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33-491: Messe Frankfurt ( lit.   ' Frankfurt Trade Fair ' ) is one of the world's largest trade fair , congress and event organizer with its own exhibition grounds. The organization has 2,500 employees at some 30 locations, generating annual sales of around €661 million. Its services include renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main ,

66-577: A market place; from 1909 onwards, they met on the grounds of the Festhalle Frankfurt , to the north of Frankfurt Central Station . The first Frankfurt trade fair to be documented in writing dates back to 11 July 1240, when the Frankfurt Autumn Trade Fair was called into being by Emperor Frederick II , who decreed that merchants travelling to the fair were under his protection. Some ninety years later, on 25 April 1330,

99-600: A premier market for textiles , leather , fur , and spices . At their height, in the late 12th and the 13th century, the fairs linked the cloth-producing cities of the Low Countries with the Italian dyeing and exporting centers, with Genoa in the lead, dominating the commercial and banking relations operating at the frontier region between the north and the Mediterranean. The Champagne fairs were one of

132-577: A toll also. Around the same time, a series of wars in Italy, most significantly the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines , disrupted the overland trade routes that connected the Italian cities with France, and Genoese and Venetian merchants opened up direct sea trade with Flanders , diminishing the importance of the fairs. Fernand Braudel also saw the decline as due to the increasing sophistication of communications and distance credit, changing

165-531: A treaty in which the kings of France pledged themselves to take under royal protection all merchants passing through royal territory on their way to and from the Champagne fairs. Eventually even the king became involved; in 1209 Philip Augustus granted safe conduct within France to merchants traveling to and from the Champagne fairs, increasing their international importance. Traditional historians have dated

198-463: A year, usually at geographically particularly favorable locations and in conjunction with a religious festival in order to benefit from the rush of the public. The tradition of fairs taking place in spring and autumn has been preserved in some cases until today. From the late eighteenth century, industrial exhibitions in Europe and North America became more common reflecting the technological dynamism of

231-611: The County of Champagne in Northeastern France in the 12th and 13th centuries, originating in local agricultural and stock fairs. Each fair lasted about two to three weeks. The Champagne fairs, sited on ancient land routes and largely self-regulated through the development of the Lex mercatoria ("merchant law"), became an important engine in the reviving economic history of medieval Europe , "veritable nerve centers" serving as

264-540: The Frankfurt Book Fair . That year, a total of 40,295 exhibitors presented their products in Frankfurt. In excess of 2.4 million visitors came to see and examine these products. Messe Frankfurt hosts an annual consumer goods trade fair called Ambiente. Between 2012 and 2019, this fair included Partner Country Exhibitions and Design Ambassadorships. showcasing international design excellence. In 2021,

297-499: The Industrial Revolution . In the late 19th century, the concept of annual industry-wide trade shows gained traction, spreading from European manufacturing centers to North America. By the 20th century, specialized companies came into existence simply to manage the trade-show industry, and permanent trade show grounds or convention centres were established as venues that featured a rotating calendar of trade shows. In

330-526: The King of France , to extend the liberties and prerogatives of the towns, which were founded in the increased security of the feudal settlement following the feudal disorders of the tenth century. The predominance of the Champagne fairs over those of other cities has been attributed to the personal role of the Counts in guaranteeing the security and property rights of merchants and trading organisations attending

363-617: The Rhone , Saône and Seine . The fairs were also important in the spread and exchange of cultural influences—the first appearance of Gothic architecture in Italy was the result of merchants from Siena rebuilding their houses in the Northern style. The phrase "not to know your Champagne fairs" meant not knowing what everyone else did. It was in the interest of the Count of Champagne , virtually independent of his nominal suzerain ,

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396-418: The supply chain , as well as potential suppliers and potential buyers. Generally there will be a central trade show floor with booths where people exhibit their goods or services, and throughout the day there will be seminars for continuing education on matters relevant to the industry, like best practices, trends, and regulation. There will also be some shared meals with keynote speakers, and social events in

