The German Convention Bureau (GCB) successfully markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives…
The German Convention Bureau (GCB) successfully markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both nationally and internationally. Germany`s big cities like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt have already established their position in the top league of international meeting and congress destinations. As a contact for anybody planning an event in Germany, the GCB also wants to highlight the many advantages of destinations that are far from the big cities, in other words cities with a population of under 400,000. Under the motto Meetings with flair – Attractive destinations beyond the metropolis, 27 of them will exhibit to a large international audience at the GCB Germany stand A100 – A180 at IMEX – incorporating Meetings made in Germany, The Worldwide Exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, in Frankfurt from 19 to 21 April 2005. Often smaller cities like Rostock, Erfurt or Freiburg stand out for their historical city centres, their location in beautiful landscapes and short routes between convention centres, hotels and cultural attractions, says GCB managing director Lutz P. Vogt. He is also convinced that the personal atmosphere allows people to relax more before or after the meeting.
Other benefits include a normally excellent value for money and an infrastructure that is comparable to that of big cities. In addition, the destinations are very service-orientated and both guests and meeting planners receive personal support. Virtually all cities can handle events with up to 2,000 people in their convention centres and other venues without any problems and have a well-balanced range of hotels of all categories. Meetings with flair – Attractive destinations beyond the metropolis describes, above all, the excellent facilities smaller cities offer for extraordinary meetings, social programmes and original incentives.
For example, the Hanseatic city of Rostock offers countless incentive options thanks to its seaside location with beach Olympics and dragon boat races for dynamic teams. As of this summer it will boast a very special kind of venue: Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Dune. There the meeting planner can choose between 19 meeting rooms with space for up to 780 people situated near a marina and white sandy beaches – with views of the Baltic Sea.
From Frederick the Great`s round table to the 1945 Potsdam Conference at Schloss Cecilienhof – Potsdam has a long tradition of meetings and conventions. As a special venue for events, planners can now also book rooms for groups of 20 to 500 people in the Tropical Gardens of Biosphere Potsdam.
Magdeburg amazes with a few special venues including what used to be the biggest Prussian fortress – Kulturfestung Mark – and Johanniskirche, which was expanded and rebuilt a few years ago and now serves as a festive setting for meetings of up to 500 delegates and special events.
Halle an der Saale looks back on 1,200 years of history. The historical city centre boasts a wealth of historical venues that are particularly well-suited to small events – such as the vaults of the 500-year-old Moritzburg or a little Renaissance palace from the 16th century.
With ten million visitors, Autostadt in Wolfsburg is still the world`s most successful service and know-how centre four years after its inception. The car theme park operated by the Volkswagen Group offers you a hands-on experience of the mobility theme with special presentations also for meeting and event audiences.
In Osnabruck one of the highlights for meetings is a reception with the mayor in the historical Friedenssaal of the town hall, where the famous Westphalian Peace Treaty ended the Thirty Years` War. Meeting participants can also visit the Clothworkers` Museum and convene in the former production site.
In Bielefeld you can book all kinds of venues for events: be it modern and multifunctional (e.g. in the Stadthalle or Seidensticker Halle), in a historical setting (e.g. Ravensberger Park or Ringlokschuppen) or with a cultural background (Rudolf-Oetker-Halle and countless museums and theatres).
Munster in Westphalia won the 2004 LivCom-Award of the United Nations for being the world`s most liveable city plus awards for being Germany`s most cyclist and child-friendly city. A history of 1200 years lends Munster its unique flair and Halle Munsterland congress centre offers space for events with up to 4,000 people.
In Leverkusen the most noteworthy venues include Lindner Hotel BayArena with conference rooms overlooking the football stadium, Schloss Morbroich with meeting and banqueting facilities in a historical setting or Freudenthaler Sensenhammer with all the charm of early industrial culture.
Thanks to its experience with UN treaty state conferences, German UN city Bonn boasts an optimum infrastructure and a maximum of security for participants. Meetings in Parliament – unique world-wide – can be held at the International Congress Centre Bundeshaus Bonn (IKBB) – the former HQ of German Parliament. By 2008 a hall for 3,500 people and a 5-star hotel will be added to the IKBB.
Mainz is striking for its central location – just 25 minutes from Frankfurt`s international Rhine Main Airport. Overlooking the Rhine, Congress Centre Mainz (CCM) has a congress hall for up to 2,500 people. By autumn 2006 the CCM will add another hall for 1,340 people and a total space of 3,200 sqm.
Over the past few years, Offenbach and its environs have developed into an innovation site in the heart of the Rhine Main area – thanks to their central location. Surrounded by forests and near the river Main, the region offers great opportunities for relaxing between meetings and lectures.
Situated in the heart of Mannheim, m:con Congress Centre Rosengarten offers state-of-the-art media facilities, conference rooms and exhibition spaces for congresses with up to 8,000 delegates, together with the exquisite setting of the 100-year-old Art Deco building – for events of international companies like BASF, Bilfinger Berger and SAP or big medical congresses.
New social programmes for events and incentives to tie in with the 2006 World Cup are to bring events to Heidelberg both now and in future. The city owes its special flair both to its geographical location (romantic Neckar valley) and the presence of international institutions from the fields of science, medicine, research and global business.
Art, culture and gambling are unbeatable arguments for choosing Baden-Baden as an event venue. You can bet on horses live at Iffezheim Race Course or try your luck in the evening at Baden-Baden Casino. The nearby municipal forest with its cutting-edge high rope course challenges teams to test their self-awareness, team spirit and mental power.
Germany`s oldest Staufer city, Schwabisch-Gmund, effortlessly realises the motto: Conference by day, culture by night. The unique location of Stadtgarten Congress Centre in a generous historical park makes it a real highlight among southern German meeting centres.
Freiburg is the gateway to the world-famous Black Forest holiday and winter sports region, with a variety of incentive options. The Konzerthaus, the most important venue of the local meetings industry, is centrally located in Freiburg`s vibrant old town.
Friedrichshafen is the Lake of Constance`s number one incentive and event destination and features the world`s biggest technology museum on the history of airships (Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen). Since 2002, the new fair centre has been located right next to the airport. Established networks, professionalism and a beautiful setting with views of the Alps speak for this destination.
It`s really worthwhile to look for unusual meeting venues far from the big cities: The destinations are featured on the GCB`s website – www.germany-meetings.com, and at the Germany stand A100 – A180 at IMEX the following Attractive destinations beyond the metropolis and/or convention centres will be present: Aachen, Aschaffenburg, Baden-Baden, Bielefeld, Bonn, Bremerhaven, Erfurt, Freiburg, Friedrichshafen, Halle (Saale), Halle (Westphalia), Heidelberg, Kassel, Leverkusen, Magdeburg, Mainz, Mannheim, Munster, Offenbach, Osnabruck, Pforzheim, Potsdam, Rostock, Saarbrucken, Schwabisch-Gmund, Weimar and Wolfsburg.
The German Convention Bureau (GCB) markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany. Its 200 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and convention industry. Preferred Partners of the GCB are SevenCenters and Maritim Hotels.
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. Its website http://www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletter, Germany guide and a lot more.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
