A
convention bureau has reported a 35 per cent increase in enquiries, as the
appetite for conferences and events continues to recover following the pandemic-enforced
hiatus.
Cologne
Convention Bureau said that by the start of September 2023, the total number of
enquiries had already exceeded those received during the whole of the previous
year.
A
new convention centre, Confex by koelncongress, which opens for
business in 2024, and pent-up demand for in-person events after Covid are thought
to be behind the surge.
Another
factor at play is a marketing push by the bureau, which has involved several Fam
(familiarisation) trips aimed at potential clients, including one aimed squarely
at associations.
Conference that have taken place in Cologne in 2023 include the annual meeting of
the German Society of Audiology, in March and the European Conference on African Studies, in
May.
The FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE Conference 2023
(focusing on molecular life sciences), is being held at the University of
Cologne from November 23rd-25th.
The bureau is holding talks with the organisers of international
association congresses to attract these and other scientific congresses to
Cologne in the 2024–2029 period.
Confex will accommodate more than 6,000 visitors and is expected to open next summer.
Dr Jürgen
Amann, CEO of the Cologne Tourist Board, said: “The excellent level of
inquiries shows that Confex is already closing a gap in the array of
opportunities offered by Cologne’s congress infrastructure. As a result, our
city is being recognized internationally as a congress destination at a higher
European level. In addition, our bureau has access to a wider range
of opportunities for its acquisition and organization of congresses.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
