Location and travel
Balatonfüred Congress Center
8230 Balatonfüred, Huray street 3.
Those who requested the shuttle bus service during registration are kindly requested to arrive at the pick-up point (in front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Deák Ferenc square) on September 24 on time. The shuttle leaves at 2:00 p.m., please arrive at 1:45 PM the latest. The conference logo will be displayed on the bus.
You can find further information here about how to get to Balatonfüred.
Parking
All the participants can park free of charge in the Congress Center’s underground garage, which is accessible from Highway 71. When entering, please inform the parking attendant that you are attending the EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism Conference and provide your full name.
Guests arriving by bicycle can also store their bike in the parking garage during the conference.
Registration
Conference registration begins at 3:30 p.m. on the first day, Wednesday, September 24. For quick and smooth registration process, please arrive on time. The conference programme starts at 4:00 p.m. with a guided bike tour of the city, followed by the official opening at 6:30 p.m.
On the second day of the conference, Thursday, September 25, registration and morning coffee break start at 8:30 a.m. The official programme will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the speeches of Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development; Máriusz Révész, State Secretary for Active Hungary; and Henk Swarttouw, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation.
On the third day of the conference, Friday, September 26, registration and bicycle pick-up begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by three themed cycling tours.
Please wear the badge you received at registration on all three days!
To ensure a punctual start, please arrive on time!
Dress code
The dress code for our conference is business casual – however, we all work in active tourism, so we like to dress comfortably. Please feel free to choose clothing that is appropriate for a conference but does not make you feel uncomfortable.
Please arrive in sportswear suitable for cycling tours and bring a small backpack if you find it necessary. We provide helmets & water for the bike tours.
Cloakroom
There’s a cloakroom on the ground floor of the Congress Center where you can leave your clothes and bags. You can find the opening hours below:
September 24: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
September 25: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
September 26: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Professional programme
The conference programmes and lectures will take place in the Main hall and then simultaneously in four separate section rooms. Through the presentations and workshops, we will learn more about environmental, social, and economic sustainability issues through the lens of cycling.
The conference’s language is English, but some presentations will be held in Hungarian. For our non-Hungarian-speaker guests, we will provide interpretation. Interpretation devices can be picked up at the conference rooms. The code for the interpretation devices can be found in the respective rooms, or the programme organizers will inform you about it.
We kindly ask our non-Hungarian-speaker guests to grab an interpretation device on the evening of the 24th and the morning of the 25th, as the welcome speeches will be held in Hungarian.
Let’s have an active conference!
Our conference programme will be enriched by exciting bike tours on not one, but two days (September 24 and September 26). Participation in the tours is only possible if you have enlisted to them during your registration. On both days, the tours will start next to the Congress Center, and our colleagues will help you pick up your bikes.
On Wednesday, September 24., you can take part in a guided cycling tour of the city, which will give you the opportunity to discover the cultural and natural treasures of Balatonfüred. (approx. 1 hour, distance: 11 km). Please arrive on time to pick up your bike: 3:30 a.m.!
On Friday, September 26., between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., we will set off on three themed bike tours. Each tour will examine a different aspect of cycling tourism. These case studies provide an excellent opportunity for professional discussion and sharing experiences. Please arrive on time to pick up your bike: 8:00 a.m.!
All three tours will depart from the conference venue between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., with a coffee break expected halfway through the tours. We will end our ride at Tihany, where the three tours will merge and return to Balatonfüred by ferry. Lunch on the ferry will be a particularly memorable experience.
Estimated arrival time in Balatonfüred: 1:30 p.m. The shuttle bus will depart from the Congress Center at 2:00 p.m. and return to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, then to downtown Budapest if requested.
The bike tours will take place even in light rain! Please check the weather forecast and bring rainproof clothing with you.
Evening events: let’s chat & dance
We invite our guests on the evening of the first day (September 24) to a welcome reception and networking event. On the evening of Thursday, September 25, we would like you to join us at the gala dinner. Let’s taste fine wines, beers, and pálinka’s, sourced from the Balaton region. Adding to the good atmosphere, we have arranged surprise performers who will keep you dancing all night long!
The evening programme will last until 11:00 p.m.
Exhibitors
During the afternoon of 24 September (4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and throughout the whole day on 25 September, you can meet our exhibitors:
- European Cyclists’ Federation: learn about the EuroVelo network overview map, their latest publications and data, and get expert advice on all aspects of cycle route development.
- Active Hungary: they promote active lifestyles, recreational sports and active tourism in Hungary, which supports numerous adventure sports events and tourism developments. Their goal is to encourage people to exercise in a community-friendly and nature-friendly environment.
- Hungarian Cycling Tourism Association: discover Hungary’s newest adventure trail, the Horizon, as well as the Cycling-Friendly Service Provider Network and app, which brings together the best cycling-friendly places in the country.
- Balaton Bike Tour: the largest bicycle rental network in the Balaton region. They also organise themed guided tours, offering participants active and sustainable recreation.
- Eco-Counter: the international leader in monitoring pedestrian and bicycle traffic in more than 55 countries. Their solutions help to understand how routes work, develop infrastructure and create sustainable destinations.
- Értékterv Ltd.: As Eco-Counter’s exclusive partner in Hungary, they support decision-makers and tourism stakeholders with data, measurements and tools. Their mission is in line with the Conference’s message: ‘Cycling towards a more sustainable future’.
- MetroCount: offers advanced traffic monitoring solutions for the development of cycling infrastructure. It provides accurate traffic data, such as speed and route usage, to support planners and decision-makers.
- WEITBLICK: manages long-term cycle path programmes, develops digital mapping solutions and marketing strategies, and coordinates certification programmes.
- Bikebox: whether e-bikes, bikes, bike accessories, components, children’s trailers and more, Bikebox is your specialist and can advise you on your decision-making process with over 20 years of expertise.
- Bringaland: Bringaland represents the premium category of bicycles in Hungary for 15 years now. They are proud of their range of bicycles, clothing, and accessories, which is one of the largest in the country, with more than 5,000 top-of-the-line products. In recent years, they have helped thousands of cyclists find their dream bike, and their official Shimano Service Center guarantees quality!
- Embassy of Netherlands in Hungary: promotes bilateral trade relations, advises Dutch companies on doing business in Hungary, and connects them with potential business partners.