MESSE DÜSSELDORF STARTS TRADE FAIR YEAR WITH EVENT MARATHON

Twelve trade fairs and guest events in Düsseldorf until end of June

Covid restrictions for trade fairs largely lifted

Voluntary hygiene measures provide added protection

 

   The trade fair year in Düsseldorf, Germany will start in May and June with six leading international trade fairs: BEAUTY, TOP HAIR, ProWein, EuroCIS, wire and Tube will take place without the Covid rules of the past two years, according to the current status. The same applies to the six upcoming partner and guest events to be held at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Center until the end of  June. Messe Düsseldorf will voluntarily adhere to basic hygiene and infection protection measures to give all parties involved a sense of safety. 

 

   After a break of just under six months life will return to Düsseldorf fairgrounds – with a tightly packed trade fair calendar. The Düsseldorf trade fair year will start in April with 14 trade fairs as well as numerous partner and guest events until the end of the year.  After the guest event BioWest, the organic trade fair for specialist retailers on April 10, a trade fair marathon begins in May with the international trade fair duo BEAUTY (May 6 – 8) and TOP HAIR (May 7 – 8). Following will be the leading global trade fair for wines and spirits, ProWein (May 15 – 17), the leading retail technology trade fair EuroCIS (May 31 – June 2) as well as the international trade fairs for wire, cable and tubes - wire & Tube (June 20 – 24).

 

The participating companies at wire and Tube will benefit from the synergies and the complementary ranges exhibited at the concurrently held METAV, the international exhibition for metalworking technologies, organized by VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) from June 21 - 24. METAV and BioWest are two of six partner and guest events that will also be held at the Düsseldorf exhibition center until the end of June. They will be joined by the international trade fair for wedding, bridal and event fashion, INTERBRIDE (May 22 - 24), the funeral trade exhibition BEFA Forum (May 26 - 28), the networking event for fleet management, "Flotte! Der Branchentreff" (June 1 – 2) and the congress trade fair PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION (June 22 – 23).

 

“Showcase for economic excellence”

   Welcoming the start of the trade fair year in the state capital, Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of the state North Rhine-Westphalia, said: “Messe Düsseldorf has been a showcase for North Rhine-Westphalia’s economic excellence and innovative power for years. Now it can finally give proof of its outstanding reputation as an organizer of leading international trade fairs again. I am sure Messe Düsseldorf will also bring its full strengths to bear and even further expand in future – in particular for the benefit of our state capital and our state. This is my wish for the city and all those benefiting from its success.”

 

   A smooth trade fair start is ensured by the legal framework that largely corresponds to pre-pandemic conditions. As it stands now, the trade fairs can take place without the Covid restrictions applied over the past two pandemic years. This means the access restrictions (vaccinated, recovered, tested), for example, social distancing rules as well as strict specifications for stand construction no longer apply. Such measures can, however, be applied again if the state of North Rhine-Westphalia detects a localized threat of increasing infection.

 

   Dr. Stephan Keller, Lord Mayor of the state capital Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Düsseldorf, stresses how important it is for all parties concerned to return to the accustomed trade fair operations: “The pandemic years have shown us both the advantages and the limits of digital communication to us. The business community was shown once again how valuable personal networking, chance encounters and physical brand and product experiences are. However, in order to bring people together free of limitations, the circumstances must be right. Only in this way can trade fairs unleash their full power and reach – for the participating industries and for the companies in and around Düsseldorf that benefit from these events.”

 

Voluntary hygiene standards provide safety

   To continue providing all participants with a sense of safety, Messe Düsseldorf will voluntarily adhere to hygiene and infection protection measures. The company continues to recommend wearing medical masks on its site and keeping a distance of 1.5 meters from other people. In addition, it provides disinfectant dispensers and cleans frequently used contact surfaces several times a day. Distance markings in waiting areas ensure that crowds of people are kept apart, for example in front of information desks and checkouts. Doors, provided they are not fire doors, are opened so that they can be passed through without being touched. Transparent partitions at service and information counters also remain in place.

 

   Wolfram N. Diener, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, emphasizes that easygoing trade fair activities should be in focus: “After a long pandemic period, the spotlight is now on new beginnings. We again create presentation and networking platforms in the proven form to enable successful business. Our additional hygiene measures offer a high degree of protection for this and ensure a sense of safety. Our high-performance air filters and ventilation systems, the spacious premises and generously dimensioned halls additionally reduce the infection risk to a minimum.”

 

   The 613,000 square meter Düsseldorf exhibition center, with 18 halls that measure up to 25,000 square meters and are 26 meters high, offers enough space for everyone. "The area is many times larger than at a concert hall or soccer stadium, for example,” states Diener. A fully automated system with 60,000 measuring monitors as well as high-performance particle filters, so-called HEPA air filters, ensures optimum air quality; 10 million cubic meters of fresh outside air are introduced into the halls every hour.

