Meeting planners appreciate good venues – but these are not the key factor when they decide where to organise a conference. First, they look at the quality of the destination as a whole: hotels, infrastructures, accessibility, and the image of the city in general. The team of the CCL Congress Center Leipzig has understood this vital truth and that is why they have created powerful networks among all meeting industry suppliers in Leipzig. And beyond – they closely co-operate with local scientific and business communities who have the potential to attract conferences to the city. A unique spirit of co-operation – this is what they consider their biggest achievement and as the key to their success. This is what has brought them among the top ten of German meeting venues, and among the top 100 international congress centres.
“Yes, we do have a beautiful venue and first-class service. However, the main reason behind the CCL success story is excellent networking. We closely cooperate with PCOs, leading scientists and research facilities. That’s how we have been able to attract major and high-profile conventions to Leipzig”, says André Kaldenhoff, Executive Director of the CCL.
Flexible venue with a modular concept
The Congress Center Leipzig is part of the Leipzig Trade Fair exhibition and convention centre which was opened in April 1996, and it belongs to the Leipzig Trade Fair Group.
State-of-the-art facilities and high-tech communication systems blend with exciting architecture, landscaping and artistic design to set the scene for unforgettable conventions. Experts and writers have repeatedly described the property as the epitome of all that’s modern. Thanks to the clever modular concept for its use of space, the CCL is just as suited for small conferences as it is for large-scale congresses and exhibitions with several thousand participants. The CCL building can be used individually, or in combination with exhibition halls, and the Glass Hall.
The CCL building
Architectural beauty and sophisticated design are the trademarks of the CCL. Yet, the layout of the building is extremely simple, and the orientation within the building is perhaps easier than in any congress centre. There are four levels, and the largest hall holds 1,100 people. Overall, the 23 independent rooms, banqueting halls, lecture theatres and seminar rooms offer maximum seating for up to 3,700 people. In addition, the CCL has available 3,650sq m of gross surface area, which can be used for exhibitions, presentations or catering facilities to accompany the congresses.
The Exhibition Hall
Exhibition Hall Two is directly connected with the CCL building and its gross exhibition space of 20,500sq m can be subdivided. An in-built flexible system of partitioning walls allows the creation of segments of either 10,000sq m, or 5,000sq m. The hall features all supply functions and is fully equipped for data transfer and multimedia communication. This flexible facility sets a perfect scene for creative and innovative concepts of event design, integrating plenary meeting space for several thousand attendants, catering areas, and virtually unlimited space for exhibitions.
The Glass Hall
Entrance Hall West, or ‘the Glass Hall’, the work of English star architect Ian Ritchie, arches high above visitors’ heads, covering more than two football pitches. It is 240 metres long and spans an area 80 metres wide. There are 20,000sq m on two open levels, capable of accommodating 4,500 people – offering an incomparable setting for exhibitions, events, presentations, receptions, and gala evenings. The open spaces and water features provide inspiration for some electrifying event ideas.
A network for success
Looking at the yearly number of conferences and attendance figures, the Congress Center Leipzig ranks among Germany’s top ten meeting venues. In terms of quality and service, the CCL is one of the acknowledged market leaders, but what makes the venue special is not only the powerful and modern infrastructure – it is above all a very personal style. This comes from the CCL’s staff members, their commitment, their love for the city of Leipzig, and for their clients. From F&B catering, building and furnishing exhibition stands, decoration and technical equipment to handling travel and accommodation issues, social programmes and PR campaigns: the network of companies and units belonging to the Leipzig Trade Fair Group always offer a flexible, high-quality, and good value-for-money service.
The Fairgourmet GmbH provides F&B services for visitors to the CCL. Highest quality standards, the commitment of the staff, and the experienced management ensure that food and drinks served at the CCL are a culinary delight. Be it a quick snack in the bistros of the exhibition halls, be it a decent lunch in one of the four à la carte or self-service restaurants, or be it a gala night in the breathtaking Glass Hall: Fairgourmet offers perfect solutions tailor-made to the requirements of each event.
Fairnet GmbH, another part of the Leipzig Trade Fair Group, plans, co-ordinates and implements all services needed for a successful large-scale conference, for a breathtaking exhibition, or for a spectacular special event.
Fairnet’s scope of services includes a purpose-built large plenary auditoria in the exhibition halls, exhibition management, construction of individual and shell-scheme exhibition stands, rental of furniture, complete AV equipment availability as well as stages and decoration services.
A quality meeting destination
What matters just as much or even more than the quality of a meeting venue is the attractiveness of the host city. The Leipzig area has powerful infrastructures with excellent traffic connections and a truly outstanding choice of hotels in all categories, totalling 6,500 rooms in 50 hotels. An essential factor of Leipzig’s attractiveness is the unique cultural heritage and the wide variety of cultural and leisure offers. There are so many options – from a concert of the world-famous Gewandhaus Orchestra to a relaxed pub crawl at night.
Leipzig is a prominent centre of science, research, and innovation. Synergies with Leipzig University, founded in 1409, with renowned hospitals and research institutes, make the CCL a preferred venue for conferences dealing with the issues of the future. Leipzig also stands for innovative technologies, industries and services. The Porsche and BMW factories are icons of a strong automotive and supplying industry in our area: the energy and environment sector and the domain of logistics and services are equally well represented.
Corporate responsibility
Leipzig Trade Fair, including the Congress Center Leipzig, commit themselves to the principles of corporate responsibility. Under the headline Wachsen in Balance (Growing in Balance) Leipzig Trade Fair has launched a transparent and measurable sustainability management system. The objective is to create a new balance between economic growth, and responsibility for the environment and the society. Having undergone a sustainability audit process, Leipziger Messe received the Green Globe Certificate in February 2010 (renewed in 2012) – the internationally renowned and recognised sustainability certificate of the event and tourism industry. The process of auditing has also revealed future objectives for making Leipzig Trade Fair’s operations and policies even more sustainable. Growth on a long-term basis is only possible if the interests of the environment, of society, and of business partners are respected, and if they are given the opportunity to grow as well. Acting in a sustainable way is an investment into the foundations of a common future existence.
Further information: info@ccl-leipzig.de; www.ccl-leipzig.de
