It’s been a hard year for all businesses especially for those that rely heavily on the trade fair marketing. Thankfully things are slowly changing and expos are once again held and scheduled in the upcoming months.

All became possible, due to the changes in the organisation and the strict precaution measures taken by the expos’ management teams. The organisers for the future events follow their example and work towards developing and maintaining a safe expo environment.

How Is the Euro Trade Market Coping with the Pandemic

Since September 1st 2020 in-person trade expos have been allowed in Germany. The trade fair industry is unaffected by the ban on mass gatherings, and new rules have been integrated to help international visitors. Travel by trade fair participants is now possible thanks to the new guidelines. All EU citizens and those from the countries included on the safe travel list can freely enter Germany. The rest are regarded as business travellers on an important mission.

A predominant part of the 2020 fairs is held entirely online or in some “hybrid” form allowing a selected number of visitors and following the strict safety guidelines. The most tedious task of buying tickets and passes is done completely online, to avoid the gathering of a lot of people.

It is a good compromise, but according to a recent survey made by Fair Point GmbH, more than 50% of the people prefer attending trade fairs and expos in person. The EU is now actively working in finding a way to restore the industry and minimise the losses.

Fairs and Expos Held in September 2020

Thanks to the firm actions taken by the German government, a good number of trade fairs managed to take place in September 2020.

IFA Berlin 03-07 September 2020

Founded in 1924, IFA Berlin is the biggest consumer electronics trade fair in the world. And it was like a breath of fresh air, combining the new broadcasting possibilities and the B2B fundamentals. Due to the health requirements, the real-life events were limited only to the participants, as the fair was not accessible by the general public. However, the IFA management team created a unique platform - the IFA Xtended Space. It allowed visitors to emerge fully in the expo atmosphere by exploring the many interactive exhibitor rooms and take part in the product presentations. IFA 2020 was a huge success, and the organisators are looking forward to next year's expo.

CADEAUX and MIDORA Leipzig 05-07 September 2020

The trade fair for gifts and lifestyle trends CADEAUX and the expo for watches and jewellery MIDORA managed to host over 7,000 visitors and around 250 exhibitors showing Saxony that the industry is ready to function once again. Martin Dulig, State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport and Deputy Prime Minister of Germany who opened the events exclaimed: “These fairs are a sign of encouragement!”. The business desperately needs more positive news, and the revival of the trade fair industry is just that. The next editions of the two expos are scheduled for February and September of 2021. They are expected to gather even more international and local visitors.

Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 05-13 September 2020

The 59th edition of the Caravan Salon trade fair attracted more than 107 000 visitors this year. It sent a strong message that the trade fair industry is ready to return to normal, after suffering huge losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest expo for caravaning in Europe showed that with precise planning, strictly followed safety rules and perfect executions real-life events can be held. Hermann Pfaff, President of the Caravaning Industrie Verband was ecstatic to mark a new trend in the branch - “...they(the visitors) include many newcomers and that the average age has come down markedly shows that we are currently experiencing an inflow of completely new customers." We can’t wait for the 60th anniversary of Caravan Salon next year.

TrendSet München 12-14 September 2020

The international trade fair for interior and lifestyle attracted the staggering amount of over 600 exhibitors with about 1,500 collections. TrendSet exceeded expectations hosting more than 13 000 visitors and boosting the industry by providing a safe trade platform. This event was extremely important for the small businesses, allowing them to reach out to their audience in the time of a worldwide pandemic. The organisators of TrendSet will continue to work towards providing a safe environment for both the visitors and the exhibitors.

Upcoming 2020 Trade Fairs and Expos

The trade fairs held this September were only the beginning. More and more industries are ready to show their clients that they are back in business. Here are some of the expos you can visit in the next three months.

