“My mission is to help independent business owners grow their business by providing them with the methodology, framework and resources they need as entrepreneurs. Everything I do in my Life is summarised by the wisdom of Hillel and Gandhi: “If I don’t do something for myself, who will? If I don’t do something for the others, what am I worth? If I don’t do it now, when?”

Eric Rozenberg, president & CEO, Event Business Formula

“My mission is to become a state-of-the-art venue for our customers’ congresses and events with the opening of the new CCH – Congress Centre Hamburg in August 2020. We are back on the international meetings map and offer our customers know-how, innovations, flexibility and a one-of-a-kind congress centre in the heart of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. My team’s passion for our work and the personal service for our customers make a big difference.”

Heike Mahmoud, chief operating officer CCH, Hamburg Messe und Congress

“My mission is to run the most popular venue in Switzerland for event organisers and visitors, with international and national needs. We use our locational advantage in the centre of Zurich directly on the Lake and combine tradition with modernity. Our new organisation will in future be a role model in Zurich as a service provider, as an employer and for corporate social respon­sibility. In doing so, we create long-term added value for shareholders and other stakeholders. We would like to achieve this with warmth and excellence in the most beautiful place in Zurich.”

Roger Büchel, CEO, Kongresshaus Zürich AG / Zurich Conventions Centre Ltd.

“We face challenges of event planners, local suppliers and team members aiming to deliver solutions with an agile, value-driven approach. Anything we do will build trust and successful human connections. So helping others to succeed in their job is an infinite mission I follow every day like an inner creed.”

Gernot Marx, managing director, Salzburg Convention Bureau

“My goal: To ensure that Vienna is optimally positioned for the transition to the age of the visitor economy. We intend to play an even more active role in the global premier league for congresses and business events, attracting international visitors as a premium destination whilst at the same time remaining lovable, liveable and cosmopolitan.”

Norbert Kettner, CEO Vienna Tourist Board

“I enjoy working with people, the hotel business, and I love Switzerland where I have spent the past 18 years. Therefore, from my perspective, working for the Dorint Hotel Group in Basel is as good as it gets. Here I can fully utilise my skills and be rewarded with professional appreciation and many opportunities. The entire Swiss Dorint team and I, together we keep working on an atmosphere of respect, tolerance and humanity. These values are of major significance for us, no matter if we are dealing with colleagues, guests, suppliers or customers.”

Christian Gottstein, director of sales, Dorint Hotels & Resorts AG

“My mission is to make venues, service providers, meeting and event planners successful. In 2019 I will use my established industry knowledge to develop the base station of an open source event docking system.”

Bernd Fritzges, chairman of the board, VDVO Verband der Veranstaltungsorganisatoren

“I believe in free and open cooperation among civil society orga­nisations as the basis for action to change the world for the better. In particular, to respond to the needs of humanity for social progress and justice, to preserve and expand a healthy environment, and to create more space for participatory democracy. To work towards these ends, civil society organisations need in turn to have free and open cooperation with and from the United Nations system, which governments should more enthusiastically support and better fund so that the UN can better implement its core values and effectively achieve its indispensable goals. TOGETHER we are stronger.”

Cyril Ritchie, president, Union of International Associations (UIA)