EUROPA CAPITALI Berlin loves you! – An invitation from the German capital.Testimonial at ITB since 1974 Antonio Bonelli

Premise. eng. Antonio Bonelli is a special witness to the charm of the city of Berlin. which he has been attending since 1974, winner and builder of the exceptional 2,000 m2 Italian Tourism Pavilion.

Berlin loves you! – An invitation from the German capital

• 3,000 Berliners collectively extend an invitation to visitors from around the world: “Berlin loves you!“

• An image and short film of the event are available here now

• The city, a magnet for tourism and trade fairs, reopens

This evening, at the Berlin Freedom Dinner, 3,000 Berliners are celebrating a special event on the runway of the former airport at Berlin Tegel and sending a message to the world: “Berlin loves you!“ By arranging 1,018 dinner tables on an area 800 metres long and 60 metres wide this is the message they form. With it Berlin, a magnet for tourism and trade fairs, is setting the scene for reopening business and looking forward to hosting events and visitors again. At the same time Berliners are saying goodbye to Tegel Airport, which for many years was a gateway to the world and will now become the innovative “Urban Tech Republic“.

Burkhard Kieker, managing director of visitBerlin: “Today, together with many Berliners, we are happy to be sending out a welcome message – and from a very special place, on the runway at what used to be Tegel Airport. Berlin is back and invites visitors to enjoy the city of freedom.“

Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin: “The Berlin Freedom Dinner is a great example of Berlin’s determination to reopen. Together, we have put together a unique open-air event. It is for an experience such as this that we at Messe Berlin are well prepared – and so it makes me all the happier when the sum of many parts becomes one, and the world can see our welcome message: BERLIN LOVES YOU!“

Impressions of the event under the hashtag #berlinlovesyou

Both the organisers and guests can post their impressions of the event under the hashtag #berlinlovesyou on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller and Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Ramona Pop had extended an invitation to this special evening event, together with Messe Berlin and visitBerlin. The supporting music and dance programme featured more than 50 artists, including Andrej Hermlin & Family, Peter Fox’s show drummers BÄM, the tap dancers TAP Connection, as well as other dance and music acts from Berlin. A special hygiene concept was established to ensure a safe event. For more information about Berlin: visitBerlin.com

Organisational information for covering the event
Print-quality images and graphics to assist editorial coverage are available here. You can find the Press section here: about.visitBerlin.de/freedom-dinner-medien.

The event is sponsored by our media partner Inforadio (rbb).

visitBerlin
“To inspire the world for Berlin.“ With this mission, Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH promotes Berlin’s destination management as well as the city’s tourism and congress marketing. Under the visitBerlin brand, the company is a partner, actor, source of creative ideas, and networker. Its focus is on sustainable product development and marketing city-compatible tourism services in all twelve Berlin boroughs with the aim of maintaining the life quality of local residents and harmoniously increasing experience value for visitors. As a tour operator, visitBerlin also issues the Berlin WelcomeCard, the city’s official tourist ticket. The company also operates the Berlin Tourist Info Centres. On visitBerlin.de, Berlin’s official tourism website, visitors can find all the information they need on every aspect of their trip to the city. Find out more about visitBerlin on about.visitBerlin.de.

Messe Berlin
Based on turnover and growth, Messe Berlin is among the world’s ten leading trade fair companies. Each year it develops, markets and hosts hundreds of live events in Berlin and around the world. Its wide-ranging portfolio includes IFA, InnoTrans, ITB, FRUIT LOGISTICA and the International Green Week, all of them leading global trade fairs, as well as major conferences and outstanding events such as the fan zone at the Brandenburg Gate. Messe Berlin has around 90 foreign representatives who market events in over 170 countries. Each year, some 30,000 members of the media from all parts of the world obtain accreditation for events on the exhibition grounds in Berlin where the company has its headquarters. Thus, Messe Berlin acts as a driving force of the metropolis that is Berlin. Its aim is to be an outstanding host for visitors to every event at Messe Berlin, to give individuals an optimum boost for their business and to ensure fair conditions for everyone. This approach is reflected in the company’s slogan “Messe Berlin – Hosting the World”. www.messe-berlin.de.