Speaking before the tourism committee of the German parliament (Bundestag) on April 18, the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and European Association of Event Venues (EVVC) addressed the current state of the national meetings industry and future prospects and possible developments with political leaders. During the hearing, "The Meetings Industry in 2030 – a Vision," topics included the industry’s strong economic power, Germany’s leading position also in the field of green meetings, competitive taxes and the role of the public sector as an organiser and operator of event venues.
"Germany is Europe’s leading meetings destination and number two world-wide behind the USA. With business travel accounting for a total turnover of €64 billion (approximately $91 million), the industry is a major economic factor for Germany with good growth prospects. The hearing is a further step towards strengthening political awareness of the events industry, showing its great potential and shaping the future of the meetings sector in a dialogue with politics," said Matthias Schultze, managing director of the GCB. “This is a dialogue we will deepen in future with a variety of measures."
Following the hearing, the GCB and EVVC will stage a joint capital city congress of the events industry in Berlin from 18 to 20 June 2012, in association with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Germany Chapter of MPI Meeting Professionals International, as well as with Site - Society of Incentive & Travel Executives, the German Travel Management Association (VDR) and the Association of German Event Organisers (VDVO).
Pictured from left to right are Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau (GCB); Klaus Brähmig, MP, chairman of the Bundestag tourism committee; and Joachim König, President of the European Association of Event Venues (EVVC).
For more information, visit www.germany-meetings.com.