gcb newspaper 2014 2 en

MEETINGS MADE IN GERMANY – 2/2014 – 1

Conferences 4.0 – creating community Conferences and conventions are changing. Up to now the main focus has been on communicating knowledge, but today the primary objective is to promote personal exchanges of ideas and experiences between participants. Innovative conference formats and digital technologies support that kind of networking.

Coff ee breaks are the most productive times. That observation inspired Tim O’Reilly to

develop the concept of “unconferences”. The Irish publisher and software developer had discovered that the coff ee breaks generated the greatest added value for participants at classic conferences and without further ado he made the breaks the main thing. In 2005 he initiated his fi rst “FooCamp” (Friends of O’Reilly) in Palo Alto, California, an ad-hoc event at which participants spontaneously organised the content and agenda themselves.

Today “unconferences” are one of the most innovative event formats that mirror the transformation of knowledge communication at meetings and events. In light of the options for information accessibility via just a couple of clicks that the internet and social media off er, today the objective is not so much merely communicating knowledge through lectures and exhibitions. On the contrary, the

central focus is on personal transfer of know-how through exchanges of experience and networking among the participants.

Added value through talking“Today conference participants are very well informed and can no longer be convinced by lecture-style presentations,” says event developer Claudia Brückner, who coined the term “event or meeting experience”. “They expect answers to their individual questions and they want to talk about their experiences and approaches to solutions with other participants in order to benefi t mutually from one another.” According to Brückner, event organisers face the challenge of developing new, open formats that promote interaction and participation. “Events have to go beyond the exchange of information or communication of knowledge and off er opportunities for community building and genuine collaboration,” she states.

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MEETINGS MADE IN GERMANYIssue 2 / 2014 The Newspaper of the German Convention Bureau

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Digital transformation – Co-creation formats are replacing conferencesThe business world is changing. In many business areas today nothing is ... Page 3

GCB German Convention Bureau with strong partnerships for meetings and events in Germany ... Page 7

MEXCON 2014This second Meeting Experts Conference (MEXCON) was held in Berlin again, from 11 to 13 June 2014 ... Page 4

The German meetings and events industry: competent and innovative at IMEX America 2014From October 14th to 16th, 2014 ... Page 5

Adrian Segar, the author of the book “Conferences That Work: Creating Events That People Love”, shares the same view. In his opinion, the strength of conferences lies in their social component. “As useful content is available online to an ever growing extent, conferences should focus on what they are able to do best: Making it possible for people to meet, get together and participate,” he says. Segar thinks that in the future conferences will concentrate more and more on getting participants actively involved in what is happening, increasing their level of participation and promoting useful contacts. Segar: “People learn better when they take an active part in the learning process rather than simply listening passively.”

Agenda by ballotIn the meantime, Open Space conferences and BarCamps have become the most widespread formats in which participants develop the

content and agenda of an event themselves. The advantage: The expertise of the attendees can be incorporated ad hoc. For example, in March at the “DevCamp Karslruhe” - an unconference for software developers •

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2 – MEETINGS MADE IN GERMANY – 2/2014

that organises the CyberForum, the network for high-tech entrepreneurs. More than 120 participants compared notes in spontaneously organised groups, lectures and workshops. At the beginning, the attendees proposed possible themes and a ballot decided which ones made it onto the agenda.

The “CarCamp” for people in the automotive industry who are interested in social media works in a similar fashion. In that case, the themes also emerge during a joint presentation session at the start of the event. Online forums organised along thematic lines interlink participants before, during and after the CarCamp. The do-it-yourself event “XOXO” in Portland, USA - an event for freelance artists, film makers and game developers - demonstrates that a huge variety of interest groups are making use of this innovative format. The conference is financed via crowd funding; when it was held for the first time in 2012, the 400 admission tickets were sold out within two days and 700 sponsors donated a total of 173,000 dollars.

Fun as a concentration incentiveThe fun factor is an integral part of the programme at events like that: Innovative formats are aimed at appealing to and stimulating all the senses. “Experience has shown that this has a positive effect on the powers of concentration, creativity and productivity of conference participants,” emphasises Adrian Segar. In his opinion, hands-on elements and refreshingly unusual rituals – such as “speed dating” for getting to know people quickly at the beginning of the event – will firmly establish themselves as conference elements in the future. The resulting positive and constructive atmosphere not only

improves the receptiveness of participants, it also increases their willingness to speak out openly and contribute actively.

