No. 2
August 2006

ICM shines as a venue for large-scale congresses
• More than 18,000 European respiratory specialists meet at International Congress Center Munich (ICM) from September 2 - 6
• With the ERS Congress, three out of Europe's five major medical congresses have been held at the ICM in Munich

It was the successful conclusion to a concerted effort: the city of Munich, the Munich Hotel Alliance and Munich International Trade Fairs succeeded once again in combining their strengths and bring the congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) to Munich. The ERS joins the ranks of the cardiology and diabetes congresses, making it the third major European medical congress to be held in Munich.

The topics on this year's ERS agenda revolved around intense research and increased prevention. Between 18,000 and 20,000 respiratory specialists from throughout Europe participated in four days of workshops, symposia and panel discussions on the latest research developments in their specialty areas. Up to 20 events were held at the ICM during the ERS congress, and the range of events for congress participants was rounded out by a product exhibition in the foyer of the congress center. The ERS, an organization that looks back on a long tradition, also organized a respiratory awareness exhibit in Munich where people could have their lungs tested at Odeonsplatz on September 1 and 2.


Major specialty events like the ERS congress have been a key area of expertise of Munich International Trade Fairs and the ICM for years. In professional circles, the ICM has made a name for itself, above all for the success of renowned scientific conferences such as the cardiology congress (ESC) and the 2004 annual conference of the European diabetes association (EASD), which brought some 40,000 physicians together at the ICM in just two weeks.

The ideal facilities and technical prerequisites at the International Congress Center and its direct proximity to the exhibition halls have regularly proven to be key factors, just like the location-related advantages that Munich has to offer. In addition, the city of Munich and the surrounding region benefit considerably from events of this size: Besides improving the city's image at the international level, event participants account for tens of millions of Euros in sales. According to the statistics, the respiratory specialists generated some 50 million euros in indirect sales in just four days.

That makes the ESC's decision to hold its annual meeting at the ICM for the second time in 2008 all the more gratifying. Approximately 25,000 participants are expected to attend the largest annual cardiology congress in the world.

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