Germany almost the outright winner
Germany is a frontrunner in the conference and meeting stakes. In ICCA's international country ranking it now holds the top spot in Europe, coming second in the world no less.
For many hotels and conference centres 2004 was rather a good year, and even in the much-maligned destination Germany things went quite successfully indeed. According to the International Association Meetings Market 2004 study by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), German conference and meetings venues captured first place in Europe. On an international comparison, too, Germany managed further to improve its position as one of the foremost destinations for meetings, incentives, conventions and events and now ranks second after the United States. In the global city rankings Berlin is likewise up front, in fourth place.
"We had set ourselves the target of making Germany the foremost European meetings and conference destination by 2007. That we have achieved our goal much earlier shows us and our members that we're heading in the right direction," says a jubilant Lutz P. Vogt, managing director of the GCB German Convention Bureau. The GCB markets Germany internationally and nationally as a location for conventions, meetings, incentives and events and is the contact for anyone and everyone planning functions in Germany. Says Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO: "Active customer canvassing by German suppliers and joint marketing activities - the Germany stand at IMEX was the biggest exhibition booth of all - are strong signs of greater commitment to the international market. IMEX in Frankfurt is most definitely a key factor in Germany's rise to one of the premier meetings destinations in the world."
"We don't intend to rest on our successes, on the contrary we'll be raising the bar yet again in terms of our activities and campaigns to attract clients, and hence more meetings, to the country," Vogt continues. Sirk is also confident that Germany's achievements as a conference and meetings destination can be taken even farther forward: "This strong basis and the impact of the activities surrounding the 2006 FIFA World Cup are placing Germany in an excellent position to climb even higher."
The annual ICCA International Association Meetings Market statistics for the meetings and convention market present a comprehensive assessment of trends on the international meetings market. Events surveyed by ICCA must have at least 50 participants, take place regularly and rotate between at least three countries. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Amsterdam, since 1972 ICCA has been gathering information on association events the world over. As the marketing organisation for the MICE destination, the German Convention Bureau has so far built up a membership of more than 200. They include leading hotels, conference centres and cities, car rental firms, event agencies and service providers from the German meetings and congress industry. The Convention Bureau defines itself as the interface between organisers of meetings of all kinds and suppliers on the German meetings market, offering consultancy and support with event planning and organisation, arranging contacts and brokering business. At www.gcb.de the GCB offers a Germany guide and much more besides.
m+a report Nr.6 / 2005 vom 23.09.2005
m+a report vom 23. September 2005