Plans for a new 5,000 capacity conference centre in Berlin have
been unveiled, after a report found an ‘urgent need’ for more meetings space in
the German city.
Set to be built on the current site of Hall 9 at the Berlin
Exhibition Grounds, under the Funkturm, the 12,000 sqm venue would meet growing
demand for ‘medium-sized event space’.
The report, commissioned by visitBerlin and Messe Berlin, found
that the city was particularly lacking in venues that could cater for between 1,000
and 5,000 participants.
Last year Berlin welcomed 12.9 million participants across
its event sector - a 29 per cent increase from the previous year - underscoring
the city's rising appeal as an event destination.
According to analysis by dwif Consulting GmbH, even one or
two additional venues could significantly boost capacity - allowing Berlin to host
up to 76 more conferences per year.
This would add around €78m to the economy every year, the report
found.
City Mayor Franziska Giffey stressed the industry’s
importance to the city’s economy.
“The events and conference industry is a key economic driver
for Berlin. In 2024 alone, it generated around €1.4 billion in revenue. For
2025, we expect an increase of three percent,” she said. “The new Hall 9,
planned by Messe Berlin and supported by the State of Berlin, will make an
important contribution as a state-of-the-art multifunctional venue.”
“With the new conference center, we are creating additional
capacity exactly where Berlin is currently under-served. This strengthens our
position in global competition,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin
GmbH. “Leading conference cities around the world are investing precisely in
this segment. We want Berlin to remain among the leaders.”
Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, added: “The analysis
confirms that the market wants more Berlin. We are now responding to that.”
With international participation growing - 21 percent of
event attendees in 2024 came from abroad - Berlin’s strategic investment in its
event infrastructure aims to solidify its place among the world’s leading
conference cities.
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.
