Deutsche Messe's 2023 was an unexpected success, with a whopping 350 million euros in sales and nearly 30 million euros in profit announced in Hanover. This impressive figure surpassed their initial expectations, a testament to the continued value customers place on face-to-face interactions at trade fairs.
Jochen Köckler, CEO of Messe Hannover, celebrated this achievement, attributing it to the importance of personal meetings and interactions at these events. Deutsche Messe organized approximately 90 fairs and events, welcoming over 4.8 million visitors and 26,000 exhibiting companies.
The previous year, 2022, was challenging due to the coronavirus pandemic. The virus forced temporary cancellations or digital transformations of several trade fairs. Recovery was slow but eventual, with Deutsche Messe reporting a loss of around 11 million euros.
However, things significantly improved in 2023. The industrial show Hannover Messe, for instance, saw its visitor numbers increase from 75,000 to almost 130,000. Internationally, events in Turkey and China performed better than anticipated. Moreover, new events for the Hanover location were secured, such as the ITMA, a world-renowned textile and clothing technology fair, starting in 2027.
This newfound success underlines Deutsche Messe's resilience in the face of adversity, highlighting the enduring appeal of in-person networking and events.
