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Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

David Riemeier David Riemeier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: September 2024 WZ N82.30DE

Revenue

€7.6bn

2024

€7.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

50,690

Businesses

6,092

Wages

€X.Xbn

Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany industry analysis

Turnover for trade fair, exhibition and congress organisers has declined sharply over the past five years. While the German and global economies were still in a very dynamic state until 2018, economic growth slowed as early as 2019, leading to a slight decline in demand for the industry's services. From 2020, the coronavirus pandemic then led to event bans and numerous cancellations of trade fairs, congresses and conferences, resulting in a decline in sales. In 2024, however, sales are expected to grow by 2% to EUR 7.6 billion due to the positive development of the business climate, consumer sentiment and the volume of global trade. However, the level of the pre-crisis year 2019 is unlikely to be reached, as geopolitical conflicts are having a negative impact on global trade. On average, this results in an annual decline in turnover of 6.1% for the entire period from 2019 to 2024.The industry's largest customer group is commercial enterprises, whose willingness to participate in events such as trade fairs and congresses depends primarily on whether they expect the overall economy to develop positively or negatively. Private individuals primarily attend events when the consumer climate is favourable. This in turn significantly influences the attractiveness for companies to exhibit at trade fairs. A slight improvement in the business climate is expected for 2024, which should show a long-term upward trend.Alfabank-Adres expects the industry to partially recover from the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic and return to growth over the next five years, although sales are likely to remain below the 2019 level. Industry sales are forecast to increase by an average of 2.3% per year to €8.5 billion in 2029, with the moderate sales growth mainly due to the substitution of many of the industry's services with online offerings, preventing higher sales potential. Online trade fairs and events often generate less revenue than traditional face-to-face formats, as they limit the opportunities for personal interaction that are crucial for initiating business. The usual income from stand rental, catering, event services and sponsorship at physical events is not available. Participants' lower willingness to pay for virtual experiences and technical hurdles also contribute to online formats being less financially lucrative.

Trends and Insights

  • The event bans led to a significant loss of sales in the industry during the pandemic. Various trade fair organisers responded to the restrictions by making their premises and services available for other purposes.
  • Manufacturing is the sector's largest sales market. The industry was recently hit hard by high energy and raw material prices as well as supply bottlenecks, which impacted demand for sector services. However, its share of sales is likely to grow again in the future.
  • North Rhine-Westphalia has more industry companies than any other federal state thanks to the trade fair and congress locations in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region. Not only the proximity to manufacturing companies and research institutions is an advantage, but also the good infrastructure.
  • As an alternative to domestic organisers, companies often commission trade fair, exhibition and congress organisers from abroad. Many foreign organisers are able to offer their services more cheaply than their German competitors due to lower rental prices, lower labour costs and less regulation.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €7.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The ban on events to contain the corona pandemic led to a considerable loss of sales for trade fair organisers

  • As a result of the spread of the coronavirus, major events were increasingly banned by the state governments from March 2020, before a general ban on events of all kinds was finally imposed.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Virtual conferences are likely to increasingly replace physical events

  • Many companies have quickly introduced video conferencing technologies as part of the switch to working from home during the pandemic and are continuously gaining experience with their use.

Biggest companies in the Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Messe Frankfurt GmbH
400.2
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
331.9
Koelnmesse GmbH
278.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany
Products & Services
Alfabank-Adres Logo Source: Alfabank-Adres

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Trade fairs, Professionally motivated events and Events. Trade fairs is the largest segment of the Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Trade fairs account for the largest share of industry sales despite fluctuations

  • Trade fairs are events at which companies present their products and services to a wide audience. They are aimed either at a specialised audience or at the general public.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry is concerned with the organisation and implementation of events such as trade fairs, congresses, conferences, meetings or events, as well as the promotion of these events. Some of the industry players also provide staff for the event venues. The organisation of museum exhibitions and event technology are not part of the industry's activities.

What's included in this industry?

Trade fairsProfessionally motivated eventsEventsChristmas marketsFashion shows

Companies

Messe Frankfurt GmbHMesse Düsseldorf GmbHKoelnmesse GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CAPITAL GOODS FAIRCONGRESSMEETING

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 82.30 - Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The event bans led to a significant loss of sales in the industry during the pandemic. Various trade fair organisers responded to the restrictions by making their premises an...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Manufacturing is the sector's largest sales market. The industry was recently hit hard by high energy and raw material prices as well as supply bottlenecks, which impacted de...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

North Rhine-Westphalia has more industry companies than any other federal state thanks to the trade fair and congress locations in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region. Not onl...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

As an alternative to domestic organisers, companies often commission trade fair, exhibition and congress organisers from abroad. Many foreign organisers are able to offer the...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Messe Frankfurt GmbH is the largest company in the industry. From 2025, the international financial trade fair Sibos will complement the event portfolio.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Messe Frankfurt GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Koelnmesse GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Messe Frankfurt GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Koelnmesse GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry is subject to moderate regulation. Many organisers are also subject to the Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics, which is dedicated to checking an...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

After high losses due to the pandemic, the industry is back in profit. The coronavirus pandemic and the associated event bans have led to a market shakeout in recent years, w...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany is €7.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 6,092 businesses in the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Convention & Trade Fair Services market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Convention & Trade Fair Services market in Germany are Messe Frankfurt GmbH, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and Koelnmesse GmbH

What does the Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany include?

Trade fairs and Professionally motivated events are part of the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Convention & Trade Fair Services in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

How competitive is the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Convention & Trade Fair Services industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Media Representation in Germany

Complementors

  • Public Relations & Communications Activities in Germany
  • Advertising Agencies in Germany
  • Employment Placement Agencies in Germany
  • Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in Germany
  • Private Security Activities in Germany
  • General Building Cleaning in Germany

International industries

  • Trade Show and Conference Planning in the US
  • Trade Show & Event Planning in Canada
  • Event Promotion and Management Services in Australia
  • Convention & Exhibition Services in China

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.