News from Kraków

For many years, the city of Krakow has been striving to introduce a tourist tax levied on people using accommodation services. This solutiona, used in many cities around the world, would generate additional revenue for the budget and would constitute a form of compensation for the intensive use of urban space and infrastructure.

On November 5–7, 2025, the EXPO Kraków International Exhibition and Convention Center will host the 32nd edition of the HORECA® International Hotel and Gastronomy Equipment Fair and the 22nd edition of the ENOEXPO® International Wine Fair, organized by Targi w Krakowie. This is one of the most important events in this part of Europe dedicated to the hotel, catering, and wine industries. This year, the organizers have prepared a number of new features and surprises that will make the fair even more diverse and inspiring.

On November 18–19, 2025, the ICE Kraków Congress Centre and online will host the tenth anniversary edition of the Open Eyes Economy Summit (OEES) – one of Europe's most important events dedicated to values in the economy, society, and culture. This year's edition of the congress will be held under the slogan “Economy of Values,” emphasizing the need to build a world based on sustainable development, responsibility, and trust.

The Kraków Network 2.0 meeting took place on October 21, 2025, at the ICE Kraków Congress Center. Organized for the second time in a new format by the city of Krakow, the event was dedicated to Krakow's premium offerings. In line with the MICE – Legacy trend, its goal was to create a map of premium locations that would remain a lasting value for participants.

In Poland, as elsewhere in the world, more and more cities are taking initiatives to adapt to the changing expectations of travelers, event organizers, and local communities. Sustainable development is becoming a key pillar of destination competitiveness. This publication is part of the Meetings and Events Industry in Poland 2025 Report.

Kraków has once again found itself at the forefront of Polish cities effectively managing water resources, taking second place in the prestigious Water City Index 2025 ranking. This is further proof of advanced activities, strategic management, and an innovative approach. Faced with the challenges of climate change and water security, Wodociągi Miasta Krakowa SA is one of the leaders in the water supply and sewage industry.

For the first time, Krakow hotels have been awarded Michelin Keys 2025 – an international distinction recognizing exceptional establishments in terms of design, service, and location. A total of twelve hotels from Poland were recognized, including Krakow's Hotel Copernicus, H15 Luxury Palace, and Stradom House.

How to develop cultural tourism in a sustainable, responsible, and resident-friendly way? We will discuss this during the upcoming workshops organized as part of the SCT HUB project. The workshops are organized by the project partner, the Polish Heritage Foundation in Krakow. Representatives of the tourism industry, the cultural sector, and residents of Krakow are invited to participate in the workshops.

We are pleased to announce that InteleTravel, one of the leading agency networks in the tourism sector, has chosen Kraków as the venue for its 2026 conference. The event is scheduled for September 25–27, 2026, at the CKF_13 Fabryczna Conference Center.

Climate change requires decisive action – Kraków is committed to concrete solutions and has been rewarded for this. During the PRECOP conference in Katowice, our city was honored with the Green Changer award in the “Cities” category. The award was received on behalf of the Mayor of Kraków by Ewa Całus, the city's climate representative.

Welcome to another episode of the ‘Wide open for sustainable meetings’ series, in which we present a modern approach to hospitality in the spirit of sustainable development. Our guest is Krzysztof Majszczyk, International Sales Manager at PURO Hotels – a chain that not only focuses on design and unique guest experiences, but also consistently implements ecological and social solutions, confirmed by international certificates. We will learn how PURO reduces its carbon footprint, how it cooperates with local communities, and how hotels are becoming meeting places today – not only for travelers, but also for city residents.

On 15 October, Kraków was officially welcomed as a member of Eurocities, the largest European network of cities working together to promote sustainable development, innovation, and a high quality of life for residents.