Peter Frankl Receives the Golden Loaf Award for His Contribution to the Communication Market Development
Demands for business objectives-centred communication increase in the contemporary environment.

(Portorož, Slovenia, 18th May 2006) 

Fourth International Conference on Communication Practice, organised by the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) and the Slovene PR Agencies Association (ZOJS), started in Portorož this morning. The main topic of the conference hosting 15 domestic and foreign lecturers as well as over 120 guests is the issue of »business-centred communication«, In the framework of the conference, the organisers presented, for the first time, the Golden Loaf Awards to individuals and organisations whose contribution to the development of the communication market has been exceptional. This year’s laureates are Peter Frankl, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Finance daily, and the International Communication Consultancy Organization (ICCO). 

Frankl was awarded for his devoted work in the Slovenian media market and the influence his efforts exerted on the economic and PR markets. At the today’s award ceremony, the ZOJS Association thanked Frankl on behalf of 1000 Slovenian PR professionals for his contribution to the growing quality of the branch and to development of a strong and fast-growing industry. Total annual turnover of the Slovenian PR industry amounts to over €10m. 

The second award went to the ICCO, which has been supporting the ZOJS members since the Association’s beginnings. By providing support, the ICCO has been creating opportunities for the ZOJS members to exchange knowledge on the international level, which contributes to the development of the market both in Slovenia and the broader region. Simon Quarendon, Secretary General of the ICCO, accepted the award on behalf of the organisation. 

In addition, the LSPR presented special Golden Loaf Certificates of Acknowledgement. The recipients included organisations that contributed to the development of the SE European markets: VipNet from Croatia, ENI Marketing from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and McCann Erickson Public Relations from Serbia and Montenegro. So as to keep in remembrance special achievements and efforts, the names of the awarded will be written into the International Conference on Communication Practice Hall of Fame. 

Some 120 participants from the Central and SE Europe are taking part at the fourth meeting of the communication experts. During the two-day conference, the partakers and 15 domestic lecturers and guests will discuss the »business-centred communication«. Today's lecturers include a number of renowned names such as Simon Quarendon, Secretary General of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), Volker Weber, PR advisor and lecturer at the German PR Academy, Marko Kryžanowski, CEO of Petrol, Ross Bethell, Partner and Director of Aquila Financial Limited, Žiga Debeljak, CEO of Mercator Group, and others. 

Scheduled for the afternoon is a topical roundtable discussion under the leadership of Božidar Novak, Director of SPEM Communication Group and Chairman of ZOJS. Panellists will refer to the synergies and conflicts in cooperation between managers and communicators. 

Following the extensive educational part of the first day of the conference will be variegated entertainment activities, such as a party onboard a ship and a visit to the Casino Portorož gambling house. Tomorrow, the last day of the conference, Slovenian PR agencies, members of the ZOJS, will present their most successful communication projects. 

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Additional information:
Mateja Toplak
Phone. +386 (0)1 42 61 434
GSM: + 386 41 795 496
E-mail: mateja.toplak@spem.si, info@portoroz-conference.com
The conference web portal: www.portoroz-conference.com