Global News
September 2020
IMM Cologne 2021 To Go Ahead For January 2021
G
erman trade fair imm cologne has confirmed that it will take place (with Living Kitchen) from January, 18-24, 2021. “We want to blaze a bold trail into the new normal together with the industry,” says Ma hias Pollmann, vice president, trade fair management, at organizer Koelnmesse. As it stands, 70% of the hall space has been booked. “Given the present circumstances, this really is a very good registra on figure,” explains Ma hias. “Compared with previous months, we are also currently seeing increased interest overall in holding live trade fairs. The mo va ng realiza on is gaining ground that real-life interac ons between people are essen al when it comes to establishing and building business rela onships. To ensure the safety of exhibitors and visitors, Koelnmesse has worked in coopera on with the public authori es to
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develop #B-SAFE4business, a concept that makes provision for all measures rela ng to hygiene, medical care and organisa on. On top of that, Koelnmesse has drawn up a hygiene and infec on control concept, which complies with the current provisions of North Rhine-Westphalia's Corona Protec on Ordinance and the requirements of the relevant health authority. Measures include discharging used air from the exhibi on halls to the outside and drawing in en rely new fresh air so that aerosols cannot spread via our ven la on system. The team from imm cologne is very op mis c about a rac ng visitors. “Of course, the number of visitors will depend on the travel situa on with regard to air, rail and local public transport – as well as on the extent to which travel restric ons are li ed. Nevertheless, we are already reaching around 90 per cent of our trade visitors despite the limita ons that are
currently in place.” At the same me, the imm cologne team is also developing a hybrid event format for those par cipants unable to a end in person. “We will focus on extending our digital reach and will learn from the digital formats we are offering this autumn for gamescom and DMEXCO,” comments Pollmann. “Of course, it is in the nature of the interior design sector that its products are more difficult to present digitally than games are, for instance. Nevertheless, we are seeing some good concepts for streaming certain imm cologne events as well as top-class congress talks and discussions. Exhibitors will also be able to present their products digitally and thereby increase their reach. To supplement our digital matchmaking op ons, we are not only expanding the business opportuni es available to our exhibitors but also reaching a broad spectrum of visitors.”
Save the new dates for EEA & GMI 2020
