Meetings made in Germany by GCB German Convention Bureau

The Magazine of the GERMAN CONVENTION BUREAU

English Edition 2 / 2010

Event Planning 2.0

Conferences, conventions, meetings, events - what counts is a well-thought out media strategy

Green Meetings - what you should know Open after redesign

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Sustainability and ecological responsibility are the central challenges

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EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

or six years Germany, with it’s towns and cities between the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Lake of Constance, between the Rhine, Elbe and Danube, has now been at the top of the world’s leading event destinations, far outpacing the competition. Admittedly, this is a rather comfortable position. But it’s nothing to take for granted.

themselves with a polite cover letter and enclosed glossy brochures or references to a homepage! Hence, our task must be to identify and know the ever more complex challenges – that is the only way that we can address them. However: What exactly can a wellestablished country like Germany do

Topics, Trends & Markets: We inspire you! Against the background of huge technological progress our markets have seen dramatic changes over the past few years; and there is no turning back to the age before the mobile web 2.0 and social media. But Twitter, Facebook and Co. not only help us explore new, very exciting sales avenues and opportunities. At the same time, the expectations of our customers have changed, as has our relationship with them. It has become closer, more direct and personal in a playful way. One thing is certain: Event planners in our media age no longer content

to continue meeting the needs of all kinds of markets in Europe and other parts of the world in future? What products and offers are in demand? How does one address potential customers successfully? How can we as a destination offering excellent value for money, a state-of-the-art infrastructure and focal contents still make an impact on countries in the east and west tomorrow? These tasks are the very focus of our daily work. And that is why, together with our members and partners, we are working on a strategic reorientation of the German Convention Bureau. Our aim is to expand the GCB so that it can inspire the German meeting, convention and incentive industry. For this we analyse data and markets, develop perspectives and visions and work on our development to build a kind of radar system that not only picks up

trends but also translates them into services that are important for the industry. As an example of our commitment we want to single out the “Green Meetings & Events Conference” in Mainz next spring. For two full days we offer event planners and meeting organisers a platform to share opinions on the relevant social, ecological and economic approaches of today and tomorrow. Let’s take this opportunity and shape the future together! And let’s follow the advice of Salvador Dalí: “I prefer to remember the future.” Best regards

Matthias Schultze Managing Director GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.

CONTENT

The Magazine of the GERMAN CONVENTION BUREAU

English Edition 2 / 2010

05 14 17 22 27

GCB

NEWS - Hotels NEWS - Hotels NEWS - Venues NEWS - Destinations NEWS - Events

Green Meetings

Editorial Active in Berlin GCB Customer Advisory Board North America Facts about Germany

03 30 32 34

Green Meetings – what you should know!

Art and Culture Open after redesign – exceptional new and revamped museums 24

Social Media Event Planning 2.0

Imprint Executive Board: Matthias Schultze Printing: Druck- und Verlagshaus Zarbock GmbH & Co. KG V.i.S.d.P.: Martina Nesper Publisher German Convention Bureau

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Editorial Staff: GCB German Convention Bureau e. V. Featured Writers in this issue: GCB, Anke Pedersen, projekt2508, Dr. Michael Behrendt Layout: Sven Steglich Pictures: title: GCB, p. 8: © maigi - Fotolia.com, p. 23: Meeting Place Berlin © Nürnberger event-photo-biz.de, KölnTourismus, p. 24: © Museum Folkwang/NMFE GmbH, Foto: Wolf Haug, 2009, p. 26: Dortmunder U, Foto: Lutz Kampert, Foto: K20 © Walter Klein © Kunstsammlung NRW, p. 27: © Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus GmbH, p. 36: „Frankfurt Skyline bei Nacht“: photographer: OliverH, source: picasaweb.google.com, „Blick zur Kunstakademie und Frauenkirche“: photographer: Fritz, source: picasaweb.google.com, „Speicherstadt und Elbbrücken“: photographer: Juerg F., source: picasaweb.google.com, „Kölner Dom“: © Brigitte Heinen / PIXELIO, „Strandkorb am sonnigen Nachmittag / Borkum“: © Michael Harms / PIXELIO Frequency: Biannual The GCB is supported by: Strategic Partners: German National Tourist Board, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, IMEX - incorporating Meetings made in Germany; Preferred Partners: Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH, Maritim Hotels and darmstadtium wissenschaft | kongresse

NEWS – HOTELS

Grand SPA Resort A-ROSA Sylt n A-ROSA SPECIAL –

MEETINGS IN WINTER – The days are getting shorter – and meetings are getting nicer

egardless of whether the purpose is an incentive, team building, a strategy meeting or a kick-off event: the new Grand SPA Resort A-ROSA Sylt is enticing companies to come to the most beautiful of all of the North Sea islands with attractive winter specials. In the winter Sylt is infused with a kind of clarity and calm that genuine island aficionados truly appreciate. The bracing breeze clears your head, making room for new ideas. The view of the dunes and the sea opens up new horizons. The cool season is perfect for pushing forward trailblazing projects, far away from the humdrum routine of day-to-day work. Located right in the middle of the unspoilt dune landscape of List, the new five-star Superior Resort offers an event area encompassing a total of 700 sqm, flexible room constellations with a view of the sea and perfect

event management. The new A-ROSA flagship has put together a luxury-class solution for the cold season – for an introductory price: the “MEETINGS IN WINTER” special includes accommodation for two nights in a double room (single occupancy) including breakfast as well as the “A-ROSA Special” flat rate for two whole meeting days. That includes ■■ a business event room with standard technical equipment ■■ a variety of midday meals in the form of a buffet or a 3-course menu ■■ two coffee breaks of your choice from the A-ROSA options ■■ beverages during meetings from the A-ROSA beverage concept ■■ a wintery welcome cocktail or hot spiced wine at the bar ■■ a joint evening meal at the Euro-Asian restaurant “Spices”,

■■

or alternatively at the Trattoria “Cucina della Mamma” (3-course menu, both restaurants are located within the resort) a daily newspaper provided to each room every morning utilisation of W-LAN service free of charge within the resort free admission to SPA-ROSA, the 3,500 sqm spa area utilisation of the fitness area and participation in courses that are on offer

The “MEETINGS IN WINTER” special starts at €419 per person and stay. It can be booked for groups of 10 to 35 people in the months of November 2010 to March 2011. On request, the resort will arrange individually customised offers for the Christmas holidays and incentives. www.a-rosa.de

NEWS – HOTELS

Stay for music: nhow Berlin opens in November n Lifestyle hotel with a special focus on music, located directly on the Spree. After Milan, Berlin is the second

location chosen for a nhow hotel. The creativity, dynamism and urban lifestyle of the city on the Spree are in keeping with the innovative concept of the lifestyle brand of NH Hoteles. nhow Berlin is the only hotel in Europe to offer two professional music studios.

esign, art and above all music are the determining features of nhow Berlin, which will be opening its doors to its first guests in November 2010. The interior design of the hotel is suggestive of Pop Art, and bears the signature of star designer Karim Rashid; the lobby and outside area have been designed as a dynamic space solution, offering local and international artists an exhibition venue in alternation. No other hotel in Europe has anything to compare with the nhow Music Sound Floor. Above the roofs of the capital, creative musicians will find two mixing studios that meet the highest international standards. The emphasis on music was not a difficult choice, seeing that nhow Berlin is situated between Universal and MTV, right next to Berlin’s East Port on the Spree. Countless clubs are to be found close by, as well as the O2 World, the biggest concert and event venue in Berlin. n nhow berlin – rooms and suites

The furniture of the 304 rooms and suites has for the most part been specially made for nhow to designs by Karim Rashid. Guests can choose from different colour styles (pink, blue or grey, depending on whether you are in the East or West sector or in the Upper Tower), 223 standard rooms, 24 VIP class rooms, 44 junior suites and the nhow Suite. All the rooms have WLAN connections. Metropolitan feeling in its pure form, coupled with lots of space, an extravagant design and the most

up-to-date technology – that is what the nhow Suite has to offer. Divided over two floors and 260 sqm, this comprises a bedroom, a spacious sitting room with kitchen adjoining and a meeting room for up to 12 persons. A special feature of the suite is that it is directly and digitally linked to the music studios. This means that instrumental and vocal recordings can be performed with backup from the complete range of studio technology, making the hotel suite a creative suite as well as a suitable space for exclusive receptions. n nhow meetings & events

