IMEX - incorporating Meetings made in Germany

Football Fever at Germany Stand

German MICE providers present offers tailored to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ at IMEX 2006

Frankfurt on Main, 27 April 2006. Football rules OK at the Germany stand of the German Convention Bureau (GCB) at IMEX - incorporating Meetings made in Germany in Frankfurt from 30 May to 1 June 2006. The focus of the German presence in areas F100 to F160 and G100 to G180 is on the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. The exhibitors - 141 destinations, convention centres, meeting hotels and other service providers of the German MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions & events) industry - offer information, brochures and programmes on the mega-event. IMEX visitors can now plan their visit efficiently by registering on www.imex-frankfurt.com and checking out who will be at the Germany stand in the Virtual Exhibition.

The GCB itself is also focusing on football: Visitors of the IMEX Germany stand have the opportunity to challenge each other at the soccer simulator and show off their ball skills. Their movements will be transmitted to a screen by carpet sensors. Additionally, stand guests can place bets on which team will win the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, and the GCB will be giving away five hotel vouchers for weekends in Berlin (2x), Dresden, Hamburg, Halle/Westphalia plus travel by Hertz rental car.

The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany from 9 June to 9 July 2006 will not just be a mega sports event: “As a long-term effect it will boost Germany’s image well beyond the World Cup,” says GCB director Lutz P. Vogt. Already number one in Europe and number two world-wide behind the USA as a congress and meeting destination, Germany also wants to become the world’s number one MICE destination thanks to the World Cup. “Germany offers great value for money and an excellent infrastructure,“ Vogt promotes short-term events during the World Cup. There will be sufficient meeting and hotel capacities even in June/July 2006. On its website www.germany-meetings.com the GCB has compiled lots of interesting information for planners about the World Cup programmes of hotels, agencies and various cities.

Kick-off for special events in German meeting hotels

Estrel Berlin, Europe’s biggest convention, entertainment and hotel complex, focuses entirely on the 2006 FIFA World Cup™: At IMEX Estrel presents attractive World Cup meeting packages and its spectacular “11” soccer show with international stars. The special meeting packages are for groups of all types and sizes - from small meetings for 15 people to big events with several hundreds of guests - and include a “sporty” three-course soccer menu and tickets for the “11“ soccer show from 21 June to 9 July at Estrel Convention Centre. Staged by and with ball artist Andreas Wessels, the breathtaking show focuses on football with artistic, musical and humorous aspects. Like all Estrel shows you can book “11“ exclusively or integrate parts of it into an event.

Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz was also inspired by the soccer eleven: Its “Eleven” meeting offer invites IMEX visitors to stage an event from 9 June to 9 July 2006. Special gimmick: One group member in eleven can attend for free.

Another hotel in the capital that has jumped on the World Cup band waggon is the Hollywood Media Hotel at Kurfürstendamm - with an exhibition of fine art reproductions from the World Cup 2006 art edition. The centrally located hotel, where film fans can see photos, sets and theme corners from the international movie scene all the year round, presents offerings for event planners at the IMEX Germany stand: Ten conference rooms offer space for meetings, presentations and events of all kinds.

Maritim Hotels are also exhibiting at the GCB’s IMEX Germany stand: 16 of the chain’s hotels can be booked as FIFA hotels, and Maritim Würzburg is the official quarters of Ghana’s national team. Maritim Hotels offer event planners their full services during the entire World Cup. There are special football theme meeting offers. Alongside live broadcasts of all World Cup matches, they include team building and group events like goal shooting and table soccer contests or even football matches. Maritim Frankfurt and Maritim Kurhaushotel Bad Homburg will arrange specially designed World Cup 2006 matches. After an exhausting seminar day, Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde has a special relaxation offer: Guests can enjoy soccer with seaviews while watching broadcasts of FIFA World Cup matches in the nearby Brügmanngarten.

With the opening of its Steigenberger Hotel De Saxe and Maritim Hotel & International Congress Centre Dresden boasts two new hotels in the luxury and first class categories with a total of 1,030 beds. They will appear at the IMEX Germany stand under the umbrella of KongressInitiativeDresden, an alliance of 22 event centres, meeting venues, meeting and congress hotels, congress agencies, technology providers and tourism companies. One member of the initiative - wine estate Schloss Wackerbarth - was chosen as part of the Germany - Country of Ideas campaign to promote an innovative, modern and cosmopolitan image of Germany at home and abroad in 2006. The estate will also be providing champagne during the daily happy hour from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Dresden stand. There visitors can also win a stay in Dresden and other valuable prizes.

Here you wil find the entire press release to download...