The German Senate has just given the go-ahead to a new two-storey multifunctional arena to be built on the site of the existing Deutschlandhalle arena.
After demolishing the existing Deutschlandhalle arena, the new two-storey multifunctional venue will be ready by the end of 2013. When complete, it will temporarily replace the international congress and convention centre, ICC Berlin, which will be closed for major refurbishment between 2014 and 2016.
"The decision provides the planning certainty we need for the Berlin convention business," said Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin. Before adding that, after the reconstruction of the congress and exhibition hall, followed by the refurbishment of the ICC, the capacity of Berlin's meeting and event venues will be almost doubled, thus ensuring its continued presence in the ranking of the top five international convention cities.
The convention and meeting market generates annual sales revenues of about EUR 1.53 billion and 29,600 jobs in the city. During the first half-year 2010 alone, Berlin hosted 53,250, with in the region of 4.2 million national and international attendees.
