Messe Frankfurt’s 2015 annual report highlights new records for all key financial and event figures. “We have once again confirmed our leading position among German trade fair companies and further solidified our international ranking,” stated Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt, at the annual press conference.
Messe Frankfurt Group sales reached a new high of almost 648 million euros, while annual net income hit 38.2 million euros. There were 133 trade fairs and exhibitions worldwide with 90,800 exhibitors.
Marzin said: “Our overall corporate concept is the right one, and our long-term “Messe Frankfurt 2020” corporate strategy is paying off. We have the scope we need for further investments in the brand values of the Messe Frankfurt Group.”
The first half of the trade fair year 2016 was strong and dynamic, with performance at a high level. With regard to operations in and outside Germany, Executive Board member Detlef Braun stressed: “We can report that new records were set at many of our trade fairs, with a large international component and customer evaluations to match.”
At the Frankfurt base, Heimtextil continues to grow, with an international component that is now 89 per cent. The trade fair trio Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld delivered a solid performance, drawing even more exhibitors than at their previous events. Ambiente has once again demonstrated its strength as a global trend-setter for consumer goods markets. Nordstil in Hamburg went extremely well, as did Greenshowroom and the Ethical Fashion Show, the two events that are firmly established as a centre of sustainable fashion during Berlin Fashion Week.
Messe Frankfurt works with industry representatives to continuously develop its events. Braun explained: “By creating concepts that have been tailored to the market and strengthening synergies, we are able to respond to economic weakness and consolidation in individual industries and support our customers,” adding that, on the basis of a strong first six months, the company expects to finish the year with key event figures, including those for exhibitors, visitors and exhibition space sold, significantly higher than in the previous two years.
Strengthening brand value
In recent years, Messe Frankfurt has been working step by step to solidify its brand positioning worldwide and correspondingly strengthen its competitive position in the international rankings. Supported by a strong Frankfurt base and the continued development of events in Germany, the company is successively expanding its portfolio around the globe. A good example of continued successful growth is offered by the Automechanika brand family, which is welcoming new events in Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
With more than 70 events in technology sectors worldwide, Messe Frankfurt is very strong in this industry. This strong field is growing steadily and includes numerous sectors with an excellent outlook for the future, a good example being intelligent building technology. Messe Frankfurt is the world leader in this area with its ISH and Light + Building brands. In addition to very successful parent events in Frankfurt, its leading trade fair brands are continually being placed in selected core regions worldwide.
Wolfgang Marzin observed: “We generate more than 38 per cent of our sales outside Germany. The importance of international business will continue to grow, not least as a result of ongoing globalisation and changing production and trade flows. A good third of the 17 new events to be added by 2018 will be in the field of technology. With the acquisition of the International Elevator and Escalator Expo (IEE Expo), Messe Frankfurt is continuing the expansion of its building technology segment in India. ISH India powered by IPA is a new trade fair partnership in co-operation with NürnbergMesse and leading Indian organisations.”
At the company’s Frankfurt base, the construction of the new Hall 12 marks another milestone in the development of the exhibition grounds. As Uwe Behm, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, summed up by saying, “optimising our exhibition grounds generates further growth in Frankfurt.”
Construction work is proceeding according to plan. With a height of approximately 30 metres and 33,000 sq. metres of gross exhibition area over two levels, Hall 12 will be the largest one in the western section of the exhibition grounds. Behm said: “Starting in early August, we will be successively transferring the building pit, on schedule, to the companies responsible for constructing the building.”
The construction firms Max Bögl Stiftung & Co. KG, Ed. Züblin AG and Cofely Deutschland GmbH have been engaged as general contractors. The consortium will be responsible for the turnkey construction of Hall 12 by 2018 in line with the design created by the Kadawittfeldarchitektur GmbH architectural office. The hall’s integration into the visitor circuit around the exhibition grounds will also allow us to complete the Via Mobile in the western section of the exhibition grounds.
Sustained growth
“The Messe Frankfurt Group is well situated both strategically and financially,” emphasised Wolfgang Marzin. With top-class, innovative products and services, a strong global network and the capital necessary for further investments, the company plans to continue increasing its market share even as it maintains its high profitability. We are expecting good sales figures for the current financial year, slightly below last year’s level owing to the rotation of events, and for earnings to remain positive.
“Whether we will reach our intermediate and long-term targets depends in no small degree on the international economic and political situation,” Marzin added.
For details, visit: www.messefrankfurt.com