Brno & Dubai

The Czech Republic’s leading fairsite is in Brno. The city has been able to expand its position in the 1990s: some 45 shows were staged in Brno in 1998 with a leased exhibition space volume of about 500,000 square meters, and 12,600 exhibitors. Approximately 75% of the 800,000 visitors were trade visitors, as the majority of fairs is targeted at specific market segments. Between 3% and 5% of the exhibitors are from abroad.

The fairgrounds currently has 193,000 square meters, (101,000 square meters in halls), thus classifying the venue as a major player in the industry.

Some two billion Czech crowns (approximately $80 million) have been invested into hall modernization since 1990. New halls have been built, the passages between these have been roofed-over.

The company for quite some time has been endeavoring to expand its international position and ranking. They signed an extensive cooperation agreement with the Messe D¸sseldorf in mid-1998 to improve the fairsite’s potential on the international market. The Messe D¸sseldorf took more than 73% of company shares.

In spite of a reduction in oil revenues, the economy in the United Arab Emirates increased by nine percent during 1997. The exhibition and conference business follows this trend. Built by the late H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) comprises a total exhibition area of 33,000 square meters and is considered to be one of Dubai’s favored business locations. In 1997 the DWTC attracted more than 1,100,000 visitors, out of which 660,000 visited the 43 trade exhibitions staged that year. The DWTC Exhibition Complex is the largest international standard exhibition center in the region making it an ideal venue for business people seeking sales and dealership opportunities.

Exhibitions staged in the seven halls serve the growing needs of the regional business community. Annual international exhibitions feature a very broad array of exhibitions from consumer goods to heavy machinery and the latest electronic technologies. The DWTC staff organizes complementary company conferences to address issues related to each show. The DWTC promotes events worldwide through a well-planned marketing and communications strategy. And Dubai World Trade Centre management is quick to respond to market needs by creating specific exhibitions that, for example, offer information and access to the lucrative markets of the newly emerging CIS countries.

Through its Executive Services Offices (located above the exhibition halls) Dubai World Trade Centre also leases space for offices. There are 39 fully furnished offices, available on a monthly or yearly basis with weekly and daily rates also available upon request. These first-class facilities boast a receptionist and secretarial staff to take care of word processing, faxing, and message taking. There is also a conference room and a large parking area at the complex. Fully furnished and serviced apartments can be leased.

All this makes the Dubai World Trade Centre the largest, most effective and profitable commercial, exhibition, and residential complex in the region.