NACE 79.9 – Other Reservation Service and Related Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 79.9 covers reservation services not provided by travel agencies or tour operators — in particular congress organisation, ticketing services and guide services. In the public sector, professional congress organisers (PCOs) and event organisers are particularly relevant.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 79.9 cover?

NACE 79.9 (Other reservation service and related activities) classifies companies that provide reservation and organisation services outside the classic travel agency business — with particular importance for publicly tendered congress and event organisation.

Group 79.9 within Division 79 is divided into two classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 79.9 are ministries and authorities with event programmes, scientific institutions, specialist bodies with a public mandate and international organisations.

Public Tenders: NACE 79.9 in Practice

Congress organisation and professional event management for public authorities and institutions are regularly tendered — particularly for international specialist conferences, parliamentary events and public forums.

Typical types of contract

• Congress organisation (PCO): Full organisation of scientific and public-authority congresses, including abstract management, registration and programme development
• Conference management: Organisation of specialist conferences, workshops and retreats of public institutions
• Parliamentary events: Supporting organisation for specialist conferences of the German Bundestag, the European Parliament and regional parliaments
• Hybrid events: Planning and execution of hybrid conferences with in-person and online participation
• Participant management: Registration systems, badge printing and certification for official training events
• Accompanying programmes: Organisation of cultural side programmes for international delegations

Thresholds and procedure types

Congress organisation is awarded as a service contract. For contract volumes above EUR 221,000 (central federal authorities) or EUR 443,000 (other public contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025), an EU-wide tender on TED is required. The negotiated procedure with prior call for competition is frequently chosen, as creative and conceptual services are difficult to standardise.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 79.9

For searches for tenders in the area of congress organisation and reservation services, the following CPV codes are relevant.

Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 79.9 relevant to in procurement law?

Public Contracting Authorities

Public institutions with regular event needs include federal ministries and federal authorities (e.g. BMBF, BMI with specialist conferences), universities and research institutions (DFG-funded conferences), EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council) and specialist societies and chambers with a public service mandate. Tenders are frequently for multi-year framework agreements with individual call-offs.

Companies and Bidders

Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) and event management agencies participating in public tenders need:

• Reference events: Evidence of organising comparable congresses (number of participants, budget, complexity)
• Project management competence: Qualifications of the lead personnel, project management certifications (e.g. GPM/IPMA)
• Technical infrastructure: Own conference software or licensed registration platforms
• Language competence: For international congresses, evidence of interpreting and translation capacity
• GDPR compliance: Data protection concept for participant data

NACE 79.9 in Context: Division 79

NACE 79.9 is part of Division 79 (travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service activities).

• NACE 79 – Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service activities: Parent division
• NACE 79.1 – Travel agency and tour operator activities: Business travel management, package tours
• NACE 82.3 – Organisation of conventions and trade shows: Related activity in the trade fair area

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 79.9 and Public Tenders

How does NACE 79.9 differ from NACE 79.1?
NACE 79.1 covers classic travel agencies and tour operators that mediate or bundle travel services. NACE 79.9 captures companies providing reservation and organisation services outside the travel agency business — in particular congress organisers and ticketing services.

How do I find current tenders for congress organisation?
On TED via CPV search (e.g. 79952000). In Germany on DTVP, vergabe.de and federal state platforms; in Austria on the Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) and the federal procurement system.

Is congress organisation treated as a professional service or under VOL procurement?
Congress organisation is a service and is awarded under the general procurement rules (Directive 2014/24/EU, GWB, BVergG). For strongly conceptual requirements, the negotiated procedure or competitive dialogue may be applied.

Can individual service providers (freelancers) participate in tenders?
Yes, provided the required capacity can be demonstrated. Smaller PCOs or freelancers frequently form bidding consortia or act as subcontractors to meet eligibility requirements.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.