Over the course of 2009, the city of Cologne played host to around 41,000 events, attended by 3.13 million visitors.
The events included in this figure were those where the largest room at the venue had at least 50 seats — 147 venues in total (not including scientific event venues).
Cologne has over 20 events centres, 55 conference hotels and 73 event locations, making the city absolutely synonymous with events.
This supply structure, with such a large number of event locations, is unique within Germany. The great demand for events does not just occur during the holiday season — Cologne is sought after all year round.
Almost a third (31%) of overnight stays in Cologne accommodation are due to events. Overnight stays arising from business travel alone (only including conventions and conferences) generate a yearly turnover of 110 million euros for the city.
Around two thirds (65%) of visitors to conventions and conferences in Cologne are visiting on business. Of these visitors, the largest proportion are from banks and insurance companies, followed by the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
Non-commercial visitors (35%) are often drawn to Cologne for cultural events and Carnival, as well as personal trips.
'All business is local' certainly rings true in Cologne. Over 60% of event organisers come from the surrounding region and a further 20% come from Germany's 'West region' (the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hessen and Lower Saxony).
The regional and national preference for Cologne as a conference destination was confirmed in a survey of event hosts, which was carried out as an additional module in the supplier monitoring section of the conference barometer.
Over half (52%) of the event organisers questioned stated that Cologne was a destination of major importance in Germany. Cologne counts, without a doubt, among Germany's top locations: in the 2008/2009 Meeting & Event Barometer, the city was ranked in fourth place among Germany's larger cities offering conference and convention facilities.
Over 90% of the event hosts questioned could envisage holding their conference in Cologne.
What makes Cologne so attractive to event organisers? The city's central location and good connections were advantages that received particular mention, closely followed by the variety and professionalism offered by the event venues.
Event organisers value the cultural diversity, the opportunities for supporting programmes and the unique atmosphere of this city on the Rhine, whose residents make it a truly special place. The German slogan "Köln ist ein Gefühl" (Cologne is a feeling) is true for the conference market as much as for the city as a whole.
But not only in Germany, also in the context of an international benchmark Cologne strengthened its position in the MICE market. In the worldwide ranking recently published by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Cologne occupies position 79 (2009: 164), in the European ranking position 45.
The annual ICCA "International Association Meetings Market" statistics present an in-depth evaluation of trends in the international meetings industry. The association conventions reviewed by the ICCA must have at least 50 attendees, be regular events and take place alternately in at least three different countries.
