Somehow we imagined it differently. "When Corona is over, life will explode," as a very old, very wise Italian writer put it some time ago. He assumed, as probably many others did, that there would be a day X when the pandemic would be over. Wishful thinking. But he was right: Life is back.

We have learned something in the meantime. First, only what we experience with all our senses leaves a lasting impression. Secondly, no one, really no one, is interested in online meetings or virtual events anymore. Well, quite honestly, dear board members, executives and decision-makers, you can save the money for that. What we want now, under reasonable consideration of the risk, is: just get out! Meet people, see each other in person, exchange ideas, and even celebrate together.

We at the Grand Hall, as organizers, have intensively dealt with all the security requirements. And we looked around - the cafés are full, the stores too, there is the Day of Song in the Ruhr area again for the first time in two years, the games fair in Essen attracted around 150,000 visitors, weddings are being made up for... the list could be continued almost endlessly.

So it is absolutely justifiable and obviously time to finally bring people together again now, also on a corporate level. Your employees and customers will thank you for it. We are looking forward to it - and with us our partners, caterers, technicians, stage builders, project planners, lighting technicians and yes, indeed the whole team of the Grand Hall ZOLLVEREIN. Or as our event manager Philipp Goschau just said: "When there's hustle and bustle here in front of the Grand Hall gate again, dozens of vans parked, discussions and organizing, we're in our element."