{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://www.seebtm.com/en/tag/germany/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "home_page_url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/tag/germany/", "feed_url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/tag/germany/feed/json/", "title": "SEE Business travel & meetings magazine", "description": "Magazin za oblast poslovnih putovanja i kongresnog turizma Jugoisto\u010dne Evrope", "items": [ { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/would-you-stay-at-these-hotels/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/would-you-stay-at-these-hotels/", "title": "Would You Stay at These Hotels?", "content_html": "

Tourists are increasingly going for hotels and accommodation options as a point of experience and the reason to visit a particular destination. This means they don\u2019t choose the destination first and only then the accommodation as a result, but the other way around.

\n

It’s nice to visit a city, see the sights, and learn about the culture of the place you\u2019re visiting. But there are other ways that can make your trip magical and unforgettable. We found examples of some interesting hotels that are sure to intrigue you, and perhaps even push you to consider some unusual destinations or accommodation establishments.

\n

Kakslauttanen Aric Resort, Finland

\n

If you\u2019re a fan of winter, snow, and nature, Finland is the right choice for you. This interesting family-run hotel is situated in the Finnish part of Lapland, and saying that it looks magical would be an understatement. As you\u2019re probably guessing, this isn\u2019t your typical hotel accommodation, and instead the guests are offered different types of igloo to sleep in. The glass igloos have \u2014\u00a0in addition to beds\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a toilet and a bathroom. Those that are made of a combination of glass and wood also have their own sauna, kitchen, fireplace, and bedroom with a glass roof that allows you to enjoy the starry sky. Of course, you have the option of sleeping in real snow igloos in sleeping bags \u2014\u00a0while the outside temperature sometimes reaches -40 \u00b0C, inside it stays between -3 \u00b0C and -6 \u00b0C.

\n
\"\"
Klakslauttanen Artic Resort
\n

Giraffe Manor, Kenya

\n

OK, Kenya surely isn\u2019t a destination you would pick at the drop of a hat. Unless you\u2019re a true safari enthusiast. However, you might change your mind when you learn about the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi \"\ud83d\ude42\" So, if you love animals \u2014 especially giraffes \u2014 you could visit this urban wilderness, as it is called. The hotel boasts ten luxury apartments with very large windows. Wondering why? So that a giraffe can pop its neck and head through it and join you for breakfast. Quite literally. Unlike zoos, here you\u2019re encouraged to stroke, feed, and touch the giraffes, and if you want a kiss from them, the hotel staff will be happy to show you how to get that kiss.

\n

Alcatraz Hotel, Germany

\n

In the very heart of Kaiserslautern, just a few minutes walk from the Japanese Garden, behind walls more than 100 years old stands the one-of-a-kind Alcatraz Hotel. What used to be a German prison has been transformed into a hotel with a prison theme. It has 56 rooms, suites, and its own convention center. Bars dominate the space, and some of the rooms are even decorated like prison cells, very spartan in furnishings and quite small in size. Even the front desk has bars and you talk to the receptionist through them.

\n
\"\"
Hotel Alcatraz
\n

Jumbo Stay Hotel, Sweden

\n

If the road takes you to Stockholm, you can spend your nights in an airplane. In fact, a hotel-airplane. A real one. It\u2019s near Arlanda Airport. The first guests arrived in January 2009 and spent the night in a real, converted jumbo jet, but on the ground. The used aircraft named Liv (after the owner’s daughter) was made in 1976 and now has a brand-new modern interior, offering its guests a truly special experience. There are 33 rooms, each 6 m2 on average, and 76 beds. Even the cockpit itself was converted into a suite! Since it is located near the airport, guests can watch other airplanes take off and land from their rooms. By the way, the last owner of the airplane (while it was used as a means of transport) was the Swedish airline Transjet, which went bankrupt in 2002, and the aircraft was originally made for Singapore Airlines.

