b u s i n e s s
mice
“The response is always positive” Text Natalie A. Gerhardstein – Illustration Myriam Heinzel
Luxembourg is an increasingly popular mice destination , but there has been plenty going on behind the scenes in terms of development and communication in order to make that happen. Cluster Mice Luxembourg president Patrick Hoffnung shares his thoughts on how Luxembourg offers excellent value in the sector. 112
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or those based in Luxembourg, the perks of the country are clear: situated in the heart of Europe, the Grand Duchy is easily accessible to other European business hubs, has modern infrastructure, and is a safe, secure location. Add to that the international, multilingual environment, plus a range of cultural offerings and activities, and it’s easy to see why Luxembourg is also becoming an increasingly popular destination for Mice (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions). DISCOVERING THE UNEXPECTED Across Luxembourg, there are over 100 venues available for the Mice sector for pretty much any taste. There is, for example, the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL) – awarded “Best Congress and Convention Center” during the 2017 Business Destinations Travel Awards – which has two plenary rooms and can welcome up to 800 people, as well as an amphitheatre with a 646-seating capacity. But there’s also perhaps less “convention”-al venues, the largest one being d’Coque with a capacity of 6,500, or the Mondorf Domaine Thermal wellness centre, or even the subterranean option of the Bock Casemates (fortress ramparts). “Luxembourg isn’t well-known… But when we invite people to Luxem bourg to explore it, the response is always positive. They discover some-
thing completely unexpected for them,” says Patrick Hoffnung, who has served as the Cluster Mice Luxembourg (CML) president for the last two-and-a-half years. Helping others discover Luxembourg was one of the main drivers behind Meet Luxembourg, organised (with a number of key partners) for the first time in 2016. Over the course of three packed days, visitors from corporations, international associations or intermediaries, including travel agencies, arrived in the Grand Duchy from target countries to get to know the country better. In addition to Meet Luxembourg having the business atmosphere of a true trade show,
there were a number of events and tours, both in Luxembourg city and farther afield, in the programme as well. According to CML, a think tank federation comprised of 27 public and private organisations, there are opportunities for sector growth, given that tourism more broadly already accounts for around 6.5% of the country’s GDP. Part of the growth that has taken place so far was due to the 2015 figures, with the L uxembourg presidency of the Council of the EU taking place in the second half of that year. According to Luxembourg for Tourism figures, in 2015 there were no less than 9,200 Mice