Windows extending from the floor to the ceiling on two sides of the room, panoramic views of the Spree, ceilings 4.6 metres high and access to an outside terrace – these are just a few of the features that characterise nhow Berlin’s biggest events room, which measures 575 sqm. Divisible into rooms each measuring 140 to 150 sqm, it offers the most up-todate conference technology, with beamers built into the ceiling, a

complete range of dimmer settings and an entrance that will even admit a car. Another special feature is the digital linking to the nhow Music Sound Floor. The nhow’s standard services thus include concert and conference recordings, sound transfer to external networks and top-quality streaming all over the world. The facility for digital image recording at different points in the hotel, coupled with in-house processing, means that interviews can be broadcast in real time, or else put into circulation after extensive editing. The ground floor offers two further rooms (88 sqm, divisible into 2 x 44 sqm, and 93 sqm respectively). Finally there is the conference foyer, measuring 208 sqm. Altogether the conference areas of the hotel add up to 964 sqm and can accommodate up to 600 persons. If you find the standard coffee break insufficiently entertaining, try a rendezvous with the Sony Guitar Hero. The appropriate backdrop is provided by a light installation and lounge furniture, all contributing to a relaxed contemporary atmosphere. www.nhow-hotels.com

NEWS – HOTELS

Conference and Banqueting Facilities With its abundance of natural daylight, spacious meeting rooms and state-of-the-art facilities, Jumeirah Frankfurt is ideal for meeting and event organisers. The 364 sqm ballroom can be divided into two smaller areas and offers stunning views of the Thurn und Taxis Palais. For functions and banquets, four meeting rooms accommodating between 30 and 100 persons are available in Jumeirah Frankfurt. www.jumeirah.com

Five new stars in the Frankfurt sky In 2011, the five-star city hotel Jumeirah Frankfurt will open its doors in the heart of Germany’s financial centre at the Thurn-undTaxis-Platz. Jumeirah Frankfurt is the first German property of the Dubaibased luxury hospitality management group, Jumeirah, and is located within walking distance of the financial district and stock exchange, pedestrian shopping areas and the city’s opera house. Guest Rooms and Suites The 218 luxurious guest rooms with a minimum size of 35 sqm will be the biggest in Frankfurt and are located on floors 6 to 25; there is a large proportion of suites in the hotel located throughout the floors. The

presidential suite will be located on the 24th floor with a size of 200 sqm and will include two bedrooms, a private sauna and views over the Frankfurt financial district.

SOCIAL MEDIA – EVENT PLANNING 2.0

Event planning 2.0 n Facebook, Twitter, blogs & Co: Anyone who wants to successfully organise conferences, conventions, meetings and

events can no longer get around the need for a sensible social media strategy. But what are social media? And how can meeting planners make use of them in a sensible manner?

he way that planning conferences, trade fairs, meetings and events used to be handled “in the old days” was as follows: an organisational team held meetings, defined goals and content, then earmarked a tentative date and decided on an event location. Then invitations were issued in writing and by telephone to speakers and participants. In addition, technicians were organised,

catering was ordered and rooms were booked. During the event itself, there were speeches and Powerpoint presentations, podium discussions and show acts. Afterwards the participants got hand-outs or CD-ROMs – which were filed away and ended up gathering dust. A follow-up report appeared in the staff or customer magazine – and that was it.

n A paradigm switch – also for the MICE industry Those “old days” were just a few years ago. Of course, internet and digital communications did already exist in 2004 and 2005. But websites were static, and e-mails were nothing more than electronic mail. Even fancy data storage media like USB flash drives only offered

the traditional in a new package. They only fulfilled a supplementary function in connection with event planning. Communications with target groups took place on a “one to one” basis – from one sender to one recipient: at the most the latter did respond, but not more than that. But then a rapid paradigm switch occurred in the World Wide Web: as a result of the development of so-called “social networks”, which is illustrated in “The Social Network”, the current movie hit, using the example of Facebook, the internet evolved into a platform on which practically anyone can communicate with anyone else, via a large variety of channels and media. This upheaval was accelerated and intensified by plummeting data transmission rates and the resulting boom in internet-capable cell phones. The most well-known brands of those so-called smart phones are the BlackBerry models, the Android models from HTC and the Apple iPhone. Nowadays - regardless of whether via mobile telephone or a PC - digital communications take place according to the principle of “many to many”, and every user has the option of generating, commenting on or disseminating content practically anywhere with the simplest of means. That results in new sales channels, and people can be addressed in a more personal manner and even be actively involved. At the same time, everyone that participates serves as a potential multiplier. Which also opens up entirely new options for event organisation. n Web 2.0 and Social Media – what is actually happening? But taking a closer look at those options in the conference and event area, it is important to be aware of the impact of the described paradigm shift. Because

the internet has basically taken a second great evolutionary step, the term “Web 2.0” is used quite frequently. The new means and channels of communication are collectively referred to using the term “Social Media”. According to a whitepaper from a5 – Gesellschaft für Marketing GmbH in Berlin, Web 2.0 and social media mean more “user generated content”, “decentralisation of information” and “networking of communicators”. “The borderline between producer and consumer is becoming blurred”, adds the informatics specialist Stefanie Aßmann in her master’s degree thesis on the subject of social media monitoring – “those factors distinguish social media from traditional mass media.” Nicole Simon, a Web 2.0 expert from Lübeck, summed things up as follows in her presentation at the IMEX 2010: “The Old World was static, the New World is dynamic. Everyone is a sender, everyone is a multiplier. Everything becomes mobile, and everything is interlinked with everything else.” The German digital economy association - Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW) – distinguishes between four fundamental types of utilisation of social media and Web 2.0: “Networking”, “Contribution”, “Sharing” and “Messaging”. Networking happens in social networks like Facebook and Xing, for example, where you can create a personal profile and build up a network of contacts. Contributions are made by writing web journals, called blogs, sending short messages via Twitter, uploading photographs and videos to media sharing platforms like Flickr and YouTube, but also by commenting on the contributions and content of other users as a “follower”. Sharing

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SOCIAL MEDIA – EVENT PLANNING 2.0

happens when interesting content is forwarded to other users – which is possible via Twitter and within social networks as well as via socalled social bookmarking platforms. Messaging services like Skype are used to exchange information

among one another, which can also include “sharing” media files. In the wider sense, even the applications or “apps” that can be purchased for the iPhone or RSS services offering subscriptions for news also belong to the social media sector.

n Glossary n

Social networks map social relationships on the internet. Users create a profile for themselves as an individual or for their company; they expand and manage their contacts, communicate in groups and communities about specific topics and share content. Networks like Xing and LinkedIn tend to be more business-oriented; Facebook and others are primarily just fun. News sent to one’s own network or groups can spread almost endlessly at lightning speed. Via so-called location-based services such as Foursquare (leisure-oriented) and DoubleDutch (business-oriented) it is possible to locate friends or colleagues who are present at specific events and in turn indicate one’s own location or participation.

Weblogs or blogs are a kind of diary on the internet: they are operated independently or integrated into existing websites. A predetermined group of authors writes editorial content on specific topics that can be supplemented by media files. The articles are listed in chronological order; readers can comment on them and discuss them. It is also possible to subscribe to the incorporated content via news feeds.

Twitter and similar services are sort of like mini or micro blogs. The short messages are called “Tweets”: they have a maximum of 140 characters and are subscribed to by “followers”, who can respond to them and forward them. Links, pictures, videos and even live broadcasts can be published via special services – hundreds of supplementary services make it possible to conduct opinion polls, voting and many other participation options.

Media sharing platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo or Flickr give users the opportunity to create a profile, upload photos, videos and media files and let other users evaluate them. Lectures and presentations (Powerpoint, PDF etc.) can be published via platforms like Scribd and Slideshare. Live streaming platforms like Zaplive or Klewel can be used to broadcast events in “real time” on the internet by means of streaming technology.

Social bookmarking platforms allow users to save and categorise personal links that can be released so that other users can view, comment on and further disseminate them.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication as well as Rich Site Summary. These are short news services that users can take advantage of to have the latest reports on certain subjects provided to them regularly and automatically. If you have subscribed to an RSS channel, a brief message with a link to the actual article appears on your screen when there is a new news report. RSS channels can be viewed by means of a Web browser, e-mail programme or RSS reader.

