This past May, visitBerlin gave associations and companies a leg up in MICE event planning through visitBerlin Convention Partner e.V., an association for local networking with destinations, technology and equipment providers, logistics companies, caterers, convention organizers and event agencies. But this isn’t all that Germany has been up to.
For the 11th consecutive year, the International Congress and Convention Association has ranked Germany as Europe’s top association meeting destination. The technology and innovation sector are largely driving this achievement, according to the ICCA’s 2014 report, with medicine and healthcare close behind. Industry know-how in tech, automotive and pharma is a strong draw for U.S.-based associations such as the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is hosting the IEEE/RSJ International Conferences on Intelligent Robot Systems in Hamburg this September, and the International Psychogeriatric Association holding its 17th International Congress in Berlin in October.
The 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, featuring a record number of Nobel Laureates intermixed with next generation leading scientists and researchers, is scheduled to take place in the Bavarian island town of Lindau at the end of June. The event falls in line with growing popularity, and oftentimes preference, for the locally-driven experiences that second-tier cities add to meetings and events.
With room for over 18,000 delegates spread over three levels and a connected exhibition space, Berlin’s cube-shaped CityCube congress centre is yet another success story. Just a year after opening, the centre is a hot landing spot for medical conferences, including the neurological convention, EAN 2015 – European Academy of Neurology, taking place later this month. Germany’s largest hotel is expected to get even larger by September, with the addition of Convention Hall II to the Estrel Berlin, increasing the total space available to groups to over 260,000 sf.