429-575: The "fair of St. Remi" or the "cold fair" of Troyes on the day following All Saint's Day (that is, on 2 November). Each fair began with the entrée of eight days during which merchants set up, followed by the days allotted for the cloth fair, the days of the leather fair, and the days for the sale of spices and other things sold by weight ( avoirdupois ). In the last four-day period of the fairs, accounts were settled. In actual practice, arrivals and departures were more flexible and efficient, relying on flexibly formed and dissolved partnerships, which freed

462-449: The "silent" partners from actually undertaking the arduous journey on each occasion, delegated agents ( certi missi ) who could receive payment and undertake contracts, and factors, integrated with communications and transportation, and the extensive use of credit instruments in the trade. The towns provided huge warehouses, still to be seen at Provins . Furs and skins traveled in both directions, from Spain, Sicily , and North Africa in

495-563: The 21st century, with the rapid industrialization of Asia , trade shows and exhibitions are now commonplace throughout the Asian continent, with China dominating the exhibitions industry in Asia, accounting for more than 55 per cent of all space sold in the region in 2011. Trade shows play important roles in marketing as well as business networking in market sectors that use them. People will seek to meet people and companies at their own level in

528-460: The Champagne commodities fairs, the fairs continued to function as an international clearing house for paper debts and credits, as they had built up a system of commercial law , regulated by private judges separate from the feudal social order and the requirements of scrupulously maintaining a "good name", prior to the third-party enforcement of legal codes by the nation-state . To cross the Alps ,

561-478: The Congress Center and Kap Europa. Hall 12 is the newest and ultramodern hall. From 2023 onwards, the new Hall 5 will be ready. 50°06′41″N 8°38′54″E  /  50.11139°N 8.64833°E  / 50.11139; 8.64833 Trade fair In contrast to consumer shows, only some trade shows are open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives (members of

594-593: The Frankfurt Spring Fair also received its privilege from Emperor Louis IV . And from this time onwards, trade fairs were held in Frankfurt twice a year, in spring and autumn, forming the basic structure for Messe Frankfurt's modern consumer goods fairs. In 2003 Frankfurt hosted a total of 24 trade fairs of international magnitude. These 24 international trade fairs included the International Motor Show Germany (IAA), and

627-548: The IAA moved to Munich. Located near the centre of Frankfurt, the exhibition grounds are among the largest and most modern worldwide with 372,350 m (4,007,900 sq ft) of hall area and more than 66,764 m (718,640 sq ft) of free space at its disposal. Notable architects of the exhibition ground were Helmut Jahn ( Messeturm ), Oswald Mathias Ungers ( Messe Torhaus ) and Nicholas Grimshaw (Frankfurt Trade Fair Hall). The company operates two congress centres,

660-539: The caravans of pack mules made their way over the Mont Cenis Pass , a journey that took more than a month from Genoa to the fair cities, along one of the varied options of the Via Francigena . Professional freight-handlers sometimes made the trek while under contract to merchants. P. Huvelin documented the existence, by the second half of the thirteenth century, of a faster courier service that facilitated

693-526: The central towns of the County of Champagne and the Brie Champenoise ; the fair at Bar-sur-Aube was held just outside the precincts of the Count's castle there, and that at Lagny in the grounds of a Benedictine monastery . The self-interest and the political will of the Counts of Champagne was the over-riding factor. The series of six fairs, each lasting more than six weeks, were spaced through

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726-409: The cloth sales had been concluded, the reckoning of credit at the tables ( banche ) of Italian money-changers effected compensatory payments for goods, established future payments on credit, made loans to princes and lords, and settled bills of exchange (which were generally worded to expire at one of the Champagne fairs). Even after trade routes had shifted away from the north-south axis that depended on

759-520: The company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the federal state Hesse (40 percent). The Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt consists of Wolfgang Marzin (Chairman), Detlef Braun, and Uwe Behm. Frankfurt has been known for its trade fairs for over 800 years. In the Middle Ages , merchants and businessmen met at the " Römer ", a medieval building in the heart of the city that served as