Messaging and chat services like Skype, in some cases with options for exchanging media files, are a combination of telephony, messaging, file sharing and video.

n A phenomenon that cannot be avoided Anyone who believes that he has never come into contact with all “that new-fangled stuff ” and thinks that it is all just a lot of hype is wrong. Because in the meantime, users can see them popping up on the most well-known websites – the little colourful symbols that point out blogs or invite them to become followers on Facebook and Twitter or a member in a network like Xing and to comment on what they have just read, seen and heard or to share it with other users. More and more new studies have registered a continuous and almost mercurial increase in the users of social media. In its “Social Media Guideline” the German Convention Bureau cites impressive figures that prove how Web 2.0 is already determining our day-to-day life: according to it, the social network Facebook already has more than 500 million active users, 70 % of whom are outside of the USA. 72.5% of the 44 million Twitter users registered in the first five months of the year 2009 alone. At the end of 2009 the company counted 2 billion Twitter posts, so-called Tweets, that were sent per quarter. Whereas there were still about 400,000 per quarter in 2007, by June 2010 the numbers had increased to 65 million a day, which means about 750 Tweets per second. In addition, there are about 112 million active blogs, which are supplemented by 120,000 new ones every day. The independent company Forrester Research, Inc. has determined that spending in the area of social media marketing in the USA will increase by 34 % a year until 2014. That means that social media are sort of like the “mouth-to-mouth propaganda of the World Wide Web”, as the “Event Marketer’s Guide to Social Media” of the tba global agency describes it.

KölnKongress Furthermore, sales experts invariably confirm that mouth-to-mouth propaganda is one of the most effective forms of advertising. n Content producers and brand preachers This means that it is almost a necessity for the organisers of conferences, trade fairs and events to also adapt to the changed situation. In this context Nicole Simon uses a term that is rich in associations “ROI”: it does not refer to a desirable “Return on Investment”, but the fatal “Risk of Ignoring” – the risk of missing the boat. In other words: only those event organisers that seriously adapt to the challenge presented by social media and exploit the new opportunities appropriately will hold their own in the market in the long term. In the future, according to the a5 agency, they will not only be organisers, but also “consultants and content producers”. The “Event Marketer’s Guide”, which was mentioned above, uses a wording that is even more aggressive. According to it, organisations that want to make something happen and sell something have to produce “content that is worthy of being shared” – that is the only way for them to create “believers” and “preachers” (“evangelists”) for their brand who are willing to share the brand content with other “preachers”. The question of what that may mean in the area of organisation of conferences, trade fairs and events will be examined in the following, on the basis of a model project.

n Event planning 2.0: Before the

event First of all: event planning 2.0 does not mean neglecting the classic organisational forms. That means:

contacting speakers, participants and service providers via telephone, conventional mail and e-mail is still a priority, just as is designing classic internet presentations and programmes of fringe events. However, an effort should be made to integrate the use of social media into the existing organisational structures in a sensible manner. For example, in the run-up phase to an event, it is advisable to not only think internally about what the potential target group might be interested in, but to also identify current trends and needs directly in the Web. “Social media monitoring” is the catchword: this essentially means engaging in “crowd sourcing” at Twitter, Facebook and similar portals – i.e. listening in on the “conversations” that users are having in forums, blogs and networks about one’s own brand, one’s own business sector and thematic issues that are relevant to that business sector. Numerous tools - either gratis or subject to a charge - are available for identifying and reacting to opinions. Similar effects can be achieved by starting a blog and getting potential event participants involved in the search for content.

“Our biggest competitive edge is our team”

Bernhard Conin Managing Director KölnKongress

If one knows where the potential target group gets together and what it wants, it is possible to become active at the corresponding location oneself. That means: creating profiles for the planned event in networks and on portals, initiating groups that are related to the theme, placing trailers and image films, reacting to comments, becoming a follower oneself and inspiring one’s followers to disseminate news and content even further. There is another advantage of networks: it is possible to discover interesting speakers for an event in an unconventional way by means of search functions and contact them immediately. Moreover,

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SOCIAL MEDIA – EVENT PLANNING 2.0

it is possible to communicate the latest event information via Twitter or place download links for further information, and the blog that is initially launched in order to identify a theme can be used later on to document how the programme

and the number of registrations are progressing. It is also possible to set up a help desk in connection with a blog, which participants can use to ask questions about the event – the answers are then forwarded to all of the participants. It is also possible to

n How you can find us n

Twitter: n @GCB_Deutschland (German Tweets from the MICE industry, selected editorial content) n @GermanyMeetings (English Tweets from the MICE industry, selected editorial content) n @MiceNewsD (automatic Tweets on GCB press releases) n @IMEXDeutschland (Tweets from the IMEX office)

Facebook: n Fanpage: GCB German Convention Bureau

Blogs: n blog.germany-meetings.com (German) n blog-en.germany-meetings.com (English)

n Bibliography (selection) n

“Events, Web 2.0 and Social Media”, whitepaper by a5 – Gesellschaft für Marketing mbH http://www.facebook.com/notes/a5-lab/ events-das-web-20-und-social-media/125743164134720

„The EventMarketer’s Guide to Social Media. Social Media Whitepaper“, in: „Connect – A Series of Research and Perspectives from TBA Global 11/2“ http://www.tbaglobal.com/social_media

“Twitter for Events: How to make your event a success with the aid of Social Media”, Study by amiando event registration & ticketing www.amiando.com

“More Visitors with Twitter, Blogs, Facebook and Co”, Lectures slides for IMEX 2010 by Nicole Simon http://www.slideshare.net/NicoleSimon/ mit-twitter-blogs-facebook-und-co-zu-mehr-besuchern-folien-imex2010

“Social Media Monitoring Tools: A critical stocktaking”, master’s degree thesis by Stefanie Aßmann, Information Science & Engineering programme at the University of Darmstadt, 2010 http://www.scribd.com/doc/37758351/Instrumente-des-Social-Media-Monitoring

manage lectures and presentations via media sharing portals, for example in order to already ensure that all participants have the same knowledge level during the run-up phase. Last but not least, potential participants are stimulated to communicate with one another – and to communicate the idea of the event, as well as the event itself, to the world at large through “sharing”. n During the event The event itself, as well as selected lectures or podium discussions, can be broadcast throughout the world by means of streaming technology or as a live audio or audio-visual webcast. During the event it is possible to “twitter” the latest event information, for example programme changes and important results, or accept and forward questions about the event with the aid of Twitter. Twitter can also be used for ballots and voting. The same purpose is served by “G+B i-nteraktiv®, a proprietary development by Gahrens + Battermann, a technology provider based in Bergisch-Gladbach. It consists of a comprehensive electronic event guide coupled with an iPod Touch. “G+B i-nteraktiv® ensures the vitalisation of event culture by turning a passive audience into active participants,” promises Managing Director Jörg Hendrichs. Because with this development it is possible to conduct ballots and opinion polls simply by touching the screen of the iPod Touch. It is also possible to access the agenda, speaker profiles, product information and theme-related video clips. Guest speakers at far away locations can be integrated live into the event by means of a Skype interview – one can keep one’s own social network up to date via a “community stream”. And of course, blogs can accompany

and comment on what is happening - with an open or a closed group of users. What is important: the event facility should offer free W-LAN as well as enough electrical outlets, and the networks of the most important mobile telephone providers should also be strong enough. Furthermore - there should be people on location to respond to the comments of participants – in order to be able to react immediately to justified criticism. n After the event

Audio and video podcasts can be made available “on demand” on certain homepages or in social networks for people who are interested, but were unable to attend. Publication on YouTube and other video portals is conceivable, of course complete with a “Share this” button. Lectures, presentations, lists of participants, links and bibliographical references can be published once more on file sharing platforms after a so-called landing page has been set up for the respective event. Even after the event, Twitter and blogs offer excellent opportunities for communicating the most

SOCIAL MEDIA – EVENT PLANNING 2.0

important results, download links or information about follow-up events. The same is true of social networks where it is not only possible to maintain contacts in the long term: in addition, new contacts can also be generated - and therefore future participants. Last but not least, the tools of “social media monitoring” that were used during the planning phase can subsequently be used to measure results. Another development step in the use of social media in conjunction with organisation of conferences, trade fairs and events is emerging with services like amiando.de. These are participant management services that create special websites specifically tailored to a planned event, linking invitation and payment functions directly with other social media and networks.

be used unquestioningly for every event. Furthermore, as has already been pointed out, the classic communication structures should not be neglected. In addition, dealing with social media can become very time consuming and personnel intensive: writing blogs and Twitter posts, setting up profiles, creating and placing content, constant monitoring or providing the requisite technical infrastructure require quite a large amount of expenditure, know-how and manpower. The overall whole must be credible and must be fed and cultivated constantly. That makes it even more important to have a well-thought out Web 2.0 strategy that co-ordinates the goals with the means. Social media consultants and specialised agencies, are ready and willing to provide help and advice.