That promotes team spirit and a sense of common identity at conferences – which is one of the most important advantages of live events in comparison with online ones. Face-to-face communication satisfies a vital need that human beings have for a feeling of security, trust and belonging together – irrespective of whether a situation involves one-on-one conversation or a group discussion. In addition, communication in person seems more credible than virtual communication. It conveys a more comprehensive picture of the other person, encompassing non-verbal signals such as facial expressions and gestures. There are good reasons why the success of multinational teams at companies is also dependent on the persons involved being able to meet in person at least once.

Furthermore, conferences provide orientation amidst the masses of information and they slow down the rigidly structured pace of day-to-day life, which is picking up speed in the work-related sector in particular. Conference participants consciously treat themselves to a time-out: They want to unhurriedly indulge in intensive exchanges of ideas with other people, conduct systematic discussions and develop networks which will benefit them sustainably.

Event organisers as community managersNew technologies play a key role in that networking. They support conversation before, during and after the event, as Claudia Brückner emphasises. For digital tools and platforms expand the physical event space

independently of time – a challenge with future potential for the meetings and events industry. “To an increasing extent, event managers are becoming community managers thanks to options such as these. That gives them the opportunity to sustainably build up a community and at the same time to develop an appropriate business model – not only with the aid of a certain theme, but also by means of their specific approach and the experiences that they design accordingly,” says Brückner.

Even now more and more event organisers already integrate interactive options such as Facebook or Twitterwalls into conferences. They make it possible for participants to provide feedback or ask questions directly. Voting during a lecture – even directly via mobile phone – is a way to liven up a conference and get the audience actively involved.

High-tech for high-touchThe mega trend of progressively wider use of technology will leave its lasting mark on the meetings and events industry by 2030. Michaela Evers-Wölk, Research Director for Future Research and Participation at IZT, the Institute for Future Studies and Technology Assessment in Berlin, confirms that. Besides connecting people, the future internet of things and services will also interlink devices and everyday objects with one another, which will have an effect on planning, implementing and following up on conventions. “For example, real-time information about “knowledge accumulations”, i.e. gatherings of individuals at interesting discussion locations, can help make events spontaneous and up-to-date. Exhibits can be designed so they interactively provide their audience information about how they came into being and communicate background

facts and context,” she says, describing the potential.

For many years, the IZT itself has been practising various forms of participation and interaction in connection with future-related research and consulting projects. New media such as “Hangouts On-Air”, which make it possible to hold and broadcast live events and discussions worldwide, play a key role in that context.

High-tech and high-touch – technology and human interaction – are not a contradiction in terms for Evers-Wölk. She says that there continues to be a need for “real” communication. Psychologist Georg Stark from the Steinweg Institute in Cologne firmly believes that as well: “Media diversity is growing and media are changing, but people will still need their archaic get-togethers – even in the distant future. Because that is the only way they can discover what they can depend on and whom they can trust – or where they stand in comparison with others.” •

Smooth arrival – successful event

With a network of around 200 destinations Lufthansa is your ideal partner for meetings, incentives, conventions or events, facilitating your travel plans and helping to keep costs at a minimum.

Meetings & Events offers international flight solutions for delegates who want to book their flight and travel to the event individually. Tickets are available at reduced fares. You can book flights with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings as well as with SWISS and our North Atlantic partners Air Canada and United Airlines.

With Lufthansa Group Travel 10 or more people fly together to one event, benefitting from attractive prices and conditions.

Lufthansa Private Jet combines the flexibility and individuality of a private aircraft with the advantages of a global airline – at an attractive fixed price.

Lufthansa Charter is an offer for larger groups for whom an aircraft from the Lufthansa fleet is exclusively provided. Flights are also possible to destinations not included in Lufthansa’s scheduled timetable.

For more information on Lufthansa’s flight solutions as well as a useful quotation form go to LH.com/events

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Flight solutions by Lufthansa – for companies, organisers and travel agencies

Environmentally friendly travel: Lufthansa’s modern, low-emissions fleet of aircraft, as well as our many environmental and efficiency schemes, ensure that delegates’ flights are not only great value and flexible, but they are also amongst the most environmentally friendly.

DR_7675_2_LH_VK-1654_GCB Newspaper_Advertorial_255x185_EN_001Seitex1von1 1 25.07.14 09:31

Meetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry.” More information and free download of the Management Summary here:www.gcb.de/en/meetings-and-conventions-2030:-a-study-of-megatrends-shaping-our-industry


Digital transformation – Co-creation formats are replacing conferencesThe business world is changing. In many business areas today nothing is the way it was before - thanks to the internet. There is hardly any product that cannot also be purchased online, hardly any information that cannot be found in the worldwide web. The changes that have been triggered by the internet represent a gigantic change process.

