SHERIDAN, WYOMING – June 27, 2025 – Koelnmesse has announced a robust new ten-year corporate strategy after closing its centenary year with impressive financial results, signaling confidence in its growth trajectory despite global market challenges. The renowned international trade fair organizer recorded EUR 365.8 million in turnover and EUR 21.3 million in profit for 2024, hosting 76 events worldwide and welcoming over 2.1 million visitors from 197 countries.
Strong Financials and International Expansion Drive Momentum
Koelnmesse’s 2024 success was driven not only by leading trade fairs like ISM, spoga+gafa, gamescom, DMEXCO, and ORGATEC but also by a dynamic international expansion. Subsidiaries contributed significantly to the overall positive results, highlighting the effectiveness of Koelnmesse’s global strategy. Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH, stated exactly as written: “Our growth shows that those who invest courageously, remain innovative and consistently focus on the future will be rewarded even in a challenging market environment.”
In 2024, Koelnmesse launched eight new international events, adding to 21 new trade fairs abroad since 2023. Among the standout successes was gamescom latam, which after its 2024 debut in São Paulo with over 100,000 visitors, expanded its impact in 2025. Koelnmesse’s subsidiary in Brazil also continued to grow events like Anuga Select Brazil and the FIT 0/16 and Pueri Expo fairs.
Ambitious Targets for 2025 and Beyond
For the current financial year, Koelnmesse projects record-breaking sales of around EUR 450 million. Gerald Böse emphasized exactly as written: “In the current financial year, Koelnmesse is aiming for a new sales revenue record with a turnover of around EUR 450 million,” but he also stressed: “The economic situation remains challenging and small and medium-sized enterprises, which traditionally use trade fair appearances as a gateway to the world, are under considerable pressure. Of course we feel that too, increased costs, bureaucratisation and trade and customs policies are having a negative impact on investment and consumer sentiment – and not just in Germany. We are also noticing this pressure when it comes to our own costs and therefore expect earnings to remain where they were in 2023 at most.”
Koelnmesse has 82 events planned for 2025, including 60 of its own shows, with 39 scheduled abroad. Eight of these will debut in key markets, such as interzum jakarta, International Hardware Fair Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, FSB Sports Show Riyadh, ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia and India, DMEXCO Asia, and Labotec Parma.
“level35” Strategy: A Clear Roadmap to Top Global Position
Koelnmesse’s new “level35” corporate strategy outlines its goal of ranking among the world’s top five trade fair companies by 2035. Gerald Böse stated exactly as written: “We did our homework during the coronavirus period and after the pandemic and are now benefiting from this as trade fair business normalises.” Oliver Frese, COO of Koelnmesse, added exactly as written: “We already achieve this in the strong, odd-numbered trade fair years,” and continued, “but our ambition is to raise sales and profits to top international levels in the weaker, even-numbered years.”
Frese further explained the necessity of building financial resilience: “This is the only way Koelnmesse can keep pace in a very dynamic trade fair market and hold its own against the global competition,” and emphasized: “True competitiveness comes from investment, digitalisation and the reduction of unnecessarily complex processes that slow down the pace of our innovation.”
Leadership in Sustainability Initiatives
A central pillar of “level35” is sustainability, with Koelnmesse aiming to operate climate-neutrally by 2030 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Key achievements in 2024 included installing photovoltaic systems with 20,000 square meters of solar modules, converting to energy-efficient LED lighting, expanding e-charging infrastructure, and advancing geothermal systems planned for completion in 2028.
Oliver Frese highlighted exactly as written: “The trade fair grounds with their excellent transport connections and unique proximity to the city centre are highly attractive by global standards for the more than 2.5 million guests who come to us from 220 countries every two years.”
Long-Term Commitment to Innovation and Excellence
As Koelnmesse celebrates its 100th anniversary, its investments, digital transformation, and sustainability efforts underscore a commitment to innovation and industry leadership. Through its historic EUR 1 billion investment program running until 2040, Koelnmesse is modernizing its trade fair grounds to support future event formats and maintain global competitiveness.
Learn more at www.koelnmesse.com.