With a convincing final presentation, the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) won over Dubai and Pittsburgh.

This congress is special: once per year the ICCA World Congress brings the whole meetings industry of all continents together.

The event is organised by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) which unites some 850 congress centres, destinations, meeting planners and meeting industry suppliers in more than 80 countries.

The top industry event of the meeting professionals implies particularly high demands and expectations since ICCA members have committed themselves to utmost quality in event organisation.

One of the countries bidding for the 50^th ICCA World congress in 2011 was Germany. The key player in this bid was the Congress Center Leipzig, and now, an Olympic dream is coming true for the city.

It was made known on April 25: the international jury of ICCA has decided for Leipzig!

The ICCA Board’s decision was made at the IMEX 2008 exhibition in Frankfurt and was revealed one day after IMEX. The other finalists for 2011 were Pittsburgh, U.S.A. and a joint effort from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO said: “I think the three bids for our 2011 congress have been the strongest ever, but it was the truly exceptional standard of the Leipzig bid that led to the ICCA Board’s decision. It was carefully focused on ICCA’s business and development objectives, highly creative and involved a committed ICCA team from all over Germany. I am sure they will enable us to deliver a superb Congress.”

In the year of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany will also be the host for the international meetings industry. The Leipzig area will particularly benefit from the successful bid. Leipzig’s Lord Mayor Burghard Jung called it “a gigantic opportunity” which will be used actively:

“Leipzig as a city of trade shows, meetings and conventions, science, and music, will present itself in the best light possible. We will introduce the meeting planners from all over the world to the great wealth of our city, encompassing all aspects of culture and business.”

What matters is to stage the city’s achievements in a smart and skilful way so as to make a long-lasting impression on the event organisers.

“With the CCL, Leipzig has long joined the division of international meeting business. Manifold synergies exist for the city and the area which can be used for joint destination marketing efforts. The ICCA Congress illustrates this in a particularly obvious way. And I am sure that we Leipzigers will be good hosts, so that people will like to come back to our city in the future.”

Prominent Support for Leipzig’s bid

The Congress Center Leipzig, opened in 1996, is part of the Leipziger Messe exhibition and convention centre. Wolfgang Marzin, President and CEO, sees the CCL’s strategy confirmed:

„One of our strong points is that our area has great competences, and that we have formed strong partnerships. For many years we have been marketing the CCL in conjunction with the city and the area. This has paid off. Leipzig features many competent personalities and institutions; they are part of national and international networks. One of our closest partners is Leipzig University, but we also have excellent relationships with research institutes, cultural institutions, and the city’s administration. The hotels of Leipzig, too, make a strong contribution to the high quality standard of congresses in Leipzig. All these strategic alliances have made it possible that, within a very short time, the CCL was able to establish itself on the international market.” 

The CCL’s bid for the ICCA Congress had prominent supporters. André Kaldenhoff, Director of the Congress Center Leipzig, emphasises the commitment of their partners as a key factor for success. Professionalism is expected from all candidates, says Kaldenhoff, „But we had promoters who stand for the know-how and special commitment in the Leipzig area and in fact all of Germany.”

During the final presentation in Frankfurt prior to IMEX, former speed-skating champion and now TV presenter Franziska Schenk radiated with warmth and enthusiasm.

Kerstin Hoffmann, Editor-in-chief of the international meetings industry publication CIM, was another convincing supporter of the bid.