“Messe München opened the fall’s trade fair season with a big bang: IAA Mobility was the first major international event in more than a year and a half—and covered not only the exhibition grounds, but also many squares in downtown Munich. A great experience that gives us much tailwind for EXPO REAL,” explains Klaus Dittrich, CEO of Messe München. Visitors and journalists came from 95 countries. Bavarian politics also ruled out another lockdown—“and our protection and hygiene concept passed this particularly complex event with flying colors.”
Safety as the top priority
The participants’ safety will also be a top priority at EXPO REAL. Smart routing, good ventilation of the halls, distancing rules, facial masks, and admission only when vaccinated, recovered or tested (test must not be older than 24 hours)—these are the conditions for the industry to meet again (see also https://exporeal.net/en/trade-fair/at-the-fair/admission-requirements/). The exhibitors have already accepted this concept: 1,125 exhibitors have registered so far—and they are looking forward to EXPO REAL.
What exhibitors say
“Contents can also be exchanged virtually. Personal exchange, which is the basis for relationship banking, however, can only take place face to face. That’s why these meetings are important for that kind of partnership, but also for the mood—finally being able to stand together again and talk”, Christian Schmid, Board Member of Helaba.
“Working from home, boost for digitalization, ‘lower for longer’, ‘beds and sheds’, ESG and the German Energy Act for Buildings (GEG), KfW funding for commercial and residential properties, gray energy, retail revitalization, last mile logistics, e-mobility, active house, urban gardening, vertical farming—we at Invesco Real Estate are looking forward to EXPO REAL, especially as we are coming from Munich. There are many, many new topics worth discussing”, Fabian Manegold, Managing Director—Transactions, Invesco Real Estate.
“After a year and a half of pandemic, the real estate industry’s need to get back to face-to-face meetings is very high. Digital information events are now well established and will continue to be held in the future. However, real business requires trust, and that only develops from personal encounters. That’s why our exhibitors and also we want to be present on site again”, Dr. Rolf Strittmatter, Managing Director, Hamburg Invest.
“All of our participants are vaccinated twice. Unless a yet-unknown dangerous variant emerges, for us personally it is not more dangerous than when we flew two years ago during flu season. Of course, we adhere to the rules of the organizers. If an interlocutor asks for stricter rules, we will follow them. And we’ve all gotten used to the masks, so a fair with “muzzles” will work out, too”, Christoph Salts, Senior VP M&A and Managing Director Germany,
France, Romania, Warimpex AG.
