Leonardo Hotels has reinforced its commitment to the growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector with the appointment of Daniela Bartels as Head of MICE Central Europe. The move reflects the hotel group’s continued investment in business events, conference services, and strategic partnerships across the region.

A respected industry professional with extensive expertise in MICE sales and hospitality management, Bartels returns to Leonardo Hotels after previously serving as Director of Sales Cluster North between 2014 and 2015. Her appointment comes at a time when demand for high-quality event venues, conference facilities and tailored business travel solutions continues to rise across Europe.

The creation of this new leadership role highlights the strategic importance of the MICE segment as a key growth driver for Leonardo Hotels. The company currently operates nearly 500 conference rooms across Central Europe and hosts approximately 26,000 events every year, making it one of the region’s significant players in the meetings and events industry.

As part of its long-term growth strategy, Leonardo Hotels is focused on strengthening proactive sales efforts, expanding its market presence and unlocking new business opportunities. Today, around 80 percent of the group’s MICE revenue is generated through direct business, demonstrating the strength of its established customer relationships and sales network.

In her new position, Bartels will oversee the strategic development of the MICE business across Central Europe. She will lead a dedicated team of five specialists responsible for supporting and advising MICE agencies, professional congress organizers (PCOs), associations and seminar providers.

“I am very much looking forward to my new task and to rejoining Leonardo Hotels,” said Daniela Bartels, Head of MICE for Leonardo Hotels Central Europe. “My focus will be on the enhancement of existing partnerships and on the establishment of new relationships. Personal specialist consultancy will remain a crucial success factor, especially in the MICE segment. Every event creates its own individual challenges. Digital tools assist us with our planning and ensure efficient processes, but personal contact is still indispensable with regard to the initiation of business and customer service.”

“We are delighted to welcome Daniela back to Leonardo Hotels,” stated Maja Ziemann, Director of Sales for Central Europe. “Her experience and deep understanding of the market will make a major contribution to the further development of our MICE segment. Long-term partnerships and reliable collaboration will be key success factors in this respect. This is precisely the field in which she brings all the prerequisites to the table.”

With Bartels at the helm, Leonardo Hotels is positioning itself to further strengthen its footprint in the Central European MICE market while continuing to deliver high-quality event experiences and customer-focused service.

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