EDPA features Germany

EDPA conducted its annual meeting of members on December 1-3, 2010 in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The meeting was attended by 274 members, as well as 42 international guests and members, featuring speakers and relevant topics, in addition to annual awards for excellence in the U.S. tradeshow marketplace.


This year the focus was on Doing Business in Germany. Marco Alvarez of Fabric Images, and chairman of the EDPA International Chapter, presented Axel von Hagen, president of FAMAB, and Torsten Heinze-Profair, IFES planning committee representative.

FAMAB and EDPA have set up similar structures for IFES membership through an international chapter. Both of the chapters have around 37 members and each association are looking to increase this total for 2011.

FAMAB shared the results of this year’s Adam & Eve award which acknowledges the best design in the world of exhibits and marketing. Adam is given to the best exhibit; this year’s winner was Mercedes. The Eve award is given to the best live marketing- this was awarded to the German pavilion at Expo 2010.

A new concept was introduced to create and support a new code of conduct for worldwide tradeshow industry suppliers. This code encompassed human rights, business conduct, and safety issues.

It was suggested that IFES now needs to lead the initiative and organize this since IFES companies are now direct members. Bruno Meissner, newly appoint IFES president, has issued a request that an IFES committee be formed to draft a plan to implement in 2011. A formal presentation of the plan will be outlined at Euroshop in Dusseldorf this February.

During the EDPA/FAMAB session there was a lively debate about the future of our industry and the after effects of the 2009-10 economic recession.

“The future of the world exposition industry will never be the same as 2008 levels,” said Benedict Soh of Kingsmen Creative.

“That business will grow in 2011 same as 2008,” said Hans Bruder of Octanorm.

According to Charles Corsentino of Moss, the tradeshow industry will grow 20 percent after a recession like this.
The optimism and creative minds from the leaders in our industry will push to keep face-to-face marketing relevant, valuable and growing for the next decade.

Next year’s EDPA meeting will be held November 30-December 2, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nev. The focus of the 2011 ACCESS meeting will be Doing Business in China.