Euro Exim Bank

Hamburg – Meeting place for the world

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is not only Germany’s second largest city, locals claim it is also the most beautiful metropolis in the country. And more and more people seem to share the sentiment: Hamburg has for years now been enjoying an ever increasing number of overnight stays, reporting more than 50 consecutive months of substantial growth and projecting yet another record-high of 11.5 million for 2013. The Elbe metropolis is already among the top ten most popular destinations in Europe and is making significant strides in trade fair and conference business, as well.

As a meeting destination, Hamburg leaves little to desire. In fact, it was the first city in Germany to open a modern and purpose-built conference center in 1973. In 2006 the CCH added an extension offering an additional 7,000 sqm of exhibition space. Furthermore, the city is currently reviewing an ambitious plan of restructuring the older part of the congress centre in order to accommodate even more breakout rooms and to develop capabilities to host multiple large conventions at the same time. The Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) is located right in the buzzing center of the city, with adjacent high speed train station, conference hotel and one of the finest parks all just a few steps away. However, an excellent infrastructure is to be expected of any serious competitor in the global meetings industry, what makes Hamburg stand out from the crowd, is the city itself.

Playground for architects

Tradition and modern life, history and visions of the future merge and create Hamburg’s distinctive character. The city’s versatility perhaps can best be witnessed in the redeveloped docklands area called “HafenCity”. This is nothing less than the largest current inner city development project in Europe and a 157 ha playground for the most renowned architects from across the globe. The modern and sleek quarter features countless new locations and impressive water views. At its tip, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall is a conspicuous landmark, rising in sweeping lines from the base of a former coffee storehouse. The concert hall with adjoining hotel is set to become the dazzling new venue of superlatives and reflects the high standards of a metropolis with international aspirations. The nearby brick facades of the historic Speicherstadt storage buildings, provide an interesting contrast to the futuristic steel and glass architecture of HafenCity.

Hotels in prime locations

Despite its size, Hamburg is a city of short distances and the density of accommodations in all categories in the city center is second to none. From the prestigious addresses surrounding the Alster Lake, to designer hotels and renowned hotel chains, Hamburg offers something to meet everyone’s taste. In the recent past, the city has doubled its total accommodations capacity to more than 53,500 beds with numerous new projects underway and a few thousand beds to be added over the next couple of years. Accommodation capacities in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region are currently at 244.000 beds. With the 25,000 delegate Lions Clubs International Convention 2013, Hamburg proved it can turn a congress of almost any size into a success.

The city’s versatility perhaps can best be witnessed in the redeveloped docklands area called “HafenCity”.

 

Green City

In recent years Hamburg has been making a name for itself as the centre of Europe’s booming wind energy industry and an overall green metropolis.

In 2011 Hamburg received the »European Green Capital award, and was thus credited with being the most environmentally friendly city on the continent. One of the reasons for receiving this honour is that the city has managed to significantly reduce its carbon emissions despite substantial economic growth. Furthermore, visionary approaches for a green metropolis with a high quality of life are showcased in many areas – not least at the International Building Exhibition (IBA) or the 2013 International Garden Show (igs). The city is dedicated to continued growth to be achieved with smart technologies and concepts that are environmentally sound and sustainable.

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A key industry in this regard is the on- and offshore wind energy sector. Hamburg has attracted many leading manufacturers and supply chain companies of the wind industry to settle in this international port and trade metropolis. These companies play a major part in implementing Germany’s ambitious plan of energy transformation. Since Hamburg has become the capital of Europe’s wind power industry – as well as being a first-class meeting destination – it seems only logical that starting in 2014, the global wind industry will be meeting at WindEnergy Hamburg, to present innovations and shape the future of this booming sector. The international exhibition has garnered support from a large number of major companies, among them Siemens Wind Power, REpower Systems, Nordex and GE Energy.

WindEnergy Hamburg 2014

This new industry event will be held in Hamburg for the first time from 23 – 26 September 2014. For more information on Hamburg as a meeting destination, please visit