Reports

On our own behalf: AUMA is bundling its commitment to lobbying, legal issues, technology, sustainability and business development in a new department. It has been headed by Silvia Bauermeister since 1 October.

The International Federation of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) has selected Chris Skeith for the position of Chief Executive Officer. Skeith comes from AEO, the association for event organisers in the UK, which he has headed since 2014.

Good news: In the coming year, companies from Germany will be supported with an expanded programme at trade fairs abroad.

Many new AI applications can simplify work, especially in communication. The opportunities and risks arising from their use in the trade fair industry are the subject of various trade fair forums that AUMA is organising for its members this autumn.

The latest business travel analysis by the German Association of Travel Management (VDR) shows that the German business travel market is recovering: The German business travel market is recovering - with an increase of 55 per cent to 116.7 million trips compared to the previous year. Even if the figures are still below the pre-corona level, the importance of business travel remains unbroken.

The global trade fair industry is recording record sales, leaving behind the deep trough caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Sales growth of 20 and 17 per cent is expected for 2023 and 2024 compared to the previous year. This is according to the latest edition of the Global Exhibition Barometer published by the International Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) at the beginning of August.

Visa waiting times for international exhibitors and visitors who want to take part in trade fairs in Germany are still too long in many countries. This was revealed by a survey conducted by the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) this July and August among the foreign representatives of German trade fair organisers. AUMA analysed over 60 responses from more than 30 countries requiring visas. There is no sign of a significant easing of the situation compared to last year's survey.

After the summer break, business life begins again this week at around 70 trade fair centres in Germany. 130 trade fairs are planned for the second half of the year. The Gamescom computer games trade fair in Cologne will kick things off. AUMA takes positive stock of the first half of the year.

More than 100 trainees are starting their careers in the German trade fair industry these days. Event management assistants, event technology specialists and IT specialists are the most sought-after job profiles among trade fair organisers.

Regional trade fairs in Germany have overcome the coronavirus crisis. Around 36,000 exhibiting companies took part in the 132 regional trade fairs in Germany in 2023. This is over 70 percent more than in 2022. They occupied a stand area of almost 1.13 million square metres (+ 61 percent) and attracted the interest of 3.9 million visitors (+ 86 percent).