\n
\"\"
Hotel Jumbo Stay
\n

Spitbank Fort, Portsmouth, England

\n

At the end of 1880, a fortress was built in Portsmouth, England, to serve as a defense against Napoleon III’s military forces and as an armory. After being privatized in 2012, the fortress was turned into a hotel with nine luxuriously decorated suites, a spa, and beautiful interior. But on the outside, it still looks like a long-abandoned, rundown ancient building in the middle of the sea. It can be reached by boat. Children under 12 are not allowed for safety reasons, and guests are asked to wear flat footwear to be as stable as possible because of the constant rocking on the water. If the weather is really bad, reservations and events booked at the hotel get canceled and the staff do their best to find adequate replacement with their local partners.

\n
\"\"
Spitbank Fort
\n

Free Spirit Spheres Hotel, Canada

\n

The Free Spirit Spheres Hotel\u2019s mission is to give people a place to enjoy fantastic experiences while staying in a natural forest environment. It is located in British Columbia, Canada, and comprises three spherical wood houses \u2014\u00a0Eve, Erin, and Melody \u2014\u00a0which, as you\u2019ve probably guessed, are on a tree. Each is tied by three vertical ropes to its own tree, which evenly distributes the load to each tree, ensuring stability. The tree houses are accessed by a spiral staircase and/or a slightly elevated sill that connects to the boards where it is safe to step and enter. The interior is specific for the fact that every inch is used, and everything is made of eco-friendly materials because the idea is to make the guests get in tune with nature as much as possible.

\n
\"\"
Hotel Free Spirit Spheres
\n

Anantara Golden Triangle Elphant Camp & Resort, Thailand

\n

Spend an unforgettable night observing Thailand\u2019s majestic elephants in their natural habitat from the comfort of your very own, fully furnished, transparent room. The stunning resort is gaining major buzz, thanks to its transparent luxury bubble suites, called Jungle Bubbles, which happen to be located in an area heavily trafficked by local elephants. That means guests are likely to wake up each morning with a curious pachyderm or two staring them down. Perched on a wooden deck above the forest, your luxurious bubble offer uninterrupted views of our gentle giants, as well as the stunning starlit sky above. As they say at the Resort, the 60 elephants living on the grounds have been rescued from Thailand’s city streets and now get to live out their days in peace.

\n
\"\"
Anantara Golden Triangle Elphant Camp & Resort
\n

Propeller Island City Lodge, Germany

\n

In December 1997, German musician and artist Lars Strorschen started renting rooms at his house in Berlin to supplement his monthly income. However, he felt that the traditional guest room was clich\u00e9d and boring, so he decided to create four unique themed rooms for his guests: a symbol room, an orange room, a castle room, and a mirror room. Since visitors liked this, and more and more of them came, the following year he bought an empty space in the same building and started designing another 27 rooms. Today you can stay in, for example, a room where things are hovering, a room where everything is upside down, a room with beds in cages, or a room for little people that is only 1.4 m high. Each room has a handbook with rules about cleaning and etiquette, and all guests must follow them. It\u2019s interesting that the accommodation units don\u2019t have TVs or radios, but there is a built-in sound system that plays music selected by Mr. Strorschen himself.

\n
\"\"
Hotel Propeller Island City\u00a0Lodge
\n

Who says that hotel rooms aren’t fun? \"\ud83d\ude42\" We hope that we sparked your imagination and that next time you plan a trip, you might choose one of these hotels. I certainly would \"\ud83d\ude42\" The adventurous spirit should definitely be encouraged!

\n

Did you know…?

\n

The first hotel in the world

\n

The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, situated in the small Japanese town of Yamanashi on Honshu Island, opened in 705, and this year marks its 1,315th anniversary. In the Guinness Book of Records, the hotel proudly holds the title of the oldest hotel in the world.

\n

The most expensive hotels in 2020

\n

This year\u2019s list of the most expensive hotels includes, among others, the famous Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the Four Seasons Hotel Ty Warner in New York. Staying at these hotels costs up to USD 50,000. The Lover’s Deep Luxury Submarine Hotel in Saint Lucia (Caribbean) was officially named the most expensive in this year. If you want to stay here, you will need to set aside USD 150,000 per night.

