Immediately before this year's management conference in Munich, Joachim König and EVVC representative for Berlin Dr. Hubert Koch met the Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology Ernst Burgbacher on 2nd September 2010. Since the end of last year Burgbacher is the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism and thus responsible for the event industry. Together, a number of relevant topics for the industry were expounded, discussed and debated.
Apart from questions to optimize the working time regulations in municipally structured event venues and the importance of these houses for the cultural and creative industries, special attention was directed to the EVVC’s current and important issue of sustainability in all its facets. In particular, the extensive activities in the field of environmental commendations for event venues within the context of the EVVC / Green Globe certification and the additional activities to further develop the conference event “Green Meetings & Events” in cooperation with the German Convention Bureau received extremely positive reviews.
In addition, Burgbacher indicated his support in adapting and implementing appropriate programs for ecological restoration and sustainable programs for the event industry.
Another big topic of conversation point was the reduction of VAT for the hotel and the associated effects: In addition to a visible positive effect on the willingness for investments in the industry the VAT reduction also gives a fundamental signal for the event industry!
EVVC President Joachim König: “With this success, the tourism industry, which is highly important for the German economy, and thus the events industry, is for the first time appreciated in an adequate dimension and clarity, in spite of all regulatory tax criticism, which could be put forward. This move was imperative, if one looks at the decades of continuous, one-sided and sometimes quite questionable tax subsidy culture in other industrial and commercial areas, which in fact have a far lesser economical impact.
Or put another way: “How can the car-scrapping scheme be less open to criticism from a tax political point of view than the VAT-reduction for the hotel industry?” The much less critical discussion about the car-scrapping scheme actually only very clearly shows that it is time to position our industry even more distinctly than before and to also demand the appropriate support.”
The offer by Ernst Burgbacher of a continued exchange of views and the future possibility of re-meeting to discuss further issues was the conclusion of a completely positive conversation for the EVVC.
