The Stuttgart Exhibition Centre reopened this month, with major trade fairs and events following in quick succession.

Stuttgart Exhibition Centre Amid the Pandemic

自2020Since March, all exhibitions and events in Stuttgart have been suspended – the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre has cancelled or postponed 185 events to date.

The year 2020 generated a deficit of approximately €18 million. Regarding the 2021 financial report, Stefan Lohnert, President of Messe Stuttgart, stated: "Although the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of abating this year, the demand for hosting trade fairs and exhibitions remains substantial, both for this year and the coming years, as indicated by the project information received."

2021Reopened in September

Under the policy guidance of the “Security Exhibition”, by the end of this year, 20 event exhibitions have been scheduled in the venue's calendar. These include a number of guest events,IndustryRelated exhibitions and numerous consumer shopping events.

President Roland Bleinroth expressed great optimism and looks forward to restarting exhibition operations, bringing visitors and exhibitors back to the venue. President Stefan Lohnert stated that it is time to fill the venue with life and bustle once more.

New Pathways, New Approaches

2020Since autumn of that year, Messe Stuttgart has been facilitating online market matching through partnerships with four live-streaming studios, thereby fulfilling the company's original objective of connecting supply and demand.

Since then, numerous hybrid and digital events have begun implementing and realising traditional exhibition formats. This represents a valuable new business model emerging from the pandemic era, while also serving as a model for reaching international audiences.

The original intent of online and digital formats: At the heart of every exhibition lies human connection and the spontaneous, incidental exchanges that arise. Digital formats can only foster such connections and interactions when specific conditions are met. Consequently, for the foreseeable future, digital approaches will be regarded as a supplement to physical exhibitions.

Further reading

Digitalisation and hybrid events,Stuttgart Exhibition Centre has expanded its business model.

To ensure the seamless and smooth execution of digital and hybrid events, Messe Stuttgart offers event organisers a dedicated livestreaming package supported by comprehensive infrastructure. Hosts may select from three fully equipped studios to stage their activities.

Whether organisers plan to broadcast live or pre-record events, host conferences, symposiums, online seminars or product launches, they can find the perfect setup for their needs. From planning through to execution, Messe Stuttgart stands ready to provide assistance and advice at every stage. All streaming studios can be equipped with interactive tools to promptly respond to participant queries, create online surveys or facilitate instant chat.

Stuttgart Trade Fair and GCB Virtual Exhibition Hall

From 1 June to 30 September 2021, Messe Stuttgart presented its current status through online exhibitions, conferences and seminars using the “GCB Virtual Exhibition Hall” model tool provided by the German Congress Bureau (GCB). The campaign slogan was: Germany – the heart of future events.

LogiMAT.digital24/7 online business community, supporting the recovery of the internal logistics industry

LogiMAT will take place in March 2022 at the reopened Stuttgart Exhibition Centre. As a precursor to the trade fair's relaunch, the online business community LogiMAT.digital has been established. Running continuously throughout 2021 and 2022, LogiMAT.digital will provide round-the-clock business matching services for intralogistics enterprises and professional buyer groups. This initiative aims to alleviate the market supply-demand tensions arising from the suspension of physical exhibitions since 2020, thereby supporting the industry's recovery. Through online product showcases, virtual summits, digital roundtable forums, and virtual workshops, the platform enables businesses to access cutting-edge industry insights. Real-time online business negotiations further empower enterprises to secure additional commercial opportunities.

For further details, please refer to https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/WIJycShBTnwXL6WL48rSDw