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Germany is the leading conference location for international associations in Europe and the second worldwide (according to ICCA). The reasons for Germany\u2019s sustained success as a conference and meeting destination is a combination of several factors.
\nThe country has outstanding infrastructure, an excellent transport network and a wide variety of venues.
\nMany of these venues, in locations such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dresden and Leipzig, are award-winning and leaders in their field.
\nGermany offers superb value for money and local expertise in key economic and scientific sectors.
\nAccording to the Meeting & Event Barometer 2012, 82% of meeting organisers predicted that the availability of industry expertise in the surrounding area will become increasingly important in the future when choosing a conference venue.
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or example, international organisations are increasingly looking for convention locations where their sphere of interest is represented by highly respected companies, research institutes, initiatives and opinion-formers. As well as valuable contacts, this ensures that there is a lively exchange of views and suitable ancillary activities.
In other words, the focus is on conference and convention locations where there is specialist knowledge and industry expertise.
\nThe GCB has identified six main areas of expertise: medicine and healthcare (including fields such as medical technology and the healthcare industry), transport and logistics (including automotive engineering, transport system engineering and aerospace), chemicals and pharmaceuticals (including disciplines such as life sciences and biotechnology), technology and innovation (from mechanical engineering and IT to microelectronics and nanotechnology), energy and the environment and financial services.
\nGermany\u2019s expertise in key industries is a central factor in the country\u2019s high ranking as a meeting and convention destination. These areas of skill enable international meeting planners to maximize the impact and effectiveness of their meetings and conventions by sourcing local relevant speakers or organising site visits.
\nAlmost half of meeting and event organizers now prefer suppliers with a certified sustainability-management system. German suppliers are well-placed to meet the increasing demands with almost 40% of venues in Germany having implanted sustainability-management systems.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/nemacki_kongresni_biro_10.jpg\")
The country has an easily accessible venues, eco-friendly transport and sustainably-run congress centres and hotels. German congress providers integrate climate-friendly measures in their entire preparation, implementation, and follow-up work for events such as eco-friendly travel and accommodation, locally sourced food and much more.
In addition, the GCB has been awarded a grant to train meeting planners in a first-of-its-kind green meeting certification program.
\nThrough a number of initiatives, the GCB and the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), are ensuring that the sustainability agenda becomes even more established within the events sector.
\nThis was demonstrated at the second green meetings and events conference, founded by the GCB and EVVC, which has already become an important forum for debate between the events industry and government. One concrete outcome already delivered as a result of the conference is a sustainability code for the events industry, drawn up jointly by the members of the GCB and EVVC and available to download as a brochure at www.fairpflichtet.de.
\nVia this website, \u201csustainable business leaders\u201d can sign up to sustainable economic, ecological and social business practices, with the option of regularly reporting back on their progress in implementing the code. More than 370 businesses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have so far signed up.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/kongresni_biro_nemacke_51.jpg\")
The German Convention Bureau undertook a global meetings study entitled \u201cMeetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry.\u201d The findings indicate technology in work and life, globalisation and other major trends which are transforming the meetings industry.
We envision this megatrends study helping players in the industry develop a future-oriented strategy that can generate business and economic success.
\nThe comprehensive study revealed the following top five megatrends:
\nTechnology in work and life: More than 41.6 % of respondents identified technology in work and life to be very influential in the future of the meetings business.
\nGlobalisation and internationalisation: Approximately 28.6 % felt very strongly that globalisation will have a major impact. Individuals will need to be more aware of nuances among country cultures, preferences and lifestyles as well as speak multiple languages.
\nMobility of the future: Getting to and from events easily and comfortably and with the smallest possible ecological footprint will continue to be an important aspect of event planning.
\nSustainable development: Sustainability will remain a guiding principle to influence all areas of meeting planning, from construction and renovation of venues, to transportation, food and entertainment.
\nDemographic change, feminisation and diversity: Demographic change was cited by 18.2 % of respondents as \u201cvery strong.\u201d As more women travel the meetings circuit, features such as additional security for women traveling alone and child care, among others, will need to be considered.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/kongresni_biro_nemacke_62.jpg\")
5. Future plans and actions?
\nGermany is well placed to meet the needs of the increasing amount of business visitors with a host of new venues and infrastructure in development including Kap Europa Conference center, Messe Frankfurt\u2019s new venue in Frankfurt\u2019s central Europa district set to open later this year.
\nGCB\u2019s Meetings and Conventions 2030 research ensures meeting and event planners are well-equipped to meet the future requirements of business visitors.
\nThe GCB will be showcasing its huge variety of venues and new offerings at IMEX Frankfurt 2014 (20th \u2013 22nd May). As the largest exhibitor at IMEX and strategic partner for the event, the GCB is set to present more than 200 exhibitors on Germany\u2019s stand.
