Germany ranks third globally for quality infrastructure

NEW YORK, New York – The recently-announced Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 issued by the World Economic Forum has ranked Germany number 6 overall in terms of economic competitiveness and numb

NEW YORK, New York – The recently-announced Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 issued by the World Economic Forum has ranked Germany number 6 overall in terms of economic competitiveness and number 3 for its infrastructure in terms of quality. This comprehensive report assesses the competitive landscape of 144 economies worldwide, providing insight into the drivers behind their productivity and prosperity.

Infrastructure – along with strong business, academic and scientific expertise. and green meetings knowledge – is part of what makes Germany a leading global meetings, event,s and conference destination, having hosted 2.72 million events in 2011, up 4.5 percent from the previous year (Source: Meetings & Events Barometer Germany 2012). Germanyโ€™s strong variety of world-class, interwoven transportation options and infrastructure creates convenient and efficient mobility. These options include 40 airports, 20 of which are international, with Lufthansa serving 200 destinations in 80 countries; 12,850 kilometers of world-class highways; and a strong train network of almost 33,500 kilometers serving 5,400 locations. Once visitors are at a local destination, German public and personal transportation by train, bus, car sharing, and taxis then kicks in to get them around safely and easily. For those that prefer exercise and the ultimate green way to get around on two wheels, Germany even features the โ€œCall a Bikeโ€œ program in eight cities and at over 40 train stations.

โ€œSeamless mobility is one of the core benefits Germany offers to business travelers,” said Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau, “Further, leading German travel providers such as Lufthansa and the Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) provide customized solutions to the meetings industry, making work travel to and within Germany increasingly easy and value-driven. So whether you are visiting for a conference or coming in for a small incentive trip, your infrastructure experience in Germany should always be top notch.โ€

In addition to the benefits of Germanyโ€™s travel infrastructure itself, meeting and event organizers and their guests – as well as the actual business programs themselves – benefit from Germanyโ€™s expertise in logistics and transportation and other key industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, and biotech. The country is, for example, home to such key international players as DHL, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, BMW, Lufthansa, Schenker, and Deutsche Bahn (German Railways). and many others, allowing meeting organizers to dip into this local expertise for event content suggestions, potential sponsorship relationships, keynote speaker candidates, and a multitude of other networking opportunities.

Convenient location has also been recognized as a strength for meetings and events professionals, with Germany being called the most accessible country in Europe by the European Unionโ€™s ESPON (European Spatial Observation Network) Survey in 2011.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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