Approx. 21,000 trade visitors from 65 countries came to Munich for the 9th International Commercial Property Exposition between 23 and 25 October 2006. In comparison to last year´s EXPO REAL, that´s an increase of 20%. In terms of the number of visitors from outside Germany, the leap was even higher, at 35%. "This year´s EXPO REAL highlighted two clear trends on the one hand rising international investment in Germany and on the other an increasing presence of suppliers from other European markets," said Eugen Egetenmeir, a member of the Management Board of Messe München.
After Germany, the top ten countries of origin among these visitors were: Great Britain, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, the US, Poland, Spain and Italy in that order.
Companies from outside Germany took up over one third of the exhibition space. Their number has also risen since EXPO REAL 2005 by over 35%. "At EXPO REAL we have reached the entire commercial real estate sector. Pirelli Real Estate came to Munich to drive business and contacts across Europe," said Ilaria Cervini, Manager of Pirelli Real Estate (Italy).
Joachim Plesser, a member of the Management Board of Eurohypo AG (Deutschland): "For Eurohypo EXPO REAL is a key platform for information exchange with our business partners; we can meet them here in one place at the same time."
In total the fair attracted 1,638 exhibitors from 40 countries, which together covered the entire spectrum of the real estate sector. Compared to the previous event, that´s a rise of 15% (EXPO REAL 2005: 1,415 exhibitors). Accordingly, in 2006 EXPO REAL took up 5 exhibition halls for the first time (52,000 m²) at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. Jasper De Boom from Bouwfonds (the Netherlands) had the following words of praise: "Professional, good contacts and high quality that sums up EXPO REAL for Bouwfonds."
The markets of East and Southeast Europe in particular made good use of this real-estate platform as a place to attract new investors to their emerging economies. "We take part in a lot of fairs, but EXPO REAL is for us one of the most promising platforms for talking about new building projects. That´s why we are so active here," said the Mayor of Moscow City, Yuri Luzhkov.
In terms of the users of commercial real estate, the retail chains were more strongly represented this year than ever before. They came to look for new locations and partners. "Here at EXPO REAL REWE met a whole host of building developers, investors, property agents and decision-makers who are of great significance to us as end users. The number and quality of these contacts was excellent," explained Patrik Nuechter of REWE Germany.
Representatives from all stages in the value-added chain in the real estate business came together at EXPO REAL to talk, not only at the exhibitors´ stands, but also in the conference programme. "This fair provides us with the right mixture of networking opportunities and professional conference programme," said Bill Kistler, President of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Europe. In over 100 different events property professionals discussed the latest developments in the market, including real-estate derivatives as a new kind of financing tool. A hotly debated topic was the introduction of REITs to Germany.
The next EXPO REAL takes place from 8 to 10 October 2007 in Munich.
Source: EXPO REAL
