Nostalgic but forward-looking
The trade fair venue with the longest tradition in Austria is in the province of Styria: Messe Graz is 100 years old - and making a decisive step forwards.
Messe Graz is celebrating its centenary publicly: The autumn fair is beckoning. After all, this is the event that started the history of trade fairs at the venue: In 1906 Messe Graz became established as a sample and goods show which developed into the biggest and most popular consumer fair. The centenary fair is the major trade fair of the year for the general public . In keeping with the occasion, it is being staged from September 30 to October 8 with an appealing programme. Graz is also celebrating another birthday at its autumn fair: The first car was built there 100 years ago. So cars will be presented at a special show: from the Puch Voirette to Magna show cars.
Despite the wave of nostalgia for the anniversary, the history of this trade fair venue is moving on: Large parts of the existing pavilions are giving way to new buildings that will further boost the appeal of the location and make it more international. After all, it benefits from its geographic location close to markets in central and south-eastern Europe. A new pavilion will be built this year and will be completed in the autumn of 2008. Then 23,500 m2 of trade fair infrastructure will be available. This is less than at present, but small is beautiful, so the saying goes.
But the trade fair is not Graz' only attraction: The new municipal auditorium built four years ago is the most modern multi-functional hall in Austria. The extended conference centre opened for business in March 2005. This conference centre, the municipal auditorium, is the centrepiece of the trade fair complex. Innovative architecture and technology make it an appealing site for conventions, conferences and trade fairs. The large hall can be divided into three, equipping it for receptions and galas. Its 16 conference and convention halls are suitable for events with 200 delegates up to convention-cum-trade-fairs with 3000 visitors. With the markets in central and south-eastern Europe near at hand, trade fair boss Nilly Nail has a challenging and ambitious agenda. His aim for Messe Graz: "We are confident that the clear improvement in the trade fair infrastructure will speed up development of the venue. In the medium term, we want to become one of the leading trade fair venues in central Europe." He knows: Without expansion of the trade fair portfolio, it will not be possible to achieve a balanced result in future. That is why it is necessary to introduce new trade fair topics to secure and develop Graz as a trade fair site. Existing events must be bolstered and expanded and new, future-orientated trade fairs must be brought to Graz.
And the trade fair centre also seems to be developing into an event holding: the employees take care of the renting and leasing of the Liebenau Stadium which also includes an indoor skating rink. A merger between the trade fair centre and the convention centre in downtown Graz is also under discussion. If this merger is completed this year, the 100th anniversary will be topped by development into a company that can organise trade fairs, conventions, event highlights and sporting events.
m+a report Nr.6 / 2006 vom 22.09.2006
m+a report vom 22. September 2006