n What counts is a well-thought out strategy Of course, this is just a roughly sketched out overview of the entire bandwidth of social media options. One thing is clear: not every tool and not every Web 2.0 offer can

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NEWS – HOTELS

Sophisticated. Flexible. Modern. The venue for meeting success. The Leonardo Royal Hotel Munich. Opens January 2011.

he Leonardo Royal Hotel Munich is set to offer anything other than business as usual. With conference facilities of 1,800 sqm, a ballroom providing vehicle access and space for up to 700 people, 7 flexibly designed meeting rooms with multimedia equipment, a large (350 sqm) foyer, a spa area for relaxation and a professional events team ready to help, as required, with the planning, preparation and running of functions, the hotel promises clients stress-free and above all successful meetings and conferences. Daniel Roger, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Germany, explains: “Guests come to us with a vision. We ensure that this gets translated into an unforgettable event.” Located near the Olympia Business Park, Olympic Stadium and ‘BMW Welt’, the four-star superior hotel, with its executive lounge, ‘Vitruv’ restaurant, ‘Leo90’ bar/ lounge, plus a sauna and fitness area, is due to open in January 2011. Jan Heringa, the Leonardo Royal Hotel

Holiday Inn sets new standards – New conference centre at the Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Just as the airport in Schönefeld is expanding significantly to become the new transportation hub for Eastern Europe, so is the Holiday Inn Berlin International Airport enlarging its service portfolio.

Munich’s future general manager, proudly tells more: “The hotel’s exclusive interior design will leave nothing to be desired. All of the 424 bedrooms and 12 suites will have air conditioning, a bathtub, mini-bar, flat-screen TV, desk, safe, telephone, WLAN and ironing board and with their harmonious and stylish combination of material, form and warm red and terra shades will create a very relaxing atmosphere.” A further special feature of the hotel will be its unique lobby concept, which will combine reception, bar and lounge in one impressive, spacious entrance

area. Strong, harmonious colours in shades of black, green and red, coved lighting in alternating tones, various cosy corners and pleasant quiet spots will create an inspirational, stimulating area in which everyone can find a favourite place and in keeping with the Leonardo Hotel motto, ‘The Art to Feel at Home’, will feel thoroughly content and at ease. The Leonardo Royal Hotel Munich – the perfect venue for events and conferences in Munich. www.leonardo-hotels.com

After 10 successful years at the economic intersection between Berlin and Brandenburg, the hotel now boasts 299 modern rooms, a conference centre with 3,400 sqm exhibition, meeting and event space, personalized catering concepts box tree courtyards, panoramic roof-top terrace with a perfect view of the airport BBA, 550 sqm Relax-Inn wellness area, curling arena, and 140 underground parking spaces.

The new Holiday Inn Berlin International Airport is located very close to the airport with excellent connection to highways A100, A113 and A10. The city centre can easily be reached via the airport express train or the interurban railway in only 20 minutes. Guests can benefit from the complimentary shuttle service that commutes between the airport and the main train station - 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week.

NEWS – HOTELS

The guest rooms designed in bright and friendly colours are equipped with experience showers and state-of-the-art technology, such as an IP TV Infotainment System, Pay TV and high-speed internet access. All windows are sound-proof and the entire hotel is equipped with airconditioning. The new Airport Conference Centre boasts 20 conference rooms with natural daylight, state-of-theart meeting equipment, located on

the ground floor, usable for vehicle exhibitions and with a ceiling height of up to 5,50m. The conference foyer provides 1.185 sqm of presentation and event space for breaks, meetings and receptions. For relaxation and rejuvenation, the Relax-Inn wellness centre offers beauty treatments, a tanning bed, sauna and massage varieties, experience showers, sun terrace, relaxation room and fitness centre with modern equipment. The Holiday Inn Berlin International Airport offers an exquisite gastronomy concept in different areas of the hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the SKY Restaurant, featuring a new show kitchen where guests can have a look at how the chefs create specialties from all over the world. Naturally, all these

fine dishes are also served on the panorama roof-top terrace. Another highlight is the new bar „Hangar 16“, with a counter of 16m length, making it the longest bar in Brandenburg. www.holidayinn-berlin.de Accor sets new standards in conference planning meetings

Accor Germany is the first hotel chain to offer standard conference flat rates and terms of cancellation for meetings, conferences and incentive events. This process optimisation is the result of intensive collaboration with customers. There is no longer any need for conference customers to waste time on searches, bookings and

25 Years of Global Event Solutions

CONFERENCE – EVENT – DESTINATION – ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT

Please visit us at the EIBTM in Barcelona. www.cpo-hanser.de

Office Berlin

Phone: +49-30-300 669-0

Email: berlin@cpo-hanser.de

Further offices in Hamburg and Frankfurt I N I

C O

O N N

NEWS – HOTELS

cancellations. All services – from coffee breaks to data projectors – are now offered by Accor at a standard price for each of its hotel brands, regardless of whether a conference is held at Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suite Novotel, ibis or all seasons. Customers are given a standardised full-scale service within each of these brands and are told the relevant costs and terms from the very beginning. Terms of cancellation, too, have been standardised, so that they form a clear part of the new price structure. With this transparency Accor seeks to satisfy its customers’ demand for planning security and reliability. This is the first time that a hotel chain has succeeded in meeting its customers’ request for 100 % valuefor-money comparability and to do so within a single system. With this unique selling point in the market, Accor offers business customers a conference planning procedure that is both simple and transparent. Moreover, it is something that customers have wanted to see for a long time and which is finally being put into practice upon collaboration with customers. www.accorhotels.com Scandinavia in the heart of Berlin – the Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz

its doors to guests: 563 rooms and suites await them, as well as two restaurants, a bar, 20 conference and banquet rooms, a fitness area and an underground parking garage. The huge ballroom with over 530 sqm and a generously proportioned terrace is quite unique in the city centre of Berlin, offering a sensational setting for conferences and festive banquets. The conference facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and offer a total capacity for up to 1,000 people. In the area of equipment and technology, the Scandic Group has once again demonstrated its role as a trailblazer with regard to environmental protection: many of the Scandic Hotels have already been awarded the “Nordic Swan” distinction, which is probably the most well-known Scandinavian environmental seal of quality: it stands for sustainable forestry and conservation of natural resources. Thomas Borsbach, General Manager of the new Scandic Berlin am Potdamer Platz, is proud that he is now able to implement the tried and tested environmental concepts in Berlin as well: “We want our guests to feel comfortable and right at home at the Scandic Hotels. For us that also includes treating the environment and our resources - which are getting more and more scarce - with respect in our daily work.” www.scandichotels.com/berlin World Travel Award for the Westin Grand Berlin as Germany’s Leading Business Hotel 2010

The German flagship of Scandic the successful Scandinavian hotel chain - is currently the largest hotel in the heart of Berlin that opens

The Westin Grand Berlin has been honoured as Germany’s Leading Business Hotel 2010 with the World Travel Award, one of the highest distinctions in the travel industry. 183,000 decision makers from the hotel and tourism sectors selected

their favourites in a wide variety of categories.

Rainer Bangert, General Manager of Westin Grand Berlin, is proud that it was awarded the World Travel Award as Germany’s Leading Business Hotel 2010: “This distinction proves to us that we at the Westin Grand Berlin recognise and fulfil the needs of business travellers, while also ensuring high quality and service standards.” The Westin Grand Berlin lives up to the specific requirements of business travellers with its offers and services: the Business Travel Association of Germany (VDR) has certified the hotel, which was lovingly remodelled just two years ago, as a Certified Business Hotel. www.westingrandberlin.com Park Inn BerlinAlexanderplatz commended once again: certified quality for business travellers and organisers The Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz is an attractive address for business travellers and an ideal location for events of all types: the Business Travel Association of Germany (VDR) has confirmed that once again by certifying the four-star Superior hotel as a “Certified Business Hotel” and a “Certified Conference Hotel”. The Berlin hotel still fulfills all of the VDR selection criteria and that is why will retain the seal of quality for another two years until December 2012.

