Nachdem der Europäische Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren e.V. (EVVC) und Green Globe International im Mai diesen Jahres ein gemeinsames Zertifizierungsverfahren für Veranstaltungshäuser entwickelt haben, das in der Zwischenzeit bereits 15 Häuser erfolgreich absolvierten, durchlief nun auch die Geschäftsstelle des EVVC das Audit von Green Globe und erreichte Ende Juli problemlos die geforderte Punktezahl. Der EVVC ist damit der erste Verband in Deutschland mit einem Green Globe Zertifikat.

Despite a strong decline in demand both suppliers and organisers from Germany and abroad still consider Germany the number one meeting destination by far: Around 80 per cent of both groups are convinced that Germany’s image as a meeting and event destination is
constantly improving – this was the strikingly unanimous result of the Meeting & Event Barometer. Initiated by the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the German National Tourist Board (DZT), the survey on the German meeting and event market was presented at IMEX trade fair today. In 2010 the initiators commissioned the European Institute for the Meetings Industry (EITW) to conduct the survey for the fourth time already.

Der deutliche Zuwachs an Schweizer Mitgliedshäusern um elf Betriebe seit August 2009 auf nunmehr insgesamt 16 macht deutlich, welche Bedeutung einer Branchenvertretung der Veranstaltungsindustrie in der Schweiz zugemessen wird. In der Zwischenzeit zählen neben MCH Messe Schweiz, Hallenstadion Zürich AG, Casino Kursaal Bern, Olma-Hallen St. Gallen, Kursaal Casino Interlaken AG auch das Zentrum Paul Klee und das Forum Fribourg zum Verband, um nur einige zu nennen.

Vorrangiges Ziel der Verbandsmitgliedschaft ist für die meisten Häuser der Austausch unter Kollegen – auch über Ländergrenzen hinweg - zu Aspekten der Qualitätssicherung, der Aus- und Weiterbildung und des Benchmarkings. Auf der anderen Seite erwarten die Schweizer Häuser durchaus einen Zugang zum Deutschen Markt mit entsprechenden Marketingmaßnahmen durch ihre Mitgliedschaft beim größten europäischen Branchenverband.

At this year's annual general meeting from 18th to 20th April 2010 at the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf the members of the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) unanimously elected Dr. Ursula Paschke, Messe- und Congress Centrum Halle Münsterland as the new Vice-President.

The board election which was held outside of the regular cycle had become necessary as the former Vice-President Matthias Schultze, will assume management of the German Convention Bureau on 1st May 2010 and thus will lose his member status within the organization.

For the fourth time the European Association of Event Centres awarded the EVVC Awards in the categories of “Corporate Social Responsibility / Ecology”, “Corporate Social Responsibility / Society & Social Issues” and “Best Own Events” on the evening of 19th April 2010 at its annual meeting in Düsseldorf. In the category “CSR / Ecology”, the prize went to the Congress Centrum Stadtgarten Schwäbisch Gmünd. The Culture and Congress Centre FILharmonie Filderstadt won the award in the category “CSR / Society & Social Issues” and the Lübeck Musik- und Kongresshallen GmbH won the EVVC Award 2010 for “Best own event”.

The EVVC calls for the event industry including all its houses to be reimbursed for a total of 2-3 billion Euros due to the expenses incurred in connection with the Reallocation of radio frequencies (digital dividend). “Our houses, that are for the most part communally sustained and thus dependent on tax payments, are faced with huge subsequent costs,” predicts EVVC President Joachim König. To be able to continue offering the technology of wireless microphones after the reallocation of radio frequencies in convention centers, multipurpose halls, arenas and theaters and many other events facilities from the Adult Education Center to the Staff College it will become necessary to purchase entirely new equipment almost everywhere. The wireless microphones that are being used so far do not work on other frequencies.