EVENTS

MAASTRICHT AND SURROUNDINGS HOST OF 167 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS (MULTIPLE DAYS) IN 2005
07/10/2006
According to the statistics of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC)*, Maastricht and surroundings are doing well as destination for international conventions and meetings (multiple days): in 2005 no less than 167 companies and convention organisations found their way to The Netherlands’ oldest city along the river Meuse to have their meeting.
Every year, the NBTC collects the figures of the whole country. In 2005, a total of 1,146 international meetings (multiple days) were held in The Netherlands. So Maastricht and surroundings hosted around 15% of all the meetings.
A good result, says Marcel Knols, director of the Maastricht Convention Bureau (MCB) and of the Maastricht Tourist Board. In 2004, during the EU-chairmanship of The Netherlands, our region hosted 177 meetings. 10 more than in 2005, but as mentioned, in 2004 The Netherlands was chairman. If you note that in 2004, only 102 international business meetings (multiple days) took place in this region, we did very well. The economic impulse for Maastricht and surroundings is enormous. These meetings alone indicate a turnover of more than 56 million Euros. The trends for Maastricht are positive as well, therefore the future looks bright as well.?
When asked for the motivation of this success, Ren Hanssen, director of MECC Maastricht answers: Without a doubt, we thank a lot of our success to the unique features of Maastricht , the natural surroundings combined with the quality of venues and our lifestyle. But equally important is the cooperation of parties in the MCB, that are involved in business tourism. One does not sell ones own convention centre or hotel. One sells Maastricht . And that, we must do together!?/span>
The MCB is a foundation of several companies and service organisations from the MICE industry of Maastricht and surroundings. Their purpose is to promote Maastricht and surroundings as business destination, and to let as many MICE organisers have their business meetings in this region as possible.