\nThe post MEETING DESTINATION GERMANY WITH ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "1. Could you present us Germany as a meetings destination in few points?\n\nMr Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.\nGermany is the leading conference location for international associations in Europe and the second worldwide (according to ICCA). The reasons for Germany\u2019s sustained success as a conference and meeting destination is a combination of several factors.\nThe country has outstanding infrastructure, an excellent transport network and a wide variety of venues.\nMany of these venues, in locations such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dresden and Leipzig, are award-winning and leaders in their field.\nGermany offers superb value for money and local expertise in key economic and scientific sectors. \n2. GCB suggests conference locations according to the industry expertise of the organizers. Could you tell us more about this?\nAccording to the Meeting & Event Barometer 2012, 82% of meeting organisers predicted that the availability of industry expertise in the surrounding area will become increasingly important in the future when choosing a conference venue.\nFor example, international organisations are increasingly looking for convention locations where their sphere of interest is represented by highly respected companies, research institutes, initiatives and opinion-formers. As well as valuable contacts, this ensures that there is a lively exchange of views and suitable ancillary activities.\nIn other words, the focus is on conference and convention locations where there is specialist knowledge and industry expertise.\nThe GCB has identified six main areas of expertise: medicine and healthcare (including fields such as medical technology and the healthcare industry), transport and logistics (including automotive engineering, transport system engineering and aerospace), chemicals and pharmaceuticals (including disciplines such as life sciences and biotechnology), technology and innovation (from mechanical engineering and IT to microelectronics and nanotechnology), energy and the environment and financial services.\nGermany\u2019s expertise in key industries is a central factor in the country\u2019s high ranking as a meeting and convention destination. These areas of skill enable international meeting planners to maximize the impact and effectiveness of their meetings and conventions by sourcing local relevant speakers or organising site visits.\n3. What are the activities of GCB in making Germany also a green destination for meetings?\nAlmost half of meeting and event organizers now prefer suppliers with a certified sustainability-management system. German suppliers are well-placed to meet the increasing demands with almost 40% of venues in Germany having implanted sustainability-management systems.\nThe country has an easily accessible venues, eco-friendly transport and sustainably-run congress centres and hotels. German congress providers integrate climate-friendly measures in their entire preparation, implementation, and follow-up work for events such as eco-friendly travel and accommodation, locally sourced food and much more.\nIn addition, the GCB has been awarded a grant to train meeting planners in a first-of-its-kind green meeting certification program.\nThrough a number of initiatives, the GCB and the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), are ensuring that the sustainability agenda becomes even more established within the events sector.\nThis was demonstrated at the second green meetings and events conference, founded by the GCB and EVVC, which has already become an important forum for debate between the events industry and government. One concrete outcome already delivered as a result of the conference is a sustainability code for the events industry, drawn up jointly by the members of the GCB and EVVC and available to download as a brochure at www.fairpflichtet.de.\nVia this website, \u201csustainable business leaders\u201d can sign up to sustainable economic, ecological and social business practices, with the option of regularly reporting back on their progress in implementing the code. More than 370 businesses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have so far signed up.\n4. The GCB did a study of megatrends in field of meetings industry until 2030. Could you share with us some of them?\nThe German Convention Bureau undertook a global meetings study entitled \u201cMeetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry.\u201d The findings indicate technology in work and life, globalisation and other major trends which are transforming the meetings industry.\nWe envision this megatrends study helping players in the industry develop a future-oriented strategy that can generate business and economic success.\nThe comprehensive study revealed the following top five megatrends:\nTechnology in work and life: More than 41.6 % of respondents identified technology in work and life to be very influential in the future of the meetings business.\nGlobalisation and internationalisation: Approximately 28.6 % felt very strongly that globalisation will have a major impact. Individuals will need to be more aware of nuances among country cultures, preferences and lifestyles as well as speak multiple languages.\nMobility of the future: Getting to and from events easily and comfortably and with the smallest possible ecological footprint will continue to be an important aspect of event planning.\nSustainable development: Sustainability will remain a guiding principle to influence all areas of meeting planning, from construction and renovation of venues, to transportation, food and entertainment.\nDemographic change, feminisation and diversity: Demographic change was cited by 18.2 % of respondents as \u201cvery strong.\u201d As more women travel the meetings circuit, features such as additional security for women traveling alone and child care, among others, will need to be considered.\n\n\n5. Future plans and actions?\n\nGermany is well placed to meet the needs of the increasing amount of business visitors with a host of new venues and infrastructure in development including Kap Europa Conference center, Messe Frankfurt\u2019s new venue in Frankfurt\u2019s central Europa district set to open later this year.\nGCB\u2019s Meetings and Conventions 2030 research ensures meeting and event planners are well-equipped to meet the future requirements of business visitors.\nThe GCB will be showcasing its huge variety of venues and new offerings at IMEX Frankfurt 2014 (20th \u2013 22nd May). As the largest exhibitor at IMEX and strategic partner for the event, the GCB is set to present more than 200 exhibitors on Germany\u2019s stand.\nThe post MEETING DESTINATION GERMANY WITH ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2014-04-02T14:31:16+02:00", "date_modified": "2016-12-12T16:57:04+01:00", "author": { "name": "Svetlana Gavric", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/ceca/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Ceca.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/kongresni_biro_nemacke_2.jpg", "tags": [ "convention bureau", "gcb", "germany", "meetings industry", "Convention Bureaus" ] } ] }