Munich’s charm continues for both business and tourism

Earlier this month Lufthansa launched a new service between Newcastle and Munich that will run 6 days a week. As soon as I heard that the route was a possibility, I was keen for it to happen from both a personal and business perspective.

Having lived there for a few years when I was younger, and with friends still living in the area, Munich is one of my favorite cities and somewhere I love to visit. From an inward investment point of view, a flight to Munich will give us an obvious link to the Bavarian business community but also well beyond that, with connecting flights around the world.

A trip down memory lane

Having attended the inaugural flight event, I flew out to Munich on one of the first of the new flights with my husband and 2-year-old son Kit for a short holiday in the city and a few days skiing in nearby Garmisch- Partenkirchen (only an hour and a half’s drive away). Towards the end of my teenage years (when I was a University student in Newcastle) my parents moved to Munich with my Dad’s role at Eurofighter Typhoon. My trips during my long university holidays (which would have been a lot easier with the new route!) mean that I know the city and region relatively well.

Visiting Munich with a young one was a new experience, but the city is very family-friendly and there is so much to do that it was a perfect getaway. The Englischer Garten is one of the biggest urban parks in the world and great to visit throughout the year (the surfers down the Isar in the Summer is something to check out). North East England and Bavaria share some striking similarities - both are home to an array of famous castles with the Neuschwanstein Castle (which inspired the Disney symbol) standing on the top of a hill in the countryside in the South West of the region.

In the winter visitors flock to the Munich Christmas Market, on Marienplatz, to see one of Europe’s oldest markets with the huge Christmas tree towering over the many stands and impressive Town Hall. You’re also not far from some amazing skiing destinations if you prefer a holiday on the slopes. I was wary about taking a very adventurous two-year-old skiing, but it is part of life in the region and seeing the even younger toddlers slide down the mountains helped Kit fit in.

The long weekend trip was a breeze, from easy check in, security and boarding at Newcastle Airport, to hiring a car and then finding the beautifully traditional Alpine hotel Staudacherhof (the heated outdoor pool and sauna’s added to the experience).

Munich’s visitor offer is among the best in Europe and I’ve got no doubt there will be plenty of North East tourists heading there in the coming years.

Mixing business with culture

Invest in Bavaria is a very well-respected inward investment agency and the region has a strong business community, from start-ups through to an enviable number of larger corporates. These businesses often use the tourist attractions and cultural events that I talked about earlier for corporate hospitality and a way to introduce people to the region. 

Oktoberfest is a great example of this, with plenty of businesses using the event to attract and entertain clients to this world-famous festival. Just after Oktoberfest, Munich also plays host to EXPO REAL, one of the biggest international trade fairs for real estate investment in the world. 

I was so inspired by Munich, Bavaria and its culture that it ended up playing a big role in my university studies and subsequent career. My undergraduate dissertation was on the Bavarian beer industry and its ability to help attract FDI, looking at the importance of culture and placemaking in inward investment. This is something that we continue to use to our benefit in Newcastle, taking advantage of the amazing culture, heritage and major events offer we have here to attract investment. 

Strengthening close business links

There is a longstanding relationship between the North East and Germany, and we currently have over 50 German-headquartered companies in the region, from SMEs through to bigger names such as Siemens, Draeger Safety and ElringKlinger. There is also lots of synergy between us and Bavaria, with similar sector strengths in technology, renewable and low carbon energy, and the automotive industry.

The benefits of the new flight route extend beyond investment and tourism, it will also prove invaluable to those businesses that already trade with Bavaria. There are many companies in the region that this will really benefit including Newcastle-based automotive visualization specialists Zerolight. 

Next month we will be looking to further strengthen our business links as we host a German delegation of visitors in Newcastle. In conjunction with Newcastle Airport and the German-British Chamber of Industry and Commerce we’ll be showing off the very best of the region, including Newcastle Helix our landmark, multi-million-pound site in the middle of the city built for international tech and life science businesses. 

Planning my next visit

Munich has lost none of its charm since I lived there, it continues to be a thriving destination for both tourists and businesses alike, and the close link between placemaking and FDI is industry leading. As a family, we had a brilliant time catching up with old friends, exploring Munich again and hitting the slopes (no easy feat with a 2-year-old), and we’re already planning our next trip.