Executive Summary
The Digital Banking CEE Summit was Connectiva’s first venture into premium, invite-only executive events.
Hosted in a 5-star hotel in central Prague overlooking the Vltava River, it brought together 90 senior executives and innovators from leading banks and fintechs across the region.
The event was designed to redefine the company’s positioning - moving from mid-market expos to curated summits focused on intimacy, seniority, and measurable networking value.
With a two-day agenda, six thematic modules, 25 speakers, and 7 sponsors, the summit achieved a 9.4/10 satisfaction rate, high-level engagement, and strong profitability, proving that quality always wins over quantity when it comes to B2B event design.
Key Highlights
- 90 total delegates, ~60% C-level and executive-level
- 25 speakers from top regional and international banks
- 7 sponsors from the financial and tech sectors
- One-stage format with small exhibition area and 1:1 meetings room
- Hosted in a 5-star riverside hotel - first luxury venue used by Connectiva
- Cocktail reception with live piano and networking lounge
- 9.4/10 overall satisfaction rating from attendees and sponsors
- Strong profitability, achieved through ~15% cost optimization
Process
- Concept & Positioning
- Identified a market gap for a high-level, smaller-format event focused on digital transformation in banking
- Defined the event as invite-only to emphasize exclusivity and elevate seniority
- Designed messaging, website, and application forms to reinforce the “executive summit” identity
- Venue Selection
- Conducted multiple site inspections, including at Four Seasons Prague
- Selected a centrally located 5-star hotel with dedicated conference facilities, exhibition space, and scenic riverside lounge for the cocktail reception
- Negotiated favorable rates by forecasting attendance accurately and reducing F&B guarantees