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• 126 events with some 125,0000 participants occupied 498,000 square meters of space at the ICM
• Trend toward ICM events with large number of participants continues
• Once again ICM wins bid to host renowned European Society of Cardiology congress
• NEW: International conferences for medicine and corporate business held at ICM

Fiscal year 2005 was another good year for the International Congress Centre Munich (ICM). It hosted a total of 126 events occupying 498,000 square meters of exhibition space. All in all, some 125,000 people participated in events held at the ICM during 2005.

The trend toward events with a large number of participants, which was noticeable during the past few years, continued in 2005. The share of events with more than 2,000 participants increased by six percent compared to 2004 to 33 percent. In the year 2004 the number of events with up to 2,000 participants increased from 23 to 36 percent of all events held, an increase of 13 percent. The share of events with up to 1,000 participants, on the other hand, decreased by 19 percent to 31 percent.

The ICM succeeded in its bid to host the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress in the year 2008, marking the second time that the organizer has selected the ICM as its venue. The world's largest annual cardiologists' congress is expected to have 25,000 participants when it takes place at the ICM again in 2008. The ICM worked together with partners including the Munich Hotel Alliance, Munich Fair Hotels, the Munich Airport, the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHG) and Munich's Office for Economic Affairs and Labor to have this major medical convention held in Munich again.

2005 in retrospect
In addition to conferences for the medical sector, the outstanding events held at the ICM last year included events for the IT sector as well as company events and shareholder meetings. Of the 126 events held during the year 2005, 30 percent were events organized by trade associations, and 55 percent were events for the corporate business sector.

Many of the congresses held at the ICM in 2005 were held there for the first time. New events in the medical sector included the 4th International Congress of the Human Proteom Organisation, a congress for the field of genetic research with 1,500 participants, and the congress of the International Team for Oral Implantology, which had 2,000 participants. Other new events on the ICM calendar included the annual meeting of the Airport Council International (ACI) and an event hosted by "NaturFreunde Deutschlands".

Shareholder meetings, which account for approximately 15 percent of all events at the ICM, were also an important part of the ICM portfolio in 2005. They included the annual shareholders' meeting of Hypo Real Estate Holding AG with 2,500 participants, which was held at the ICM for the first time in May, and the Linde AG shareholders' meeting, which was held there again last June.

One of the highlights in 2005 was the Bambi Awards Ceremony on December 1st. This high-profile event gave the Munich Congress Center a special flair and was broadcast on television throughout Europe. Increased security, the organizers' special requirements and the television coverage were a special challenge for the ICM team, which handled everything marvelously.
Outlook for 2006
In additional to several options, the ICM has already received a remarkable number of orders to host some 150 events in the year 2006. Beginning in early June, everything at the ICM will revolve around the soccer World Cup. FIFA, the International Soccer Association, will hold its annual congress for approximately 1,500 participants in Room 14, the largest room at the ICM.

As in the past, the ICM's portfolio for 2006 also includes several scientific and medical congresses. Among other things, they include a large-scale medical congress for the European Respiratory Society (ERS), an event for 18,000 lung specialists in early September that will occupy all the rooms at the ICM as well as two adjoining exhibition halls.

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About the International Congress Center Munich (ICM)
ICM, the International Congress Center Munich, is one of the leading destinations in Germany and Europe today thanks to its modern architecture and facilities. Due to its location directly adjacent to the New Munich Trade Fair (Messe München), ICM provides pioneering possibilities of designing areas for congress and event organizers.
As an independent profit center of the Messe München GmbH, the International Congress Center Munich successfully canvasses for its own customers on the German and European congress and conference market. At the same time, ICM serves as a platform for scientific supporting programs and congresses for separate events at the New Munich Trade Fair.

About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading trade fair companies with approximately 40 trade fairs for investment goods, consumer goods and new technology. More than 30,000 exhibitors from more than 90 countries and more than two million visitors from approximately 180 countries participate annually in the events held in Munich.
In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia as well as in North and South America. MMI has a global network with five subsidiaries in foreign countries and 75 foreign representatives, who work in 89 countries

Photographs for downloading at www.icm-muenchen.de

Additional information is available in the Internet at www.icm-muenchen.de

Contact:
Sonja Kreitmeier, ICM Project Communications: Tel. (+49 89) 94920714; Fax: (+49 89) 949 9720714; E-mail: sonja.kreitmeier@messe-muenchen.de