NürnbergMesse: Forward Momentum for 2018

NürnbergMesse’s dynamic growth continues. Again in 2017, its international and national trade shows turned in an above-average performance, with 4 per cent more visitors, 7 per cent more exhibition area and 11 per cent more exhibitors. CEO Peter Ottmann says the big picture is even more important: “For four years now, NürnbergMesse has consistently stayed in the passing lane for trade shows compared to Germany as a whole, and we’re ahead of our expectations once again for the 2017 events year. With forward momentum like this, we’re looking ahead to another strong year of trade fairs and conferences in 2018 – in Nuremberg and around the world.”

CEO Dr Roland Fleck, who recently also joined the Board of Directors of the world trade show association UFI, views 2017 as a year for a trio of growth, dynamism and sustainability: “Our trade shows in 2017 enjoyed strong growth, our proactive portfolio management embodies our dynamic approach and has optimised our mix of events for the future – and in the past year we’ve signed long-term, sustainable contracts with major partners, thus safeguarding that future. A harmonious trio for 2017.”

As today’s annual press conference already made clear, the NürnbergMesse Group’s growth is reflected in more than construction sites and new events. The real foundation for expansion is that this Franconian success story’s core business in customised trade shows and conferences is continuing to flourish – not only at the Nuremberg site, but in locations as widespread as China, India and Brazil.

Ottmann: Our trade show topics are an excellent fit for the times
For Peter Ottmann, the crucial factor behind this on-going high performance is that NürnbergMesse’s event topics are an excellent fit for the times: “Security, digitalisation and organic foods are megatrends. Our portfolio offers the right trade shows for these fields. And we intend to say on the same path.” For example, the first edition of it-sa India will take place in Mumbai on 24 and 25 May 2018, and the debut of BIOFACH South East Asia is pending for 12-15 July in Bangkok. In Nuremberg the first Firmenwagen Expo for company cars, will take place on 5 and 6 December 2018, offering perfectly fitted solutions in all aspects of mobility for small and medium businesses – from fleet management software to all sorts of services for company fleets and even car sharing.

Fleck: Key decisions shaped 2017
In addition to the successful events business, Dr Roland Fleck views 2017 first and foremost as a “year of the trio of growth, dynamism and sustainability”. “We’ve agreed further collaboration for the long term with such strategic partners as the WZF, a service company for the pet industry, for Interzoo, and BITKOM for it-sa. That will strengthen NürnbergMesse’s further development immensely. We’re also going to be pushing ahead with the process of transforming NürnbergMesse in the direction of digitalisation, in collaboration with Nuremberg tech incubator ZOLLHOF.” Construction of the new Hall 3C is on schedule, and the topping out ceremony is scheduled for the coming week; this and the rapid construction of a 500-car parking area also document NürnbergMesse’s outstanding performance in facility management, says Dr Roland Fleck.

Positive outlook for 2018
A dominant factor in 2017 was the cyclically recurring absence of major international trade shows in Nuremberg, especially the key events that are held in the fall. This cyclical phenomenon occurs only once every twelve years, so that NürnbergMesse was able to anticipate it early on in its business and development plans. In the coming financial year, the organisation’s joint CEOs, Fleck and Ottmann, expect vigorous trade fair and conference activity, on the basis of strong advance bookings from clients. Both emphasise in unison: “Thanks to strong utilisation of capacity at our Nuremberg home base, steady growth in well-established events and new trade shows in such places as Bangkok, Mumbai and Nuremberg, we’re aiming in 2018 to match our record sales figure from 2016.”

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