Increasing globalisation and networking between companies continues to fuel demand for international conferences, trade fairs and exhibitions. And this is a development that points to a bright year ahead at the Hofburg Vienna. As always, the traditional Hofburg ball season gets proceedings under way. Immediately after hosting all those ball events, the Hofburg Vienna will be turning its attention to a series of major international medical congresses and numerous other returning fixtures.Captivating experience – ball events at the Hofburg“Let’s waltz” – or “Alles Walzer” as we say in Vienna – is the slogan shared by all 17 of the traditional balls on the calendar this year. In all, around 60,000 visitors will converge on the Hofburg for what is an extremely short season in 2024. Each year, ball fans from all over Austria and abroad come together in the heart of the capital to experience authentic Viennese ball culture and enjoy a night of dancing.Beautifully decorated ballrooms, upbeat melodies from waltz to jazz and the performing artists all have a special role to play in a unique ball evening. Chic bars and delicious buffets kept the refreshments flowing.Hidden from guests, our specialists provide a perfectly choreographed service behind the scenes. From our catering partner MOTTO’s dedicated employees and the numerous plant and floral decor aficionados to the skilled technicians who ensure everything is cast in an impressive light – everyone involved shares the same passion and enthusiasm for their work.With highlights including the lavish WU and TU student balls, as well as noble traditional events such as the Officers' Ball, the Physicians’ Ball and the Lawyers' Ball, every single event held at the Hofburg Vienna has its own distinctive charm.Viennese ball culture has an illustrious history dating back some 400 years. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Hofburg ball events occupy a place at the very heart of Austrian culture. They are not only a treat for the Viennese – more and more guests from all over the world are traveling to Vienna with the sole purpose of experiencing the breathtaking ambience of the former imperial residence as they enjoy the ballroom music and great entertainment. The Hofburg ball season is also a major economic driver for the city, and for Austria as a whole. Viennese balls have lost none of their shine.A world of variety – 2024 previewOnce again, the list of events waiting in the wings makes impressive reading. The Hofburg Vienna is already gearing up to open its magnificent doors for a packed spring season of events covering a broad range of topics.Science will also be on the agenda in February and March, just after the curtain comes down on the Hofburg’s hugely popular ball season. One event will be shining a light on the many recent advances and developments in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis. “Building Bridges in Coagulation” will provide the thematic inspiration for the 68th Annual Meeting of the Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis Research. Scheduled to attract 1,200 visitors, it will take place in the Zeremoniensaal from 27 February to 1 March. The plenary sessions of the 21st Annual Conference of the Austrian Society for Neurology from 13 to 15 March will focus on the topic of brain health. A series of fascinating presentations await the approximately 1,000 participants. Meanwhile, the OeGHO & AHOP Spring Conference from 4 to 6 April will provide various opportunities for training, social interaction and knowledge exchange.Looking at some of the other events on the packed scheduled at the Hofburg Vienna in 2024, it is clear that congress tourism has seen a reversal in the trend of recent years. The numerous different events in 2024 say it all. “From the marke[ding] branding expert meet in April and the 8th pan-European conference on sugar technology to Interpraevent – a specialist congress focusing on natural disaster protection – the variety of topics in the coming spring covers a broad range of subjects," confirmed Managing Director Alexandra Kaszay.No event without technology – successful planningOut-of-the-ordinary event settings are vital for creating inspirational encounters. The latest technologies set the scene for spontaneous interaction. Projections, light shows, and a larger proportion of virtual elements are making the technical aspects of event planning increasingly complex. Visitors might not be aware of this, but everybody behind the scenes knows that events would never get off the ground without technology.Implementation of a new visual identity and the use of leading-edge technologies shape every aspect of an event’s atmosphere. Technology can be used to build up suspense and engender emotions to create lasting memories that participants will take away with them. All of this takes place at a subconscious level, so getting it right calls for sensitivity and expertise. The need for an experienced technical team and corresponding programming times have to be factored in to the process in order to create show elements and fine-tune key components such as content, lighting, sound and video. Done right, this feeds into an overarching technical concept that defines the impression that an event has on participants – and ultimately remains with them. Audiences expect more interactive performances that capture the imagination.Settings are changing all the time – with a blend of inspiration, information, entertainment and networking increasingly occupying the foreground – starting with the choice of backdrop: whether it’s the opulence of the former throne room or one of the more contemporary steel and glass architectural spaces that the Hofburg Vienna has to offer. Our experienced team is on hand to guide organisers through every step of the planning and implementation process. HTML
