In 2011 the conference division at trade fair and congress company Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH (KMK) posted its best result for four years. Between 2010 and 2011 the company boosted its earnings by 15 percent, welcoming in the region of 236,500 visitors to 261 guest events – 132 of them guest congresses –inKarlsruhe. Attendance was up by 30,000 on the previous year.
These excellent figures were due in no small measure toKarlsruhe's capturing the contract to stage the IG Metall trade union's ordinary federal congress in October 2011 and to the close succession of scientific conferences. The focus on law, medicine, commerce, IT, social affairs and science as areas of expertise had an additional positive impact on the perception of Karlsruhe in the respective industries and hence on the situation with regard to event bookings.
"Reimplementation of the conference division as an independent pillar of the KMK was a significant step, pointingKarlsruhein the right direction to secure the city's long-term future as a congress host," KMK managing director Britta Wirtz commented.
Besides high-powered scientific congresses and events for reputed commercial and IT clients, the convention division is also particularly pleased to be hosting the federal party conference of the FDP in April 2012, to which 600 delegates and 2,000 guests are expected. It is hoped that the Free Democratic Party's top-notch event attracting high nationwide attention will placeKarlsruhein the political limelight once again.
To retain its appeal as an international congress centre, the interior decoration of the premises and halls on the Festplatz is to be upgraded. A call for ideas has been launched, the initial results of which will be presented this March. The intention is to reflectKarlsruhe's strong points as a centre of research and innovation in more modern architecture as well.
For further details visit: www.kongress-karlsruhe.de