NEWS – HOTELS / VENUES

supporting and managing events. That is the reason why the VDR created the “Certified Business Hotel” and “Certified Conference Hotel” certifications, which attach priority to the needs of those important target groups. They give business travellers and organisers the orientation assistance and planning reliability that they require. www.parkinn-berlin.de

Because business travellers spend a large part of their travelling and working time at hotels, criteria such as accessibility, technical equipment and business services are of the utmost importance to them. Organisers also place special requirements on a conference hotel: the basic prerequisites include professional infrastructure as well as many years of experience in

THE SQUAIRE ConferenceCenter - Conferencing at the Frankfurt Airport – The Combination of ALL ADVANTAGES You can expect a liaison of outstanding accessibility and a maximum of flexibility at the Frankfurt Airport, the intersection of rails, street and air. Experience your conferencing in a new dimension with THE SQUAIRE

Conference-Center which is opening at the beginning of 2011.

THE SQUAIRE ConferenceCenter guarantees you the flexibility you would expect from a modern venue thanks to versatile room offers, modern equipment, the latest conference techniques and extensive personal and flexible service offers. THE SQUAIRE Conference-Center commends itself on staging events of every kind such as: business meetings, sales meetings, seminars, training events or congresses for 5 to up to 500 people with barrier-free room sizes from 16 sqm to 228 sqm. www.thesquaire-conference.com

7th–11th July 2011 A warm welcome to Meeting Place Berlin!

Berlin – the place to be for conventions. www.meeting-place-berlin.de

GREEN MEETINGS

Green meetings – what you should know! During the crisis the environment seemed to be taking a back seat to other concerns for a time. But that’s over now! Sustainability and ecological responsibility are the central challenges of our socio-political and economic present and future.

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he event industry in Germany therefore has ample opportunity to boost its number one position in terms of ecology - and to defend it in the long run. The only prerequisites for this, says Markus Grosse Ophoff are “authenticity” and “transparency”. The doctor of chemistry directs the Centre for Environmental Communication of the German Environment Foundation (DBU) in Osnabrück and acting as a consultant for the first national conference for Green Meetings and Events hosted by the GCB and EVVC in March 2011 in Mainz.

German Convention Bureau (GCB): Dr. Grosse Ophoff, the German Environment Foundation promotes ecological projects in a wide variety of fields and sectors. Still, your commitment now focuses explicitly on the topic of “Green Meetings“. Where does this interest come from? Dr. Markus Grosse Ophoff: Firstly it’s because we operate our own little event centre here in Osnabrück, which only hosts meetings and conventions on green topics. With maximum capacities for 200 people the Centre for Environmental Communication is definitely the smallest member of the Association of European Event Centres (EVVC). At the same time it meets all requirements of ecological building and event management. In April we even received the EVVC award as a benchmark for the field of ecology.

Against this background it annoys me that Germany still holds back so much with its potential. We have no reason to hide behind the world-wide competition, but it is still countries like the USA that are generating a lot of publicity although their standards are much lower than ours. For example, energy standards which are already excellent in many centres here. For example, transport - Germany has one of the world’s best railway systems in Deutsche

Bahn, and many organisers already automatically offer delegates the Bahn’s event ticket. I believe we are real pioneers in this field. But this ought to be communicated much more strongly. In brief: Germany still has a communication problem, and we need to solve it! GCB: You are for introducing or boosting labels like the EVVC Green Globe Certificate. What do you want to achieve with this?

Grosse Ophoff: Authenticity and transparency – these are the factors that will be increasingly important in future, both on a national and international level. Labels with corresponding standards help. That is why we want to establish standards and transparency in Germany, so that we can be number one in five years. Number one, above all, in communication – in all other areas we already are. For example, there is hardly a centre that doesn’t offer organic catering now. GCB: You complain that especially certificates like the Green Globe do without the so-called “hard requirements” like quotas or threshold levels. So that event planners have no chance to compare certain figures with each other and find some orientation that way. Grosse Ophoff: The Green Globe is a good start. Although the certificate entails very soft requirements, a kind of sum aggregate. Still, it is the best thing we have right now. As it is feasible and event venues that want to be certified have to start looking into their processes.

GREEN MEETINGS

In addition, there are also efforts to develop international standards according to DIN and ISO, but they are also rather soft. The advantage is: You need to deal with environmental protection and the processes. The disadvantage: Even those with a poor score, can gain certification if they promise to improve in a letter of intent. But this also applies to certification according to ISO 14000 and is generally the problem with Anglo-American approaches. GCB: What is the German approach? Grosse Ophoff: Take the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for Buildings, which every public building in Germany needs to have and must display publicly. It not only lists various energy consumption figures. A colour diagram also enables you to clearly judge what you have achieved, because the data are represented in red or green curves, deviating from the prevalent benchmarks. It is a kind of traffic light system, like for modern cars. Unfortunately, the Green Globe has no requirement for this. But especially this unique certificate should be communicated a lot more!

Dr. Markus Grosse Ophoff

It is my wish that we can deliver standard values for energy, traffic and catering in ten years’ time. GCB: But transparency through standards is not enough for you. You also speak of the importance of authenticity. What do you mean by this? Grosse Ophoff: More and more event organisers use the label “climateneutral meeting” to promote their event. But, of course, an event cannot be climate-neutral. It would be more

You don’t have to

Experience true grandeur in the Salon Concorde, one of our most beautiful conference rooms. Or if you prefer, our Salons Opéra, Madeleine and Montmartre are also available. The combination of modern conference technology, individual lighting concepts and French charm will turn your banquets and meetings into extraordinary events à la française, right in the centre of Berlin. concorde-hotels.com/concordeberlin

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GREEN MEETINGS

honest to say “climate-offset”. But, in this context, we must ask inevitably ask ourselves whether this is not like buying indulgences. Just because we make payments to so-called offshore companies like Atmosfair or myclimate, it doesn’t mean that we can go on squandering energy like before! It would be more authentic to lower energy consumption and invest in ecological projects like in India at the same time. If you can’t be bothered about reducing energy, what point is there in offsetting your carbon footprint?

are much cheaper there. But is that really the case? Organisations like Atmosfair and myclimate demand a lot of money for their services, to say nothing of the dangers of corruption. And even the question: “How long will the plant last that I am erecting in India today?“, is commonly ignored. Because it isn’t a complete waste of time to sift the wheat from the chaff, we must ensure that this field becomes a lot more transparent, as well.

GCB: What does bridge technology mean in this context?

Grosse Ophoff: We want to offer a large number of providers who can offer customers figures they can compare, if they want to stage green meetings in Germany. Then the customer will know at a glance: “What do I have to expect, when

Grosse Ophoff: Today many people think that they can achieve more in countries like India with less money than in this country because things

GCB: What exactly are your goals?

Leipzig inspires! Not only the two-star Michelin chef Peter Maria Schnurr and the worldrenowned painter Neo Rauch think so. They make Leipzig a top-class meeting place, both in a cultural and in a culinary context. The International Congress & Convention Association ICCA settled for Leipzig too: the 50th ICCA Congress will take place here in 2011, from October 22 to 26, and will bring the meetings industry from all continents together. Whether conference, large-scale event or corporate function, anyone wishing to organise it in Leipzig will find all the corresponding information on the website www.do-it-at-leipzig.de. This provides details on conference hotels, congress centres and event venues, together with the necessary service providers and transport options, all from a single source. Want to find out more? Plan your event in Leipzig online: www.do-it-at-leipzig.de Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH Augustusplatz 9, D-04109 Leipzig Telephone: +49 (0)341 7104-240, e-mail: kongress@ltm-leipzig.de

staging an event there?“ As a first step we therefore want to certify event venues, and as a second the service providers around them. Of course, even in future, the decision of an event planner will not depend solely on how green a venue or destination is. But this does provide a major edge on competition. GCB: So the environment takes a back seat then? Grosse Ophoff: If environmental protection is not a competition factor, it will remain nothing but a fig leaf. But if, for example, a quarter of all providers of a country focus on it, there will be competition. And another five years later a provider who was formerly number one, will find that he needs to step up his efforts again. And this will benefit the

environment even more. And then the trading in indulgences will stop. Here and today we must ensure that environmental protection is, first of all, plausible. For example at events like the Green Meetings & Events Conference by the GCB and EVVC in Mainz GCB: Dr. Grosse Ophoff, thank you for the interview.

