SHERIDAN, WYOMING – November 19, 2024 - Koelnmesse, a leading German trade fair organizer, has been named "Company of the Year" 2024 by FOCUS MONEY and DEUTSCHLAND TEST. This prestigious award recognizes Koelnmesse's outstanding reputation and commitment to providing first-class experiences for exhibitors and visitors.
The award is based on a comprehensive analysis of consumer opinions conducted by the Institute for Management and Economic Research (IMWF). Analysts evaluated millions of mentions in news and social media concerning around 18,000 companies. Koelnmesse achieved a perfect score and secured first place among all German trade fair locations.
"We are delighted to take first place among trade fair locations in Germany," said Koelnmesse CEO Gerald Böse. "This achievement further confirms our continued efforts to offer our trade fair visitors and exhibitors first-class experiences. It recognizes our success and serves as an incentive in our ongoing pursuit of innovative and sustainable paths for our customers in the future."
A Data-Driven Approach to Reputation
IMWF's research involved analyzing thousands of publicly accessible news media, websites, and social media platforms. The institute used artificial intelligence to assess the sentiment expressed in these sources, determining whether statements about companies were positive or negative. The resulting reputation analysis categorized the ratings into four key areas: "Award Winner," "Utmost Trust," "Customer Favorites," and "Sustainability."
Koelnmesse's success stems from its dedication to continuous improvement and innovation. "We are constantly developing Koelnmesse and our events, because we know only too well that even the world's leading trade fairs can fade if technology or usage habits change," explained Koelnmesse COO Oliver Frese. "This means we can never rest on our laurels, but must constantly redevelop trade fairs that are still in full bloom today in order to maintain their innovative strength."
Listening to the Voice of the Public
The IMWF study, based on a big data analysis of consumer opinions, captured the views of approximately 80 million people, including customers, media professionals, employees, and suppliers. "For this reputation analysis, we listened to 80 million people - customers, media professionals, employees, suppliers and many more," said Jörg Forthmann, Managing Director of IMWF. "The result reflects published views and broad public opinion on the country's most important companies. In the trade fair locations sector, Cologne is the nationwide winner because it has been commented on most positively in all the relevant areas."
To be recognized as a leader in its sector, a company had to demonstrate outstanding performance across all four categories of the rating system. Koelnmesse achieved top ratings in each category, solidifying its position as an industry leader.
About Koelnmesse
Koelnmesse is a major player in the global trade fair industry, employing around 1,100 people. Located in the heart of Europe, it boasts the third-largest exhibition center in Germany, with almost 400,000 square meters of hall and outdoor space. Koelnmesse organizes and manages around 80 trade fairs, guest events, and corporate events annually, both in Cologne and in key markets worldwide. Its portfolio attracts over 43,100 exhibiting companies from 125 countries and approximately two million visitors from 220 nations.
Koelnmesse is committed to investing in the future. The company is currently undertaking an extensive investment program of over one billion euros to modernize its facilities and ensure it can accommodate all event formats in the years to come. In 2024, Koelnmesse celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking a century of bringing people and markets together and continuously reinventing itself to meet the evolving needs of the global business community.