Development into a global player (1994–2003)

The Riem Airport had been taken out of service. The preliminary work for the new home of Messe München could begin. Two million cubic meters of earth were moved. The big day finally arrived on September 9, 1994: The highest-ranking representative from each owner of Messe München GmbH took part in the groundbreaking for the New Messe München.

About 800 invited guests attended the laying of the cornerstone on June 19, 1995. Messe CEO Werner Marzin used the occasion to give a programmatic address and thanked the company’s owners “for this strategically and commercial decision whose impact will extend well into the next century and will strengthen the position of Munich and Bavaria as a trade fair and business location.”

In 1996, Manfred Wutzlhofer takes over as Chairman of the Board of Management. His era stands for the relocation of Messe München to the new exhibition center in Riem. He is also responsible for the expansion of the trade fair portfolio, including Expo Real, and the consistent internationalization of the business, such as the construction of the SNIEC exhibition center in China. The company continues to benefit financially from this course to this day.

The New Messe München was opened in a ceremony held on February 12, 1998—a historic day for Munich. The 5,000 guests included German President Roman Herzog, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Bavarian Minister-President Edmund Stoiber and Munich Lord Mayor Christian Ude. A nine-day trade fair opening was held afterward for the general public.

More on the Riem trade fair site

The ICM – International Congress Center Munich also went into operation along with the New Messe München in 1998. It represented a milestone for Munich as an international congress city: Thanks to its physical connection to the exhibition grounds, the ICM quickly became part of the Champions League of locations. Today’s list of references includes all major European medical congresses and top corporate customers.

Something that began in 1998 as a small, but refined special trade fair in the MOC Event Center Munich rapidly became Europe’s largest trade fair for real estate and investment: EXPO REAL. At the beginning of October each year, the exhibition becomes the hub for market players around the world that it encompasses all segments of the real estate industry and the life cycles of properties.

In November 2001, one of the most promising projects in the company’s history opened after a two-year construction period: the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, or SNIEC. The owners are Messe München, Messe Düsseldorf, Messe Hannover and a Chinese partner. The SNIEC comprises 17 halls with 200,000 square meters of space and 100,000 square meters of grounds. It is the world’s most successful exhibition grounds in terms of utilization.

China has become an important growth market for Messe München and its customers—the establishment of the subsidiary Messe Muenchen Shanghai Co.Ltd. was the logical next step to take in 2001: This step enabled Messe München to provide companies outside Germany with high-quality trade fair platforms and services like those it offers in its home market in Munich. The company’s activities in China have turned into a success story and continue to be a strong pillar of its international business activities.

bauma, one of the most important trade fairs in the portfolio of Messe München, became an export hit in 2002: bauma China proved to be an immediate success following its premiere in the SNIEC. Today, it is Asia’s largest capital goods trade fair and Messe München’s second-largest event after bauma in Munich.