HRG Events & Meetings Management, a business division of the international corporate service company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), has won the pitch to stage the opening event marking the stadium expansion at the Leverkusen BayArena. The HRG specialists were able to successfully assert themselves in competition against three leading event agencies. The team headed by Marcus Scholz, HRG’s Director Events & Meetings Management Central Europe, impressed the Bayer 04 Leverkusen management with a consistent, coherent and innovative concept. The Kick-Off Event with 500 invited guests will be held on 2nd August in the BayArena on a stand especially constructed for this purpose.

Wolfgang Holzhäuser, Management Spokesman at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, summarized the reasons for the decision in favour of HRG: “We had set the agencies tough, demanding challenges. For example we wanted to stage an event, which conveys impressions of the conversion phase, and at the same time, emotionally acclimatizes visitors and guests to the completed arena in 2009. In this connection HRG presented the most impressive concept. “The company works closely with BaySports-Travel, the official travel agency of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which is responsible for all travel logistics operations. As a Full Service provider, in addition to the technical and artistic planning, directing and staging of the event, HRG assumes the complete project management. Scholz says: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this commission and cooperate with such a renowned partner. At the same time we see it as confirmation of our strategy of presenting ourselves as a live communications agency.”

With the extension of the BayArena, seating capacity will be increased from 22,500 to over 30,000. In addition, the capacity of the restaurant and VIP/Executive Boxes will be expanded from 812 to over 2,000 seats. And sportsmen and women will also benefit from the extension: With a total size of 2,600 m², the team and physio areas with changing facilities, treatment and massage rooms will be four times larger than previously.

- End -

For further information:

Christiane Wronski
Head of Corporate Marketing & Communications
Central & Southern Europe
Tel.: 069 - 66 80 21 - 2300
Fax: 069 - 66 80 21 - 2305
christiane.wronski@hrgworldwide.com

Notes for Editors:

Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate services company. Founded in 1845, HRG has over 60 years specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate services interests include wholly-owned or majority controlled corporate travel operations in 25 of the key driver and growth markets throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Supported by contracted partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to almost 100 countries.

Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate services which includes travel management, fulfilment services and low cost transactions as well as Consulting, Expense Management, Events & Meetings Management and Sports.