In conversation with Katharina Döring from Rent.Group

Dear Katharina, for anyone who doesn't know Rent.Group yet: What exactly do you do - and what sets you apart from your competitors in the market?

As an outfitter for events, trade fairs and offices, we rent out everything: furniture, china and accessories. On request, we can also take care of transportation, set-up and dismantling - for a truly all-round carefree package. Our mission is to create spaces where people can come together, exchange ideas and be inspired. We don't just supply furniture or equipment - we create atmosphere. The difference lies in the interplay of design understanding, logistics expertise and a genuine passion for detail.

What makes us different?
We think holistically and circularly about furnishings. We combine design expertise, precise logistics and data-based processes with a deep belief in the circular economy.
Our vision is "Every Item Shared" - every product is used, maintained, repaired and reused for as long as possible. Today in interiors - tomorrow in many other areas

We don't just design beautiful spaces
We design sustainable impact

You've been with Rent.group for over 13 years - and the purchase of Top Events was a huge milestone. What have you learned from this step and where do you go from here?

The purchase of Top Events.Rent was one of the most intensive steps in my career. And at the same time one of the most meaningful.
I have learned that transformation only works if you communicate honestly, listen and actively involve people.

We have brought two cultures together, harmonized processes and at the same time created a new common identity.
Today we have a team that is stronger - because trust, openness and clarity are the basis and we benefit from the experience, network and resources of both companies.

The journey continues:

• more digitalization,
• expand synergies
• an even stronger circular economy,
• and clear data for better decisions

For me, it is not growth at any price - but growth with attitude.

Every event is a logistical puzzle. What was the craziest detail you ever had to organize - and that no one would have noticed?

In event logistics, the best stories happen at night.

Once, during a major project, we had to replace the entire lounge equipment just a few hours before the start - weather, security concept, everything turned upside down.
Nobody among the guests noticed anything.
For us, it was a logistical sprint where every move had to be perfect.

Moments like this show me:
You can plan processes perfectly - but in the end, it's the team that decides whether it works.

You have a huge product range. Is there a piece of furniture that you use time and time again - and one that is underrated?

I love our design classics - for example the About a Chair from HAY. It's simple, elegant and incredibly versatile. And the effect of light is often underestimated. With the right lighting, you can completely redefine a room. This is sometimes forgotten - yet light is the most powerful design element of all.

The circular economy is part of your DNA. "Every item shared" - what's behind this approach

For us, the circular economy is not a marketing foil, but an operating system.
We work with RFID tracking, digital warehouse logistics and a database that tells us:
How often has a product been used? Where? How long? What does it need to stay in circulation for a long time?

Every piece of furniture has a history - we make this history visible.
This creates a system that conserves resources, promotes repairs and extends life cycles enormously.

And that's exactly what I love:
Data makes the circular economy measurable.
Storytelling makes it tangible.

Which event touched you most personally - not because of its size, but because of the atmosphere?

There is no one event for me. Emotion is rarely created by dimension, but by meaning.
Two experiences have had a particular impact on me:

A charity event in Zurich where people came together to make a concrete difference.
It was small, informal, full of warmth - and reminded me of how much impact is created when people pool their energy. Without big stage lights, without staging. Simply genuine connection.

And a Women's Leadership Award, where strong, inspiring women stood on stage, shared their stories and opened up spaces - for courage, for visibility, for the next generation.
This mixture of strength, vulnerability and cohesion touched me deeply.
Moments like this show me why I love our industry so much: because it strengthens people and creates connections that last.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel was a highlight. What did this happening mean to you and your team?

The ESC was an incredibly great project for us - and I have to be honest:
I didn't really follow the Eurovision Song Contest before.

But standing there in the hall, experiencing this energy live and seeing what our colleagues and partners put together in a very short space of time - it was overwhelming. You can only understand the dimension, the precision and the emotion that this event triggers if you are right in the middle of it.

For my team, it was a moment of pride and cohesion.
Multiple locations, very tight time frames, the highest safety requirements - and yet everyone worked together with a naturalness that really impressed me.

They say the best stories happen backstage. Was there a moment when you thought: "Nobody will believe me"?

Oh yes - at an international sporting event.
It turned out shortly before the start that a tiny connection was missing from a tap. A small thing really - but without this connection, not a single beer could be tapped. And the first beer was to run over this counter four hours later.

In the country where we delivered, there was no such spare part. No workshop, no dealer, no improvised solution. And organizing a new counter at this speed? Impossible.

In the end, as absurd as it sounds, we only had one option:
Someone had to get on a plane and deliver this tiny part personally.
An effort that nobody sees and that you can hardly tell without people looking incredulous.

The exciting thing is: the guest didn't notice a thing.
The bar was running on time, the beer was flowing - and the event was perfect.

And that's exactly what shows our attitude:
It wasn't a shining moment - but a moment that shows that we do everything for our customers.

You often work with venues like JED Events. What do you particularly appreciate about this partnership?

With JED, you immediately sense the demand for quality, clarity and hospitality.
We think similarly: solution-oriented, fast, reliable, creative and personal at the same time.

It's a partnership of equals - and that's worth its weight in gold in the event industry.
You can recognize good partnerships by the fact that you become stronger together.

You recently became a board member of the Expo Event Association. What appeals to you about this role?

I want the industry to become more visible, more courageous and more future-proof. We are facing major issues:
skills shortages, sustainability, regulation, professionalization, young talent.

And I firmly believe that diversity - including more women in management roles - will change the industry.
I want to help us build an event industry that takes responsibility and promotes innovation at the same time.

If your job were a soundtrack - what song would it be?

"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen.

This tempo, this energy, this desire to get things rolling - yes, that sums it up well.

Imagine you were allowed to create an event with no budget limits. What would it look like - and who would you invite?

I would create an event that shows what the future can look like - aesthetically, emotionally and consistently sustainable. A place where people don't just spend an evening, but experience an attitude.

It would be a zero-waste event with a completely circular approach:
modular furnishings, reusable materials, renewable energy, regional catering, intelligent logistics and a design that can be used for a long time - not just for one night.

The focus would be on encounters and meaning. People today want events that connect, inspire and are also responsible. That's why I would invite people from very different areas: Creatives, entrepreneurs, designers, talents, scientists, doers - people who want to make a difference.

The evening would create spaces for exchange, for discoveries and for small "wow" moments that are not created by size, but by quality and authenticity. Good music, good food, good design - but implemented in such a way that everything is as resource-friendly, regional and reusable as possible.

My dream event would be one that shows:
Sustainability and emotion are not mutually exclusive - they reinforce each other.

An event that lasts without leaving a trace.

And finally: your personal planning hack for event professionals?

Planning early and holistically.
I can only draw up a plan that really works if I look at all areas - logistics, design, timing, processes, responsibilities. And for that I need one thing above all: a clear goal.
No good planning without a goal.

And then communication - in all directions.
Customers, employees, trades. If everyone understands the same thing and wants the same result, every event works.