n Green Meetings &

Events Conference 1-2 March 2011, Congress Centre Mainz

GREEN MEETINGS

n mygreenmeeting.de – Realise Green Meetings successfully Green Meetings, i.e. events which are dedicated to sustainability, are in great demand and very popular at present. But what exactly is a “Green Meeting”? Which aspects should be taken into consideration? How and with whom are you able to realize a Green Meeting successfully? From the planning to the realisation of an event – the main goal is to act climate-friendly. At this the competence network mygreenmeeting.de provides tips and advice for a professional event management. Besides, the network partner offer approved and qualified solutions for all relevant sub-sectors of environmental-friendly events, like mobility, catering, energy saving, CO2-balancing and furniture. Official support is also provided by the German Convention Bureau as a co-operation partner. mygreenmeeting.de Julia Daniel Project Management & Consulting julia.daniel@my-green-meeting.de

www.greenmeetings-und-events.de

cloud laboratory Leipzig

Neo Rauch Peter Maria Schnurr

NEWS – DESTINATIONS

Koblenz expands conference capacity perhaps contrary to expectations, the building is directly linked to the fibre optic network and derives 85% of its energy for heating, airconditioning and ventilation from renewable sources. As another somewhat less usual feature, an elegant garden is being laid out on the south side of the new conference centre.

s Koblenz prepares to host Germany’s Federal Horticultural Show 2011, the city is not only being given a facelift but also restructuring its conference facilities, in a plan that will see the city rebranded as a conference venue under the name “Koblenz-Kongress”. Two central venues, the Rhein-Mosel-Halle and the Kurfürstliches Schloss (Electoral Palace), are also being refurbished and enlarged. As part of a complete refurbishment, the RheinMosel-Halle is being transformed into a modern, fully equipped events venue. The Koblenz tourist office is investing some €25 million in the modernisation and expansion project, which includes the construction of a new conference centre and a glass-fronted foyer building. Flooded with light and with ramps ascending to all storeys, the transparent new entrance area makes a bold architectural statement while conveying a sense of openness and transparency. Once the refurbishment is complete, the Rhein-Mosel-Halle will have 16 conference rooms of between 35 sqm and 900 sqm and an exhibition space covering 1,600 sqm. The flexible design concept will allow it to host events on any scale, with seating for 10 to 1,400 people. The newlook building will provide an attractive venue for congresses, conferences, meetings, formal dinners and concerts. In line with the expectations of modern events organizers and attendees, all rooms are fully equipped and airconditioned and also designed for easy installation of lighting, communication and stage technology. But

n Electoral Palace – former residence of kings and princes To complement the modernized Rhein-Mosel-Halle, the Koblenz tourist office is refurbishing the central part of the Electoral Palace, which has never before been open to the public. Set in the midst of colourful, redesigned gardens in the heart of the Horticultural Show area, the building will accommodate exclusive facilities of 100 sqm - 370 sqm with a historical ambience. “The two venues have so much to offer – the enlarged facilities with 20 conference rooms, the central location on the Rhine near the historic old town, over 900 easily accessible underground parking spaces, and a four-star hotel right next to the Rhein-Mosel-Halle,” says Raimund Lehmkühler, manager of the Rhein-Mosel-Halle. “There is still a lot of work to be done over the coming months, but we’re looking forward to spring 2011 when we’ll finally be able to present the new Rhein-Mosel-Halle and Electoral Palace in all their glory.” www.koblenz-kongress.de

The 6th Meeting Place Berlin to be staged in the summer of 2011

50 local providers, around 150 buyers from across the globe and a convention destination with countless opportunities – that’s the recipe for success of Meeting Place Berlin. From 7 to 11 July 2011 the highly diverse destination Berlin will once again delight decisionmakers from the MICE industry. The international workshop is already being staged for the sixth time by the Berlin Convention Office of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH (BTM). In order to present Germany’s leading convention metropolis in a personal and individual fashion, participants already have an opportunity to chat to local providers on the “Meet Professionals Day”. Representatives of Berlin hotels, convention centres and unusual locations are on hand to promote their special offerings.

The “Meet Berlin Day” in turn is completely devoted to the city on the river Spree. An impressive tour enables all participants to experience first-hand the many different sides to the German capital. The focus here is

NEWS – DESTINATIONS

on art, culture and Berlin’s alternative scene. The highlight of Meeting Place Berlin 2011 is a visit to a concert at the Classic Open Air Festival on Gendarmenmarkt. Furthermore, the offering of Meeting Place Berlin has been extended to include “Berlin Active”, a theme evening, for the first time. In 2011 the participants will have an exclusive opportunity to visit the capital’s future main airport BerlinBrandenburg shortly before it opens its doors to the public at large. “Meet Around” encompasses, alongside presentations, site inspections of venues in the German capital. Any participants interested in finding out more, can do this at the ensuing “Meet Facility” event. Every two years the Berlin Convention Office extends an invitation to Meeting Place Berlin in order to attract new events to the German capital. The multi-day workshop is held in cooperation with BTM-Partnerhotels e.V. and Berlin Preferred Agencies. It has made a name for itself as a platform for decision-makers in the field of meetings, conventions and unusual locations. www.meeting-place-berlin.com Cologne set to host international paediatric oncology convention in 2014

Working in partnership with the specialist Paediatric Oncology department at the University

Hospital of Cologne, the Cologne Convention Bureau (CCB) has won the bid to host an international convention.

The international ANR convention – held every two years – is organised by “Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA)” and is the most important convention held in the field of this particular type of cancer in children. Following on from Stockholm in 2010 and Toronto in 2012, it will be Cologne’s turn to play host in May 2014. Some 1000 consultants, scientists and students from around the world will converge at the convention centre in the city on the Rhine to discuss experiences and exchange information about the latest research developments in the field. A poster exhibition will be timed to coincide with the convention. www.conventioncologne.de

ART AND CULTURE

Museum Folkwang

Open after redesign – exceptional new and revamped museums n Art is changing. Museums also need to go with the times and create new spaces and new perspectives for culture.

Over the last few months many museums in Germany were “closed for redesign”. After extensive refurbishment some well-known museums are now open to visitors again. The result: more space for art and, in some cases, outstanding architecture. This has also generated attractive new meeting spaces for the culture destination Germany.

ulture capital year 2010 spawned many new art venues for the Ruhr Area. In January 2010 Museum Folkwang re-opened in Essen after extensive redesign and expansion work. Well-proportioned cubes by English architect David Chipperfield now round off the listed

old building to form a coherent series of six buildings and four courtyards, gardens and lobbies. The first major exhibition, “The World’s Most Beautiful Museum”, already lured over 330,000 visitors. Until 30 January 2011 art lovers can now enjoy the second major show

in the new halls titled “Images of a Metropolis. The Impressionists in Paris”. The Dortmunder U – Centre for Art and Creativity has now been opened in the listed former storage tower of Dortmund Union Brewery.

As of 9 October the collection of Museum am Ostwall is on display on the fourth and fifth floors of the spectacular building. Under the title “The Museum as a Power Station” it is initially showing its own collection. The spectacular new feature of the former brewery’s fermentation and storage building is the newly created „ Vertical Art Space“, visually connecting all the floors of the massive building. Right up to the “cathedral” on the top storey with its al fresco restaurant – the perfect place to round off a visit to the exhibition. Up there you will be surrounded by art on all sides:Videos by artist Adolf Winkelmann will be shown by day as a “Picture Clock” on the rooftop. In amazingly real images, the tower is flooded with beer, and every hour on the hour huge carrier pigeons sit on the facade. Art and architecture aficionados also have

ART AND CULTURE

another highlight to look forward to: Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg’s Inner Harbour will be expanded by a striking cube on steel silos with further exhibition floors. It is slated to open in autumn 2011. In time for the prestigious Quadriennale art festival, hosted every four years in Düsseldorf, the K20 has re-opened as part of the NRW art collection at Düsseldorf ’s Grabbeplatz. The centre with its striking black granite facade had undergone a major refurbishment over the past two years. And with a new building, it now also boasts twice as much exhibition space: approx. 5,000 sqm. Works by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Warhol, Baselitz and Richter are on display. In addition the K20 also has an acclaimed Joseph Beuys collection; Until 16 January 2011 “Parallel

Processes“, a major exhibition dedicated to the charismatic Düsseldorf-born artist, is being staged as part of the Quadriennale. The Elbe flood in 2002 wrought havoc on Dresden, when water flowed into the depots in the basement of Albertinum Museum calling for a frantic evacuation of world-famous art treasures. But the disaster also provided an opportunity to add the new Albertinum, which opened in June 2010 as a flood-proof museum and is unique worldwide as an “ark for art”. The new exhibition halls house both the Gallery of New Masters and the sculpture collection showing works by Caspar David Friedrich, Gerhard Richter and Auguste Rodin. Huge glass show depots offer visitors hitherto unseen views of the museum’s interior and formerly concealed works of the collection on a permanent basis.

