France
In 2016, visitor numbers from France grew significantly for the first time in years – an upturn undoubtedly also fuelled by low-cost airlines launching new routes to Berlin. France is now ranked fifth in the European markets outside Germany.
For many years, Paris played a pivotal role in providing direct flights from France to Berlin. With the growth of additional routes launched by low-cost airlines, the French provincial regions are now gaining in importance, supporting the upturn in the numbers of visitors from France. For people from France, Berlin is a must-see city destination.
Our marketing activities in France in 2016 focused especially on two press events for the travel trade. For these events, held in Toulouse in June and Bordeaux in October, we cooperated with easyjet, Berlin Airports and the Toulouse and Bordeaux airports to host a press conference in the morning following by an evening event for the travel industry. The spectrum of marketing activities also included a ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshop in Strasburg and Lyon in cooperation with the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), as well as visitBerlin’s presence at the ILTM Cannes in early December attended by approximately 1200 professionals from the global luxury travel industry. In Berlin, we also personally organised and led 26 press trips from France. These generated a wide range of coverage in such leading media as Le Monde, Le Routard, The Good Life and on the France 2 and TV 5 channels.
Promoting Meetings and Congresses in Berlin
Berlin as the only German destination at the Salon Réunir Paris
Together with three other partners from Berlin – Maritim Hotels, MR Congress and insolite – we participated in the 2016 Salon Réunir in Paris. Even after Meedex’s rebranding as the Salon Réunir Paris, this remains the leading international trade fair in the French market. With evening events and guaranteed appointments on site, the fair provides an optimal opportunity for acquiring new customers and cultivating existing contacts.