Frankfurt Business Events Rise By 2.1 %
According to the most recent congress and conference statistics compiled by the Frankfurt Convention Bureau, more than 4.6 congress and conference delegates met in Frankfurt in 2017, an increase of 1.7 % compared to 2016. The total number of business events rose by 2.1 %, surpassing 75,500. Most events recorded were one-day events, this figure growing by 3.1 %.
As in previous years, Frankfurt continues to be a popular destination for smaller conferences of up to 50 participants (Total no. of events: 59,431). This category increased by two percent and accounted for almost 80 percent of all recorded events. Events with 501 to 1,000 participants achieved the largest increase, recording growth of 11.3 % (total no. of events: 375). The increase in this category may be attributed to the excellent utilisation rate of the city’s large congress hotels and the congress venues of Messe Frankfurt (Frankfurt Fair & Exhibition Centre), particularly the fair’s popular congress centre, Kap Europa.
The industries that use Frankfurt to hold their events the most are the financial services, consulting, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. As always, the majority of event organisers came from Germany. Great Britain, meanwhile, remains in first place in the category of international source markets. The USA improved their position, coming in second place, followed by Switzerland. China has become the most important source market for business travellers from Asia and ranks in the Top-10 of countries of origin.
Overall, it remains to be said that the excellent results of the MICE business have further strengthened city’s economic capacity. Business events held in Frankfurt yielded total turnover of some € 870 million, subdivided into the segments of hospitality, transport, retail, culture and recreation. On average, congress and conference delegates sojourning in Frankfurt in 2017 spent approximately € 189.00 per day.
The current prognosis foresees event and event participant figures to continue to rise. This year’s highlights include, for example, the congress of the German Society for Psychology, to be held at Frankfurt’s Goethe University, and the annual conference of the German Society for Neuroradiology, taking place at the Kap Europa congress centre. Last but not least, Frankfurt’s “new old town” will also be doing its part in attracting additional conferences and conference participants to the metropolis on the River Main. With the “Stadthaus”, the “Römerhallen”, the Evangelical Academy and the “Haus am Dom”, for example, the recently completed DomRömer Quarter is now home to a number of brand-new and conveniently situated conference venues.
Why is Frankfurt popular for conferences?
Frankfurt is easily accessible from all across the globe by train or plane. International Frankfurt Airport counts 100 airlines, 300 destinations, 100 countries. Many hotels in Frankfurt are in walking distance to the city centre/ congress centre / main train station (49,200 beds in 252 hotels – approximately 16,900 beds in 10,200 rooms within walking distance to Messe Frankfurt). The average daily room rate in 2017 was 127 €. By the end of 2019 there will be around 20 new hotels, which means around 4,130 rooms on top and more conference rooms as well.
Frankfurt has a long tradition as a trade show city since 1240: Venues from Europe’s most traditional to the most original and trendy ones (modern conference hotels, the halls of Messe Frankfurt, the Old Opera House or Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten).
Frankfurt as a green city: Sustainable + environmentally friendly events + locations
Frankfurt is in the middle of the RhineMain Region and framed by historical towns, half-timbered buildings and health resorts.
Frankfurt’s new old town: A new highlight in the heart of the city, which opened on May 9th, this year. Here you will find new conference venues, restaurants and shops (the official opening festival will be held in September this year). Furthermore, this is a new part of the city, where even locals live.
Frankfurt offers 60 museums, which is a nice leisure activity for the conference participants.
Some of the 31 universities in Frankfurt offer conference rooms as well.
Countless Incentive Possibilities (Flight simulator, Stand Up Paddling, (Apple) Wine Tasting, River Cruises.
Upcoming conferences
• Frankfurt Finance Summit,
29.05.2018
Kap Europa
• ISC – International Supercomputing Conference
24.06. – 28.06.2018
Halle 3 & Forum; Messe Frankfurt
• CSI Frankfurt 2018
27.-30.6.18
Congress Center/Messe Frankfurt
• Digital World Congress
20.09.2018
Kap Europa
• Frankfurt Cancer Conference
25.09. – 27.09.2018
Campus Westend; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
• Euro Finance Week
12.-16.11.2018
Congress Center/Messe Frankfurt
• hypermotion
20.11. – 22.11.2018
Messe Frankfurt
• 45th Annual Meeting EBMT
EBMT – European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
24.03. – 27.03.2019
Congress Center/Messe Frankfurt
