Hamburg is to host the Rotary International Convention from June 1-5, 2019. Just days after the start of registration, more than 15,000 participants have registered for the event in the Elbe city. A large delegation from the Hamburg Host Organization Committee (HOC), had travelled to this year’s Rotary World Conference in Toronto, Canada from June 23-27 to drum up publicity for the Hanseatic city.
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- Registration no. 10,000 for the Rotary International Convention 2019 © Rotary Convention Hamburg HOC UG
International focus on Hamburg
Michael Otremba, Managing Director of Hamburg Convention Bureau GmbH (HCB), expressed delight with the keen interest in Hamburg: “More than 15,000 pre-registrations in the first few days are an outstanding, interim result. The Rotary International Convention is akin to a Champions League event that will focus on Hamburg as a city and a meeting place.” The original target of 25,000 visitors to Hamburg for the convetion next June 2019 will likely be surpassed.
Recognition factor of landmark Elbphilharmonie
The 2018 Rotary International Convention held in Toronto brought together some 25,000 Rotarians and guests from 175 countries. The booth of the Hamburg host committee, which featured a large-scale visualization of the Elbephilharmonie concert hall, proved a magnet for Rotarians from all over the globe. The image was complemented by table football and artificial turf with videos screening in the background. Visitors used virtual headsets and a bicycle to get virtual glimpses of Hamburg. Andreas von Möller and Holger Knaack, co-chairs of HOC, and 70 other Rotarians from Germany, had travelled to Toronto: “The atmosphere on site was marked by the international Rotarians’ excitement and enthusiasm for Hamburg. We look forward to 2019.”

Hamburg Messe – centre of convention
The Hamburg Convention Bureau GmbH (HCB) and the Rotary District 1890 had submitted a joint application for the 2019 convention and received the nod in June 2015 after an 18-month application process. The conference will be held at the Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC) and will attract like-minded global delegates and who work on projects such as fighting diseases, supporting education, growing local economies and promoting peace.
Sources and further information:
https://ric2019.rotary.de/en/