RECORD RESULTS AT CARAVAN SALON 2019

   The recent staging of CARAVAN SALON, the world's largest trade fair for motorhomes and caravans, again significantly increased the previous year's record result and set a new all-time record. “CARAVAN SALON 2019 was an outstanding event with satisfied visitors and exhibitors, brilliant sales figures and an excellent mood across the entire fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. With 268,000 visitors, the number of attendees (2018: 250,211) more than fulfilled our expectations as organizers and, especially, the expectations of the exhibitors. This makes our event not only the most visited trade fair for caravanning but also the best attended leisure and holiday trade fair in Europe,” stated Wolfram N. Diener, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.

   A total of 645 exhibitors from 31 countries presented their innovations and current models in 13 halls and on the outdoor space. About 2,100 RVs were displayed on more than 2.3 million square feet, plus accessories, technical equipment, attachment parts, awnings and mobile homes. In addition, campsites, RV parks and travel destinations were on show.

    “CARAVAN SALON is growing constantly and underscores its great relevance for both the industry as a glamorous business platform and for the entire family as an experience destination. It is not only the diversity of vehicles and products that give CARAVAN SALON a unique selling point. In Düsseldorf visitors also get to see the latest state-of-the-art innovations and developments in caravanning, plus all the topical trend themes, innovations and visions for the years to come,” added Wolfram Diener and noted that the joint concept of the exhibitors, the Caravaning Industry Association (CIVD) and the Düsseldorf trade fair company was a complete success.

   CIVD President Hermann Pfaff was also extremely pleased with the event: “CARAVAN SALON confirms the general, exuberant mood in the caravanning sector with record visitor numbers and superb sales figures. The atmosphere among exhibitors and visitors in the halls was excellent.” He also rated the great number of innovations, global premieres and vehicle studies as particularly positive: “The new materials presented here, various drive technologies as well as the solutions for weight reduction show that the industry is intensively concerned with many topics of the future. Many manufacturers are looking to the future with great optimism. The Düsseldorf trade fair is the most important platform for international industry experts and insiders, who can network and make contacts here. Accompanying conferences and events on such topics as mobility or infrastructure additionally strengthen CARAVAN SALON’s standing as the world’s biggest and leading trade fair for this sector.”

   The exhibitors at CARAVAN SALON 2019 were also enthusiastic about the trade fair results and reported excellent sales figures. Martin Brandt, Chairman of the Board at Erwin Hymer Group: “We are delighted with the successful CARAVAN SALON with record-breaking visitor numbers. The days spent here proved a resounding success for us. At the start of the  event we already managed to make it perfectly clear that the takeover of Erwin Hymer Group by THOR Industries creates a win-win situation for all parties involved. With our broad-based portfolio we offer the right solution for all customer needs worldwide. More clearly than ever we have noticed: caravanning is the trend. We welcomed an evidently younger audience and many beginners at our brands’ exhibition stands. The strong interest in compact entry-level vehicles has also motivated many new interested parties to come to Düsseldorf. In addition, it is becoming increasingly clear that digitalization is becoming a key factor for future mobility and leisure experiences.  We build upon these impulses and look forward to an autumn 2019, where we hope to see as many interested people as possible again at our dealers.”

   According to Holger Schulz, General Manager at Hobby-Wohnwagenwerk Ing. Harald Striewski GmbH:  “We are particularly pleased with this year’s kick-off to the season. We look forward to this new season because the Hobby brand comes with convincing products and generates a great deal of interest among customers of all ages.  In the motorhome segment it is especially our two new entry-price series OPTIMA ONTOUR and OPTIMA ONTOUR EDITION that score points with visitors. Boasting all features and top value for money these models have convinced our Hobby buyers. In the caravan segment the family models are particularly popular again. The two new layouts of the PRESTIGE series featuring the modern L-shaped kitchen and the giant lounge suite are received very well by our buyers.”

   Dr. Holger Siebert, General Manager at Eura Mobil GmbH and Trigano Deutschland KG: “This is the second consecutive year we can look back on a fantastic CARAVAN SALON with record visitor attendance over 250,000 and further growing media interest across all of Europe. This, of course, strongly benefits us at Trigano, since almost one in three motorhomes in Europe is produced by a Trigano brand. At this year’s CARAVAN SALON we have seen particularly strong interest in our premium brand Eura Mobil, confirming that seasoned motorhome owners place emphasis on quality, durability and good service. This is also reflected by the strong interest in the 5-year guarantee, which we also offer for our van specialist Karmann-Mobil and even for our entry-price brand Forster. Here we pride ourselves on having the youngest customers on the market, who prefer easy shopping with a straightforward product and long guarantee in addition to focusing on such “young themes” as connectivity.”

   “Caravanning has finally become mainstream – as this year’s CARAVAN SALON again clearly demonstrates,” said Gerd Adamietzki, CSO/General Manager at Knaus Tabbert GmbH. “This trade fair offers us the best conditions to present our innovations to our customers - and the fact that they are extremely well received can be seen from our renewed growth rates. CARAVAN SALON was again extremely successful for us and not only exceeded our expectations, but also the previous year's result. Our customers are enthusiastic and our dealers extremely satisfied. Knaus Tabbert sets decisive trends in the industry".

   Bernd Wuschack, Manager for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service at the Carthago Group: “CARAVAN SALON has traditionally served as the kick-off  and barometer for the new model year. For the Carthago Group this kick-off was very successful. Among the many visitors we could welcome numerous prospective buyers. Accordingly, we are very satisfied with the result of the trade fair, because the sales are above the very high level of the previous year. The new generation of the Carthago chic e-line was the main focus of interest. Our new portfolio of chic e-line and chic c-line models on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base vehicle also met with a great response. In terms of the Malibu brand, the vans in particular continued to meet with very high demand from the public. Now our trade partners are looking forward to a successful post-fair business".

   The trade fair was also successful for the suppliers in the "technology order" sector with technical equipment, expansion parts and installations. Norbert van Noesel, Marketing Manager at Thetford: "Like every year, CARAVAN SALON is the perfect starting signal for the new caravanning season. Whereas it used to be the most important European trade fair, today it can be said that it is the most important trade fair in the world. More and more American and Asian companies are coming to see all the European innovations. We were able to welcome all OEMs and European wholesalers to our stand and from the end consumer perspective our stand was well attended throughout the week. Innovation is the key and we are happy to have positively surprised both the OEM market and the aftermarket. Here in Düsseldorf, the whole industry is lively and very present."

   In the tourism hall and the cash & carry area in Hall 7a, the increase in visitor numbers was also reflected in a higher frequency at the stands. “Expert talks have never been that in-depth before,” explained Jürgen Dieckert, Managing Director of IRMA / TopPlatz. “The demand at our stand was enormous. We were visited by a large number of trade visitors who had just built a caravan parking space or are planning to do so. What was striking was the high level of internationality of the visitors, especially  from the Netherlands and Spain. There was also  a high proportion of new customers and newcomers. I am particularly pleased with the positive feedback on the expert forum for motorhome parking spaces organized by CIVD and ADAC. In addition, we were able to bring our parking space traffic lights onto the market at the trade fair and received a huge response,” said Dieckert.

   The 59th CARAVAN SALON will be held from August 28 (trade visitor and media day) - September 6, 2020 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.    For further information on visiting or exhibiting at  CARAVAN SALON 2020, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.caravan-salon.com and  www.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago

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