Visit us a

t www.h amburg-c onvention .com

Hamburg Convention Bureau Your official Service Partner in Hamburg Hamburg offers abundant opportunities for international meeting planners. With a great variety of hotels, unique locations and restaurants, a colourful cultural scene, short inner-city distances and a splendidly constructed infrastructure Hamburg is the top destination to make your major event successful and unforgettable. Phone +49 (0)40 / 300 51 610 | info@hamburg-convention.com | www.hamburg-convention.com

Hamburg Convention Bureau

ART AND CULTURE

Landesmuseum Mainz, one of Germany’s oldest museums, has also been redesigned. Since spring 2010 the baroque Golden Horse Barracks and modern glass and steel construction overlooking the courtyard have been teamed with the former royal stables to form an attractive whole.Visitors will find major art and arthistorical collections there, ranging from the beginnings of culture to contemporary art. The collections comprise the prehistoric era, ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, prints and drawings from the 16th to 20th centuries, Dutch paintings, 19th-century paintings, Judaica and 20th-century art. Many special exhibitions on contemporary art and art of the past round off the multifaceted offerings. Dortmunder U

K20 Düsseldorf

Construction work is still in full swing at Frankfurt’s Städel Museum. There art lovers can look forward to one of the most extraordinary museum expansions: The new 3,000-sqm museum hall will not be built above ground but under the Städel gardens. Circular skylights with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 metres will fill the garden halls with daylight and form a striking pattern in the gardens. Lawn will be planted on the concave ceiling over which you can stroll and will become a visible fixture of the gardens’ topography. However, visitors will have to wait until next spring for full completion. But to while away the time, the Städel is presenting a show in the exhibition centre. Titled “Chronology of Images” it features works of art from the 14th to 21st centuries from the Städel collection as of 28 October. On the museum’s website www.das-neue-Staedel.de art lovers can also get a closeup account of the redesign and take a look behind the scenes. www.museum-folkwang.de www.u.dortmund.de www.kunstsammlung.de www.skd.museum www.landesmuseum-mainz.de www.staedelmuseum.de www.das-neue-staedel.de

NEWS – EVENTS

Meeting Professionals International meet at the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf

The European Meetings and Events Conference (EMEC) will take place from February 13 to 15, 2011 in Düsseldorf – hosted by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the biggest meetings and event industry association in the world with a 24,000-strong membership and its headquarters in Dallas/USA. Düsseldorf, the capital of the German

state North Rhine-Westphalia, bid as the venue for the 2011 MPI conference and has emerged as the winner. Held each year, the EMEC is the biggest gathering of the meetings and event industry in Europe. Around 500 event organisers and service providers take advantage of the conference to catch up on the latest standards and trends in event planning, to forge new contacts and to discuss the latest developments, such as shifts in the industry landscape created by Social Media or Green Meetings. The yearly European MPI meeting was held for the first time in 1992, since when it has been staged in London, Copenhagen and Turin among others. In its bid to host the EMEC 2011 Düsseldorf beat other European cities. The North Rhine-Westphalia state capital scored not only with

its interesting event facilities and first-rate range of hotels but most particularly with its flair as a modern lifestyle and fashion metropolis. For further information on the association MPI and its European Meetings and Events Conference visit www.mpiweb.org

Further information on the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf is available at www.ccd.de

to 10.500 people conference capacity up city centre the centrally located in tance dis g lkin all sights in wa s bed 00 8.1 – 78 hotels h easy access international airport wit

Heritage and innovation, multifunctional congress centre and outstanding venues. Perfect for meetings, conferences and events of any size.

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kongress@bremen-tourism.de www.bremen-kongress.de

NEWS – EVENTS

Germany to host the ICCA Congress 2011

CCA, the International Congress & Convention Association, is the worldwide umbrella organisation and the ultimate authority within the international meetings industry. It sets the strategy for the industry’s development, and it effectively links clients and suppliers. At the annual ICCA Congress, leading suppliers meet with international meeting planners and industry experts from more than 50 countries and all continents. The top industry event of the meeting professionals implies particularly high demands and expectations since ICCA members have committed themselves to utmost quality in event organisation. Besides Dubai/Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Pittsburgh (USA), Germany – with the city of Leipzig – was one of the bidders to host the 50th ICCA congress in 2011. The bid was a national effort, involving the German federal government. Letters of support, commitments and testimonials also came from

the German Convention Bureau, renowned international meeting planners, Lufthansa Airlines, Deutsche Bahn German Railways, Germany Tourism, the Prime Minister of the State of Saxony, and Leipzig’s Lord Mayor. April 25, 2008 brought the decision: in the year of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany will also be the host for the international meetings industry. Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO said: “I think the three bids for our 2011 congress have been the strongest ever, but it was the truly exceptional standard of the Leipzig bid that led to the ICCA Board’s decision. It was carefully focused on ICCA’s business and development objectives, highly creative and involved a committed ICCA team from all over Germany. I am sure they will enable us to deliver a superb Congress.” The meetings industry is of considerable importance because international conferences add to the

renown of Germany: they increase the scientific and business profile of the host region, and often of the entire country. But there are also strong economic effects. According to ICCA Statistics, Germany is the country that hosts the highest number of international meetings in Europe, and internationally ranks on second position, after the United States. In 2009, 302 delegates attended 2.46 million meetings and events in Germany. The ICCA Congress is always awarded to a particularly innovative meeting destination, and the privilege to host the event is seen as an expression of utmost recognition within the international meetings industry. The 50th Congress, to be held from October 22 – 26, 2011, is expected to attract well over 1,000 participants. www.iccaworld.com

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Air Partner – the journey is the reward

n Why is a charter flight in your ‘own’ aircraft so

special? Time saving, total flexibility, comfort and security are key elements of Air Partner flights. n The highest degree of flexibility. Clients choose their own flight schedules and routing. n Clients have a captive in-flight audience and guests can relax in an undisturbed atmosphere. n The type of aircraft and level of comfort is determined by the client. n Every flight is individually tailored with numerous opportunities for company branding. n It is often cheaper for groups to travel on chartered aircraft than it is to fly on scheduled services.

n Create a lasting impression with unusual flights As one of the largest suppliers of charter flights worldwide, Air Partner offers clients a wide range of services that go beyond the mere logistics of finding the right aircraft for the task in hand. Its ServicePLUS team supports and advises agencies, corporations and exhibition organisers on all aspects related to creating tailored flights that transform an event into an experience to be remembered. Almost any request can be met from personalised airport check-in, gate buffets, and bespoke in-flight menus to customised headrest covers and internal and external aircraft branding. A live concert, a sales meeting, or a film screening at 35,000 feet? Anything is possible.

stresses and strains associated with scheduled flying. Comprehensive flight briefs are created to ensure all flights operate as smoothly as possible and, if a client requires it, Air Partner provides representatives in-flight and on-the-ground support on departure and arrival. With Air Partner’s global spread of strategically located offices operating 24 hours a day, guests can be flown to or from an event in Germany from just about anywhere. Air Partner International GmbH Phone: +49 (0)2204-95050 E-Mail: pr@airpartner.com www.airpartner.com

n Air Partner n From private jets to jumbo jets - Air Partner makes everything possible From business jets to Boeing 747s, Air Partner has access to every type of aircraft and only works with reliable aircraft operators who meet its strict inhouse requirements. Clients are presented with several alternative aircraft options enabling them to make considered choices. Air Partner has established good relationships with its supplier carriers and works with them to ensure that every flight meets or exceeds expectations. The aim is to make every flight unforgettable and to protect passengers from all the

Air Partner was formed 50 years ago and provides private aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The worldwide Group has more than 21 offices and a 220-strong team of aviation professionals. The company is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and had sales of 230 million £ in the financial year to July 2010. Its core business is the ad hoc charter of private jets and commercial airliners for business and leisure use with comprehensive logistical support provided to the meetings and incentive industry. The Group also has its own JetCard membership programme, a ‘go now’ freight division and offers an emergency planning service.