 

Entering Germany for trade fairs possible again

   Another aspect for successful trade fairs: the German Government no longer categorizes any countries as Covid high-risk regions which means that quarantine and registration obligations no longer apply either. Therefore, all participants in trade fairs are no longer subject to Covid-related entry restrictions for Germany. Entry to Germany is subject to a negative test result, proof of vaccination or recovery. It is important that a vaccine recognized in Germany has been used. Citizens from countries requiring a visa who travel to Germany to visit or exhibit at a trade fair still require a business visa for which proof of participation in the trade fair must be provided.

 

    Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director Operative Trade Fair Business at Messe Düsseldorf, underscores the positive response for the upcoming trade fairs: “Exhibitors can hardly wait to finally meet their international customers and partners again. Our trade fairs enjoy enormous approval ratings – also against the backdrop of relaxed Covid regulations. Thanks to the eased entry conditions we are also expecting a high visitor attendance.”

 

   Internationality is the trademark of Messe Düsseldorf’s No. 1 events: with 73% international exhibiting companies last year the events already reached the pre-Covid levels posted in 2019. At 33%, the internationality of visitors again approached the pre-pandemic level of 37%. Erhard Wienkamp adds: “This positive growth and the well-filled trade fair calendar make us very confident for the 2022 trade fair year.”

 

Statements by partners of Düsseldorf’s leading international trade fairs in May 2022

 

BEAUTY DÜSSELDORF (My 6 – 8):

Dr. Helmut Drees, 1^st Chairman of the Cosmetic Professional Association
(VCP e.V.)

 “Our entire cosmetics sector is longing to return to face-to-face events again. BEAUTY Düsseldorf as the leading trade fair of this industry in Germany plays a particular role here. Many exhibitors are looking forward to finally being able to present their latest innovations live and in personal talks at their booths again. Seen in this light, BEAUTY can also send a positive signal of new departure for the professional beauty industry!” 

 

TOP HAIR – DIE MESSE Düsseldorf (May 7 – 8):

Christian Schikora, Managing Director at TOP HAIR International GmbH

“After two long years of ‘bonjour tristesse’, a time of virtual meetings and cancelled or hybridized events, the TOP HAIR trade fair is back at last in May. Personal encounters finally return, a cup of coffee at the booth, real interactions with wonderful and competent people and that feeling of again diving into our great industry – we have all missed this dearly. Despite difficult circumstances we have also managed to put together a highly attractive program and a great event setting for 2022. Enthusiasm, emotion and fun are guaranteed, personal encounters are now possible again at last. The entire industry meets in Düsseldorf.”

 

ProWein (May 15 – 17):

Monika Reule, Managing Director of the German Wine Institute
(Deutsches Weininstitut)

“In its 28-year existence ProWein has developed into the world’s most relevant wine trade fair. Representing one of the biggest exhibiting nations, German wine producers are delighted the trade fair is running again in their home country bringing many international wine experts to Germany – a benefit especially for export-oriented companies. Also praised every year is the high professionalism of the expert wine audience hailing from all over the world.”

 

EuroCIS (May 31 –  June 2):

Ulrich Spaan, Member of the Board of Management at EHI Retail Institute

“The entire retail industry has seen an enormous push towards digitalization and technology over these past few years of the pandemic. Consequently, EuroCIS with its ranges on display as a leading technology trade fair for retail really strikes a chord covering many pivotal future themes. A visit to EuroCIS is an absolute ‘must’ for any retail company wanting to get in shape for the future.”

 

   For further information on visiting or exhibiting at any of Messe Düsseldorf’s trade fairs, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago

 

Messe Düsseldorf Group

Messe Düsseldorf is among the most successful trade fair companies worldwide. It hosts around 40 trade fairs including 20 leading international trade fairs at its 613,000 square meters exhibition center. In its 18 halls, the international market leaders and top decision-makers of various sectors get together every year in order to present and discover innovations, to exchange and to network. The sectors of expertise of Messe Düsseldorf include: “Machinery, Plants and Equipment” (including drupa, K, interpack, glasstec, wire and Tube); “Retail, Trades and Services” (EuroShop, EuroCIS, ProWein); “Health and Medical Technology” (MEDICA, COMPAMED, REHACARE); “Lifestyle and Beauty” (BEAUTY, TOP HAIR) as well as “Leisure” (boot, CARAVAN SALON). In addition,  numerous conventions, corporate events, conferences and meetings are managed  by its subsidiary Düsseldorf Congress. Abroad, Messe Düsseldorf organizes 75 events and participations. The global network of the group of companies encompasses 77 foreign representatives for 141 countries – including 7 international subsidiaries.