Switzerland remains a premium destination

CONFERENCES & EVENTS For the fourth time, the Konferenz-Arena took place at the Kongresshaus Zürich on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. With over 160 exhibitors, the trade show is an annual gathering for the industry.1000 professionals took the opportunity to interact directly with the managers of the tourist areas. For the first time, the organizers invited a guest canton. For Andreas Bannholzer, Director of the Office du Tourisme of the Canton of Vaud, the invitation as guest region to the conference arena was a chance for the meetings and events providers of his region to present themselves. Two highlights were a VIP talk by Röbi Koller with Nadja Schildknecht, co-director of the Zurich Film Festival, and a conversation about women's careers between presenter Christa Rigozzi and journalist, presenter and lecturer Esther Girsberger.The assessment of tourism expertsAt the media roundtable, the three representatives Barbara Steuri-Albrecht, Switzerland Tourism, Martin Sturzenegger, Zurich Tourism and Stefan Otz, Interlaken Tourism gave an exciting insight into the development of the meetings and events market in Switzerland. "The focus is clearly on the markets in Asia, as we don't see a future in Europe," says Otz. For Sturzenegger, the renovation of the Kongresshaus is the first step toward renewed growth in the meetings and events sector in Zurich. "Although the numbers in Germany are declining, we remain active in this market," Steuri-Albrecht explained in turn. All three see the strength of the Swiss franc and the general cost pressure in the industry as a challenge for the Swiss location.

Looking optimistically to the future: Martin Sturzenegger, Barbara Steuri-Albrecht and Stefan OtzAuthor: Dominic Karrer