Germany: the event planners' seasonal guide

Where to meet: One of the world's largest, Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) is well placed for the city's restaurants, bars and galleries. CCH has 23 conference rooms for up to 12,500 and 10,000m2 of exhibition space with access to high-speed ICE trains at its station.

Incentive ideas: Make the most of Hamburg's maritime character by taking an evening cruise around the lit-up port on a boat laden with entertainment. The medieval Hanseatic city of Lubeck teems with gothic churches, gabled buildings and cafes selling marzipan products, and is only an hour from Hamburg.

Places to party: The city's best bars and clubs are to be found in the red-light district of St Pauli. Parties can be arranged for 500 to 1,500 guests at the Ancient Market Hall, an Art Nouveau building by the Elbe. The themed hall is festooned with maritime regalia. Market booths and bars offer an array of food and drink. Mall Hanseviertel can provide the setting for a private party for 500 to 1,000. Shops stay open at night and provide entertainment, such as fashion shows.

Summer in Frankfurt
Summer is a good time to visit. The banks of the Main become a hive of activity during the three-day Museum Embankment Festival, which takes place in August.

Sleep tight: The recently re-vamped Le Meridien Parkhotel Frankfurt offers a restaurant, spa and 297 rooms. The five-star Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy has 163 rooms, nine meeting spaces for six to 40 delegates and a boardroom. Previous corporate visitors include Lexus.

Where to meet: Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, home to Imex, has a multitude of meeting spaces for a maximum of 2,207 delegates. Facilities include conference rooms, a VIP lounge and a sub-divisible, multi-function hall. Dating back to 1880, Alte Oper Frankfurt Konzert und Kongresszentrum can host up to 3,700 delegates.

Incentive ideas: The nearby Rheingau region is dotted with picturesque vineyards where groups can taste the product. Frankfurt is also within spitting distance of castles, forests and the ancient city of Heidelberg. Active types can try go-karting or learn to play ice hockey with professional players.

Places to party: Frankfurt's charming riverside is flush with bars and restaurants, which are especially lively during the summer months. Super-club King Kamehameha has four conference rooms and can accommodate up to 450 delegates. When the weather is fine, consider Kamehameha's sister venue, the Beach Club, set in the old harbour in Offenbach.

Autumn in Berlin
Check out the German capital in October when it is dramatically illuminated for the Festival of Lights, with more than 50 famous landmarks and spaces lit up.

Sleep tight: The Ritz Carlton is great for celebrity spotting according to Grass Roots project manager Nikki Colvill. "It is the place to be seen," she says.
Universal Procon organised a trip for a pharma company earlier this year and they stayed at the 383-room Pullman Hotel. Project manager Fran Murray says: "The facilities are excellent."

Where to meet: The Estrel Hotel and Convention Centre offers space for 6,000 delegates, along with 1,125 rooms and five restaurants. Past clients include IBM (see above). ICC Berlin is one of the city's major event venues with 80 halls and rooms, and can host up to 9,100 people.

Incentive ideas: Berlin is arguably Germany's incentive capital. Explore the city's war bunkers for a fascinating insight into Berlin's history. For an adrenaline-fuelled incentive, enjoy an exclusive event at the Indoor Beach Center Berlin, an artificial resort that can hold up to 1,000 delegates.

Places to party: For an edgy venue with a difference, try power station turned nightclub, Ewerk, which can be exclusively hired for up to 2,000. The Deutsches Historisches Museum is the ideal upmarket venue for a gala dinner as its main room has a stunning glass roof.

Winter in Munich
During winter, groups can twin a stay in vibrant Munich with a few days skiing in the Bavarian Alps.

Sleep tight: Set in the artists' quarter, the four-star Hilton Munich City offers 481 rooms and even has its own underground station. The five-star Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel offers 643 rooms, including 31 suites, along with 21 function rooms.

Where to meet: Set in the Bavarian Alps, the five-star Intercontinental's Berchtesgaden Resort features an array of event spaces. "The resort is beautiful, offering fantastic views and excellent facilities," says Venues Event Management client manager Lesley Hobbs. The centrally located Munich Messe and Congress Centrum offers seating for up to 7,000 delegates.

Incentive ideas: The chocolate-box scenery of the Bavarian Alps offers a bountiful array of winter-sports. World Events business consultant Susanne Silberhorn says: "Groups can build igloos or go curling on frozen lakes, which makes a nice team-building exercise."
Petrolheads will appreciate a visit to the BMW Museum, where visitors can view historic cars, motorcycles and racing cars.

Places to party: Eat at the revolving restaurant in the Olympic Tower. BP had lunch there during a conference last year, organised by Venues Event Management. Soaring 291 metres, it features an observation platform and a small Rock 'n'Roll museum.