1. THE GERMAN TRADE FAIR MARKET
The global economy recorded only a modest rate of expan-
sion in 2015. According to initial estimates by the Kiel Insti-
tute for the World Economy (Institut für Weltwirtschaft, IfW),
the global economy will gradually recover in the next two
years but develop little momentum for the time being. The
IfW forecasts an increase in global GDP (calculated on the
basis of purchasing power parity) from 3.1 percent in 2015
to 3.4 percent in 2016 and 3.8 percent in 2017. Preliminary
figures released by the Association of the German Trade Fair
Industry (AUMA) show that trade fairs in Germany remain on
track for further growth. In 2015, 164 international and na-
tional trade fairs took place with 1.5 percent more exhibitors
and 2 percent more visitors compared with the respective
prior-year events. The amount of leased exhibition space in-
creased by 1.5 percent. AUMA expects growth on the same
scale in 2016 for the 185 international and national trade fairs
planned. This estimate is underscored by a survey of exhibi-
tors conducted by the market research institute TNS Emnid
at AUMA’s request. The poll revealed that around 60 percent
of German exhibitors intend to keep their trade fair budgets
unchanged in the next two years, while around 27 percent
plan to increase theirs.
2. FOREIGN BUSINESS
Foreign business for German trade fair organisers is still expan-
ding. German organisers are planning to hold 319 trade fairs
abroad in 2016, mainly in China, India, Russia, Turkey and the
United States. Participation in foreign trade fairs amounted to
253 in 2015. A total of 241 participations are planned for 2016,
including 55 in China, 34 in Russia, 25 in North America, 24 in
the Near and Middle East and 17 in Latin America.
3. THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION AND CONFERENCE BUSINESS
Although final figures for the development of the national
and international convention and conference market in
2015 are not yet available, it is assumed that there will be
slight growth in the German events market. As in the pre-
vious years, the German convention and conference busi-
ness is the European market leader and ranks second
worldwide after the United States. The large number of
top-class venues in Germany, the oversupply of conven-
tion and conferencing capacity, and announcements about
expansion and modernisation projects and also new con-
struction undertakings are still leading to high competi-
tive pressure. Hamburg ranks fifth among the most popu-
lar German and foreign cities. Its excellent infrastructure
provides ideal conditions for the event organiser to stage
successful conferences and conventions. In addition to the
infrastructure of the conference and convention centre, the
general conditions at the destination, such as accessibility,
hotel accommodation, security and cost-effectiveness, are
playing an increasingly important role in the decision on the
venue. In the national and international association busi-
ness, there is also an emerging trend of compliance aspects
being used as one of the selection criteria.
A. BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
CONDENSED MANAGEMENT
REPORT
48 HAMBURG MESSE UND CONGRESS Annual Report 2015