Business Bridges 2026 - The future of hospitality in Banat: Timisoara-Vojvodina

In the period February 25-26, 2026, Timisoara hosted the first edition of Economic Mission „Business Bridges” - The future of hospitality in Banat, an event dedicated to strengthening cross-border economic cooperation in HoReCa and tourism.

Organized by Timis County Council, in partnership with HORETIM Association and Chamber of Commerce of Vojvodina, the economic mission brought together HoReCa operators, local authorities and business representatives from Vojvodina to facilitate direct dialog and strategic partnerships.

Strategic Context and Objectives

The event is taking place at a key moment for the Banat region, in the perspective of the EU candidate Banat - European Gastronomic Region 2028 and in the context of the opportunities EXPO 2027 Belgrade.

The main goal of the mission is to strengthen cross-border relations and develop sustainable models of collaboration in the HoReCa and tourism sector, turning hospitality into a strategic driver of regional economic development.

Day 1 - Official Opening and Memorandum Signing

The official opening took place in the Multifunctional Hall of the Timis County Council, and was attended by officials and representatives of partner organizations.

A central moment was signing the Memorandum of Regional Tourism Collaboration in between:

• HORETIM - HoReCa Industry Employers Association, Timis, represented by Corina Macri, President, and

• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, Serbia, represented by Vladimir Gak, President.

This agreement marks the beginning of concrete partnerships and paves the way for sustainable cross-border collaborations in HoReCa and tourism.

In their opening speeches, the organizers underlined the importance of building an economic, commercial and professional bridge between communities, as well as the objective of turning „Business Bridges” into an annual tradition, with Banat as a pole of regional development and a model of European representation.

Day 2 - HoReCa Perspectives: Field Experience

On February 26, 2026, the Serbian delegation continued the economic mission with visits to representative locations in Timișoara, in a HoReCa tour aimed to familiarize the participants with the local market and to provide a direct insight into the profile of the end customer.

The day was designed as a dynamic, on-site format to transform the theoretical discussions and presentations of the first day into practical experiences and real business contacts, giving participants the opportunity to identify new partnerships and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

The Impact and Future of Collaboration

„Business Bridges” aims to turn hospitality into driving regional development, consolidating Timis as a pole of excellence and regional model for tourism and HoReCa.

Through the Timis-Vojvodina collaboration, the Banat region aspires to become a European reference point for local tourism and hospitality without borders, demonstrating that cross-border partnerships are the key to sustainable economic development.

Are you a hospitality entrepreneur in Timis? Join the HORETIM community and contribute to strategic projects such as Banat - European Gastronomic Region 2028. Contact us to find out how to become a member.