\n

A hotel for two

\n

The smallest hotel in the world, listed as such in the Guinness Book of Records, is called the Eh’h\u00e4usl Hotel, located in Amberg, Germany. It can literally accommodate only two people because its size is 53 m2. The amenities include a bedroom, TV, mini spa, and a beautiful lounge with a fireplace, which makes it a popular choice among newlyweds.

\n

The post Would You Stay at These Hotels? appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.

\n", "content_text": "Tourists are increasingly going for hotels and accommodation options as a point of experience and the reason to visit a particular destination. This means they don\u2019t choose the destination first and only then the accommodation as a result, but the other way around.\nIt’s nice to visit a city, see the sights, and learn about the culture of the place you\u2019re visiting. But there are other ways that can make your trip magical and unforgettable. We found examples of some interesting hotels that are sure to intrigue you, and perhaps even push you to consider some unusual destinations or accommodation establishments.\nKakslauttanen Aric Resort, Finland\nIf you\u2019re a fan of winter, snow, and nature, Finland is the right choice for you. This interesting family-run hotel is situated in the Finnish part of Lapland, and saying that it looks magical would be an understatement. As you\u2019re probably guessing, this isn\u2019t your typical hotel accommodation, and instead the guests are offered different types of igloo to sleep in. The glass igloos have \u2014\u00a0in addition to beds\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a toilet and a bathroom. Those that are made of a combination of glass and wood also have their own sauna, kitchen, fireplace, and bedroom with a glass roof that allows you to enjoy the starry sky. Of course, you have the option of sleeping in real snow igloos in sleeping bags \u2014\u00a0while the outside temperature sometimes reaches -40 \u00b0C, inside it stays between -3 \u00b0C and -6 \u00b0C.\nKlakslauttanen Artic Resort\nGiraffe Manor, Kenya\nOK, Kenya surely isn\u2019t a destination you would pick at the drop of a hat. Unless you\u2019re a true safari enthusiast. However, you might change your mind when you learn about the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi So, if you love animals \u2014 especially giraffes \u2014 you could visit this urban wilderness, as it is called. The hotel boasts ten luxury apartments with very large windows. Wondering why? So that a giraffe can pop its neck and head through it and join you for breakfast. Quite literally. Unlike zoos, here you\u2019re encouraged to stroke, feed, and touch the giraffes, and if you want a kiss from them, the hotel staff will be happy to show you how to get that kiss.\nAlcatraz Hotel, Germany\nIn the very heart of Kaiserslautern, just a few minutes walk from the Japanese Garden, behind walls more than 100 years old stands the one-of-a-kind Alcatraz Hotel. What used to be a German prison has been transformed into a hotel with a prison theme. It has 56 rooms, suites, and its own convention center. Bars dominate the space, and some of the rooms are even decorated like prison cells, very spartan in furnishings and quite small in size. Even the front desk has bars and you talk to the receptionist through them.\nHotel Alcatraz\nJumbo Stay Hotel, Sweden \nIf the road takes you to Stockholm, you can spend your nights in an airplane. In fact, a hotel-airplane. A real one. It\u2019s near Arlanda Airport. The first guests arrived in January 2009 and spent the night in a real, converted jumbo jet, but on the ground. The used aircraft named Liv (after the owner’s daughter) was made in 1976 and now has a brand-new modern interior, offering its guests a truly special experience. There are 33 rooms, each 6 m2 on average, and 76 beds. Even the cockpit itself was converted into a suite! Since it is located near the airport, guests can watch other airplanes take off and land from their rooms. By the way, the last owner of the airplane (while it was used as a means of transport) was the Swedish airline Transjet, which went bankrupt in 2002, and the aircraft was originally made for Singapore Airlines.\nHotel Jumbo Stay\nSpitbank Fort, Portsmouth, England\nAt the end of 1880, a fortress was built in Portsmouth, England, to serve as a defense against Napoleon III’s military forces and as an armory. After being privatized in 2012, the fortress was turned into a hotel with nine luxuriously decorated suites, a spa, and beautiful interior. But on the outside, it still looks like a long-abandoned, rundown ancient building in the middle of the sea. It can be reached by boat. Children under 12 are not allowed for safety reasons, and guests are asked to wear flat footwear to be as stable as possible because of the constant rocking on the water. If the weather is really bad, reservations and events booked at the hotel get canceled and the staff do their best to find adequate replacement with their local partners.