2008 was a successful year, and 2009 is on track to be even better – this is the positive review and outlook that DüsseldorfCongress Veranstaltungs-GmbH is able to deliver after the first half of this business year.

2008 was a successful year, and 2009 is on track to be even better – this is the positive review and outlook that DüsseldorfCongress Veranstaltungs-GmbH is able to deliver after the first half of this business year. A subsidiary of Düsseldorf municipality and Messe Düsseldorf exhibition company, DüsseldorfCongress brought its 14th year of operation to a close with a profit. And the scene is set for new all-time highs in 2009.

With 3,386 events during 338 occupancy days in 2008, the company registered the highest-ever number of meetings, seminars, congresses, concerts and sporting events at its nine venues. In total, 1.8 million visitors were the guests of DüsseldorfCongress. Revenues generated by rentals, technical, personnel and organisational services, rights, advertising and hospitality amounted to EUR 26.1 million. Post-tax profit last year added up to EUR 84,951.

The bulk of events consisted of seminars, meetings, training courses, receptions and press conferences – resulting chiefly from the outstanding exhibition year (3,155). In addition, 60 congresses and corporate events with more than 1,000 participants took place in the DüsseldorfCongress venues, alongside 21 annual shareholder’s meetings. The venue management and event organisation company further notched up 89 concerts and shows plus 61 sports events.

Among the biggest scientific events in the DüsseldorfCongress properties last year were the European Congress on Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Medicine with 1,000 delegates, the 41st Annual Congress of the DGTI German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology with 1,300 attendees and the German Road and Transport Congress, which attracted an audience of 2,800. Many prominent companies such as Walt Disney, L’Oréal, Vodafone, AWD, Henkel, Metro, Deutsche Telekom, QVC and Microsoft also opted for venues managed by DüsseldorfCongress.

International world stars such as The Police, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, the Foo Fighters and Rihanna performed in the LTU arena, ISS DOME and PHILIPSHALLE. A volleyball Olympics qualifying tournament, the football show ‘DFB hautnah’, the big TV Total Stock Car Crash Challenge and the New Year’s Eve dance event ‘Sensation’ marked some of the sporting and show highlights in 2008.

Following the strong business year 2008, DüsseldorfCongress expects to buck the current economic trend and turn in even better performance with increased activity in 2009. This year the venue management company will host a particularly large number of substantial major events, congresses and corporate functions on its premises. For the following years, too, the calendar can already boast some heavyweight fixtures.

Given the many events scheduled, DüsseldorfCongress expects 2009 to deliver the highest revenues so far in the company’s history. Visitor numbers should also continue rising: this time the two million mark has been set as the target, with anticipated audiences of 2.1 million.

More information at www.duesseldorfcongress.de

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