Reports

Despite series of strikes in the first quarter, the German trade fair industry grew significantly in 2024. AUMA reports growth in all key figures - a dynamic year for the industry.

German trade fair venues are planning extensive investments to modernise and further develop their infrastructures by 2029. The aim is to improve the service for exhibiting companies and visitors and to fulfil sustainability goals and high digital standards.

AUMA has now published a guideline for the standardised calculation of greenhouse gases when organising trade fairs. The aim is to ensure the reliability, comparability and transparency of emissions accounting at trade fairs in Germany.

Trade fair participation by companies from Germany remains stable - compared to the previous year, however, the ongoing mix of recession, inflation and political uncertainties is making the decision to participate in trade fairs increasingly dynamic.

The leaders of the global trade fair industry are currently meeting at the UFI Global Summit in Milan, Italy. An important date for Chris Skeith, OBE, who took up his new post as CEO of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in January. In this interview, the new CEO explains what his first projects are and how Europe can learn from the new trade fair markets

This year, German trade fair organisers are planning 325 trade fairs in almost 40 countries, significantly more than in the previous two years. All dates can now be found in the AUMA trade fair database.

The trade fair organiser Closer Still Media Germany, based in Mannheim, is a new member of AUMA. The Executive Board approved the admission at its most recent meeting in Düsseldorf in December.

This Tuesday, Germany's 70 or so trade fair centres will kick off the new trade fair year. A total of more than 310 trade fairs are planned in Germany this year, including bauma - the world's largest trade fair for construction machinery and mining.

After more than 20 years, the Global Congress of the International Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) was once again held in Germany. It was hosted by Koelnmesse, which also chaired the Country Focus Session on trade fairs in Germany together with AUMA. More than 550 trade fair experts from 55 countries were in attendance.

Trade fairs contribute to climate protection and sustainability by efficiently bundling personal contacts and thus avoiding further travelling. This is a key finding of the recently published study by the Institute for Sustainable Tourism at the Harz University of Applied Sciences on behalf of AUMA.