The internet is obeys different success factors than the classic German industrial

sector. Successful companies in “Silicon Valley” are demonstrating how to exploit the dynamics of the internet world. For example, the automotive manufacturer Local Motors has an online community consisting of more than 36,000 car fans and experts such as engineers and designers all over the world who interlink their knowledge. So vehicles can be developed for a fraction of the cost and within a much shorter development period than at conventional corporations. For years, the bookselling trade has known what it means when an internet company like Amazon enters the market. But Local Motors, Amazon and the like are just the beginning: The internet is transforming all products, business models and business sectors.

New values: networking, openness, participation and agilityWhat factors get companies prepared and fit for digitalisation? The same factors that constitute the basis of how the internet works: networking, openness, participation and agility. In order for companies to be able to exploit those success patterns, their senior managers have to further develop themselves and learn “management by internet”. They have to recognise when it is better for them to bid farewell to mechanisms like hierarchy and control, and instead to allow themselves to be guided by values such as networking, openness, participation and agility within the scope of leadership and co-operation.

That requires a large measure of courage: courage to experiment and to give staff the freedom needed for independent responsibility and organisation. In order to achieve that, it is initially necessary to reduce bureaucracy. That is the only way that innovations can grow and flourish. Working methods are brought to organisations almost automatically through their young employees, the so-called digital natives. But senior managers also have to take advantage of that innovation pool by allowing and encouraging new working methods.

That also includes new types of information exchange: the so-called co-creation formats. They generate enthusiasm, results – and

Harrison Owen: after a convention for which he had spent a great deal of time and effort on the preparation, he noticed that everybody liked the coffee breaks best. They were the most useful part of the event.

A feeling that every one of us is probably familiar with: You only realise that a certain aspect of an event is the really interesting thing while standing at a cocktail table with a colleague that you hardly even knew before, and then you return to the auditorium promising each other that you will talk about the matter in greater depth the next time.

That is exactly how an Open Space event works. It is suitable for groups ranging from eight or ten participants to several thousands. The lack of a predetermined agenda does not mean that there is no structure whatsoever. That structure emerges during the first one and a half hours of the event. To that end, all of the participants initially sit down in a circle or in concentric circles if more than 50 people are attending. Then everyone has the opportunity to enter the centre of the circle and present his or her issue relating to the theme. The important thing is: He or she must be willing to shoulder responsibility for the theme. For one of the laws of Open Space is that every individual is allowed to press ahead with every

theme. That in itself already releases incredible energy. Perhaps it may be the journalism intern or the accountant who focuses on a certain aspect of a comprehensive change process, thus moving the discussion forward in a decisive manner.

Free exchange with results, but without bureaucracyWhen everyone has presented their issues and posted them on the “market place” on the wall, all of the participants sign up for the area in which they would prefer to take part. And then things really get started: Each group works on its theme in a self-organised fashion. At the end, all of the groups publish their results, recommendations or agreements on the “bulletin board”. The “bumble bees” are especially stimulating: participants that “fly” from one group to another, building bridges between the various themes. That gives rise to a network that is similar to the exchange of information in the internet and - above all - it is not impeded by any bureaucratic or corporate policy obstacles.

Before an Open Space event is concluded, all of the participants are provided with the results of the individual groups. They can be used as a basis for more in-depth work or

encourage participation. PowerPoint and lengthy meetings are a thing of the past. They are being replaced by “Open Space” events, “BarCamps” and “FedExDays” – participation formats that are based on networking and agility rather than lectures and one-dimensional information.

As a consulting company, doubleYUU is providing accompanying support for digital transformation at the SWR broadcasting corporation; in this context, SWR Director Peter Boutgoust comments: “For quite some time now we have been experiencing a continuous media revolution and observing that social conditions are also changing. This means that we also have to change if we want to keep up with those developments.“

What is “Open Space”?“Open Space” actually implies something like “free space” or “open landscape”. And that is exactly the objective of Open Space events. They do not have anything in common with conventional meetings or conferences. The greatest difference is that although there is an overall theme – which is usually quite complex – there is neither a planned agenda nor predetermined participants. The idea originated in a narrative told by its inventor,

Meetings made in Germany!Maritim Hotels offer over 40 years of experience in managing small,

medium and large European or global conferences in more than 50 hotels in Germany and all over the world.

