PRIVATE EVENTS FOR CRUISE LINE GUESTS
Atlas Express is a distinctive event management company that has created some of the most memorable events in the history of Koper. The world’s most famous event is the Azamazing Evening, which has been held in Tito Square in Koper since 2017 and has been awarded as the world’s best event for two years in a row. Our events offer views and trends from Slovenia.
Specialised programs for chartered cruises have been conducted in the past. The expansion of the offer is based on the overall planning, with several events taking place throughout the day. Some of the events included a special beach rental and tailor made set-up, a route for self-drive vintage cars, a private show by the Lipizzaner Horses and other tailor made products to suit the client’s needs.
AZAMAZING EVENTS
THE AZAMAZING EVENT IN KOPER, SLOVENIA
Azamara Club Cruises encourage the experience of local culture and connection with the locals at a deeper level. With AzAmazing Evenings, the cruise line wants to deliver authentic travel moments at their destination, explore the culture and allow the guests to connect with the people. Koper in Slovenia is such a special destination.
Atlas Express has set an example to the community and its partners, exposing successful mutual cooperation in the global market. Atlas Express strives to promote locally themed tours and excursions.
Together with the Municipality of Koper, the Port of Koper and Slovenian Tourist Organization, the destination has been developing passenger transport since 2005 with a yearly rise in the number of ship arrivals. The success of mutual work is primarily based interconnecting the local municipality of Koper, Port of Koper and Atlas Express agency. The important part of our cooperation is the joint participation at international fairs for cruise tourism, including direct presentation of Slovenia and especially the city of Koper.
The basis of the success is the support of the Mayor of Koper, the joint presentation of destinations to the ship owners and invitation of the local community for sight inspection of Slovenia and the town of Koper. The city itself benefits greatly from such events and cruise tourism. Resources have been invested in to the renovation of the old city center, which is advantageous to the town dwellers also. One of the results is improved accessibility of cruise guests to the city center, especially with the building of the high capacity a elevator enabling easy access to the town center from the pier.
Last but not least, is the attention given to the environmental, social and economic aspects, where Atlas Express is the first slovenian company, which gained the GSTC Accredited Certification from Travelife, thus becoming a Travelife Certified sustainable company. This includes the fact, that we are responsible to our stakeholders and partners, to act within sustainable acts.
As explained in Jago and Shaw (1998) research, destinations must become a facilitator of happiness for locals, that’s why events have to have suggest six features:
- Attract tourists or tourism development
- Be of limited duration
- Be one-off or infrequent occurrence
- Raise the awareness, image, or profile of a region
- Offer a social experience
- Be out of the ordinary
Events have to have a social and entertainment value that include the local public as well, which often upgrade the pride and belonging to the community. People are encouraged to participate and are developing creativity in the community.
Events as such, are having a significant effect on the formation of a destination image. Socio-cultural benefits of events on local community, such as increased activity associated with the event and the strengthening of regional values and traditions are also significant.
As confirmation of successful approach of our work to the events in Koper, we received the award on annual Seatrade Cruise Global, as the best AzAmazing event in year 2017, by Azamara Club Cruises.
To follow our sustainable path, we achieved all the important pillars of sustainable actions:
MOBILITY
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– Due to the proximity of the event, all guests attend and leave the event on foot
– All guests with special needs have a shared shuttle service
ACHIEVED GOALS:
– Reducing the environmental impact of traffic
– Traveling, being climate neutral
SERVICES
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– Reduced paper consumption
– Decoration of space only with greenery
– No additional promotional material
– Encouraging the presentation of the local environment
– Local suppliers
CATERING
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– Encourage local and seasonal dishes
– Catering company meets all food safety nutrition instructions
– Encouraging the reuse of plates and glasses
– Presentation of local winemakers
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– Reduction of paper or other packaged products
– Reducing the consumption of reusable plates or glasses
– Waste separation
ACHIEVED GOALS:
– Avoidance of increased waste and their reuse
SOCIAL ASPECTS
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– Free access for people with special needs
– Accessible for wheelchairs
The most important achievement and proof of our good work, are of course the guests from the Aazamara cruise, who gave us the highest point of satisfaction on the event, as Koper was the only setting, where they could truly feel the authentic atmosphere and get connection with local lifestyle. There were more than five local wine producers available with regional wines, always happy to share their stories of the production and family effort in the business. All the served food was Slovenian , with regional and national flavours that guests could try during the evening.
The setting at historical Tito square came alive once again, exposing its Venetian origin and history, with the beautiful background of Pretorian Palace, Loggia and Cathedral of Mary’s Assumption. Along side the beautiful set up, the cruise guests can also enjoy in extraordinary performance of famous Slovenian vocal choir – Perpetuum Jazzile.
This is an unique opportunity for Koper and the local participants, in getting together, giving the cruise guests a memorable experience. The success of the event is a result of involvement of all stakeholders on local, regional and global level.
THE AZAMAZING EVENT IN TRIESTE, ITALY
Azamara Club Cruises encourage the experience of local culture and connection with the locals at a deeper level. With AzAmazing Evenings, the cruise line wants to deliver authentic travel moments at their destination, explore the culture and allow the guests to connect with the people.
Together with the attention given to the environmental, social and economic aspects, as Atlas Express is the first Slovenian company, which gained the Travelife Certified sustainable certification, the company is responsible to the stakeholders and partners, to act within sustainable acts.
To follow our sustainable path, we achieved all the important pillars of sustaianble actions:
MOBILITY
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– All guests were transfered by the boat transfer, which has larger capacity, so the road traffic was reduced and no buses were needed.
– All guests with special needs have a shared shuttle service
ACHIEVED GOALS:
– Traveling, being climate neutral
SERVICES
ACHIEVED SUSTAINABLE ASPECTS:
– No plastic consumption
– Decoration of space only with greenery
– Local suppliers
– Local performers
CATERING
– Encourage local and seasonal dishes
– Presentation of local winemakers and producers
WASTE MANAGEMENT
– Reduction of paper or other packaged products
– Using reusable glasses and plates– Waste separation
– Avoidance of increased waste and their reuse
SOCIAL ASPECTS
– Free access for people with special needs
– Accessible for wheelchairs