Detailed programme and participants, speakers and links are available at the menu points of our web-site or for further details, materials you can contact Ms. Ildikó Bóta at CENTREX Union:

Tel/fax:
(+36-1) 263-6368
e-mail:
info@centrexstat.org

Providing new platform for the exhibition industry in Central East Europe – aiming to deal with conceptual as well down-to-earth organisational problems and trying to find solutions – the 1st Central East European Exhibition Forum (CEEEF) was held September 25-27, 2002 in Budapest. Fully backed and supported by HUNGEXPO Co. Ltd. (the organiser of CONSTRUMA and HUNGAROTHERM trade shows) the workshop was dedicated to the present practice and future of building trade fairs inviting mostly project managers of the exhibitions in the region. It was attended by 72 specialists.

Building trade fairs have gradually become the most important, biggest trade fairs in CEE countries. The character of these shows has also shifted toward featuring mixed B2B and B2C profiles. These shows becoming the biggest it was also discussed that being flagships they may turn out to be vulnerable to future developments, not only concerning their growth or reputation, but for the business strength of the organising companies. Presently often facing space inadequacy, structure, synergy changes, new demands for frequency and also the appearance of huge building material trade centres – thus any major change can heavily effect the business prospects of the whole companies as well.

The 3-day workshop was run in 4 chapters, focussed on such aspects as:

• International trends, changes and forecasts in building industry trade fairs
• Changes in architecture and its reflections at trade fairs
• Future of mega building fairs
• Central East European markets and changes
• Is building trade fair market getting saturated?
• Are our fairs really international?
• Cloning building fairs in other cities
• Calendar problems, need for harmonisation in CEE
• Fairs or exhibitions – good practice and challenges
• B2B or B2C? Changes and prospects
• Advantages and disadvantages of being the market leader
• Success of niche market construction fairs
• Experience with trade associations and trade press
• How to activate visitors’ and exhibitors’ emotions
• Marketing versus sales?
• CRM in building trade fair sector

The invited speakers were also mostly the project managers and marketing specialists in charge of these shows or companies. Additionally Mr. Uwe Görlt, secretary general of International Building Exhibitions Committee and Mr. Balázs Balogh, an architect-professor at the Budapest Technical University contributed greatly to the success of the meeting.

Some interesting facts selected from the data we have received:

• Trade show occupying the most net space in 2002:
  IBF (Czech Republic): 54.666 sqm
• Trade show featuring the most international character in 2002: BUDMA (Poland): ( 25 % of exhibitors)
• Trade show with the largest market share in 2002: CONSTRUMA (Hungary): 62 %
• Trade show boasting the highest degree of growth (2002/2001):
  - net exhibition area: RESTA (Lithuania): +19%
  - number of exhibitors: CONSTRUCTION & CERAMICS (Yugoslavia): +43%
  - number of visitors: CONECO (Slovakia): +19%
  - Construction and Equipping (Croatia): +17%
• Average change of building trade exhibitions in the region (2002/2001):
  - net exhibition area: - 4 %
  - number of exhibitors: 21 %
  - number of visitors: - 1%
  - Percentage of trade shows in 2002
  - on the rise: 15 %
  - stagnating: 36 %
  - slowing-down: 49%

Workshop participants came from 12 countries, from Estonia to Italy, from Romania to Poland. Reflecting the open character of CENTREX 75% of the foreign participants came from non-CENTREX member companies. The first reactions – also from some trade associations and trade press who were also present – are very encouraging to go on with the initiative into other sectors.

Workshop proceedings including presentations and lectures will be presented on a multimedia CD to be sent to all participants shortly.