792-586: The decline of the Champagne fairs to the subordination of Champagne to the Royal Domain brought about by the marriage alliance of Philip the Fair in 1284. In 1285 Champagne became an integral part of France. "When the special motivation was removed in 1285", Janet Abu-Lughod observes, "the Champagne fairs lost their edge." The effect of the Little Ice Age and population-diminishing black plague took

825-635: The earliest manifestations of a linked European economy, a characteristic of the High Middle Ages . The towns in which the six fairs of the annual circuit were held had some features in common, but none that would have inexorably drawn the commerce of the fairs: each was situated at an intersection or former way-station of Roman roads and near a river, but only Lagny-sur-Marne had a navigable one. Troyes and Provins had been administrative centers in Charlemagne 's empire that developed into

858-551: The evenings. Booths range from simple tables to elaborate constructions. Trade shows often involve a considerable investment in time and money by participating companies. The planning includes arranging meetings with other attendees beforehand and resources to follow up on opportunities that are created at the show. Costs include space rental, booth design and construction of trade show displays, telecommunications, travel, accommodations, and promotional literature and items to give to attendees. In addition, costs are incurred at

891-612: The fairs, and in ensuring that contracts signed at the fairs would be honoured throughout Western Christendom . The Counts provided the fairs with a police force, the "Guards of the Fair", who heard complaints and enforced contracts, excluding defaulters from future participation; weights and measures were strictly regulated. Historian Jean Favier has written "the success of the Champagne fairs can be attributed solely to this intelligent policy of applying public order to business." The Counts' concern for protection of this profitable trade extended beyond their borders: Thibaut II negotiated

924-696: The globe. For example, in the U.S., there are currently over 10,000 trade shows held every year, and several online directories have been established to help organizers, attendees, and marketers identify appropriate events. Modern trade shows follow in the tradition of trade fairs established in late medieval Europe such as the Champagne fairs or the Skåne Market , in the era of merchant capitalism . In this era, produce and craft producers visited towns for trading fairs, to sell and showcase products. These markets were held annually or on several specific days

957-564: The show for services such as electrical, booth cleaning, internet services, and drayage (also known as material handling). This local spending on logistics leads cities to promote trade shows as a means of local economic development, as well as providing opportunities for local businesses to grow, and attract new businesses to come. Autumn session: October 15–19 (Phase 1); October 23–27 (Phase 2); October 31- November 4 (Phase 3). Champagne fairs The Champagne fairs were an annual cycle of trade fairs which flourished in different towns of

990-418: The south via Marseilles , and the highly prized vair , rabbit , marten and other skins from the north. From the north also came woolens and linen cloth. From the south came silk , pepper and other spices, drugs , coinage and the new concepts of credit and bookkeeping . Goods converged from Spain, travelling along the well-established pilgrim route from Santiago de Compostela and from Germany. Once

1023-414: The trade, e.g. professionals ) and members of the press , therefore trade shows are classified as either "public" or "trade only". A few shows are hybrids of the two; one example is the Frankfurt Book Fair , which is trade only for its first three days and open to the general public on its final two days. They are held on a continuing basis in virtually all markets and normally attract companies from around

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1056-509: The transfer of letters and market information between north and south for the particular advantage of the Arte di Calimala , the cloth-merchants' guild of Florence , the cities of Siena and Genoa , as well as the mercantile houses. R. D. Face noted that in early February, 1290, it took a courier no more than twenty days to make the journey from Lagny to Florence. Alternatively, north Italian goods were shipped to Aigues-Mortes then up or along

1089-566: The year's calendar: the fair of Lagny-sur-Marne began on 2 January: the fair at Bar-sur-Aube on the Tuesday before mid- Lent ; the "May fair" of Provins on the Tuesday before Ascension ; the "fair of St. John" or the "hot fair" of Troyes on the first Tuesday after the fortnight of St. John's Day (24 June); the fair of St. Ayoul of Provins on the Exaltation of the Cross (14 September);

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