HOFBURG Vienna posts strong results

The HOFBURG Vienna defied the recession in 2009, posting almost EUR 10 million in revenue and generating over 400,000 overnight stays. And with regular and repeat customers accounting for almost 60 percent of the conference centre’s clientele, it is in a strong position heading into 2010. Some 70 percent of capacity is already booked, and the number of international events is set to rise.

Hofburg Congress Center returned an excellent business performance in 2009, posting year-on-year improvements in results. “The international congresses and meetings segment played a major part in this, with revenue twice as high as in 2008 when turnover was affected by the Euro 2008 football championship,” explained HOFBURG Vienna managing director Renate Danler. This area of business alone generated more than 50,000 overnight stays for Vienna — a figure that excludes the impact of the permanent conference facilities of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe), which recorded 220 meeting days and 65,000 delegates. Meanwhile results from the corporate events segment were generally flat. A positive feature of the year was the fact that regular and repeat customers held steady at almost 60 percent of revenue despite the harsh economic environment.

The broad mix of events resulted in good risk diversification. Congresses, corporate meetings and OSCE conferences made up 60 percent of revenue. Revenue growth showed the wisdom of the strategic focus on conferences and meetings with 300 or more delegates. The revenue contribution of balls and concerts was unchanged at 13.5 percent. The Kaiserball — a proprietary event held at the turn of the year — generated 7 percent. Banquets and gala evenings are another major event category, and accounted for 12 percent of sales — slightly down on 2008 — while 7.5 percent came from trade fairs and exhibitions. The imperial staterooms — the Festsaal, Zeremoniensaal and Grosser Redoutensaal — are the most frequently used of the 35 rooms available for events. The Hofburg Galerie and the spectacular modern architecture of the Dachfoyer (Rooftop Foyer) are also highly popular. In 2009 the HOFBURG Vienna played host to 305 events with a total attendance of 303,000 or more than 830 visitors per day. The HOFBURG Vienna generates an annual revenue of almost EUR 10 million (excluding catering sales) as well as an added value of EUR 190 million for the local and national economy. Investments of around EUR 3 million in technology, equipment and furnishings added to the economic impact.

Managing director Renate Danler is upbeat about the year ahead. She believes that the venue is well placed to succeed in 2010 and beyond because of its strong customer base and highly professional support team. “Around 70 percent of capacity for 2010 is already booked,” she noted. However she commented that event organisers were tending to watch the purse strings more closely — particularly when it came to catering and staging, and making bookings at shorter notice. “We are encouraged by the increase in international conferences and meetings, which also create an economic stimulus,” she added.

International events scheduled for 2010 include the Bologna Ministerial Anniversary Conference on 11–12 March, with about 800 delegates, and the World Federation of Neuro Rehabilitation (WFNR) Congress from 20–24 March, where some 2,000 leading doctors will be exchanging scientific information. There is also a strong programme of medical conferences, featuring: Europäischer Kongress des Roten Kreuzes (the European Regional Conference of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), from 13–16 April; the Österreichischer Zahnärtzekongress (Austrian Dental Congress), between 30 September and 2 October; and the AGA Kongress (Congress of the German Speaking Association of Arthroscopy), from 9–11 September (around 1,200 participants). The big highlight of the exhibition calendar will be the VieVinum wine fair, to be held from 29–31 May, which is expected to attract over 15,000 connoisseurs. Around 55,000 guests are seen attending the 17 traditional balls at the Hofburg, inducing EUR 10 million in GDP. The Hofburg also remains a popular choice for banquets and gala evenings.

The Hofburg is very much an international venue. As Renate Danler pointed out, “the ratio of international to local events is 70:30.”