Convention and meeting destination Germany defends its number one position in Europe and second place world-wide in the new international country ranking.

Frankfurt/Main, 12 April 2007. Germany has defended its top position in Europe as a destination for meetings and conventions: According to the new International Association Meetings Market 2006 survey of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), Germany is number one in Europe for the third time running and number two world-wide after the USA. And the other ranks have seen a lot of shifting: For example, Spain, last year's number three, has dropped to number five in the new ranking.

"Germany's good and constant position in this dynamic environment shows that we are doing the right thing and succeeding with our strategy," Lutz P. Vogt, director of the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V., judges the result. The GCB markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany.

The ICCA's annual International Association Meetings Market statistics for the meetings and conventions market presents a comprehensive assessment of international meetings industry trends. To be analysed by the ICCA, association meetings must have at least 50 delegates, take place regularly and rotate between at least three countries. Founded in 1963 and based in Amsterdam, the ICCA has been gathering information on world-wide association events since 1972.

The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany. Its 233 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Preferred partners of the GCB include m:con Mannheim, Maritim Hotels and the SevenCenters of Germany.

The GCB is an interface between organisers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletter, Germany guide and a lot more.