Messe Düsseldorf Group business increased significantly in 2010

The Messe Düsseldorf Group concluded the 2010 business year successfully and has laid the foundation for further strategic growth. The turnover rose to € 335 million (2009: € 256 million).

“As expected, we were able to increase the turnover compared to 2009, a year in which not many events were held due to the trade fair cycles,” said Messe Düsseldorf President & CEO Werner M. Dornscheidt.

About 30 percent of the group turnover was generated outside of Germany.

“Therefore, the Messe Düsseldorf Group and Messe Düsseldorf GmbH are well positioned. Depending on the cycles and the overall economic development, the strategic alignment is aiming towards a domestic and international growth of 4 to 5 percent per year,” stated Werner M. Dornscheidt. “In the engineering segment, we are already the undefeated number one organizer in the world. By 2015, we want to reach this status also with regards to the development and organization of other capital equipment trade fairs in Düsseldorf.”

According to Dornscheidt, an integral component of the corporate strategy is the sustainable development of the corporate group without relying on any subsidies.

With 24 events and 16 guest events at the Düsseldorf, Germany, location, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH reports a generally successful 2010 business year. Overall, approximately 28,000 exhibitors and 1.4 million visitors participated in trade fairs held in Düsseldorf.

The sales volume of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH amounted to € 272 million and exceeds the plan by 5.2 percent (2009: € 188 million).

“In light of the fact that the German trade fair industry is experiencing a slow recovery after the crisis, this result is very satisfactory,” said Dornscheidt.

The quota of international exhibitors and visitors increased again for nearly all trade fairs in Düsseldorf. In 2010, 62 percent of the exhibitors (2009: 61 percent) and 33 percent of the visitors (2009: 22 percent) came from outside of Germany.

“For the capital equipment trade fairs, which are so important to us, the level of international participation was even higher,” said Dornscheidt.

The leading international trade fairs K, MEDICA, glasstec, wire and Tube welcomed up to 70 percent of exhibitors and more than 50 percent of visitors from countries other than Germany.

In the coming years, Messe Düsseldorf will further invest in the modernization of its home location. In addition to the construction of three new halls in the past years, the company had already completely renovated three other halls.

“By 2020, we will have invested more than € 500 million to completely update the remaining halls,” said Dornscheidt. “This of course takes any possible external economic influences into consideration.”