Messe Frankfurt: Back to normal sales level in 2023
Messe Frankfurt hopes to revive the trade fairs schedule in this autumn, but the level of sales reported in the pre-COVID era will be reached only in 2023, according to President and Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Marzin.
All the events hosted by Germany were halted in March due to the lockdown period imposed in front of the coronavirus outbreak. "In spite of massive outflows in 2020, an exceptionally challenging year, Messe Frankfurt has sufficient liquidity to overcome the current situation. We are in a position to increase our liquidity reserves through financing measures," explained Mr Marzin.
In 2019, the company reported record figures: group sales amounted to €736 million, compared with €718 million in 2018. Last year, a total of 423 events took place worldwide under the Messe Frankfurt umbrella, with 5.1 million visitors in attendance. At present, a total of 18 new events have been planned for this and the coming financial year.
Nevertheless, it will take at least three years for the group to climb back to the figures reported last year. At the same time, digitalisation and advancements in the area of safety must be put in place to ensure an ongoing activity for the years to come. "The trade fair landscape will continue to evolve through the coronavirus crisis and Messe Frankfurt will be actively involved," added Mr Marzin.
As Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, stresses: "For our customers, online platforms like Nextrade – an ordering and data management portal facilitating digital 24/7 business relationships – and Conzoom Solutions are already an important addition for stimulating their stationery business." This year, Messe Frankfurt is offering its customers around the world a series of additional digital formats for the events that were postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. Uwe Behm, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, added: "The past weeks have shown how relevant it is to have a solid IT structure. This affects the company's communication channels and the need to provide state-of-the-art digital platforms for our customers." Messe Frankfurt will expand its business model around virtual and/or hybrid modules and further increase the relevance and range of its events.
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