to Krakow
2015 Bronze Medal “Meritorious for Culture Gloria Artis”.
2012-2015 – Member of the Council of the National Museum in Krakow
2015-2018 – Member of the Council of the National Film Culture Centre
2015-2018 – Member of the Council of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow,
2015 – 2019 – Member of the Programme Council of the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art
Anamaria Vrabie is a behavioural-informed economist and leader of urban innovation practices with over 15 years of international experience.
She currently supports European cities in developing strategic action plans and transferring good practises, acting as URBACT lead expert and principal investigator for the Urban Innovative Actions knowledge and capitalisation studies. Since 2019, she is Lead Expert for the URBACT Tourism Friendly Cities (TFC) network, which focuses on the sustainable impact of tourism in cities.
Between 2017- 2021 she has co-designed and managed Cluj-Napoca Urban Innovation Unit, the first municipal public innovation lab in Eastern Europe. She is also co-founder of the Urban Insights Center- Urban INC, a think-tank advancing the practice of sustainable urban development since 2010.
She holds an MA in International Affairs as a Fulbright Scholar at The New School New York and in PhD in Applied Economics. You can reach her at anamaria.vrabie@urbaninc.org
Born in Venice, he graduated in Law at Padua University in 2013. In 2010, at the age of 22, he was elected Municipal councilor of the City of Venice and held the role of group leader. Once re-elected in 2015, he was appointed Deputy Mayor for Social Cohesion, Labor, and Economic Development of the City of Venice. He chairs the Venice Health Authority’s Mayors’ meeting, he is representative of the Protection and Social Inclusion Network established at the Ministry of Labor and one of the Steering Committee’s members for the implementation of the National Anti-trafficking Plan established at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Since 2020 he is also the Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Housing Policies. He is the chair of the DMO – Destination Management Organization – the local body composed of public and private entities responsible for the integrated management of the Veneto Region tourist destinations.
Simone d’Antonio is a journalist and expert of sustainable and integrated urban development.
As URBACT expert on governance and physical urban development, he supported more than 100 European cities in creating action plans and transferring urban solutions and good practices. Currently, he is supporting the network Tourism Friendly Cities, which is focused on the sustainable impact of tourism in cities.
He is active also in the Urban Innovative Actions programme, as expert of the project Cluj Future of Work of Cluj Napoca, and in the Partnership on Cultural Heritage of the Urban Agenda for the EU.
He worked in Brussels and then in Rome for the Italian Association of Cities and Municipalities, supporting the participation of Italian cities in European urban programs, such as Covenant of Mayors, Urban Innovative Actions and URBACT.
In the framework of the activities of the National URBACT Point for Italy, he promoted the creation of networks between Italian and European cities in order to support the implementation of the integrated action plans developed by the cities.
From 2015 to 2018 he collaborated with UN-Habitat supporting the development of the Urban Journalism Academy, that trained journalists on urban issues in different areas of the world, supporting the Habitat III process and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
His articles were published, among the others, by The Guardian, Citylab-The Atlantic, Reuters, Citiscope, Citymetric, The Good Life and Lonely Planet Magazine.
30 years’ professionally active in the ICT sector
Extensive experience directing cross-functional teams in the design and integration of leading-edge technology solutions, mainly for the public sector.
For over 20 years at Venis Spa – ICT provider for the City of Venice, Italy – with growing responsibilities he is now Chief Operating Officer and Co-Director General.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
A Germanist by education; related to Kraków since birth, and for over 25 years with the tourism industry.
Involved from the beginning of his professional path in the tourism industry in the areas of outbound and inbound tourism and MICE. Over this time he has carried out many international projects and participated in the development of business plans, as well marketing and image campaigns related both to the promotion of destinations and marketing of tourist and hotel products and services. Participant and speaker at many conferences and industry events in Poland and abroad. Until 2020, for 15 years, CEO of one of the largest companies in inbound tourism. Currently, a tourism market expert involved in cross-sectoral projects carried out from EU funds.
Distinguished by the Minister of Sport with the Meritorious in tourism distinction
Awarded the Krakowski Dukat
According to the Wasza Turystyka Business Magazine and the WaszaTurystyka.pl portal, identified as one of the 100 most influential persons in Polish tourism.
An analyst of trends in smart tourism, digital marketing and artificial intelligence, chairperson of the “New.Tech.New.Travel” competition jury. A chairperson of the Board of the “Year of the Vistula River” Foundation, member of the Scientific Council of the Elbląg Canal and the NETOUR Project Scientific Committee.
She conducts research on: business models of the digital economy, smart mobility, mobile marketing (SoCoMo) and the application of new technologies in the tourism and leisure service sectors.
Elżbieta Kantor – a graduate of Foreign Trade at the Cracow University of Economics and MBA studies at the said university.
