The Luxembourg Event Association (LEA) was founded in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and now represents around 85 companies in Luxembourg's events sector. Its president, Charles Schroeder, spoke with RTL Radio on Wednesday about the economic role of the events sector.
Schroeder explained that around 1,500 people work permanently in the sector. Including freelancers and additional staff who regularly help out at events, the number rises to as many as 3,000 people, he said. LEA's members include event agencies, caterers, stand builders, decorators, technical service providers, and rental companies.
With a new campaign, the LEA wants to highlight that the events sector is about far more than concerts and parties. In 2024, more than 9,000 professional events were organised in Luxembourg, equivalent to almost 25 per day, according to Schroeder.
He noted that these events attracted close to one million guests and generated up to 650,000 overnight stays. According to Schroeder, this shows that the events sector brings business tourism to the country and creates work for hotels, restaurants, shops, and taxi companies.
In his view, the sector therefore has a major impact on Luxembourg's economy.
Schroeder said that Luxembourg has improved its position in recent years thanks to new infrastructure. However, some facilities, particularly exhibition infrastructure such as Luxexpo, are now showing their age, he noted. The LEA is therefore calling on the government to invest in modern congress and event infrastructure in order to further strengthen Luxembourg as an international business and conference destination.
Schroeder said the association's message to the government was clear: Luxembourg needs a large congress hall, and the issue must be taken seriously.
Costs are rising across the board, but Schroeder said the events sector is not currently in crisis. The focus of the LEA’s campaign is to show that events are an important strategic communication tool.
For Schroeder, live marketing remains essential despite the rise of artificial intelligence, adding that events create emotion and direct experiences that digital media cannot replace. He referred to the Roman idea of "bread and games", noting that people's need to come together will continue to exist in the future.
AI is already being used to optimise processes and planning, but it will not replace the human element at the heart of live events, he said.
The LEA also wants organisers to work more with local service providers. According to Schroeder, Luxembourg companies have the necessary expertise, are highly professional, and understand the specific nature of the local market.
At the same time, the sector is critical of administrative burdens and rigid labour law rules. Schroeder cited the "Green Business Events" label as one example. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible events with less waste.
However, the list of criteria is partly too complex and requires extensive administrative proof, including details about the origin of products or materials, according to Schroeder.
The sector also wants more flexibility in labour law, particularly for events that take place in the evening or at weekends. The LEA is calling for working hours to be organised more flexibly over the course of a full week, rather than being limited by strict daily caps.
Schroeder pointed to major fairs, weddings, and conferences as examples. When such events are underway, he said, organisers cannot simply replace a team or person in charge after eight or ten hours, because the entire schedule and operation are closely coordinated.
During more intensive periods, staff may therefore need to work longer hours, while quieter months could allow for compensation and time off, according to Schroeder. However, he argued that current labour law does not provide enough flexibility for this reality.
