Hogatec 2006 Final Report

Hogatec 2006 impressively confirms its leading market position as a fair for decision-makers Concurrence with InterMopro/InterCool/InterMeat offers synergies for visitors and growth in visitor numbers

It was with positive results that hogatec 2006 closed its doors on Thursday 28 September: around 35,500 trade visitors came here to gather information on the ranges of 516 international exhibitors for the hotel trade, gastronomy and institutional catering (2004: 33,500). This meant hogatec 2006 once again confirmed its position as the most international event in the sector. Wilhelm Niedergöker, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, feels this result unambiguously confirms the concept and its "Feast of the Senses” claim: "The borders between retail and gastronomy are becoming ever more blurred: which is why hogatec and InterMopro/InterCool/InterMeat run concurrently. And trade experts are now taking this opportunity - as impressively demonstrated by METRO Cash & Carry's debut participation with their targeted range for restaurants.”

The quality of trade visitors was especially high. Over 50% of all visitors polled were in top management positions and just under 40% were influential investment decision-makers within their firms. 71% of all visitors said they were planning specific investments in the two years ahead. This confirms the view that hogatec is the fair for decision-makers! Also commenting on this Peter Hörstke, Managing Director of Hörstke Großkücheneinrichtungen GmbH, summed up: "We had an exceptionally successful trade fair and welcomed very good and well-qualified visitors to our stand. The events accompanying hogatec were also effective communication platforms.”
The altered concept went down well wth exhibitors and visitors alike: the new hall layout and the informative range of theme parks - like the "Ambience + Ambitions” theme for hoteliers or the "Cook & Chill” focus for institutional caterers - generated avid interest and provided a concentrated working environment. The training exchange initiated for the first time by DEHOGA Gastgewerbe NRW attracted around 1,200 interested school students, aspiring trainees and their parents into the halls of the fair who were able to gather hands-on information on training options in the field of gastronomy, the hotel trade and institutional catering.

Commenting on this Ernst Fischer, President of the German Federal DEHOGA Association, Berlin said: "We are delighted and noticed another significant increase in visitors. Our new-look DEHOGA Lounge was an excellent communication platform and hogatec once again confirmed its position as an appealing, national sectoral meeting point attracting restaurateurs from throughout Germany. Our FORUM Systemgastronomie was also very successful with record figures of 750 participants!”

Alongside the growth in numbers from Germany the number of international visitors also rose again: around 13% came from abroad - mainly from the Netherlands, Italy, France and Switzerland. Commenting on this Paul-Werner Huppert, CEO at MKN Maschinenfabrik Kurt Neubauer GmbH & Co. said: "The combination of all measures has made hogatec 2006 an utter success for visitors from both from home and abroad. We are very confident and look forward to hogatec 2008!”

Around 95% of visitors rated hogatec positively - a figure also rising again over the previous event. Together with exhibitors visitors conclude: hogatec 2006 was a great success and has confirmed its position as a leading fair for technology and design. Its concurrence with InterMopro/InterCool/InterMeat generated synergies. The in-all 1,500 exhibitors at the four fairs offered a comprehensive range with a variety of innovations concentrated at one location. And successfully combining eating out with gastronomy and food retail really convinced experts.