The market is thus continuing to recover from the coronavirus crisis, as this represents an increase of 13% in the number of events compared to the previous year. Particularly high growth was recorded for congress centres. The increase in participants was 33%, with congress centres and event venues recording the strongest growth.
The changes were also calculated compared to 2019, the last "normal" year before coronavirus. Here, the difference in events is now still -14%, i.e. the figures for 2023 are currently at 86% of the pre-corona level. For participants, the difference is +12% (112% of the pre-corona level).
The proportion of foreign participants has also risen sharply again. At 3.6%, it is above the previous year's figure (3.2%), but still below the pre-corona figure of 6.5% (2019).
In terms of the origin of organisers, Cologne's own region continues to lose some of its dominance, but the West and South regions in particular are on the rise - as are organisers from abroad (increase from 2.6% to 5.9%)
The most important foreign source markets returned to their pre-corona ranking: 1st UK, 2nd USA, 3rd NL. This means that the USA has risen one place and is back in second place.
Please note: Information on hybrid and virtual events cannot yet be provided in these "initial figures", as the Meeting & Event Barometer figures, which will not be available until May, are required for the calculation.