In a hearing before the tourism committee of the German parliament (Bundestag) the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and European Association of Event Venues (EVVC) deepened their dialogue with politics.

Under the title "The Meetings Industry in 2030 – a Vision" the two associations presented the current situation of the meetings industry and discussed future prospects and possible developments with political decision-makers.

The hearing is an important measure to intensify the dialogue between industry and politics and hence part of the GCB's strategic reorientation and of joint activities in the capital together with the EVVC. Topics included the industry's strong economic power, Germany's leading position also in the field of green meetings, competitive taxes and the role of the public sector as an organiser and operator of event venues.

"The developments and efforts of the meetings and events industry in the field of sustainability so far are a major step in the right direction: Germany's ecological orientation will be major advantage in the competition among other international destinations," was the feedback of MP Klaus Brähmig, chairman of the Bundestag tourism committee.

Joachim König, President of the EVVC, recaps: "The manifold and very positive feedback of the committee members showed us that politicians take a great interest in the concerns of the meetings industry. Hence, we could intensively discuss many topics that are important to us with decision-makers."

"Germany is Europe's leading meetings destination and number two world-wide behind the USA. With business travel accounting for a total turnover of 64 billion euro the industry is a major economic factor for Germany with good growth prospects. The hearing is a further step towards strengthening political awareness of the events industry, showing its great potential and shaping the future of the meetings sector in a dialogue with politics," emphasises Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB, adding: "This is a dialogue we will deepen in future with a variety of measures."

To further intensify their relations with politics, the GCB and EVVC will be staging a joint capital city congress of the events industry in Berlin from 18 to 20 June 2012.

They will be cooperating with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Germany Chapter of MPI Meeting Professionals International, Site - Society of Incentive & Travel Executives, the German Travel Management Association (VDR) and the Association of German Event Organisers (VDVO) to organise this event.

Caption: f.l.t.r.: Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau (GCB), Klaus Brähmig, MP, chairman of the Bundestag tourism committee, Joachim König, President of the European Association of Event Venues (EVVC).