On Friday, November 1, over 100,000 people flocked to Frankfurt city center - a rush that made the "Zu Gast in Frankfurt" event a complete success. While stores remained closed in other federal states, the event organized by the City Marketing Department attracted numerous visitors to the city centre with a lively mix of shopping, culinary delights and entertainment. The event was supported by the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Hesse Trade Association and the Frankfurt Economic Development Agency.
Head of Economic Affairs Stephanie Wüst was delighted with the great response: "The city center is alive! The event shows how successful cooperation between retail, gastronomy, culture, politics and administration can be in order to strengthen the economy and highlight the attractiveness of the city."
The colorful variety and creative activities of the participating retailers were particularly well received. With offers such as green sauce bratwurst and Aperol Spritz as well as live acts on the HitRadio FFH stage, the event was a real experience. Competitions and special promotions made shopping fans' hearts beat faster and boosted footfall and sales.
The late-night shopping also attracted thousands to the MyZeil-Center. "With over 65,000 visitors, we recorded an increase of 36.4 percent compared to the previous year. The extended opening hours, special offers and live acts made the day extra special for our customers," reports Andrea Poul, Center Manager of MyZeil. "We are already looking forward to the next joint event."
The success was backed by strong partners from the city. Joachim Stoll, spokesman for IG Cityhandel and Vice President of the Hesse Retail Association, was satisfied: "Our retailers are more than happy with the event. The event has strengthened cooperation between the city and traders, and we are looking forward to planning further campaigns to promote the attractiveness of Frankfurt's city center."
The Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce and Industry also gave positive feedback. "City marketing has taken the right direction with this event. Our city center needs these signals," commented Alexander Theiss, Managing Director of the IHK's Location Policy division. "In the long term, we also need to tackle issues such as attractiveness, cleanliness, accessibility and safety."
The evaluation of the event day speaks for itself: with 103,000 people visiting the Zeil in particular, visitor numbers rose by an impressive 64 percent compared to other Fridays. City Manager and Head of City Marketing, Eduard M. Singer, sees this as confirmation of the concept: "'Zu Gast in Frankfurt' was convincing - both in terms of frequency and sales figures. But it is just as important to us that guests experience an emotional connection to the city. This makes the experience unique, and we look forward to establishing this format in Frankfurt."
The organizers and partners agree: "Zu Gast in Frankfurt" has revitalized the city centre and set new standards for city events - and shows the potential that Frankfurt's diversity offers.
