Düsseldorf Convention starts new decade with new management

 Jens Ihsen to take over as new Director 

Since December, Düsseldorf Convention is promoted as a convention and conference location under new management.
Jens Ihsen’s most recent position was as Area Director Sales & Marketing for the Meliá Hotels in the region.
Since 1 December, Ihsen (34) - who holds a degree in hotel business management - actively markets the state capital to the target group of professional convention and conference organisers, in the role of Director of Düsseldorf Convention. He also be ramps up the networking of local industry players and cooperation with them.
His predecessor Christian Ortlepp is leaving both Düsseldorf and the industry, to take up the position of Regional Director EMEA with Simpleview, an international software company.

Frank Schrader, Managing Director of Düsseldorf Marketing GmbH: “I am delighted that this position is being filled by Jens Ihsen who has an excellent track record in sales and marketing, as well as outstanding networks with the local industry and international business. I am confident that he and his team will successfully continue on the path beaten by Düsseldorf Convention because there are few experts who know the market as well as he does.
We want to raise Düsseldorf’s profile even more within the industry, as a whole, with the aim of attracting major conventions to the city. We thank Jens Ihsen’s predecessor, Christian Ortlepp, for his fantastic work over the last two years, and wish him every success in his new role.”

Jens Ihsen completed a degree in hotel business management at the Hotel Management Academy in Koblenz in 2012. Until 2013 he was Senior Sales Manager with Swissótel Düsseldorf/Neuss, after which he moved to Meliá Hotel International. His most recent position was as Area Director Sales & Marketing, where he was responsible for the six Meliá hotels in the region.
Even before starting his third-level education in 2008, he had various jobs with the Steigenberger and Radisson Blu hotels. Jens Ihsen is looking forward to his new role: “In recent years I have been observing from the hotel perspective how the Düsseldorf Convention team around Christian Ortlepp has really shaken up the industry. My aim is to drive this collaboration and the active marketing of Düsseldorf to further success. The Rhine metropolis is the perfect location for conferences and conventions, and has numerous experts with vast know-how as well as exceptional venues at its disposal. On top of that, the city’s quality of life is second to none. One of the first milestones will be the participation of Düsseldorf Convention and its partners at the IMEX in Frankfurt early next year. I am looking forward to successfully tackling our goals with my team and our partners, whereby Düsseldorf Congress with the completely refurbished, groundbreaking CCD will be playing a key role.”