Messe Düsseldorf will resume its trade fair operations at its home base in Düsseldorf, Germany with the CARAVAN SALON trade fair from September 4 – 13, 2020. Following the lockdown in spring, trade fairs and congresses in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have been able to take place again since May 31, 2020, under certain conditions.
Other Düsseldorf events on the agenda for this year include the medical technology trade fairs MEDICA and COMPAMED (November 16 – 19), the industrial fittings event VALVE WORLD EXPO (December 1 – 3) as well as the trade fair duo for wires, cables, pipes and tubes, wire and Tube (December 7 – 11).
The hygiene and infection protection concept for the Düsseldorf exhibition center enables relevant industry platforms to take place with protection for exhibitors, visitors, partners and employees, according to the company. It ensures the necessary health precautions, hygiene measures and distance regulations and includes measures for headcount and space management as well as hygiene, technical and organizational measures that the state government has established for the operation of congresses and trade fairs. The basis for the CARAVAN SALON trade fair regulations is the current coronavirus protection ordinance of the state of NRW.
The gradual easing of international travel restrictions is supporting the resumption of trade fair operations. Following the first border openings within Europe, the German Federal Government has been gradually lifting restrictions on entries from non-EU countries since July 1, 2020. Such initiatives will benefit the world’s leading trade fairs in Düsseldorf, which are characterized by a particularly high level of international participation. In 2019, this was 73.4% for exhibitors and 37.1% for visitors.
Important Step for Business
“I welcome how responsibly Messe Düsseldorf deals with the topic of infection protection and takes all precautions to ensure that safe trade fair operations are also possible in Corona times,” stated Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of Düsseldorf and chairman of the supervisory board of Messe Düsseldorf. “With its concept the trade fair company provides the basis for the re-start that business needs so urgently. Its global No. 1 trade fairs are indispensable for this; and this not only applies to exhibitors and visitors from throughout the world but also to the numerous firms operating in skilled crafts, stand construction, transport, catering, hospitality and retail who benefit from the events.” According to a study by Munich-based ifo Institute, Düsseldorf’s trade fair and congress operations generate annual sales of about EUR 2.98 billion throughout Germany (in Düsseldorf: EUR 1.66 billion), secure 27,692 jobs (in Düsseldorf: 16,664) and generate additional tax revenue of EUR 567 million (in Düsseldorf: EUR 36.3). One third of all overnight stays at hotels are accounted for by trade fairs.
Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf since July 1, 2020, emphasizes in particular the significance for the exhibiting industries: “All signs are pointing to new beginnings. Companies now need platforms to present themselves and their innovations, to network and to jointly set the course for the future. With our world leading trade fairs we are creating the best conditions for this. Our hygiene and infection protection standards ensure that the safety and health of our exhibitors, visitors, partners and employees are protected in the best possible way. We are ready.”
Detailed Concept based on Proven Measures
As a matter of principle, the official distance and hygiene regulations apply to events at the Düsseldorf exhibition center, and it is the responsibility of each individual to comply with these regulations – just as in the public and retail sectors. This includes keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters, taking care of one’s own hand hygiene, wearing a face mask, adhering to the sneezing etiquette and refraining from greeting rituals such as shaking hands. If needed, face masks will be handed out in the entrances and on the premises by service personnel.
All upcoming events at the Düsseldorf location will have a person limit so that the minimum distance can be maintained: Therefore, tickets are limited and are only available online and visitors have to register when purchasing them. When entering the event areas, they will be counted. At the same time, the provisions of the Corona Protection Ordinance of the State of NRW regarding the traceability of all persons present will be observed and implemented.
Concrete Measures during Trade Fair Operations
Wherever lines form, floor markings will draw attention to the minimum distancing requirements. Here and in all common areas, staff of Messe Düsseldorf and security personnel will ensure that this distance is observed. This is done on site and via existing video systems. On exhibitors’ stands this will be done by their own staff. To avoid bumping into people all aisles are to be used in the same way as road traffic – by keeping on the “right-hand lane”. All doors – except fire protection doors – will be wide open and can be passed without contact.
Disinfectants will be provided throughout the exhibition center. Exhibitors are responsible for this at their stands. All payment procedures will be cashless whenever possible. Therefore all tickets counters will be closed. Service desks, counters, etc. will be provided with transparent partitions as hygiene protection. Turnstiles and ticket scanners, service desks and counters as well as contact surfaces such as door handles etc. will be cleaned at least twice a day – or more often depending on visitor frequency.
In the toilet facilities, the maximum number of people depends on the number of open WCs and urinals. Every second urinal and hand-washing basin will be blocked off. In order to control the number of users and to ensure the increased cleaning and disinfection of toilets, handles, hand basins and faucets at short intervals, all sanitary facilities are permanently manned by cleaning personnel.
Regular and adequate ventilation is ensured – by the ventilation systems and the specifications for stand construction and exhibit displays: the amount of air that is constantly supplied into the halls is many times greater than the actual requirement and corresponds to the quality of the outside air. Furthermore, meeting rooms or ground floors in multi-story stands are only permitted with open layouts in order to ensure that they receive sufficient ventilation. The same applies to walk-in exhibits whose doors, windows and skylights must be permanently open.
Food service and catering services will continue to be available at the events. The operators must draw up their own hygiene and infection protection concept based on the Corona Protection Ordinance of the State of NRW and its facilities. For the duration of the Corona pandemic, there is a general ban on stand parties and exhibitor parties at the exhibition center. The “SARS-CoV-2 occupational safety standard” of the Federal German Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs applies to stand construction.
Safety for Messe Düsseldorf Staff
The protection of the Messe Düsseldorf staff is also guaranteed: all employees receive textile face masks and visors for outdoor activities. Work equipment is assigned personally to individual employees wherever possible – if it has to be handed over to third parties, it will be cleaned beforehand. Protective gloves are mandatory if jobs cannot be performed with personally assigned work equipment or if an immediate exchange of materials and objects is necessary.
The hygiene and infection protection standards are constantly adapted to future developments and changing legal requirements. Messe Düsseldorf will provide timely information on any changes. Wolfram N. Diener emphasized: “The safety of our exhibitors, visitors, partners and employees is always our top priority. As usual, they can expect a high level of hygiene, safety and good medical care at the Düsseldorf exhibition center.”
