The Hofburg Vienna faces two trends. On the one hand, larger events are increasingly booked at shorter notice; on the other hand, events such as medical conventions, in particular, are confirmed even further ahead. But this apparent conflict can be resolved, explains Hofburg Vienna Managing Director Renate Danler. “We have the capacity to accommodate this variety of demand. In fact, with our sophisticated logistics, and with our building having several imposing entrances, we can host up to three separate meetings going on here at the same time.”
The most recent examples of short-notice booking include theInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)conference on 24 and 25 October this year, with 800 participants, and the Pioneers Festival, with 2,000 visitors, also in October. On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) will host the conference on 24 and 25 October under the theme of “Worlds Within Reach from Science to Policy”, and will address aspects of global change and sustainable development including climate change, energy, food and water and poverty and equity. “The Hofburg Congress Center was our preferred conference venue for several reasons, including location, seating capacity and of course the beautiful and historic setting. We are also pleased to state that the event is held under the patronage of the President of Austria, Dr Heinz Fischer” indicated Leane Regan, press spokesperson for IIASA. In addition to the IIASA also the European Attorney General’s Conference has just fixed the convention for September 19.
In contrast, the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) recently decided to choose the HOFBURG Vienna, but made its booking well in advance of its 20th jubilee world congress, to be held in August 2015. About 2,500 doctors are expected to attend. The jubilee congress will address questions of metabolic surgery, endoluminal surgery and minimally invasive surgery, seen as essential milestones for treating people suffering from obesity. “For us, Austria was the natural choice, because of its celebrated past in association with bariatric surgery and Austria being one of the founding members of IFSO,” according to the conference president, Karl Miller MD, of the Austrian Society for Bariatric Surgery (ÖAG). But, he went on, turning to practical matters: “In the Hofburg Vienna and Austropa Interconvention [Vienna based event organisers] we have two very professional congress partners to assist us with organisation.” Similar long term plans are being made for the German Tax Advisers Conference (Deutscher Steuerberatertag), which will bring 1,000 participants to Vienna and the Hofburg Congress Center in October 2015.
If you add them all up, every year up to 320 events are held in the Hofburg Vienna, a total that rises to 600 events if you include the meetings of the OSCE, or Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. It’s a lot of meetings, and a lot of customers. But that’s why they come to us. They know they are getting a world-famous venue worthy of their vision. But they also know they are getting a venue with the willingness, capacity and flexibility to meet their varying demands, even when they are put forward at short notice.
