Press information of Koelnmesse

- Registration open for 91st UFI Global Congress, taking place 20-23 November 2024 - Largest, most global event of the year hosted by Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany

Silke de Witt is taking over the financial reins at Koelnmesse from 1 July 2024, and will also become a member of the Executive Board. She is joining the company on 1 April 2024 and will share the role with Volker Ahrberg, Member of the Executive Board and sole authorised signatory for Koelnmesse, on an interim basis. Volker Ahrberg will be retiring at the end of June in a planned departure.

Koelnmesse is launching an ambitious sustainability strategy to become climate-neutral five years earlier than planned. Alongside E.ON, Koelnmesse is consolidating its pioneering role as it plans to save 5,800 tonnes of CO2 per year from 2028 onwards at one of the world’s largest city-centre trade fair sites. A partnership between E.ON and RheinEnergie will enable an innovative and effective combination of decentralised generation and centralised district heating. Within the framework of a new energy partnership with E.ON and RheinEnergie, by 2028, Koelnmesse will have completely switched the heating supply for its trade fair grounds in Cologne – the eighth largest trade fair site in the world – to climate-friendly technology. The systems used will be powered by sustainable sources such as air, groundwater and the sun. In innovative combination with the RheinEnergie district heating system, this new heating concept will secure significant energy and CO2 savings amounting to 5,800 tonnes per year. These plans form part of the sustainability strategy that Koelnmesse is launching today, which involves the company and Koelnmesse's own events reaching the requirements for climate-neutrality as early as 2030. This is five years earlier than initially planned.

Koelnmesse and Fiere di Parma proudly announce the expansion of their partnership. Having successfully collaborated in the Food-Tec industry for the past 8 years, the two organizations are now extending their cooperation to the Food & Beverage sector.

• Koelnmesse distinguished by FOCUS MONEY and DEUTSCHLAND TEST as the most renowned German trade fair location with the highest rating • Analysts from IMWF (Institute for Management and Economic Research) collected and evaluated several million mentions in news and social media concerning around 18,000 companies for the ranking Koelnmesse achieved full points and first place among all German trade fair locations: DEUTSCHLAND TEST and FOCUS MONEY have named Koelnmesse "Company of the Year" 2024 in a study conducted by IMWF (Institute for Management and Economic Research). "We are delighted to take first place among trade fair locations in Germany. This achievement further confirms our continued efforts to offer our trade fair visitors and exhibitors first-class experiences. It recognises our success and serves as an incentive in our ongoing pursuit of innovative and sustainable paths for our customers in the future," says Koelnmesse CEO, Gerald Böse.

Managing Director Keith Tsui leaves Koelnmesse Michiel Kruse (58) is assuming responsibility for Koelnmesse's business in Mainland China, succeeding Keith Tsui, who is leaving the company at his own request. Mathias Küpper (48) will assume management responsibility for the subsidiary in Hong Kong, as part of his existing role as Vice President Asia-Pacific at Koelnmesse. Mainland China and Hong Kong are important focus regions for Koelnmesse. The local subsidiaries, which were founded in 2002, organise trade fairs locally and also serve as the contacts for Chinese customers participating in Koelnmesse events globally.

4,800 modules with an output of almost 2.0 megawatt peak (MWp) will effectively reduce CO2 emissions by 1,200 tonnes annually. By constructing Cologne's largest inner-city photovoltaic system, Koelnmesse is taking another step toward achieving its goal of climate-neutral business operations by 2035. In the coming weeks, around 4,800 photovoltaic modules will be installed on the roofs of Hall 11 and the South Entrance, promising an annual yield of 2 million kilowatt hours. "Photovoltaics play a key role in our mission to achieve a future-oriented power supply," says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH. "The self-generated energy will enable us to reduce our CO2 footprint by around 1,200 tonnes per year." "Large-scale projects such as Koelnmesse's photovoltaic system make an important contribution to the City of Cologne's ambitious goal of being CO2-neutral by 2035. Moreover, Koelnmesse is also acting as a role model for other companies to position themselves sustainably," says Henriette Reker, Mayor of the City of Cologne.

Premiere in South America: The largest gaming event in the world will be stopping off in São Paulo from 26 to 30 June 2024 Koelnmesse on course for international growth: After Cologne and Singapore, Brazil is now the third destination for the successful format Brazil was the partner country of gamescom 2023 in Cologne. A high-ranking delegation from the state and city of São Paulo used the opportunity to promote the strongest economic region in South America with its own gamescom in the business metropolis. In addition to the successful concept in Cologne and gamescom asia in Singapore, there will now be another international gamescom, as it will be taking place for the first time at the São Paulo Expo trade fair and congress centre from 26 to 30 June 2024. Within just three intensive months, Koelnmesse developed the concept and entertainment framework for the new gamescom latam together with its close partner and licensor, game - The German Games Industry Association, the established BIG festival, and Omelete Company.

Koelnmesse to host the UFI Global Congress in 2024

On 1 January 2024, Sebastian Rosito (43) is returning to Koelnmesse to take over as Senior Vice President in Cologne with responsibility for the International Hardware Fair, Asia-Pacific Sourcing, spoga+gafa, spoga horse and h+h cologne. He will also manage the relevant outbound events in the division portfolio as part of his global portfolio responsibility. He is taking over from Markus Oster, who