Five brands renew their partnership with the German Convention Bureau

FRANKFURT – Cooperation is a recipe for success: For stakeholders in Germany’s business events ecosystem, this maxim has proven essential in recent years. Only by pooling competencies can strengths be fully realised and “Meetings made in Germany” successfully navigate complex transformation processes. In 2025, five leading brands are intensifying their collaboration with the GCB German Convention Bureau. In addition to the diverse marketing portfolio, the partners also value the GCB’s role as an innovation driver.

The five GCB cooperation partners for 2025 cover the diverse elements that contribute to a thriving business events sector in Germany. Notably, all five partners are continuing their fruitful cooperation from the previous year. For the GCB’s “Partner in Focus” program, the selected partners for this year are darmstadtium, the Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center, the Convention Bureau Thuringia, and the Tourism Agency Schleswig-Holstein. Additionally, under the “Premium Partner” program, the GCB will continue its intensive collaboration with H World International.

H World International: Distinctive Brands

For a little over a year, Deutsche Hospitality has been operating as H World International. Under the umbrella of the loyalty program and booking platform H Rewards, strong brands such as Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts and IntercityHotel are united. Event organisers can access a diverse portfolio, enabling them to create perfectly tailored events.

Rob Oudshoorn, Senior Director Sales at H World International: “As an internationally operating hotel company with a strong presence in Germany, our partnership with the GCB is of great importance to us. Together, we represent the destination Germany at trade shows and in the MICE industry, contributing to international visibility. With our broad portfolio and extensive expertise in the MICE segment, we benefit from the innovative impulses and market analyses of the GCB. Particularly valuable to us is the opportunity to shape Germany as a MICE destination both locally and globally – whether through industry events, international trade fairs, or in growth markets such as North America. The collaborative exchange allows us to identify trends early and continuously develop our strategic direction.”

Schleswig-Holstein: Meetings in the True North

Whether green meetings, hybrid events, or maritime incentives – the Schleswig-Holstein Convention Bureau (SHCB), part of the Tourism Agency Schleswig-Holstein (TA.SH), supports meeting planners from A to Z. Especially in connection with Schleswig-Holstein’s key industries, from renewable energies to the digital economy, the coastal region can fully exploit its potential as a sustainable destination for incentive agencies and small to medium-sized business events.

Dr. Bettina Bunge, Managing Director of TA.SH: “Our close cooperation with the GCB is a valuable partnership that accompanies us throughout the year. Together, we set impulses to further strengthen Schleswig-Holstein as a versatile conference and congress location. Through continuous exchange with the GCB, we benefit from valuable market analyses, innovative approaches, and a strong network. This enables us to develop our offerings in a targeted manner – whether in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation, or international positioning. We highly value the partnership with the GCB and look forward to continuing to set new priorities in the meetings industry together.”

Meetings in Thuringia: Perfectly Central

Thuringia is not only centrally located in Germany and easy to get to, boasting a wide variety of unique locations with vibrant history and authentic ambiance – it is also an attractive business location between tradition and high-tech, home to an outstanding research and technology landscape. Here, event organisers and attendees can find the perfect venue for all topics.

Christoph Gösel, Managing Director of Thuringia Tourism: “As a newly established convention bureau for the conference destination Thuringia, close cooperation with the GCB is particularly important to us. On an equal footing and through regular, valuable exchanges on industry-relevant topics, it supports us in our strategic alignment and enhances our visibility in the MICE industry. Through the numerous networking and training opportunities offered by the GCB, we quickly came into direct contact with colleagues and industry peers from the very beginning. Additionally, we have a strong marketing partner by our side, helping us position Thuringia as an interesting MICE destination with a central location in Germany.”

darmstadtium: Where the Future Meets

EMASplus and DGNB certification, award-winning IT infrastructure, resource-efficient sustainability, and accessibility: the science and congress center darmstadtium is a true pioneer in connectivity and sustainability. The house’s namesake is the chemical element Darmstadtium, discovered in 1994 at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt. This not only highlights the international importance of the science city but is also one of many economic and scientific strengths that event professionals can leverage for their events in this Hessian city.

Lars Wöhler, Managing Director of the darmstadtium: “The cooperation and long-standing fruitful collaboration with the GCB began even before the opening of the science and congress center darmstadtium and has brought about many positive developments. We particularly appreciate the professionally sound, always reliable, and above all very inspiring collaboration with all contacts at the GCB and its member companies. All this contributes to promoting the resilience of event centers and enables us to adapt to changing conditions in the future. With the wide range of marketing options, educational offerings, and above all the diverse, significant impulses from the GCB for our industry, we are delighted to be one of the GCB’s ‘Partners in Focus’.”

Frankfurt Airport Dual Brand: Premium Brands Under One Roof

Direct access to the airport’s Terminal 1 and the high-speed train station via a covered pedestrian bridge, 58 flexible event rooms, over 1,000 hotel rooms, and much more: With the Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel and the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center, Marriott International combines two of its most renowned premium brands under one roof at a top location. In 2025, the twin house will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Rick Enders, Multi Property General Manager of the hotel combination: “The partnership between the Marriott & Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel and the GCB is an important milestone for us in strengthening our position as an internationally leading hotel in the MICE segment. The GCB strengthens our global presence by representing us internationally and expanding our network. Through market analyses and the exploration of megatrends, it enables us to offer innovative solutions. Of particular note is the GCB’s pioneering role in sustainability, which helps us to achieve our own goals and to make the event industry more environmentally friendly. We look forward to continuing our many years of successful cooperation with the GCB and are convinced that with the GCB we can further expand our hotel’s position in international competition.”

The article Five brands renew their partnership with the German Convention Bureau first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.