For 10 years, she has managed tourism in the Małopolska Marshal’s Office and for 5 years in the Cracow City Hall.
She successfully carried out a lot of projects promoting the city of Cracow and Małopolska Voivodeship in the field of tourism and economic development.
She is an author and co-author of projects aimed at building and promoting the Cracow and Małopolska Voivodeship brand.
Tourist guide in the culinary and wine market, local cuisine lover, member of Slow Food International, which is an international organisation taking care of “good, clean and fair” food. Specialises in developing specialized tourism programmes in the field of culinary tourism and active tourism, taking into account the “local” element, such as meetings with food producers, local cuisine workshops, slow tourism trips. Cooperates with media, bloggers and influencers and promotes Poland as a tourist destination.
Manager and animator of culture, educator, musician. He studied sociology, social sciences, as well as cultural diplomacy at Jagiellonian University, University of Provence Aix-Marseille and Collegium Civitas in Warsaw.
Currently, a plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Krakow for Culture. He has run international projects of the Krakow Festival Office that integrate the activities of entities involved in culture, developed key literary, musical and film projects. He has implemented the programming policy of important Krakow music festivals. In the film area, he was looking after the Krakow Film Commission and coordinating the Film Krakow program. He led the process of applying for the title of UNESCO’s Creative City in the field of Literature. He represents Krakow in relations with the Network of Festival Cities Network.
Ricardo Rio is the Mayor of Braga since 2013 and a member of the Executive Committee of EUROCITIES and also of the Daily Board of Global Parliament of Mayors.
Through his years as Mayor of Braga, was invited to be a part of the Champion Mayors initiative from OECD, which brings together mayors of the five continents, who are committed to the sustainable and inclusive growth. He was one of the Portuguese representatives at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and he is a member of the Portuguese delegation of the Committee of the Regions since 2018. In 2021, he won the tile World Mayor for Sustainability, awarded by the City Mayors Foundation.
During his term, Braga joined several international organizations besides EUROCITIES in 2016, such as ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and UCCLA – Union of the Portuguese Speaking Capitals. In addition, it has endorsed international movements, such as the Global Covenant of Mayors and the Global Parliament of Mayors.
In his professional life, he was the Secretary-General of the Portuguese Association of Financial Analysts and the Director of the Capital Markets Institute of Euronext Lisbon. At the same time, he kept working as a public and business consultant for several years, having participated in several Programmes of Porto Business School. Ricardo was also a lecturer in several universities in Portugal.
Journalist, publicist, writer, product manager and trainer in one. He is editor-in-chief of an internet hybrid medium & short video production studio The Re: view [city / business / startup / hype / eco / lifestyle] http://thereview.pl/, writes articles about new trends, technology, business, aviation business, published for polish media (especially “Gazeta Wyborcza” & “Polityka) about politics, trends, social media, politics, different countries of the globe http://wyborcza.pl/0,0.html & https://www.polityka.pl/, lectures in journalism at the faculty of sociology at the Jagiellonian University and at Tischner High European School (both in Krakow, Poland)
For 18 years in the tourism sector (one of owners of Smart Hostels & Hotels and UTC Tour Operator). For 11 years, I have been working on a voluntary basis for the tourism industry, at first as a member of authorities of the Cracow Chamber of Tourism, including the position of the Chamber President in the years 2017-2020. Since January 2021, I have been the President of the Branch of the Polish Chamber of Tourism in the Małopolskie Voivodeship and a member of the Council of the Polish Chamber of Tourism. At the same time, since August 2021, I have also been the Vice-president of the Inbound Tourism Branch of the Polish Chamber of Tourism. In the years 2020-2021, I actively participated in the operation of the crisis team of the tourism industry, TUgether. I am also a member of the Management Board of the Tourist Organisation of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, as well as a member of various advisory and consultation bodies in the field of tourism, including, without limitation, the Programme Council for the Development and Promotion of Tourism in the Małopolskie Voivodeship, the Task Force for the Prevention of the Negative Economic Effects of the Coronavirus Epidemic in the Małopolskie Voivodeship administered by the Marshal of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, the Working Group for Tourism and Recreation of the Council of Entrepreneurs administered by the SME Envoy. Privately, husband and dad of two kids. Interested in sport and modern technologies.
Mr. De Thyse dedicated his studies and his career to the protection and enhancement of both cultural and built heritage. During 24 years, Mr. De Thyse was part of the Council of Europe developing and directing more than 100 projects related to heritage in 36 countries, which involved more than 1400 experts’ missions on diverse subjects.
Jacek Legendziewicz is the greatest tourist entrepreneur in Kraków, owner of hotels, a travel agency and a transport company. Jordan Group, as a one-man business of Jacek Legendziewicz, as the President of the company, has been existing in Kraków for several dozen years. Initially in 1987, it was a travel agency operated by two persons at the PTTK university branch of the University of Technology in Kraków. In the following years, further subsidiaries were opened, also outside Kraków, and services offered by the company operating under the President’s name expanded to include the organisation of events, symposia and the booking and sale hotel accommodation. Jacek Legendziewicz has been developing his portfolio with other activities, including both transport and hotel services, as well as and office space rental, and promoting tourism development, at the same time.
