The folks organizing the 2024 Catholic Congress in Erfurt, Germany, are on the hunt for extra lodging options for attendees. Roland Vilsmaier, Managing Director of the Katholikentag Association, shares their hope that the residents of Erfurt will lend a hand, ensuring there's enough accommodation beyond what the economic market can provide. Hotels in Erfurt and surrounding areas are already filled up for the event, which runs from May 29 to June 2, 2024. Come January, they'll launch a campaign to secure private homes for Catholic Congress visitors.
With 20,000 potential attendees, the Erfurt Catholic Congress could be one of the event's smallest in recent history, thanks to a shrinking budget and program. The 7.1 million euro budget is significantly lower than the previous gatherings' ten million euros and features only 500 events instead of the usual 1500.
In the program controversy, the former mayor of Erfurt, Manfred Ruge, stepped down as chair of the sponsoring association for the Catholic Congress due to his criticism of the lack of East German perspectives. However, the organizers dismissed his remarks, affirming that German unity and the SED dictatorship will be topics of discussion.
If you're interested in helping out with lodging, private individuals can contact local Catholic organizations, use online platforms, volunteer with local groups, or even host an event participant directly. Using social media or coordinating with neighbors can also be valuable ways to spread the word.
