German meeting facilities meet top US requirements

FRANKFURT/MAIN, Germany & LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Meeting destination Germany holds an excellent position in the international market: in the country rankings of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), the country is number two worldwide, behind the United States. The capital, Berlin, is number four in the worldwide city rankings. And the German cities of Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, and Leipzig are among the Top 100 international event destinations. In 2010 alone, 323 million people attended approximately 2.69 million events in Germany, according to the Meeting & Event Barometer, the leading survey on meeting destination Germany.

THREE REASONS WHY GERMAN EVENT DESTINATIONS ARE SO ATTRACTIVE

“Three factors are responsible for the good position of meeting destination Germany: its good value combined with a high quality of meeting facilities, its unique accessibility within Europe, and the country’s leading position in a wide range of economic sectors and scientific fields,” explained Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau (GCB). According to the results of the 2011 IMEX Meetings Outlook Report, these factors top the list of criteria US organizers apply when choosing a destination.

INDUSTRIAL EXPERTIESE A MAJOR LOCATIONAL ADVANTAGE ON THE MEETINGS MARKET

“Representing an association, I am very interested in knowing what organizations and companies in my field exist in your region – rather than what meeting facilities and hotels the city offers,” pointed out Kristin Mirabal, Senior Meeting Manager of the Optical Society of America. The right scientific or industrial expertise of a destination is one of the most important reasons worldwide when it comes to selecting a congress venue. Germany offers the best conditions for this. The country is the world’s fourth largest economy. Many globally recognized experts from various fields work in Germany.

GERMANY IS THE BEST ACCESSIBLE COUNTRY IN EUROPE

According to data of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) supported by the European Union, Germany is the best accessible country in Europe. Over 40 airports, a motorway spanning 12,700 kilometers, and a rail network of almost 35,000 kilometers ensure fast travel to and from Germany. The metropolitan region around the financial hub Frankfurt is the best accessible region of continental Europe, according to ESPON.

6,420 MEETING AND EVENT VENUES

With 6,420 venues, Germany offers a highly versatile range of meeting facilities. From convention centers to unusual venues, organizations will find suitable suppliers and tailor-made programs according to the results of the Meeting & Event Barometer.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Germany offers great value for the money: the average meeting package costs 69 Euro per person a day in Berlin – well below the European average (source: grass roots, November 2010).

DZT AND GCB THEME YEAR: BUSINESS DESTINATION GERMANY

To better promote Germany as a business travel destination on an international scale, the German National Tourist Board (DZT) and GCB have chosen 2012 to put meetings and congress travel in the spotlight. The primary overseas markets of the theme year will be the US, China, Brazil, and Japan. “With total sales of around 66 billion Euro, business travel is a major economic factor for tourism in Germany,” said Petra Hedorfer, Chair of the GCB’s board of administration and CEO of the German National Tourist Board, “Meetings, conventions, events, and incentives account for around half of all business trips. Hence this segment plays a major role in marketing.”

The German Convention Bureau (GCB), based in Frankfurt /Main, markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events, and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for all customers who are planning events in Germany.

Its 230 members include leading hotels, convention centers and destinations, rental car firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels, the SevenCenters of Germany, and darmstadtium science and convention centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, and the German National Tourist Board (DZT) support the work of the GCB.

The GCB, an interface between organizers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organizing events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletters, Germany guides, and a lot more.