How Much Do You Really Know About Europe?
By Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/1/2004
Question: What is a booth commonly called in Europe?
Answer: A stand
Q: When did the German town of Leipzig first receive approval to hold trade fairs?
A: 1497
Q: What unit of measurement is used in Europe for booth space, shows, etc. and what's its equivalent in feet?
A: The square meter; 1 square meter is about 10.8 square feet.
Q: How are trade fair companies organized in Germany?
A: By geographical region (Messe Berlin, Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Frankfurt, etc.)
Q: What is Scandinavia's largest convention center?
A: Copenhagen's Bella Center, which offers 115,000 square meters of exhibition and congress space in 11 interconnected halls
Q: What is the largest tradeshow in Europe?
A: HANNOVER FAIR in Hannover, Germany, with 203,000 net square meters (approximately 2.185 million sq. ft.). It also happens to be the largest exhibition venue in the world with 470,000 sq. meters (just over 5 million sq. ft.) inside and 58,000 sq. meters (about 625,000 sq. ft.) outside.
Q: How old is the Paris Air Show?
A: 96 years old
Q: Which German show producer recently staged a U.S. launch?
A: Deutsche Messe AG, which last June launched the Ce-BIT America technology show through its Hannover Fairs USA subsidiary
Q: What does BECA stand for?
A: British Exhibition Contractors Assn., which represents designers, contractors and material/service suppliers
Q: What is a Messe anyway?
A: The German word Messe, meaning "market," is believed to date back to 1329. Today it refers to any kind of fair, including a tradeshow.
Q: What is MICE?
A: Meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions – the acronym most commonly used in Europe to cover the industry's many segments
Q: What are the major general contracting firms in Germany?
A: There are no general contracting firms, per se, in Germany. General contracting is a service usually provided by the facility.
Q: How much does drayage cost at a European tradeshow?
A: Usually nothing. Most often it is included in the space rate, since venues provide general services.