Visit us at IMEX America, 14 to 16 October 2014, Las Vegas USA, Stand 2219-14.

M Hotels · International Sales Office · Kuelpstrasse 2 · 64293 Darmstadt · GermanyPhone +49 (0) 6151 905-710 · [email protected] · www.maritim.com

M Hotelgesellschaft mbH · Herforder Strasse 2 · 32105 Bad Salzuflen · Germany

Image 4c 255 90 VKI GCB 07.14 en_Image 4c 255 90 VKI GCB 07.14 en 30.07.14 14:34 Seite 1 •


Author: Dr. Willms Buhse,founder of the management consulting company doubleYUU GmbH

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can stand alone. Anyone who has experienced such an Open Space event knows: What is really special is that the spirit of that sort of event extends far beyond the two or three days that it usually lasts. Besides the results, the participants take home the experience of having been heard, of knowing that work was done on an issue that is important to them, and usually they are filled with the conviction that they have achieved something in a self-organised fashion.

BarCampsA “BarCamp”, which adheres to the same basic concept, is organised in a more casual manner than an Open Space event. The name already reveals that the roots of this event format can also be found in the digital world: “Bar” is a special IT term that designates a placeholder. The intention is to make it clear that everyone can take part; no invitation is required. But other aspects of the BarCamps also reveal their digital connection quite clearly: Usually, they

are already planned via the internet; they often have a dedicated blog or their own website via which interested participants can already network in advance. Every BarCamp is recorded in writing, photographed and documented on notebooks or other end devices, and immediately uploaded to the website.

That is not only conducive to the free exchange of ideas; it is the quintessence of it all. Simultaneously surfing on the internet – which is frowned upon elsewhere – is an integral part of the event. Therefore, good IT infrastructure at the rental venue is quite naturally a fundamental prerequisite.

FedExDayThe “FedExDay” is another event format that can open up and replace conventional conferences. It got its name from an express mail service which boasts that it will deliver within 24 hours. In this case as well, the objective is “delivering”, but of course results are delivered, not packages. Developers and

experts take 24 hours of time to devote themselves to themes that are related to the service or the product of their company. Complete autonomy within the groups is also the rule in this case; people work with whomever they wish, focusing on the themes that they consider to be important.

The special aspect in this case is time: A FedExDay usually starts at noon and is interrupted at night for a short rest period. The results of the groups are presented to the other participants at the end of the event. And the format is strict in this respect: Delivery within 24 hours!

There are reasons why these new event formats are on the rise. What is happening here is more than information transfer. It is an expression of genuine change at companies, part of the digital transformation. The spirit of “Silicon Valley” can be brought to every company that would like to change something. There is no doubt that formats of this type are not suitable for all kinds of content. But for all

the issues which companies are passionate about, and which are complex and new. Just try it out, take the plunge!

MEXCON 2014This second Meeting Experts Conference (MEXCON) was held in Berlin again, from 11 to 13 June 2014. Coming together in the German capital, 600 MEXCON delegates had opportunities to exchange ideas not only within the meetings industry, but also with politicians and experts from the industry in general. The programme included forums with high-calibre speakers and industry professionals, a convention and numerous networking opportunities.

MEXCON, which was jointly organised by the German Convention Bureau

(GCB) and the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), concentrated, in particular, on the future of meetings as its core topic. Both keynote speakers and speakers at other sessions referred to the results of a study published in autumn 2013: Meetings and Conventions 2030: “Meetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry.”

One area on which they focused was that of future working conditions and employees – “Generation Y” – who are no longer attracted by traditional status symbols. Rather, future employees and customers in the meetings industry are likely to put greater value on happiness, recognition and appreciation than on a high salary. This means that work structures will need to change. To use the full potential of the workforce, an enterprise must offer its workforce more leeway and wider responsibilities. Work routines need to be streamlined, so that they become more attractive. Speaking at the session “New Generation – Who Is the Customer of the Future?”, Melanie Vogel, Managing Director of AoN (AGENTUR ohne NAMEN GmbH, “Agency without Name”), commented on the future

generation of employees: “Influenced by the ubiquitous interplay between acceleration and transience, Generation Y is being forced to adapt. We can learn a lot from them, and Generation Y is set to ensure a positive and indeed much needed transformation in the meetings industry.”

