With an increase of 13.4 per cent, the highest in any major German city, Leipzig in 2012 again reached a record number of overnight stays with participants of congresses, conferences and events having a considerable share in setting the record.
In April, the website www.do-it-at-leipzig.de was re-launched with a modern layout, additional features were incorporated – among them a new partner structure, a quick search on the cover page and a shortlist feature, with which various service providers can be contacted simultaneously. Furthermore, when carrying out a request, the user can upload a file with details on the planned event. A news area and social media tools were integrated as well. Numerous search criteria regarding size, location and furnishing will continue helping meeting planners search and select.
“The new Web presence was revised with the user in mind,” said Volker Bremer, managing director, Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. “At their first contact, congress organizers receive valuable information and support for their decision-making process. And the clear focus on a team play of partners has been very positively perceived by the website’s visitors.”
In addition to the Web presence, the conference brochure “Meetings & Events in Leipzig” was revised. It is prefaced by emotional statements of well-known personalities. New “ambassadors” were integrated into the contextual concept, and
Leipzig has become a premier-league player in the tradeshow and conferences industries.
“The 2011 ICCA World Congress helped a lot to improve Leipzig’s image and its international renown as a conference city,” said André Kaldenhoff, director of the CCL Congress Center, Leipzig. “With about 100,000 participants per year the economic effects of the CCL are enormous.”
Another proof of success is that, on Feb. 26, the CCL was the first to receive the Meeting Experts Green Award in the category Sustainable Events. The jury acknowledged the transfer concept for the 2011 ICCA World Congress, which exclusively relied on public transport. The concept had been developed and put into practice by trainees and students of Leipzig’s public transport company, the Leipzig Trade Fair Co. and the companies Fairnet and Fairgourmet.
Since the beginning of the year, Leipzig has been “member in focus” of the German Convention Bureau (GCB). The marketing package that comes along with this provides the chance to place special emphasis on Leipzig and its initiative project “Feel the spirit … do-it-at-leipzig.de.” Part of it is the prominent presentation of Leipzig in the MICE area of the GCB website. It is featured in the GCB’s e-mail signature and incorporated into the social media strategy.
