After three years of continuous investments in The Westin Leipzig, the hotel renovated another four floors this summer to meet the most exacting quality requirements. Guests can now look forward to 104 further guest rooms of an international standard. Conferences and banquets can be staged in one of the 33 variable conference and banqueting rooms (1900 sqm), the ballroom (606 sqm) or in one of the de luxe board rooms on the 27th floor. WLAN and air conditioning as well as natural lighting are available in all meeting rooms. In addition, there are generous exhibition spaces. Tasteful and modern, the hotel with its 436 guest rooms is a refreshing and friendly place to relax and unwind in the heart of the music and trade fair city.

With the decision to remain a GCB Focus Member for another year, Stuttgart will continue its marketing activities for the congress destination Region Stuttgart on a high level. A venue that is one of the largest and most modern facilities in Germany was created by the opening of ICS - International Congress Centre Stuttgart - together with the new Stuttgart Exhibition Centre. NeckarPark Stuttgart with its attractive football stadium and the Mercedes Benz Museum as well as Liederhalle Culture and Congress Centre and the Maritim Hotel are truly unique locations for conventions, culture, business and entertainment.

KMK Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH (KMK) already opted for Focus membership in 2006. Located centrally in Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe Congress Centre consists of four top-notch venues with 28 rooms and a total of 13,000 seats. Comprehensive renovation work will ensure that it remains an attractive location for events both now and in future. The Conference Centre of Karlsruhe Trade Fair with 13 variable conference rooms for 40 to 400 attendees and total capacities for over 2,000 people is another innovative setting for business events. In order to develop innovative meeting themes or win such themes for Karlsruhe, KMK has a close cooperation with research and science.

MCI Germany was founded in 1987 and is now one of the world?s leading service providers in the field of association, communications and event management. The agency has a team of over 750 staff members and co-operates closely with Green Globe International, the premier global brand for sustainable travel, tourism and related businesses. The two companies provide sustainability consulting services to meeting facilities and destinations that are compelled to improve the environmental and financial performance of their operations through the integration of sustainable business principles.

The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. 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 anybody planning an event in Germany. Its 250 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels and Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH are Preferred Partners of the GCB.

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