One major element that will impact future customers and employees is digitisation – a topic which was also given considerable space in other MEXCON talks: for instance at “Meeting Design: Into the Heart of Meetings”, by Mike van der Vijver. His core message was that digital media should always be geared towards each specific meeting and should be used quite purposefully. Moreover, “good meetings need an emotive element”, and the speaker therefore concluded that the audience has a need to participate and to share positive physical experiences.

In all there was an overwhelming consensus that, despite increasing digitisation, there will always be a substantial demand for face-to-face communication and for positive emotional experiences. This, however, can only be offered at physical meetings, although technical developments do of course have an impact on meetings, with hybrid formats emerging alongside traditional ones.

The final keynote speech at MEXCON was given by Dr. David Bosshart who heads a Swiss thinktank called the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI). Speaking about digitisation in everyday life and at work, he put forward a challenge: “The team ‘you and your smartphone’ will be more important to you than ‘you and your workforce’. The machine knows who you are, what you want and who you’ll be meeting. Machine intelligence is growing faster than human intelligence.” On this basis Bosshart highlighted the significance of digitisation and the impact of social media on the meetings industry. Face-to-face meetings, he said, will continue to be important but will be competing more and more with virtual meetings. What this means for conferences, meetings and other events is that “the informal part of a function will become more important than its formal part. There will be a shift of power from the organisers and speakers to the audience.” On the other hand, this development will also create opportunities: “Anyone who makes good use of technology will be on the winning side.”

MEXCON 2014 was all about meetings in the future, but the organisers had also ensured that innovative formats were used throughout the event. This meant that both executives and the workforce in this industry could contribute

their expertise to the conference itself and benefit considerably from one another.

MEXCON was jointly organised not only by GCB and EVVC but also by the German chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). MEXCON 2014 cooperation partners included the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement (VDR, German Travel Management Association), the Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren (Association of German Meeting Organisers), the German Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) and the Vereinigung Deutscher Stadienbetreiber (Association of German Stadium Operators). MEXCON was also supported by the visitBerlin Convention Office

• www.mexcon.de


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The German meetings and events industry: competent and innovative at IMEX America 2014From October 14th to 16th, 2014, the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, USA, will once again be transformed into a market place of the international meetings industry: IMEX America will open its doors.

www.cpo-hanser.de Offi ce Berlin phone: +49-30-300 669-0 email: [email protected] further offi ces in Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main

30 Years of Global Event Solutions

We organise Your Success!Conference Planning | Creative Event Concepts | Tailor-made

Incentive Programmes | Housing Services | Onsite Management | Unique and Suitable Venues | Teambuilding Activities |

DMC Services | State-of-the-Art Technology | Finance and Tax Management | Sponsoring and Exhibition | Abstract and

CME-Handling | Website Launches and Support | Global Network | Integrated Solutions Worldwide

Meet us at IMEX America in Las Vegasand/or EIBTM in Barcelona.

2219/01 German Convention BureauFrankfurt am MainLaura D´[email protected]

2219/02 Dresden Convention BureauDresdenJenny Röthig [email protected]/marketing

2219/03 ellis EVENTS GmbHBalingenVanessa [email protected]

2219/04 convention bureau DÜSSELDORF DüsseldorfAnnika van der Meulenmeulen.a@convention-duesseldorf.comwww.convention-duesseldorf.com

2219/05 NürnbergConvention-NürnbergMesse GmbHNürnbergSabina Linkesabina.linke@nuernberg-convention.dewww.nuernberg-convention.de

2219/06 Stuttgart Convention Bureau / Stuttgart-Marketing GmbHStuttgartKarina Grütznerkarina.gruetzner@congress-stuttgart.dewww.congress-stuttgart.com

2219/07 Travel Partner Deutschland GmbHHeidelbergCornelia Dü[email protected]

2219/08 Grand Elysée Hamburg HamburgMarcel [email protected]

2219/09 Hamburg Convention Bureau GmbHHamburg Nele [email protected]

2219/10 Congress Centre darmstadtiumDarmstadtSabrina [email protected]

2219/11 Dolce Bad NauheimBad Nauheim - Frankfurt/MainAlexander [email protected]

2219/12 Frankfurt Convention BureauFrankfurt am MainJutta Heinrichcongress@infofrankfurt.dewww.frankfurt-convention-bureau.com

2219/13 Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbHFrankfurt am MainAxel [email protected]

2219/14 Maritim HotelsDarmstadtKristina [email protected]

