In Düsseldorf, situated in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region, tourism officials know a thing or two about hosting business travelers. In fact, this post-modern city is the setting for a whopping 45 trade shows a year and has the infrastructure to prove it. There are more than 300 hotels in the city, which drew in excess of a million international overnight visitors in 2005 alone, and Düsseldorf ranks fourth in Germany for having the most space for trade fairs and exhibition travel.

One of the most popular trade show venues is the Tunhalle Düsseldorf, a converted planetarium situated next to the Rhine River. Part of the Ehrenhof cultural center, the Tunhalle is home to the Düsseldorf Symphony and doubles as a host for convention dinners, complete with music and a sound and light show.

Shopping is also big, with 2,500 wholesale businesses in the city employing more than 30,000 people. Another 30,000 people work in the 4,300 retail outlets, with the result that the retail revenue per capita in the city is 26.6 percent above the German average.

Some of the well-known national and international trading companies in Düsseldorf include Metro Group, Thyssen-Krupp Materials & Services, C&A and Mitsubishi.

Düsseldorf is also an important destination for information technology, with more than 1,500 companies based in the city, employing 24,000 people. This is a rapidly growing industry, as witnessed by the fact that more than 5,000 of those jobs were created in the last five years. Mobile communications companies with bases in Düsseldorf include Vodafone, E-Plus mobile communications, Ericsson and Nokia, while network operators include Deutsche Telekom AG, Vodafone and Ecotel.

Two emerging industries in the city are media and communications, thanks to the presence of such special-interest channels as QVC-Shopping, NBC-Giga-TV and Landesanstalt für Medien NRW, the government department that oversees radio and communications. Regional and nationwide newspapers include the Rheinische Post, NRZ and Westdeutsche Zeitung. Publishing houses Handelsblatt Publishing, Data Becker and Sybex-Publishing are located here, too.

Although business is booming, the city prides itself on its robust arts and cultural scene, which visitors can enjoy in 19 museums, more than 20 theaters and countless restaurants. Düsseldorf also offers a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, thanks to the parks that flank the Rhine River, where visitors can jog, stroll, cycle or even ride horses. And after hours, there are 260 pubs in Old Town alone, where travelers can kick back and enjoy the mix of modern and historical influences that make this one of northern Germany’s most interesting cities.

LODGING

INTERCONTINENTAL DÜSSELDORF

Situated on the Königsallee, Düsseldorf’s most chic shopping street, this five-star property has been turning heads since its grand opening in September 2005. Designed primarily for business travelers, the hotel has 286 guestrooms, including 32 suites, as well as a fine-dining restaurant called Caliga and a Club InterContinental Lounge. To unwind after a day in meetings, guests can book treatments at the Holmes Place Health & Fitness Club, which also features a state-of-the-art gym. $$$$
INTERCONTINENTAL DÜSSELDORF
Königsallee 59 888 IC HOTELS
tel 49 211 82850, fax 49 211 8285
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

HILTON DÜSSELDORF
Less than two miles from the city center and a 10-minute drive from the airport, this property lures business travelers with 20 meeting rooms and a ballroom with flexible meeting space for up to 1,500. Guests can relieve jet lag at the 24-hour gym or watch a game on the big screen television at the Axis Bar & Lobby Lounge. All 372 guestrooms feature modern decor and wireless Internet. Travelers staying in executive rooms and suites have access to the 11th floor executive lounge, complete with complimentary continental breakfast, canapés and drinks overlooking the Rhine River. $$$
HILTON DÜSSELDORF
Georg-Glock-Strasse 20
tel 49 211 43770, fax 49 211 43772519
http://www.hilton.com

HOTEL NIKKO

This 301-room property was designed for business travelers with a modern decor and an eye for comfort. Guestrooms are soundproofed. Nonsmoking rooms and adapted rooms for travelers with disabilities also are available. Located about 15 minutes from the airrport, the property is situated within easy walking distance of Königsallee shopping area, Old Town, the Rhine River promenade and the banking district. The newly renovated Nikko Spa Club offers an indoor pool as well as treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms. $$$$
HOTEL NIKKO
Immermannstrasse 41
tel 49 211 834 0, fax 49 211 161216
http://www.nikko-hotel.de

DINING

IM SCHIFFCHEN

It’s a good idea to make reservations for this popular downtown restaurant, which draws business travelers looking for haute cuisine in a charming, formal atmosphere. The menu boasts a mix of traditional dishes and new creations, and the wine list is extensive. Diners can order a prix fixe menu or make their selections a la carte, with specialties that range from veloute of Bresse rabbit to mango coulis in Muscat wine. $$$$
IM SCHIFFCHEN
Kaiserswerther Markt 9
tel 49 211 40 1050, fax 49 211 40 3667
http://www.im-schiffchen.com

