Darmstadtcongress, a new network to promote the city of Darmstadt as a conference venue was presented to representatives of the media and guests today at a press conference in the darmstadtium science and congress centre.

This association now provides a central contact point for event organisers. "darmstadtcongress brings together a large number of players from the city and surrounding region providing all kinds of services in the convention and conference sector – and more are welcome," says Klaus Krumrey, Managing Director of the darmstadtium. "Anyone seeking to organise an event will find quick, uncomplicated solutions from a single source. Together with the other members of the initiative, we can help with everything from accommodation and shopping to fine dining outside the official programme and designing a fringe programme or finding a venue for an evening get-together as part of an event. Everyone – both organisers and customers – profits from darmstadtcongress."

At the same time, darmstadtcongress aims to raise the profile of the city of science and art nouveau as a congress destination throughout Germany and Europe through a major advertising campaign. This announcement was made by the Lord Mayor of Darmstadt, Walter Hoffmann. "We want to build our national and international audience in order to attract even more important congresses to the city," said Hoffmann. "The darmstadtium is the perfect venue for attracting large numbers of visitors to Darmstadt."

The darmstadtcongress initiative currently has 23 members comprising companies and institutions from Darmstadt and its surrounding area. These include the darmstadtium and other locations, hotels, event agencies, trade fair construction and taxi companies as well as city centre shops, Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt Marketing GmbH and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Darmstadt Rhine-Main-Neckar. "Many congress venues are suffering because the congress centres and other local service providers have failed to join forces. darmstadtcongress combines the strengths of the darmstadtium and the location. Both guests and the location can now profit from this union," said Hildegard Schoger, deputy managing director, with some satisfaction.

A customer magazine "dc" published three times each year will provide news and information about the city of science and the association's members.