2219/15 Hotel Adlon Kempinski BerlinBerlinHanna [email protected]

2219/16 Messe Berlin Guest EventsBerlinChristian [email protected]/MesseBerlinLocations/

2219/17 CPO HANSER SERVICE GmbHBerlinKatrin [email protected]

2219/18 Estrel Hotel & Convention CenterBerlinDiane [email protected]

2219/19 Scandic Berlin Potsdamer PlatzBerlinSteff en Seichtersteff [email protected]/Hotelsuche/Deutschland/Berlin/Berlin-Potsdamer-Platz/

2219/20 PALAZZO ITALIA - ROEMISCHER HOFBerlinEvelin Rattievelin.ratti@fi eramilano.itwww.palazzo-italia.com

2219/21 andel‘s Hotel BerlinBerlinMonika [email protected]

2219/22 CAMONSITE Conference and more GmbHBerlinMaike [email protected]

2219/23 Hotel Berlin, BerlinBerlinJan-Patrick Krü[email protected]

2219/24 Starwood Hotels & ResortsMünchenChristina TahocesChristina.Tahoces@Starwoodhotels.comwww.starwoodpromos.com/tagungshotels/en

2219/25 Steigenberger Hotel GroupFrankfurt am MainBirgit Albickerbirgit.albicker@steigenbergerhotelgroup.comwww.steigenberger-world.com

IMEX America - The worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and eventsDate: October 14-16,2014Venue: Las Vegas USA, Sands Expo and Convention CenterExhibitors: roughly 2,700 from 150 countries (fi gures from 2013) Website: www.imexamerica.com

Meet us at the German Pavilion, booth 2219!

Find an overview of the German exhibitors underwww.imexamerica.com and www.gcb.de.

Exhibitors at the German Pavilion, booth 2219

hotels and service providers – will jointly present Germany as a convention, meeting and event location at IMEX America in Las Vegas. Under the motto of “Germany: competent and innovative”, hosted buyer groups will be able to experience trendsetting services and products at the 210 square metre German Pavilion, Booth 2219 in connection with guided tours.

Last year at IMEX America, a total of about 4,650 trade visitors, hosted buyers and journalists gathered information about the products and services off ered by roughly 2,700 exhibitors from 150 countries. That makes IMEX America one of the most important trade fairs of the meeting and event industry

in the American market. Visitors to IMEX America include international and national event planners from companies, associations and agencies.

The German Pavilions are part of the Foreign Trade Fair Participation Program by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Aff airs

and Energy in cooperation with AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry. The Ministry initiated this program to promote German foreign trade, giving companies with “made in Germany” products and services the opportunity to participate in international events and trade shows at lower cost.

The GCB together with 25 German exhibitors – city marketing organisations, locations,


Advertorial

Lufthansa Training & Conference Center SeeheimKnowledge Transfer 2.0 at the Lufthansa Training & Conference Center Seeheim

Learning, dialogue and face-to-face meetings The Lufthansa Training & Conference Center Seeheim is among Germany’s most modern meeting hotels. It has a unique location in a park-like setting, surrounded by a beech forest, just above Seeheim along the Bergstrasse Route. For about 40 years now members of the Lufthansa Group and external conference delegates from all over the world have been inspired by the location of the centre, its tradition of dialogue and its face-to-face communication.

Whether it’s a convention, a seminar or some other event – Seeheim combines high-quality meetings, hospitality and active recreation into a special experience. The focus is on people, on acquiring new knowledge and on making new contacts.

Over 80 training and seminar rooms are available, ranging from 12 to 100 square metres, partly with direct access to the terrace. The facilities can be used by 4 to 100 people. The design of the facilities is based on findings of the Fraunhofer Institute, with state-of-

the-art audiovisual equipment. Transparent materials and bright colours have a positive impact on people’s well-being and on their learning curves. There are also pleasantly designed secluded areas which are ideally suited for group work.

The modular structure of the training area leaves plenty of space for interactive work and focused learning, away from everyday life. The open atmosphere of the centre helps people to connect and receive inspiration. This goal is supported by the design and furnishings of the centre and also by the very clear service mentality of the workforce.

The Lufthansa Training & Conference Center Seeheim presents itself to customers as inviting, contemporary and tastefully decorated. Wherever guests happen to be, they get a view of the countryside, whether it’s in the central Bonhoeffer Hall, which holds up to 600 people, in one of the 483 hotel rooms or in the catering or recreational area.

The entire centre has an ambience which actively fosters collaborative learning, so that success is not left to chance.

