As we approach the end of 2025, the Munich Convention Bureau would like to take this opportunity to look back on a successful year full of valuable encounters. Together with our customers, partners and colleagues, we have achieved important milestones this year that have further consolidated our city's position as a first-class destination for MICE events and conventions.
2025 was a year packed with major events– from international conferences and trade fairs to MICE events. Close cooperation with our partners, including hotels, service providers and local MICE companies, was crucial to the success of all projects. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for these valuable partnerships.
Particularly noteworthy are the great events such as Sports Tech Nation, the EPNS Congress and the ESICM Annual Congress, which took place in Munich and drew a lot of attention to the city.
Our participation in important industry meetings such as SITE, ICCA, PCMA and marketing activities with the German Convention Bureau also gave us valuable impetus.
Every year, we look forward to setting up a booth at the leading MICE trade fairs IMEX Frankfurt and IBTM Barcelona together with fantastic MICE partners and promoting Munich as an outstanding MICE destination.
Your commitment and support have contributed significantly to the success of these events, for which we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
To give an even more personal insight into our year, the team members of the Convention Bureau report on their personal highlights. They describe the special moments they were able to experience together:
A particular highlight of the year for me was the recognition of our 50 years of ICCA membership at the annual congress in Porto. As one of the longest-standing members, we greatly value the association, which is indispensable for our international network and successful congress acquisition.
Equally important was the excellent cooperation with our Munich stakeholders. Together, we are continuing to develop Munich as a strong MICE destination. This is an important step towards strengthening Munich's position in the international congress market in the long term.
For me, 2025 was filled with enriching experiences and intensive exchanges in the congress industry. The diverse ICCA events are particularly noteworthy: the Destination Workshop enabled valuable discussions with associations, the ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting promoted regional knowledge exchange, and the annual congress strengthened the global cohesion of the ‘ICCA Family’.
I also look forward to our Munich Tourism Day every year. For me, local exchanges with Munich stakeholders are at the heart of our successful destination marketing. This combination of global and local engagement has shaped my year and inspired me for the future.
The direct exchange with Munich professors who are planning conferences is simply enjoyable. I have made interesting new contacts at Munich universities and clinics and have been able to support them in organising their own events or involve them in promoting international conferences. Introducing the Convention Bureau to newly appointed professors was also a complete success.
In September, I started as a dual student at the Convention Bureau and was able to gather many exciting impressions in a short period of time. One of my highlights was our joint visit to the Oktoberfest, where I got to know my team better. The site visits, during which I was able to discover many new locations and hotels and make valuable contacts, were another highlight. I am looking forward to continuing to support the Munich Convention Bureau 2026 and gaining lots of experience.
2025 was an exciting and eventful year, full of unforgettable experiences. For me personally, the FAM trip we organised together with Bayern Tourismus and the SITE Global Conference in Mexico stand out in particular. These events not only gave me valuable insights into the MICE industry, but also provided me with the opportunity to forge important relationships and gain new perspectives.
I am looking forward to 2026 and the exciting opportunities it will bring– I am looking forward to realising new projects together!
It's hard to believe, but after four years of parental leave, I've now been ‘back in business’ for a whole year. For me, it felt like coming home, thanks to the many wonderful people in our industry. The incomparable start with PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston made my return an absolute highlight for me. Seeing old friends again and making new acquaintances at the same time– what a great year!
This year, participating in IMEX in Frankfurt was particularly significant for me. Not only because I enjoy presenting Munich's diversity and the combination of tradition and modernity there in my dirndl. It is also impressive how we represent Munich as a MICE destination together with our local exhibitors and how authentic the personal exchange with our international customers always is as a result.
In addition, I organised a workshop for the Munich hotel industry for the first time, in which we worked together to further develop statistics for Munich as a MICE destination. The lively participation of our partners shows how important measurable success is for us as a destination.
Not only is 2025 drawing to a close, but so is my time at the Munich Convention Bureau. IMEX Las Vegas and ibtm world in Barcelona were my last international trade fairs, not only as a participant but also as the organiser of the Munich booth. In Barcelona in November in particular, I was able to feel the importance of the Munich MICE industry network. They are not only partners, but also friends to me, who gave me a wonderful last ibtm with their ‘farewell song’. This was my absolute highlight of 2025 – before I retire in the summer of 2026.
What stands out for me this year? Definitely the Live Destination Showcase in London, where I had the opportunity to present with the Hotel Bayerischer Hof Munich and exchange ideas with international colleagues from the industry – a day full of exciting conversations and new ideas. It was equally enriching to meet and network with many new Munich partners at the trade fairs in Frankfurt, Barcelona and Las Vegas. It is moments like these that make my work so special.
A particular highlight this year was the preparatory meetings and support for the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) team, whose congress will be held here for the fifth time next year. At meetings in Munich on city dressing and congress implementation, anticipation is growing for this major and important congress to be welcomed to Munich in August 2026.
The visit to the ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) pre-congress in Vienna is also particularly noteworthy. It was great fun to inform visitors at the information stand about the upcoming congress and Munich as a venue, and to make personal contacts. This gave me an impression of the congress and hopefully inspired visitors to attend the next one.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited about the new opportunities for cooperation that lie ahead. We firmly believe that collaboration is the key to even greater success. In the coming year, we want to further deepen existing relationships and develop new partnerships.
We look forward to the challenges and opportunities that the new year will bring.
Finally, we would like to thank all our customers and partners once again for their trust and cooperation in 2025.
We wish you a peaceful and relaxing holiday season and look forward to seeing you again in 2026!