EXPO REAL Hybrid Summit München 14-15 October 2020

The Hybrid Conference for Property and Investment is one of the most anticipated expos this Autumn. Using the innovative format of combining real-life and online events, Expo Real will allow its visitors to experience every aspect of the fair. 3,700 tickets are currently available, as well as an unlimited number of digital passes. The organisators have developed strict hygiene and safety protocols to ensure the health of all attendees. Some of the highlighted topics included in the summit will be the development of the latest trends in real estate, how to operate and profit during the pandemic, sharing and discussing innovative ways to boost the industry. Thanks to its digital platform, the upcoming Expo Real 2020 offers the opportunity to dive into the current state of the global market at the moment.

Frankfurt Book Fair – Special Edition 14-18 October 2020

This incredible online book expo will gather digital exhibitors from more than 85 countries worldwide - Kazakhstan, Argentina, Ukraine, the US, and Canada, just to name a few. Get ready for a 70-hour program full of events, meetings and discussions. Its participants include writers, book publishers, scouts, booksellers and service providers. The program is designed to be interactive, meaning visitors can actively participate in the events rather than be spectators. The transition to the digital format came swimmingly, as the publishing industry is extremely flexible and adaptable. The Frankfurt Book Fair is supported by the German Minister of state and culture prof Monika Grütters as part of the country’s Neustar Kultur stimulus package. The goal of the funding is to help the publishing industry and boost the trade fair market.

BrauBeviale Special Edition Nürnberg 10-12 November 2020

With a new concept modified to fit the hygiene and safety guidelines, this major trade expo for the beverage industry will take place in November at Exhibition Centre Nurenberg. In addition, to live events, an interactive digital platform will host even more lectures and presentations. The expo is organised in a way that allows people unable to travel to enjoy the fair and create valuable connections. Andrea Kalrait, Executive Director BrauBeviale at NürnbergMesse GmbH is confident the new format will be successful “To meet this need and boost the dialogue in the beverage industry, we have worked with our partners to expand our supporting programme even further. The BrauBeviale Special Edition now offers six theme stages, and the sector is keen to use this platform to incorporate events that have previously taken place either before or after the main fair, such as the Export Forum German Beverages, as part of the fair itself.”

GrindTec Augsburg 10-13 November 2020

With a new vision and organisation this year, GrindTec 2020 is expected to be more impressive than the previous editions. The fair will take place in 6 halls and is expected to host more than 570 companies from over 30 different countries. The main focus of this year's GrindTec will be on the development of new technologies, electromobility and the revival of the industry during the pandemic.

Medica Düsseldorf 16-19 November 2020

Maybe one of the most significant expos yet to come is Medica - the leading platform for the medical technology industry. During a global pandemic, it is highly important to provide a meeting point for healthcare professionals where new ideas and innovations can be revealed and discussed. The fair will be held entirely online , as there are three main channels - The Conference Area, the Exhibition Space and the Networking Plaza. Wolfram Diener, Chairman and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf feels confident in the success of the format “The essence of the MEDICA and COMPAMED brand is global broadcasting for exhibitors and visitors. This central core is still present this year, just not in the form of an event that demands physical presence, due to the pandemic. With our comprehensive virtual marketplace and high-profile program elements, we are laying the foundations now to gain a joint headstart in 2021, in line with the situation.”

Fi Europe co-located with Hi Europe Frankfurt 01-03 December 2020

Frankfurt is once again hosting the massive fairs for health and natural ingredients and food ingredients. The two expos will be held at the same time and place and are expected to attract a lot of attention and over 21 000 visitors. It is a great opportunity to learn the new trends in the industry at the free presentations at the Industry Insights Theatre and Supplier Solutions Theatre, and create valuable business relations with over 1100 exhibitors. The main topics of the trade shows will be the Ingredients in Actions, Innovation Tours, the Start-Up Innovation Challenge.

Wire Trade Fair Düsseldorf 07-11 December 2020

Initially scheduled for this Spring, the Wire Fair was cancelled due to the corona pandemic. But now, thanks to the efforts of the EU government, the new regulations in Germany and the increasing needs of the industry, the expo will be held in December. Dr. Uwe-Peter Weigmann, CEO of WAFIOS AG and President of VDKM stated “We are confident that personal conversations and live demonstrations of machinery offered by a trade fair cannot be replaced by video conferences. This is why WAFIOS will exhibit its latest innovations at the trade fair – albeit on a smaller scale than usual. We are aware that the trade fairs in December will not be comparable to a “normal” wire & Tube. But we expect customers to come and want to be at their service. Since Messe Düsseldorf has shown at the CARAVAN SALON that it can and does implement the necessary hygiene measures to keep risks to a minimum for both exhibitors and visitors, WAFIOS also wants to send a signal with its participation: business must carry on and even in COVID-19 times personal conversations can be had to a limited extent and in a protected setting complying with hygiene rules."

