When you are traveling to Germany for business, do not neglect regional holidays and the so-called “fifth(s) season(s) of the year.” During the “crazy days” of the Cologne Carnival, you might not be able to arrange for a single business meeting, and when you try to book a hotel room during Munich Oktoberfest, be ready to be charged a fat premium.
German Carnival
So, just a quick reminder that today, Tuesday, 21 February 2023, is maybe not the best day to follow-up with your German prospects. Especially when their companies are located in zip-code areas 4 and 5.
My alter ego Herr Dr. Müller and I, both zip-code 8, are more into technical trade shows, like embedded word. For the occasion of Faschingsdienstag (Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Pancake Day) 2020, which was the first day of the show three years ago – indeed a rather unfortunate timing that caused many complaints –, I still let my comic-hero “dress up”, so to try explain the concept.
How to know when not to travel to Germany?
This calendar is in German. You don’t need to know German to be able to look up when is Rosenmontag and Faschingsdienstag (usually in February or March): Feiertage Deutschland.
And here is the official Oktoberfest-Website, even with a real-time-count-down. Other occasions, when hotel rooms are insanely expensive – even more expensive than during Oktoberfest –, is the bauma trade show. You can check the timings here: bauma.
If you are travelling for business, you can also get in touch with me: hello[at]andra-ibf.com Maybe I can even help you arrange for some meetings.
