Good value for money; competitive prices; accessibility; and its green profile are among the reasons for the increasing demand for Copenhagen as a host city for international conventions, according to feedback from convention organisers who have chosen the Danish capital.
“I was most impressed with the timely and accurate information I received. Every time I asked for something, I received a prompt response. This made my job as a planner very easy,” says Darren Mendola, senior director of Convention Services at the Alzheimer’s Association, when asked to explain why they chose Copenhagen for their 2014 international convention.
And more organisations are in agreement about why Copenhagen is the right choice. The number of conventions Copenhagen secured during 2011 is significantly higher than last year.
In terms of the room nights which Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau has booked this year – in close partnership with the city’s meetings industry network, Meetingplace Wonderful Copenhagen and VisitDenmark – the number is twice that of last year.
In total, close to 300.000 room nights generated by 45 international association meetings have been secured by the convention bureau in 2011 to be held in the city in the coming years.
“This year will be a record year for Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau and our partners in terms of securing future bookings. Among others the reason is partly due to an expansion of hotels and venues in Copenhagen, and partly due to an increased public and private investment in sales and marketing activities,” says Steen Jakobsen, convention director with Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau.
Among the future events which the Danish capital already has lined up are the Annual Event of the European Wind Energy Association in 2012; the Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology in 2013; the Alzheimer’s Association International Convention in 2014 and EuroSpine in 2015.
Accuracy, accessibility and excellent value
“Copenhagen is a beautiful city with all the culture, history, and architecture one would expect in a European destination, but it’s more compact and easy to get around compared to a larger city such as London or Paris,” says Darren Mendola, adding:
“Copenhagen has excellent value and ease from a convention attendees’ view point. Copenhagen has easy accessibility with great transportation options from around the world. Plus, the city is very competitive in terms of hotel room rates and delivers an equal or better product than the other locations we considered.’
Front runner in sustainability
Another reason for the increased interest in Copenhagen as a convention destination is the demand for green and sustainable facilities.
Copenhagen’s green expertise was one of the reasons to why The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) booked the Danish capital for their 2012 convention bringing 10,000 delegates to Copenhagen next April. Anja Magry, head of events comments:
“Copenhagen offers modern facilities and experienced staff (…). The compact layout of the city allows for easy navigation by public transport. The leading role of Copenhagen and its event industry suppliers in sustainable matters is an important factor for EWEA as it is aligned with our sustainability vision and helps us reduce the environmental impact of our convention.”
Since some 30,000 people attended the UN’s Climate Change Conference, COP 15, in 2009, Copenhagen has become a frontrunner in sustainable meetings. Today, 63 percent of all hotel rooms in Copenhagen are eco certified.
Robin Lokerman has 20 year’s experience in the meetings industry, and is CEO and partner in MCI, which specialises in the development of conventions and has offices in 22 countries. He has visited Copenhagen more than 20 times, and comments:
“Copenhagen’s meeting product transformed itself dramatically in the run up to COP15 and, in my opinion it has been a front runner in terms of sustainability since 2009. Many other cities offer sustainable solutions, but none have proven they can do what Copenhagen did with COP 15. It is unique.”
In 2012, Denmark will chair the Council of the European Union and over 100 meetings will be organized in Denmark as a result. The goal is to organise the meetings under the Danish chairmanship as sustainable as possible.
