Management Handover at Messe Berlin

Berlin (Germany) – June 30, 2013 – Dr. Christian Göke (47) is due to take over as the new chief executive officer of Messe Berlin. At its regular meeting on 5 December 2012 the supervisory board appointed Dr. Goeke, who holds a doctorate in law, as the new chief executive officer from 1 July 2013. He takes over from Raimund Hosch, who is retiring.

“Messe Berlin has a wide-ranging and competitive programme of events which play an important part in attracting an even greater number of international audiences to Berlin. It is the goal of all our employees to continue along this path in the future in order to benefit Berlin“, said Dr. Christian Göke.

The list of successes which Messe Berlin can look back on is impressive. From 2000 to 2012 the company’s turnover doubled from 125 million to around 250 million euros. The 14 years of joint management by Raimund Hosch and Dr. Christian Göke witnessed the realisation of urgently needed building projects which have significantly strengthened Berlin’s leading international standing as a venue for trade fairs and congresses. Notable milestones included the opening in September 2012 of Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, the new exhibition grounds adjacent to BER, and construction of the CityCube Berlin, a multi-purpose venue which can be used for conferences and is due to open in the first quarter of 2014. The main south entrance was completed ten years ago and perfectly directs the flow of incoming visitors onto the southern section of the exhibition grounds.

Immediately after taking office Raimund Hosch introduced a new concept. By establishing the Virtual Market Place, which presents exhibitors’ products and services online regardless of trade fair dates, Messe Berlin reacted to the changes taking place in the digital world. Messe Berlin was the first trade fair company to introduce this service for its customers.

In terms of conference business, by attracting the world’s largest medical congresses the German capital has now become the leader in this market segment. Messe Berlin also plays an important role abroad: ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA and ITB ASIA are two events that have been launched in Asia, a growth region, where they have established a strong market position.

Raimund Hosch: “The successes achieved by Messe Berlin over the past 14 years are not least the result of implementing a modern corporate philosophy that focuses on offering industry-specific and market-oriented services amid international competition and making use of the business synergies in the metropolitan region of Berlin. It is because of this strategy that we are among the world’s most in-demand companies for facilitating and concluding business. Messe Berlin is very well positioned for the future.“

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2014 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 March. From the Wednesday to the Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. The ITB Berlin Convention is held parallel with the trade fair, from Wednesday to Friday, 5 to 7 March 2014. It is the world’s largest specialist convention for the industry. More details are available at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry. In 2013 a total of 10,086 companies and organisations from 188 countries exhibited their products and services to 170,000 visitors, who included 110,000 trade visitors.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Press and Public Relations Director for the
Messe Berlin Group

ITB Berlin / ITB Asia:
Astrid Zand
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
14055 Berlin
Tel.:+ 4930 3038-2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
zand@messe-berlin.de
www.messe-berlin.com

Additional information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com