Laura Gaggero is currently Deputy Mayor of the City of Genoa for Economic Development of Tourism and City Marketing Policies. She has a degree in Public Relations at IULM University in Milan and an Executive Master Management of ebusiness (MEB) at University Politecnico of Milan.
She has been management consultant for Marketing and strategic communication and she collaborated with some of the most important enterprises at local and national level.
Mrs. Tepšić is the Deputy Mayor City of Dubrovnik, as well as honorary consul to the Kingdom of Spain since 2014. She is a professor of the Spanish language, literature and Comparative literature and has more than 20 years of experience in communication, media and marketing. In the City of Dubrovnik, Mrs. Tepšić is responsible for tourism, sustainability and culture. During her work in past two years, the city has been developing strategic, long term project called “Respect the City”. She has participated in many congresses worldwide where she presented this project, which deals with innovative integrated development and focuses on the sustainable development of tourism in the city. She showed how the City administration faced with the problem of overcrowding, ensuring a better distribution of visitors and suppressing the negative effects of over-tourism. This Project was recognized as an example of good practice in destination management at the World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) in Krakow.
Gianluca Saba is the Head of International Affairs Office of the Municipality of Genoa. In his position, Gianluca participates to international meetings, fosters relations with Governmental and Diplomatic Authorities and promotes agreements and twinnings between Genoa and other cities.
His experience in the management of European projects dates back to 2004 when the Municipality of Genoa was lead partner in the project Med’Act, part of MEDA program. Since then, Gianluca was project manager of 10 other European projects and coordinated the overall organization of the Eurocities’ Annual Conference 2011 in Genoa, “Planning for People”. Moreover, inside the Eurocities network, he was representative of the Municipality of Genoa (at officer level) at the Executive Committee from 2003 to 2012, Technical chair of the Economic Development Forum in 2015-2016 and, at present, chair of the City Branding WG and co-chair of the Digital Citizenship WG.
Gianluca is currently project coordinator, for the Municipality of Genoa, of the following European projects: EUdigit, on the challenge of digitalization in the European countries, in the frame of Europe for Citizens program; EUrights on the importance of human rights at European level, within the Europe for Citizens program; Tourism-Friendly Cities, on sustainable tourism in middle sized-cities, financed by the URBACT program; Europe Direct Centre of Information in Genoa.
Founder of LCMedia.pl, a consultancy specializing in strategy consulting, international event audits and creative storytelling strategies for institutional and corporate clients. Since its establishment in April 2015, LCMedia.pl has completed a long list of projects and initiatives, in cooperation with cities, international businesses, agencies and global organizations.
Łukasz is also an experienced international conference host (with about 400 industry conferences, congresses and festivals in his portfolio) and a passionate public-speaking coach, working with heads of institutions, business leaders and conference speakers. In the past two years alone (2020-2021) he facilitated over 150 conferences, congresses and debates for clients in almost every EU country and beyond (incl. intercontinental online/hybrid conferences). Before setting up his own brand, Łukasz worked for 6 years in various roles for one of the biggest multinationals in Poland (director communications & CSR, editor-in-chief, company spokesperson), followed by a 4-year stint as an academic lecturer.
Specialist in the field of tourism policy and tourism marketing. Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Tourism and Ecology in Sucha Beskidzka. In 1996-2008, the Director of the Polish Tourism Organization’s office in Paris, and in 2008-2017, the vice-president of the Polish Tourism Organization. Coordinator of strategic projects at the Tourism Department of the Krakow City Hall in 2018-2021. Author of the concept of, among others, “Poland’s Marketing Strategy in the Tourism Sector for 2012-2020” and “Krakow’s Sustainable Tourism Policy for 2021-2028”. The initiator of the concept of the Historical Cities 3.0 conference.
Art historian, University Professor at the History of Art Institute of the Jagiellonian University. Specialises mainly in the history of modern art, including in particular Polish artistic heritage of Eastern Borderlands of the former Republic of Poland. In the years 2012–2015, Director of the History of Art Institute of the Jagiellonian University and in the years 2016-2019, Director of the National Museum in Kraków. Vice-president of the Association of Art Historians, chairman of the Council of the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad POLONIKA, and a member of many commissions, scientific committees and Museum Councils, including: National Museum in Poznań, Scientific Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Polish Academy of Learning in Kraków and the National Museum in Lublin. Decorated with the Silver Medal for Contributors to Polish Culture “Gloria Artis” and the Gold Badge of Merit of the Małopolskie Voivodeship “Krzyż Małopolski”.