Perfect fitness through active leisure facilities

Seeheim is a good place to finish a hard day’s work with some pleasant relaxation, as it has so many opportunities for guests to be refreshed and to recover their energy. An ideal way to end a successful day is to chat with colleagues by the fireplace or to enjoy each other’s company while bowling at the Last Call Bar. Alternatively, guests may prefer to tank up fresh motivation and energy in the Recreation Area with its large indoor swimming pool and

state-of-the-art gym. After a strenuous day outdoor sports enthusiasts will enjoy some active relaxation in the idyllic woods of the Odenwald region, right on the doorstep of the centre. But it’s also a good starting point to explore the surrounding area – for instance, the world-famous city of Heidelberg. Frankfurt, too, is only about 30 minutes away.

Conferences at the Lufthansa Training & Conference Center Seeheim create motivation and help people to connect.

• www.lh-seeheim.de

New Premium Economy Class now available for bookingBoeing 747-8 with new range of services from December – Affordable starting pricesRed Dot Award: Product Design 2014 for Premium Economy and Business Class

After the presentation of the new Premium Economy Class at this year’s ITB in Berlin,

it’s time for the next step. The new travel class can now be booked on flights flown by Boeing 747-8s. From 10 December, the Premium Economy Class will have guaranteed availability on all flights served by the new jumbo. The destinations that can now be booked include the routes from Frankfurt to and from Buenos Aires, Chicago, Hong Kong, Mexico City, São Paulo, Seoul, Beijing and Washington, D.C. From late January 2015, the first retrofitted aircrafts of the type A340-600 are scheduled to take off from Munich for Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo; from late April the A380-800 is planned to then fly from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, New York, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore.

“We have had an incredible response for our Premium Economy Class since its launch event, particularly from passengers who we are trying to reach with this new offer. The Premium Economy travel experience will now be even more within reach – up to 50 per cent more personal space at attractive prices and already honoured with an award as a product in the premium segment,” said Jens Bischof, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board – Sales, Product and Marketing. The design experts in the panel of judges of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2014 were so impressed by the new Lufthansa range that the design competition’s panel of judges, which is made up of fourty experts, awarded the seats in Premium Economy and Business Class each a Red Dot Award in the category

‘Vehicle Accessories’. During the competition, international design experts deliberated on and evaluated 4,815 entries from 53 countries. The final of the internationally renowned product competition was celebrated on 7 July 2014 in Essen with the official award-giving ceremony.

“The design and features of the seat are based on extensive passenger surveys and workshops with sales partners. More than 1.5 million passengers per year will be able to enjoy a new travel experience with the installation of 3,600 seats in all 106 long-haul aircraft in just one year.

Up to 50 per cent more room and ‘German engineering’The new seats were designed in partnership with the company müller/romca Industrial Design in Kiel and produced by the seat manufacturer ZIM Flugsitz near Lake Constance. Depending on the aircraft type, they are up to 3 centimetres wider and provide greater privacy as well as approximately 10 centimetres more room at the side thanks to each seat having its own wide armrest and a centre console between the seats. The back rest can be reclined further and the seat pitch is a significantly more spacious 38 inches, or 97.5 centimetres. As a result, passengers have around one-and-a-half times more room as the Economy Class. The head rests can be set to the exact height desired and folded at the sides for added comfort and support. Height-adjustable foot rests from the second row back and – for technical reasons – leg supports with an integrated foot rest in the first row provide extra comfort. Practical features around the seats such as a bottle holder, an electrical socket and lots of storage space for

passengers’ belongings also help to ensure a relaxed journey.

Additional services for Premium Economy passengersWith a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 23 kilogrammes each, passengers can take twice as much free luggage with them compared with Economy Class. For an extra EUR 25, passengers can also enjoy the comfort of the Lufthansa Business Lounges before their departure. The Welcome Lounge, with its spacious showers and a breakfast buffet after night flights, can be used for EUR 50. Lounges were previously only open to status customers and are otherwise unavailable on a paying basis. Check-in and boarding procedures as well as hand luggage regulations are the same as in Economy Class.

An enhanced service awaits Premium Economy passengers on board: They are greeted with a welcome drink and will find their own water bottle as well as a high-quality amenity kit with practical travel accessories at their seat. Meals are presented on menus commensurate with the new travel class and served on porcelain tableware. Passengers can navigate the extensive in-flight entertainment programme using their own touchscreen monitor on the seat in front of them. This can also be done using a remote control, which serves as a controller for video games as well. The screens are 11 or 12 inches, depending on the aircraft type, which makes them at least two inches bigger than the screens in Economy Class. A wide selection of magazines and newspapers completes the range of entertainment on offer.