ACTIVE IN BERLIN

“Active in Berlin” – successful networking event for GCB “Members in Focus”

t a successful networking event Berlin Convention Office, Congrex Deutschland GmbH and the Westin Grand Hotel Berlin – on behalf of all Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Germany - presented themselves on 15 September 2010 in Berlin with an insightful networking evening. Around 60 guests took part in the event. With special lectures by Atmosfair and Green Globe on CO2-offset programmes and climate

awareness the central topics of the evening were green travel and Berlin as an event destination. “We face the challenge of having to look beyond our horizon and scale new heights. Green meetings and carbon offsetting for events are not marketing gimmicks. We need to make them a reality. We believe that we are well on the way there, as we offer carbon calculation and

climate neutrality for events in cooperation with Atmosfair. But beforehand it is important to put measures in place to reduce carbon emissions. Only when you reach a point where you can no longer reduce them, should you compensate for the rest by offset payments for environment certificates,” recaps Christiane Schmidt, Area Director Sales & Marketing of the three Westin Hotels Berlin, Dresden, and

Leipzig. “Meeting planners are now confronted by a new criterion for event planning. Many customers have made social and green policies part of their corporate philosophy; in future, this needs to be taken even more into account for business travel and event planning. And if the hotel itself already sets high ecological standards, this will reduce the need for carbon offsetting and hence lower costs for the customer.” A programme with an original agenda allowed delegates to relax in the rooftop garden of the Westin Grand Hotel where the event was staged. As the number one provider of integrated solutions for planning, organising and implementing meetings, conventions, conferences and symposiums Congrex

ACTIVE IN BERLIN

Deutschland GmbH was the GCB’s “Member in Focus” for the first time in 2010. In 28 branches worldwide the group currently caters to 170 organisations, associations and companies as customers. The provider offers all planning and organisational services that are necessary to organise a convention, from delegate registration to full organisation services. The Berlin Convention Office (BCO) of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH helps event planners organise meetings, conventions and incentives in the German capital. Customers can benefit from a broad network of contacts and free sourcing and booking of hotel allotments. In addition, the BCO’s dedicated staff offer information about Berlin as a meeting and event metropolis as well

as the city’s gastronomic and cultural highlights. Eleven rooms with individual designs are available for a variety of events in the modern Westin Grand Hotel Berlin. Awarded with the World Travel Award as “Germany’s Leading Business Hotel 2010” and recommended by the VDR as a “Certified Conference Hotel” and “Certified Business Hotel“, the hotel offers facilities for meetings with up to 220 delegates and banquets for up to 400 people as well as exclusive board meetings for 20 people. An insider tip rounds off the hotel’s offerings: The glass “Drachenhaus” in the 3,000-sqm gardens can be booked for extraordinary barbecues, summer parties and al-fresco business meetings.

WHAT TO WEAR DURING THE COMING CONGRESS SEASON. Tailor-made solutions achieved through multifunctionality The darmstadtium science and congress centre offers numerous possibilities for combining and figuring its various rooms to exactly suit your own particular event. ❙ The “Spectrum” congress hall with a maximum capacity of 1,677 seats can be divided into two or three smaller halls; elevating platforms in the seating areas allow the hall to be transformed quickly from a smooth dance floor into an ascending auditorium. ❙ The surrounding foyer areas can be used in a multitude of ways, e. g. for exhibitions accompanying the main events. ❙ The 18 conference rooms can be combined flexibly and offer seating for a total of up to 1,300 persons. Enjoy the maximum degree of freedom when planning your event – thanks to multifunctionality in perfection.

www.darmstadtium.de

GCB CUSTOMER ADVISORY BOARD NORTH AMERICA

Keys to success: local knowledge and face-to-face relationships!

participants from GCB German Convention Bureau member companies representing convention bureaus, convention centers, hotels and PCOs attended the 4th GCB Customer Advisory Board North America (CAB) on Monday, 4th October 2010 in The Westin Grand Frankfurt. The aim of the CAB is to receive feedback from the industry about meeting and incentive destination Germany. GCB Managing Director, Matthias Schultze, stated in his welcome address, that the key objective was ‘To advise the GCB and its members in all marketing matters, to identify trends and to facilitate GCB members’ better understanding of and contact with the US market’. The 2010 Customer Advisory Board North America members include: Kristin Mirabel, Senior Meeting Manager, Optical Society of America; Jeremy M. Luski, Senior

Meeting Planner for Global Programs International Council of Shopping Centers Inc.; Kristen Curnyn, Senior Meetings Manager, Kellen Meetings; Jeff Duncan, Chief Operations Officer, Meetingmax; Julie BensonFamelis, Senior Manager Business Planning and Procurement, Carlson Marketing Group; and Lillie West, President Double Eagle World Golf Events. Keynote speaker, hospitality business consultant Shari Millman, spoke about the ‘Do’s and Don’ts of Working with US Meeting Planners’. Time management and reduced resources are critical components of how North American meeting planners do business. 2010 witnessed an increase of 7% in meetings spend after a drop of 15% in the previous year. The good news is that Europe is on the US radar once again for 2011 / 2012. She advised her audience to use well-known German

brands to their advantage in US sales promotions. GCB members should research information needed to target the right US sectors and cities for them, providing snappy arguments in their favor. ‘The destination experience for US attendees always begins at home’. Shari Millman also stated that ‘Many US corporations have recognized that curbing business travel is leading to profit reductions’. That’s why incentive travel would rebound as the US economy recovers - in the financial services, IT and automotive branches in particular. Future incentive travel programs would feature an increased meetings / CSR component with ‘less excess and fewer frills’ compared to previous years. Kristin Mirabel, emphasized in her contribution to the ensuing panel discussion, that knowing the client was essential to winning corporate and association business. GCB members should be knowledgeable about what companies and institutes are located in their regions and how these relate to potential customers. ‘As an association’, she stated, ‘I am interested in knowing what institutes and companies within your region could attract me - more than just amenities that you may have in your city or what your hotels offer.You first have to get me attracted to your city. I would be more attracted if I know that there are industries there of interest to my members and to my audience’. Kristen Curnyn stated that ‘Meeting planners need to be one step ahead of their clients. I need to be able to tell them what the trends are’.

Specific questions were discussed with the CAB experts in three workshops: n Image and Meeting Destination

Germany: Americans appreciated humor while working with business partners. While Germans were generally known for their expertise, efficiency and reliability and for their state-ofthe art facilities and infrastructure, it was, however, important that they also communicated the message that they are friendly hospitable hosts with a healthy and fun sense of humor. n Working with US Meeting Planners: North American planners approached purchasing with a ‘shopping basket’

GCB CUSTOMER ADVISORY BOARD NORTH AMERICA

mentality as opposed to ‘an allinclusive package-holiday’ approach. They liked a full itemized list of options and prices with which they could ‘pick n’ choose’ or ‘mix and match’. They negotiate conditions and prices on each and every item before reaching a final agreement. n Trends in the North American Market: The ‘Pharma Codex’ has affected the nature of pharmaceutical meetings and programs. Planners not only have to work within stricter procurement compliance and public scrutiny guidelines but also to strategic corporate meetings and program management guidelines. With the USA coming out of recession, incentive travel programs would recover in 2011/2012 due to the need to generate sales and

Germany

recover market shares. CSR and ‘green meetings’ play a role when choosing hotels and venues within once a destination has been chosen. Germany is a world-leader in green energy and environment-protection so it should not be shy in talking about this. Summing up his experience of the day’s proceedings, Matthias Schultze, Managing Director GCB German Convention Bureau stated: ‘I am delighted how both North American meeting planners and our GCB members appreciate the tremendous value of learning from each other via direct and candid dialogue. Establishing personal contacts between buyers and suppliers in the international meetings industry is not only crucial but also provides wonderful opportunities to present Germany in all its exciting facets.’

Destination Management

Please contact us +49-40-32 32 89 0

www.scandi.de

FACTS ABOUT GERMANY

Facts about Germany n A popular meeting destination As a destination for meetings and conventions, Germany is number one in Europe (a position held since 2004) and number two in the worldwide rankings, published by the International Congress & Convention Association(ICCA). The most popular congress cities are Berlin (ranked as 6th most popular congress cities in the world) (UIA statistics, 2009), Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Dresden.

n Easy to reach Germany is well known abroad for its transport infrastructure, which is no wonder: its motorway network alone comprises around 11,000 kilometres and is considered to be one of the most innovative and efficient in the world. Over 100 international airlines serve the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Railway network comprises around 35,000 kilometres and also has an extensive structure.

Population

81.8 million

Capital

Berlin

Other major cities

Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Leipzig, Dresden, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg

n Travel times within Europe Via train / From – to

Time/h

Amsterdam - Frankfurt