\nSpitbank Fort\nFree Spirit Spheres Hotel, Canada\nThe Free Spirit Spheres Hotel\u2019s mission is to give people a place to enjoy fantastic experiences while staying in a natural forest environment. It is located in British Columbia, Canada, and comprises three spherical wood houses \u2014\u00a0Eve, Erin, and Melody \u2014\u00a0which, as you\u2019ve probably guessed, are on a tree. Each is tied by three vertical ropes to its own tree, which evenly distributes the load to each tree, ensuring stability. The tree houses are accessed by a spiral staircase and/or a slightly elevated sill that connects to the boards where it is safe to step and enter. The interior is specific for the fact that every inch is used, and everything is made of eco-friendly materials because the idea is to make the guests get in tune with nature as much as possible.\nHotel Free Spirit Spheres\nAnantara Golden Triangle Elphant Camp & Resort, Thailand\nSpend an unforgettable night observing Thailand\u2019s majestic elephants in their natural habitat from the comfort of your very own, fully furnished, transparent room. The stunning resort is gaining major buzz, thanks to its transparent luxury bubble suites, called Jungle Bubbles, which happen to be located in an area heavily trafficked by local elephants. That means guests are likely to wake up each morning with a curious pachyderm or two staring them down. Perched on a wooden deck above the forest, your luxurious bubble offer uninterrupted views of our gentle giants, as well as the stunning starlit sky above. As they say at the Resort, the 60 elephants living on the grounds have been rescued from Thailand’s city streets and now get to live out their days in peace.\nAnantara Golden Triangle Elphant Camp & Resort\nPropeller Island City Lodge, Germany \nIn December 1997, German musician and artist Lars Strorschen started renting rooms at his house in Berlin to supplement his monthly income. However, he felt that the traditional guest room was clich\u00e9d and boring, so he decided to create four unique themed rooms for his guests: a symbol room, an orange room, a castle room, and a mirror room. Since visitors liked this, and more and more of them came, the following year he bought an empty space in the same building and started designing another 27 rooms. Today you can stay in, for example, a room where things are hovering, a room where everything is upside down, a room with beds in cages, or a room for little people that is only 1.4 m high. Each room has a handbook with rules about cleaning and etiquette, and all guests must follow them. It\u2019s interesting that the accommodation units don\u2019t have TVs or radios, but there is a built-in sound system that plays music selected by Mr. Strorschen himself.\nHotel Propeller Island City\u00a0Lodge\nWho says that hotel rooms aren’t fun? We hope that we sparked your imagination and that next time you plan a trip, you might choose one of these hotels. I certainly would The adventurous spirit should definitely be encouraged!\nDid you know…?\nThe first hotel in the world\nThe Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, situated in the small Japanese town of Yamanashi on Honshu Island, opened in 705, and this year marks its 1,315th anniversary. In the Guinness Book of Records, the hotel proudly holds the title of the oldest hotel in the world.\nThe most expensive hotels in 2020\nThis year\u2019s list of the most expensive hotels includes, among others, the famous Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the Four Seasons Hotel Ty Warner in New York. Staying at these hotels costs up to USD 50,000. The Lover’s Deep Luxury Submarine Hotel in Saint Lucia (Caribbean) was officially named the most expensive in this year. If you want to stay here, you will need to set aside USD 150,000 per night.\nA hotel for two\nThe smallest hotel in the world, listed as such in the Guinness Book of Records, is called the Eh’h\u00e4usl Hotel, located in Amberg, Germany. It can literally accommodate only two people because its size is 53 m2. The amenities include a bedroom, TV, mini spa, and a beautiful lounge with a fireplace, which makes it a popular choice among newlyweds.\nThe post Would You Stay at These Hotels? appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2020-03-27T11:17:42+01:00", "date_modified": "2020-03-27T11:17:42+01:00", "author": { "name": "Milica Novak", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/milicanovak/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Milica-Novak.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/naslovna-SRP-9.jpg", "tags": [ "ADVENTURE", "Canada", "Finland", "germany", "Thailand", "the most interesting hotels", "UK", "LIFESTYLE", "MUST READ", "OMG... Really?!" ], "summary": "Tourists are increasingly going for hotels and accommodation options as a point of experience and the reason to visit a particular destination. This means they don\u2019t choose the destination first and only then the accommodation as a result, but the other way around." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/opening-of-the-biggest-congress-center-in-germany/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/opening-of-the-biggest-congress-center-in-germany/", "title": "Opening of the Biggest Congress Center in Germany", "content_html": "

