Trade fair visit with a vacation feeling: Hotel ships expand accommodation offer

Messe Düsseldorf is committed to continuously expanding accommodation options during its trade fairs in Düsseldorf. One great alternative solution: hotel ships. In cooperation with KD, up to 500 additional sleeping places are created during trade fairs – and offer guests a special overnight experience. A closer look at the initiative and its benefits.

When a leading international trade fair in Düsseldorf takes place, all international industry players come to the NRW state capital. Whether representatives of global market leaders or start-ups, from science or the media – everyone wants and needs to stay overnight in and around Düsseldorf. On average, Düsseldorf’s trade fairs and congresses generate 1.43 million overnight stays every year, which accounts for 32 percent of the city’s total bed occupancy. And when a world-leading trade fair takes place, everything comes together.

Messe Düsseldorf is continuously working on expanding the range of accommodation available during its trade fairs with new, attractive offers. Hotel ships are one further option. “Thanks to our cooperation with KD, Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH, we can create up to 500 additional sleeping places for our trade fair guests in a superb location – directly on the Rhine,” emphasizes Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. The advantages: An overnight stay on a hotel ship of the KD fleet not only means comfort and a feel-good ambience, but also falling asleep and waking up with a view of the Rhine. The prices for overnight stays on the KD ships are in the mid-price segment and represent an alternative to the city’s established accommodation options.

„Thanks to our cooperation with KD create up to 500 additional sleeping places for our trade fair guests and in the best best location – directly on the Rhine.”

The KD hotel ships – hotel rooms on the Rhine

The KD has its own moorings in a central location, not far from the exhibition grounds. Situated on the Rhine between the old town and the trade fairgrounds, guests can enjoy a walk along the river towards the city center in the evening or take a short drive to enjoy the view of the water. The three KD moorings Schnellenburg, Theodor-Heuss-Brücke and Rheinterrasse are either just a few minutes’ walk from the trade fair entrances or close to subway stations. The exhibition grounds can be reached by public transport within 15 to 20 minutes.

The “KD Moment” further expands the long-standing range of hotel ships. KD’s premium hotel ship has been part of the fleet since April 2024 and was recently extensively modernized. The “KD Moment” has 86 cabins and three passenger decks, including a restaurant, bar and lounge.

“With an overnight stay and all-round catering by our crew on the ships of the KD fleet, it is easy to combine a trade fair visit with a vacation feeling,” says Marion Trapp, Procorist & Sales Director Hotel Service at Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH. Suitable rooms are available on the KD ships for business meetings, meetings or evening events. All rooms are equipped with a double bed, as is customary in conventional hotels. On the “KD Moment”, each cabin on the two upper decks also has an outside balcony with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. Depending on the weather, the balcony can also be easily transformed into a winter garden by means of external glass panes.

“With an overnight stay and all-round care by our crew on the ships of the KD fleet trade fair visit and vacation feeling very easily combined.”

The ships in the fleet can also be chartered as required. Exhibitors thus have the option of chartering an entire ship for the whole duration of a trade fair as accommodation for their employees and co-exhibitors.

Last but not least: The cooperation between KD and Messe Düsseldorf not only creates new places to sleep, but also offers trade fair guests from all over the world an attractive overnight experience. Creating such added value is Messe Düsseldorf’s aspiration as a host for international industry communities.

Moorings for hotel ships in Düsseldorf: www.kd-hotelschiffe.com/en/moorings/duesseldorf

Are you interested in a KD hotel ship?

Contact details:
Phone: +49 221-2088-510
Mail: hotelservice(at)k-d.com

You will find special trade fair offers on the KD homepage: www.kd-hotelschiffe.com/en/trade-fairs