Frankfurt am Main is the largest city in the German state of Hessen and the fifth-largest city in all of Germany. It has virtually all the characteristics of a metropolis. The city is Germany’s most prominent financial centre: the Deutsche Bundesbank and the German stock exchange are both based in Frankfurt, as are the head offices of several large banking organisations such as the ECB. Because of all these features, Tio selected Frankfurt as the destination for its business students' study trip. Lecturer George Oomen went with them and tells us all about the trip.
"Frankfurt is characterised by its modern appearance: the city is one of the few in Europe whose skyline is dominated by tall skyscrapers, which earned it the nickname of Mainhatten. On their very first night in town, the students quickly discovered the sky lounge of one of these skyscrapers. The various Christmas markets created a wonderful atmosphere, while the snow that fell on the final night was the proverbial icing on the cake."
"Visits to the Deutsche Bundesbank’s Geldmuseum, the European Central Bank (ECB), the Frankfurter Börse and Frankfurt Airport (FraPort) all proved to be quite interesting due to the wide range of lectures and presentations the students attended. During a walking tour through the heart of the city, they got to see a different side of Frankfurt, instead of the usual modern buildings, food service establishments and shops."
"Students, lecturers and the management of the A&O Hotel were exceptionally positive about the great atmosphere during this four-day study trip. After the presentation in the ECB’s lecture hall, student Hille Dorrestein discovered a piano in one corner of the room. The result was an impromptu performance that Mr Lelieveldt, our Dutch host at the ECB, also appreciated."