At this year\u2019s IMEX in Frankfurt, the Hamburg Convention Bureau announced the opening of Germany\u2019s largest congress center, CCH, for 2020.

\n

Its total size will be 36,000 sqm, it will have 12,000 sqm of exhibition space and 12,000 seats in up to 50 halls. Within the convention center it will be possible to organize several events at the same time, and the large entrance area, which by its height reaches the height of the main building, provides additional multipurpose space for the organization of events.

\n

The post Opening of the Biggest Congress Center in Germany appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.

\n", "content_text": "At this year\u2019s IMEX in Frankfurt, the Hamburg Convention Bureau announced the opening of Germany\u2019s largest congress center, CCH, for 2020.\nIts total size will be 36,000 sqm, it will have 12,000 sqm of exhibition space and 12,000 seats in up to 50 halls. Within the convention center it will be possible to organize several events at the same time, and the large entrance area, which by its height reaches the height of the main building, provides additional multipurpose space for the organization of events.\nThe post Opening of the Biggest Congress Center in Germany appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2019-10-18T10:04:15+02:00", "date_modified": "2019-10-18T10:04:15+02:00", "author": { "name": "Mirjana Novitovic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/officebs/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/slika-.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/kongresni-centar-hamburg.jpg", "tags": [ "biggest congress center", "germany", "Hamburg Convention Bureau", "NEWS", "News and events" ], "summary": "At this year\u2019s IMEX in Frankfurt, the Hamburg Convention Bureau announced the opening of Germany\u2019s largest congress center, CCH, for 2020." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/meeting-destination-germany-with-economic-and-scientific-expertise/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/meeting-destination-germany-with-economic-and-scientific-expertise/", "title": "MEETING DESTINATION GERMANY WITH ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE", "content_html": "
1. Could you present us Germany as a meetings destination in few points?
\n
\n
\"Mr
Mr Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.
\n

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.

\n

The country has outstanding infrastructure, an excellent transport network and a wide variety of venues.

\n

Many of these venues, in locations such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dresden and Leipzig, are award-winning and leaders in their field.

\n

Germany offers superb value for money and local expertise in key economic and scientific sectors.

\n
2. GCB suggests conference locations according to the industry expertise of the organizers. Could you tell us more about this?
\n

According 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.

\n

For 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.

\n

In other words, the focus is on conference and convention locations where there is specialist knowledge and industry expertise.

\n

The 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.

\n

Germany\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.

\n
3. What are the activities of GCB in making Germany also a green destination for meetings?
\n

Almost 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

\"\"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.

\n

In addition, the GCB has been awarded a grant to train meeting planners in a first-of-its-kind green meeting certification program.

\n

Through 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.

\n

This 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.

\n

Via 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
4. The GCB did a study of megatrends in field of meetings industry until 2030. Could you share with us some of them?
\n

\"\"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.

\n

We envision this megatrends study helping players in the industry develop a future-oriented strategy that can generate business and economic success.

\n

The comprehensive study revealed the following top five megatrends:

\n

Technology 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.

\n

Globalisation 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.

\n

Mobility 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.

\n

Sustainable 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.

\n

Demographic 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
\"\"
\n

5. Future plans and actions?

\n
\n

Germany 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.

\n

GCB\u2019s Meetings and Conventions 2030 research ensures meeting and event planners are well-equipped to meet the future requirements of business visitors.

\n

The 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.

\n

The 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" ] } ] }