Earth Day brings with it a very welcome focus on sustainability, one that’s all the more timely and relevant given the current crisis we’re experiencing. The team at Hamburg Convention Bureau is celebrating Earth Day by sharing some of the positive planet-friendly practices put in place by the certified Fair Trade city, and former European Green Capital (2011).

In these unprecedented times of crisis and chaos it’s important to share and draw strength from positive stories on how the industry has responded. Hamburg Convention Bureau has gathered together some of the best business-support initiatives launched in the city in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Sustainability continues to be a firm focus for many event planners. Providing delegates with planet-friendly methods of travelling is one of the many ways to deliver this. Test tracks for autonomous driving and hydrogen fuelled options in the new area of the city – the HafenCity – , the electric ride pooling service MOIA, dedicated travel cards for delegates and free travel on bikes, scooters – and even skateboards – thanks to some of the city’s hotels. Switching to climate-friendly mobility: In Hamburg there are numerous possibilities for this on the rails, on the road on four wheels or on two wheels.

With sustainability consistently topping the agenda for planners, Hamburg has a variety of planet-friendly venues that can help planners reduce the carbon footprint of their event.

‘Ahoy 2020!’ Event planners can dive into the heart of Hamburg’s seafaring heritage with a virtual tour of the city‘s best maritime venues, brought to life by the team who know the city best – Hamburg Convention Bureau (HCB). HCB’s new online homestory showcases unique venues blending seafaring history, industry culture and maritime flair.

Following comprehensive modernisation beginning January 2017, the revamped CCH – Congress Center Hamburg is scheduled to open in August 2020 and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. With a total available exhibition space of 12,000 m2, another 12,000 m2 of foyer space, and 12,000 seats in up to 50 halls and rooms, the congress center is the largest of its kind in Germany and can accommodate a wide range of events – from international specialist conventions with thousands of attendees to workgroup meetings in break-out rooms.

Europe’s leading cruise trade show & other industry events has been unite to turn host city Hamburg into a hub for cruise events. Europe’s leading congress and trade show for the sector, Seatrade Europe Cruise & River Cruise Convention, returned in September to Hamburg Messe as well as the Hamburg Cruise Days, the biggest public cruise festival worldwide.

Skyscraping views, stylish social spaces and skateboards all on offer: New hotels – both established brands and boutique venues – are scheduled to launch in Hamburg in 2019, providing even more accommodation and venue options for planners.

Planners from across the world experienced Hamburg first hand as part of a series of fam trips and events held recently in the city. Hamburg Convention Bureau (HCB) hosted a hat-trick of events, bringing a total of 57 meetings planners to Germany’s second largest city ahead of IMEX in Frankfurt in May.

Part networking, part conference and part rock concert, OMR (Online Marketing Rockstars) is one of the world’s largest events for the digital marketing and tech sectors attracting over 50,000 marketing and digital professionals, 400+ exhibitors and 600+ speakers to Germany’s second largest city. It brings together music and creative minds every year in Hamburg and includes a new international start-up awards.