With a focus on 'The ART of Meetings made in Germany' the GCB German Convention Bureau invites IMEX visitors to its Germany stand.

IMEX - incorporating Meetings made in Germany - The Worldwide Exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events will be opening its gates once again from 26 to 28 May 2009 in hall 8 of Frankfurt Fair.

The Germany stand (F100) is the largest presence at the fair representing over 160 cities, convention centres, meeting hotels and further service providers of the German MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Congresses & Events) industry. "We are also proud that the Germany stand is almost 15 per cent larger than last year with 1,500 square metres - this shows how attractive it is for German MICE providers to exhibit at IMEX under the umbrella of the GCB," says a happy Managing Director Lutz P. Vogt.

"For business travel and meeting planners the Germany stand is the ideal place to find important information and collect offers in the shortest possible time - saving both time and money," adds Vogt.

And in 2009 Berlin will again have a very strong presence in the Germany area with 25 exhibitors. Exhibitors in the open space will include the Hanseatic City of Hamburg and North Rhine Westphalia together with Bonn, Duesseldorf and Cologne. IMEX host Frankfurt will be featured together with Wiesbaden and Messe Frankfurt Venue.

And Autostadt Wolfsburg, m:con Mannheim, Hannover, Nuremberg, and the SevenCenters - the marketing alliance of Germany's seven largest convention centres - will be also be returning to IMEX.

Some providers have increased their stand space considerably: For example, Congress Alliance and Munich Tourist Office have relocated from the main GCB site to stands of their own. In addition, the Goettingen-based Hotel Freizeit-In will present itself to the international meeting and convention industry at IMEX for the first time.

On the first day of IMEX, 26 May 2009, the GCB will be hosting a special opening party for meeting and event planners from 11.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.: According to the motto "Germany invites you", exhibitors and customers will be celebrating together at the largest IMEX stand. With live music and catering the GCB and German MICE providers will already offer an opportunity to network in a cosy atmosphere there at the start of the fair.

A lounge inside the Germany stand can be used for more detailed talks. There will be a restaurant on the upper floor. With a new design element - black, red and gold trimmings covering the entire space - the GCB will integrate exhibitors in the open space even better in the Germany stand, which consists of individual exhibitor cabins, a catering area and open spaces.

The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for all customers planning an event in Germany.

Its 250 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels, Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH, and
darmstadtium Science and Congress Centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board support the work of the GCB.

The GCB is an interface between organisers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com  features an online search facility for meeting venues, a newsletter, Germany guide and a lot more.