Main attraction

Known for its rich cultural history, the German city of Frankfurt has long been a favourite for international events.

These days that’s mainly down to the Messe Frankfurt trade fair complex, one of the world’s largest event spaces, home to the famous Frankfurt Book Fair and our sector’s very own IMEX Frankfurt. In 2026, Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region will be the European Design Capital, further strengthening the city and its surrounding areas as a creative destination.

According to Jutta Heinrich, head of the Frankfurt Convention Bureau, the destination has a great deal to offer international visitors and event planners. With 86 airlines flying to 292 destinations from Frankfurt Airport, the city is extremely accessible, making it attractive to companies who are hosting events with delegates from multiple locations.

“Frankfurt's situation in the heart of Europe offers an enormous plus in terms of time and money”, she says. “As well as flights every hour, fast speed trains connect numerous German and European cities with the metropolis on the river Main.” With pandemic restrictions now lifted, she says the city is more popular than ever with UK and European event planners who are seeking a central location with excellent connections. 

In addition, the city offers plenty of green spaces, cultural diversity, and a wide variety of event spaces. “The average event size in Frankfurt is between 10 and 250 delegates, but we are also focusing on congresses starting at 500 delegates up to 15,000, such as the EHA23 Hybrid Congress that took place in June this year.”

In autumn 2025, the city will welcome more than 10,000 participants for the international finance conference and exhibition SIBOS. Meanwhile, Frankfurt has also established itself as a popular hotspot for sporting events, like the upcoming men’s football Euros next year. “We will be one of 10 host cities in Germany next year offering a big public Fan Zone along the river Main,” says Heinrich.

Like many other countries, Germany is struggling with the increased cost of living, which is having a wider impact on international travel. “The increased prices of hotels and locations can pose a considerable financial burden on event planners, making it imperative for them to carefully manage their budgets,” says Heinrich. “Within our initiative "Frankfurt MICE 2030", together with Messe Frankfurt and the Frankfurt Hotel Alliance, we offer clients the possibility to sit together at one table in order to discuss their needs and find the best solutions for everyone.”

Despite the current challenges, the bureau remains optimistic about what the coming years will hold. “A lot of new hotels have recently opened, and more hotel openings will follow in the next couple of years. On the one hand this is a challenge too, because all these properties have to be filled. On the other hand, we are confident we will succeed, as the diversity of hotels makes the city even more attractive.”

To support growth, the city will be keeping a close eye on event trends, and the bureau, as well as local destination management companies (DMCs), are adapting to the changing needs of planners.

“In order to make events sustainably convincing and competitive, the formats have to change. Key words are event design, festivalisation and FOMO (The Fear Of Missing Out),” says Heinrich. “As soon as live participation offers added value compared to purely digital participation, the fear of missing out will increase the desire to be there on site.”

New openings

nhow - Located near the trade fair complex, this colorful 375-room hotel boats meeting space for up to 100 people.

NH Collection Frankfurt Spin Tower - Ideal for mixing business with leisure, this 414-room four star hotel is built in a stylish skyscraper near the banking district. Offering spectacular city views and a range of dining options, the largest meeting room can hold up to 180 people.

The Westin Grand Hotel Frankfurt- Home to 371 guest rooms, this luxury city centre property boasts a swimming pool and wellness centre for relaxation. Its largest meeting room can accommodate 450 people, making it an ideal option for a medium sized event with an incentive add-on.

Scandic Frankfurt Hafenpark- With 505 guest rooms and meeting space for 500, this hotel, which opened earlier in 2023, is located just minutes from the river.

SPARK - this state-of-the-art venue is a luxury events space, holding up to 200 people in its largest room. An ideal blank space canvas, the team can bring any event to life.

VILCO - For larger events, VILCO, a new modern congress centre in the North of Frankfurt, can host up to 2000 delegates across the entire venue, with its largest single space accommodating 1250. The centre is easily accessible and comes with an in-house technical supplier.