Gateway to unlimited MICE opportunitiesSheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference CenterIt does not matter where you are coming from or how you are travelling. You can get to our hotel in no time at all. Meet at the most central hotel in Europe. We are right next door to an international airport.

conference, a convention, a trade show, a party or a meeting with or without accommodation – we can provide the relevant facilities, 365 days a year. With a choice of 60 meeting rooms, you will always fi nd the right environment for your meeting – for instance, in our SkyLoft, a two-storey state-of-the-art event centre, or at our spacious Congress Center with its 1,246 square metres. Delegates can enjoy a relaxing stay in 1,008 comfortable guestrooms and suites. One of our special features is our Hotel within the Hotel – the fl oors of the Sheraton Club with its exclusive lounge and outstanding service.

Whatever you need, we have the right solution for you!

• www.sheratonfrankfurtairport.com

Advertorial

The event of the future

“New meeting formats” is a phrase that is currently on everyone’s lips in

the meetings and events industry. Numerous professionals are trying their hands at providing an overview of potential developments in the educational theory of knowledge transfer. The future requirements of such a wide range of new meeting formats are also being studied by the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH).

Advertorial

This is done under a so-called Revitalisation programme, which is due to start in 2017 on the provison that it receives the approval of the Senate and Parliament of the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The rooms and the meeting space are set to undergo fundamental restructuring, so that the interior design and available net fl oor space will set a clear signal, under the formula: 1 seat per 1 square metre of foyer space per 1 square metre of exhibition space!

This is the exact ratio that will meet the needs of new meeting formats and which will make the CCH every bit as unique as its location – in the very heart of Hamburg, directly next to a high-speed international train station and with an adjoining four-star hotel.

• www.cch.de

Enjoy unlimited meeting opportunities at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel.

Whether it’s a meeting between two people, a major event for 1,200 delegates, a press

Imprint

Frequency: triannual publicationFeatured writers in this issue: Publik. Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH, Dr. Willms Buhse, Claudia Sporn

Layout: Sven Steglich, Printing: ABT Print und Medien GmbH

Pictures: p. 1,3 & 4: ©GCB | Michael Pasternack, p. 6 ©Lufthansa Training & Conference Center Seeheim, © Photographer: Lufthansa - © CGI: Pixomondo

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: Accor Hospitality Germany GmbH, Düsseldorf Congress Sport & Event GmbH, Stuttgart Convention Bureau

GCB Branch Offi ce North America

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 2000New York, NY 10168-0072, USATel. +1 212 661 4582Fax +1 212 661 6192E-Mail [email protected]

GCB German Convention Bureau e. V.

Kaiserstraße 5360329 Frankfurt/Main, GermanyTel. +49 69 242 930- 0Fax +49 69 242 930- 26E-Mail [email protected]

Publisher

GCB Members and Partnerswww.gcb.de/en/the-gcb/gcb-members-and-partners

Muster

für Platzhalter

mind. 12 mm hoch

Executive Board: Matthias Schultze, V.i.S.d.P.: Martina Nesper, Birgit PacherEditorial Staff : GCB German Convention Bureau e. V.

GCB German Convention Bureau with strong partnerships for meetings and events in GermanyThe successful work of GCB is based on strong partnerships: Accor Hospitality Germany GmbH, Düsseldorf Congress Sport & Event GmbH and the Stuttgart Convention Bureau are now working with GCB as Preferred Partners for a second consecutive year.

Another form of cooperation is the partnership programme Members in Focus, with the participation of CCH (the Congress Center Hamburg), Leipzig Tourismus & Marketing GmbH and the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center (since 2013) as well as Congress Frankfurt - Messe Frankfurt (since 2014). GCB also has a premium partnership with the hotel chain Maritim Hotelgesellschaft.

Moreover, the work of GCB has been supported by several strategic partners since its foundation in 1973: these are Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn (German National Railway) and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB).


congressfrankfurt

Top experienceKap Europa – a new standard for congress culture.Close to the exhibition site, at the centre of city life, you’ll find the perfect union between sustainability and a feel-good atmosphere.

Welcome to the new location of Messe Frankfurt!www.kapeuropa.de

Location. Service. Experience.

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gcb newspaper 2014 2 en

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