In 2011 the Messe Berlin exhibition group achieved its highest earnings to date in a rotationally weak odd year with fewer and/or smaller events – EUR 180 million. That was five million euros over budget and represents more than 14 percent higher revenues than in the comparable year 2009.
In a comparison of the years 2008 and 2010 Messe Berlin had similarly boosted its earnings significantly, by 8.5 percent to their highest level so far of EUR 217 million.
Over the past ten years Messe Berlin has managed to more than double its earnings. Practically all of this growth was achieved in Germany. Berlin's venue at the landmark Funkturm Radio Tower, which is to be promoted in future under the name Berlin ExpoCenter City, is one of the best occupied exhibition centres in the world.
For 2012 the German capital's exhibition company expects another record year. Raimund Hosch, chief executive officer of MesseBerlin: "Our leading international trade fairs are already very well booked. We therefore expect to meet our earnings target of EUR 230 million. Besides which, this year MesseBerlinwill be opening several new chapters in terms of exhibition and conference venues in the capital. In July 2012 we will take our new exhibition venue Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, which is located right next to the city's future new airport BER Berlin Brandenburg International, into operation with a premiere event. Parallel to this, we are expanding the ExpoCenter City with the addition of an exhibition hall capable of hosting congresses next to the southern entrance. Once again, this puts in place important prerequisites for further above-average growth in and around the capital."
The foundation stone for the new exhibition hall will be laid in May 2012, with completion scheduled already for December 2013. Following closure of the ICC Berlin, as from 2014 the exhibition company will initially use the new hall for its congresses. Raimund Hosch: "This means that we can continue to host the international conventions to the high quality standards for which they are renowned worldwide while the ICC Berlin is being redeveloped."
The new Berlin ExpoCenter Airport exhibition facility will open from July 4 to 6, 2012 with the fashion fair PANORAMA. Another highlight of exhibition activity at the new airport will follow from September 11 to 16 with the international ILA Berlin Air Show.
Last year Messe Berlin's meetings business also progressed very well: 438 conferences and shows were held for 161,350 participants in the convention venue Internationales Congress Centrum ICC Berlin, in the Palais am Funkturm ballroom and in the trade fair halls. Of the 146,000 conference-goers almost 74 percent were non-local – an extremely high percentage.
Spending by non-local exhibition and meeting guests triggered in the course of Messe Berlin's events last year injected purchasing power of roughly EUR 1.8 billion into the capital and surrounding region. Berlin's exhibition company thus secured upwards of 20,000 jobs in Berlin und Brandenburg.