Trade Fairs in the First Three Months of 2021

The new year is going to begin promising, as so far there are a lot of expos scheduled for 2021. The prognosis is that by the end of March the trade fair industry will be back on track with a steady profit increase. Clearly, the changes the German government made to boost the business are successful, and more and more companies feel safe to return to the trade fair market.

BAU München 13-15 January 2021

The top international trade fair for Architecture, Materials and Systems was one of the first expos scheduled for 2021. Businesses are eager to meet up and trade ideas and expand their client fields. 80 % of the fair’s capacity is already booked with high demand from abroad. The organisators of BAU want to stimulate the exhibitors to invest and connect with their customers, so they offer them a 15% bonus. Dieter Schäfer, CEO of Deutsche Steinzeug and chairman of the BAU exhibitor advisory board, has a clear vision on what needs to be done “It’s about time that we met our customers personally again, both old and new. The brave ones have to fly the flag. No digital format can replace personal meetings. We need this so that we can jump-start our business. The economy always demands perspectives and a reliable exit scenario. This is what BAU offers us now. We just have to take the first step.” However, for everyone who prefers to attend the event online, the organizers are ready with a hybrid form of the expo.

ISPO München January 31 - February 3 2021

A strong sign the sports industry is also recovering from the crisis is the highly anticipated ISPO expo. It presents the perfect platform for big companies to meet up, exchange ideas and show their newest products. One of the biggest events during the fair will be the ISPO Awards. For the first time, they will be live-streamed to provide broader international visibility. Franziska Zindl, Head of Awards & Innovation at ISPO, stated: “We are expecting more pioneering new products for the ISPO Award 2021 than ever, as many companies have reduced, postponed or even cancelled their summer collections due to the coronavirus and are now focusing all of their efforts on the coming season.”

EuroTier Hanover 09-12 February 2021

The focus of the upcoming world trade fair for farming and animal production will be under the guiding theme “Farming in the food chain.” Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sector has suffered huge losses. But now it’s ready once again to grab the bull by its horns. EuroTier is expected to host more than 1500 exhibitors eager to present their innovative solutions for the current problems. Other important topics that will be discussed will be the emission control, integrated livestock management concepts, the secrets of direct sales and energy generation in agriculture.

CADEAUX Leipzig February 27- March 1 2021

After the success of the 2020 edition, the organisators of one of the most notable trade fairs for gifts and lifestyle trends in Saxony are ready to leave the crisis behind. Next year’s expo is expected to gather more than 10 000 people. There is a special surprise planned - on February 28th, the specialist from another popular fair that will take place in Leipzig at the same time Floriga will be attending. Details will be jet discussed, but one is certain, a lot is going to happen in Saxony this Spring.

ProWein Düsseldorf 21-23 March 2021

Unfortunately, ProWein 2020 was postponed until 2021, however, the organisators reassured all exhibitors and visitors that the signed contracts and purchased ticket will be valid. The preparations for the fair are massive. The international expo from wine and spirits will have a new hall concept allowing both exhibitors and visitors to feel safe and ensure their well-being. More spacious, with a whole new parking ground the set up will provide an additional level of comfort. Expect a rich and educational program including the biggest brands of the industry.

If you need more information or help with the planning of your trade fair visit, contact Fair Point GmbH. We will be happy to assist you with insight into the latest accommodation policies, new requirements and hotel booking details.

To ensure your comfort we have adapted a strict protocol regarding the unexpected cancellations and rebooking of tickets due to the current health crisis. Our COVID guidelines are designed to protect your interests and minimise the financial risk for your future expo plans.