The partners inAacheninvolved in the conference and meetings market are aiming to join forces and pull in one direction for the future. The network was initiated by Kristina Wulf (EurogressAachen), Werner Schlösser (aachentourist service), Wolfgang Winkler (Art Hotel Superior), Maurice de Boer (Ratskeller) and Michael Nobis (Nobis Printen). They have made it their mission actively to strengthenAachenin the long term as a meetings destination and make the city fit for the future. For this they have found 24 partners who have taken the idea enthusiastically on board and promised their support.
In addition to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, these include tourism service providers, hotel partners, venue suppliers, event agencies and suppliers of event technology and accompanying programmes.
AlthoughAachencan boast a varied range of facilities for conference and event organisers, it also faces competition from other cities. The meetings initiative is dedicating itself to better communicating the city’s possibilities and potential by means of various activities. Towards this end it intends consistently to pursue the development of promotion strategies and implementation of joint marketing activities in the longer term.
It is important to the partners that their network should focus meeting and event planners’ attention even more closely onAachenas an ideal meetings destination and that planners should be able to get to know all the service providers they need for their functions personally through this channel.
Another objective is to positionAachen’s conference and events facilities effectively, to underscore the city’s merits as an event host and to exploit the potential that Symbios AG ascribes to it. In 2010 the consultancy Symbios conducted a study to assessAachen’s potential as a meetings destination, concluding that the city was an attractive meetings and event host with considerable growth potential.
In addition to the various players’ marketing activities that are already working well on a decentralised basis, in the long run the only way to success is through a network and marketing alliance representing a wide range of very different suppliers.
“I’m delighted with the reception. I hadn’t expected so much positive feedback. It shows me that we are on the right track with our idea,” commented Kristina Wulf from Eurogress Aachen, co-initiator of this extremely important network forAachenand the implementation of meetings and events. She perceives an initiative of this kind as an indispensable catalyst for securing existing meetings business and developing new openings inAachen.
“Resting on a long tradition and looking forward at the same time, Aachen has more possibilities than practically any other city to score points with the destination itself, the quality of its events and the quality of its service range and to inspire national and international guests alike. This needs to be advertised much more actively,” says Wolfgang Winkler, general manager at the Art Hotel Superior, of the motivation for his involvement as co-initiator.
Werner Schlösser, managing director of aachen tourist service and another initiator of the Aachen meetings initiative, has also been won over by the idea: “The Aachen meetings initiative will not only be able to deliver another effective marketing tool for this city in an economic segment of such pivotal significance for Aachen; with the involvement of new partners, marketing activities for the city as a meetings destination will also benefit from new and fresh impetus.” The other two co-initiators, Maurice de Boer from the restaurant RatskellerAachenand Michael Nobis, proprietor of the traditional Nobis bakery, endorse this view. Although both very well known beyond their regional borders, so far neither have been very actively involved in marketing the city.
For this year the meetings initiative has scheduled various activities. It begins with a familiarisation trip hosting conference and event organisers on a weekend inAachenthat will give them an opportunity to get to know the city’s strong points and potential. In the summer a lobbying event will be staged, followed in the autumn by plans for a cooperative tradeshow appearance and a client-hosting event.
