Association conventions in Berlin are attracting the most attendants worldwide – this was found by a recent statistics report of ICCA, the International Congress & Convention Association. The report shows that Berlin welcomed more than 100,000 visitors of conventions in 2008, placing the German capital well in front of other world cities such as Barcelona (81,933), Paris (73,872) and Bangkok (58,007).

With this new visitor record, Berlin is continuing on its successful path as a convention metropolis. Over the last ten years, attendance figures more than tripled – while only 30,850 guests visited the capital for trade events in 1999, 106,171 were reported in 2008.

From 1999 to 2009, a total of 517,943 trade visitors visited the city. This places Berlin among the most significant international convention destinations of the past ten years, along with Vienna (636,800), Barcelona (623,313) and Paris (573,564).

Heike Mahmoud, Director Convention of Berlin Convention Office (BCO): “Over the last decade, Berlin has developed into a globally sought-after convention metropolis. International associations will find excellent conditions here: the most modern hotel landscape in Europe, an excellent price-performance ratio, renowned convention centers, such as ICC Berlin, and extraordinary locations. The attendance figures of the ICCA statistics have now proven that this variety is very well received – a big success for the German capital and the Berlin Convention Office.”

More information on Berlin as a convention destination may be found at www.berlin-convention-office.com.