VICTORIAN RESTAURANT
Casual and fine dining aren’t mutually exclusive concepts in Düsseldorf, and the Victorian Restaurant offers both. Picture a decor filled with such features as black leather banquettes offset with crystal. An ideal choice for a business lunch, the restaurant offers international cuisine from France and Italy, interpreted in both familiar and cutting-edge presentations. Try the sauteed scallop ravioli with beet root and Granny Smith apples or the pate with fig confit, followed by venison with cranberry sauce or stuffed quail with savoy cabbage. $$$$
VICTORIAN RESTAURANT
Koenigsstrasse 3A
tel 49 211 865 5020
http://www.restaurant-victorian.de

RHEINTURM TOP 180 RESTAURANT
Perched at the top of the tallest tower in the city, the restaurant revolves slowly, giving diners a 360-degree view of the city and parks below.The menu is as upscale with starters such as carpaccio of anglerfish and salmon marinated with coriander and Szechwan pepper or marinated duckling breast with orange-Campari-vinaigrette, followed by such entrees as beef filet gratine with gorgonzola and pike-perch with pak choi vegetables and rice. $$$$
RHEINTURM TOP 180 RESTAURANT
Stromstrasse 20
tel 49 211 848 558, fax 49 211 863 20010
http://www.rheinturm-restaurants-duesseldorf.de

DIVERSIONS

Düsseldorf is famous for its unconventional architecture, and even visitors who don’t know one building style from another will enjoy the unusual office buildings at the famous MediaHarbour. There are works by architects David Chipperfield, Joe Coenen, Steven Holl and Claude Vasconi, but the jewel in the crown is the stainless steel exterior of the Neue Zollhof (Stromstrasse 26, http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de), designed by American architect Frank Gehry of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao fame. Formerly a derelict part of the city, MediaHarbour is the result of a renaissance that also drew in new restaurants, bars and discos to the area.The name of the district refers to the many companies, such as CNN Germany and QVC, which have offices there. One of Düsseldorf’s newest landmarks, the Stadttor city gate (Stadttor 1, http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de) has earned awards for its design and serves as the seat of the State Chancellery.

Its real name is the Königsallee (http://www.Königsallee duesseldorf.de), but locals call this posh retail boulevard “Kö.” Lined with toney shops and boutiques, Kö also boasts plenty of historical significance. Formerly composed of fortifications, this section of the city was redeveloped in 1804 under the aegis of the court master builder Huschberger.The ambitious project included a strip of water that bisects the avenue, created by diverting water from the river Düssel. You won’t find any bargains here, as pricey boutiques such as Armani and Kenzo vie for space alongside jewelers and antique stores. For a souvenir from a more down-to-earth department store, head to Schadowstrasse (http://www.schadowstrasse-dus.de) or trawl among the one-of-a-kind boutiques in Old Town.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the city at the top of the Rhine Tower (Stromstrasse 20, http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de) where visitors can pose for a photo op at the viewing platform or grab a bite to eat at one of the onsite eateries. Enjoy some of the city’s best and most eclectic art collections at the Museum Kunst Palast (Ehrenhof 4-5, tel 49 211 8924242, http://www.museum-kunst-palast.de) where German Expressionists Paul Klee and Gerhard Richter share wall space with the likes of Andy Warhol and Caravaggio.

Visitors who love the traditional elegance of European castles can spend an afternoon at Benrath Palace (Benrather Schlossallee 104, tel 49 211 89 21903, http://www.schloss-benrath.de). Situated along the Rhine just south of city center, the palace is known for its magnificent gardens, created in the 18th century by Nicolas de Pigage. For a water view of the city, buy a ticket for a one-hour boat tour on the Rhine (Burgplatz, tel 49 211 3 23 92 63, http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de).

INFO TO GO

The Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS), which served more than 15 million passengers in 2005, is located only about four miles from city center. In addition to the usual services, DUS also features a pharmacy, bank, dental office and conference center. Travel to and from the airport via taxi (Taxi Düsseldorf, tel 49 211 33333 or Rhein Taxi, tel 49 211 212121) costs about $15 to the Trade Show Center; $21 to city center.Travelers also can take the train from the airport to downtown via the Düesseldorf Airport Station (http://www.dusseldorf-international.de/te/anreise/bahnhof.html) at the eastern end of the airport grounds. More than 350 trains, including the high-speed ICE, serve the station daily, which is linked to the terminal via SkyTrain, an automated cable railway.

Once in the city, the best way to get around is via the Rheinbahn public transport system.The Jan-Wellem-Platz and Heinrich-Heine-Allee/Wilhelm-Marx-Haus are the main stations, with additional connections to such popular business destinations as the fairgrounds via tram and bus readily available. A Düsseldorf WelcomeCard (http://www.duesseldorf-tourismus.de), priced from about $12 to $25 for one to three days, allows riders unlimited use of the bus and tram services within the city, as well as free or discounted admission to museums and attractions.The card is available at tourist information offices,museums, hotels and the public transportation ticket offices.