"Trade fairs and medium-sized fair companies are the winners".

Oliver Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen, gave an overall optimistic outlook in an interview with John Herbert on the Global DIY Network today. The Edra general secretary had invited him as a guest in his "Meet the CEO" series of talks. "Fairs are coming back," Kuhrt said.

He sees a lot of potential, especially for trade fair companies in the mid-segment and for specialised trade fairs. The decisive factor here is a high level of service and close contact with the industries one works for. In this respect, he compared the trade fair business to the hotel industry. "I try to manage this company like a five-star hotel," admitted the former hotel manager Kuhrt. In addition, according to Kuhrt's assessment, Messe Essen's investments in its exhibition centre, for example, contributed to the fact that the organiser was able to acquire ten new events despite the pandemic.

More than 170exhibitors have registered so far for the IPM Summer Edition in June. The event is not least intended to support the brand of the horticultural trade fair IPM, which was cancelled twice due to the coronavirus. The summer edition will be an "IPM light", Kuhrt announced, and will offer a mix of trade fair exhibition and get-together.

Another important fair for the home improvement industry in Essen is Security. It has been postponed until September 2022.