We are the first port of call for all businesses, associations and agencies planning a congress, meeting, event or incentive in Hamburg.

The Hamburg Convention Bureau is Hamburg’s official, non-partisan agency for marketing Hamburg as a destination. Our Conventions unit comprises experienced experts who will navigate you through all planning stages. We are well acquainted with the local industry, and we will support you in achieving your objectives as swiftly as possible.

Our team of dedicated marketing professionals can provide you with free and independent advice with regard to securing suitable venues and hotel accommodation and in compiling a social programme. We maintain an extensive network with local service providers, public authorities and economic clusters. We organise inspection visits whenever required and use our industry expertise to support you in preparing your conference bid.

In the area of conventions, we focus on acquiring international business events related to those industries that are part of Hamburg’s economic clusters. In particular, we concentrate our efforts on Hamburg’s local cluster initiatives and scientific landscape. In addition, we also focus on the strategic development and expansion of our target markets.

In our role as ambassadors for Hamburg as a MICE destination, we promote the Hamburg Metropolitan Region at trade fairs and industry events as well as in reputable media.

As a marketing manager, Florian Gerdes is responsible for clients from Great Britain, the United States and China. Florian deals with queries emerging from these markets, while also managing target group-specific events and PR measures for clients. At trade fairs, forums and sales calls, Florian serves as the contact person for event planners from agencies and private enterprises in particular.

Florian studied hotel management in Switzerland with a focus on marketing. He holds a BA in business administration and a diploma from the Swiss Hotel Association. His career path has also led him to the United States, Italy and Tanzania.

Born and bred in Basel, Frank Pflugfelder advises clients from the economic clusters of logistics, maritime and aviation wishing to hold an event in Hamburg. Besides managing event queries, Frank’s range of tasks includes developing innovative concepts for advancing the meeting business, as well as participating in promotional industry events.

Frank has in-depth knowledge and 15 years of experience in the trade fair and event industries. He has worked e.g. with Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH and, on behalf of Karlsruhe Messe und Kongress, as a project coordinator for Learntex, a specialist fair.

At the HCB, Karine Serra is in charge of actively attracting international congresses to Hamburg. A graduate event manager, Karine is dedicated to the cluster industries of medicine, healthcare, and life sciences. Karine is a native of France and has lived in Hamburg since 2001. As well as knowing the the city inside out, she has in-depth knowledge of the tourism and MICE sectors. Karine has gained many years of  experience in planning and implementing international events, e.g.with Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH as project manager for trade fairs abroad. Most recently, Karine held the role of senior project manager in destination management with MR Congress & Incentive GmbH, where she was responsible for the French market.