Who are the biggest trade fair organizers in the world?

Trade shows are an essential engine in the international exchange of products and services. They are an important B2B marketing tool and a business accelerator in most regions of the world. The globalization of markets is an additional factor which reinforces the weight of this specific sector. In this context, trade fair organizers become leading business partners for exhibitors.

According to the UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), there are nearly 1,200 exhibition centers around the world and 31,000 exhibitions are organized around the globe annually. They offer a total exhibition capacity of 34 million sq.m. Nearly 4.4 million companies exhibit at these 31,000 events, which welcome a total of 260 million visitors.

The global salon market is expected to generate sales of $ 36.35 billion by 2023.

Who are the major players in this market? Often companies little known to the general public. We invite you to discover the ranking by turnover of the largest trade fair organizers in the world.

1. Informa
2. Reed Exhibitions
3. Messe Frankfurt
4. Clarion Events
5. China Foreign Trade Centre
6. Comexposium
7. Emerald Expositions

• Focus marché français

1. Informa

Informa is today the world leader in the organization of trade fairs. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is headquartered in Switzerland. The company organizes more than 550 professional events per year and has more than 4,400 employees worldwide. After the takeover in June 2018 of UBM , the company created in 2019 an “Informa Markets” business unit in charge of the group's trade shows activity. Informa organizes several world leading trade fairs such as Arab Health in Dubai, China Beauty Expo in Shanghai, CPhI, Farm Progess Show in Decatur (US), Routes or even Hospitalar in São Paulo.

Revenue: $ 1.8 billion
More information: www.informa.com

2. Reed Exhibitions

With 500 exhibitions (94% professional exhibitions) and 4,200 employees, Reed Exhibitions is the 2nd largest organizer of exhibitions in the world. The company's headquarters are located in Richmond, UK. The company is present in more than 30 countries. A subsidiary of RELX Group, Reed Exhibitions welcomes 130,000 exhibitors and 7 million visitors to its events. The company's fairs cover 43 business sectors: Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Equitana in Essen, London Book Fair, MIPCOM and MIPIM in Cannes. Reed Exhibitions recently acquired Mack Brooks Exhibitions and India BIG7 Note, Reed Exhibitions has a subsidiary in France, Reed Expositions. The company organizes 40 professional and public events.

Revenue: $ 1.4 billion
More information: www.reedexhibitions.com

3. Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is the largest trade fair organizer with its own exhibition center. The German group employs more than 2,500 people and is present in more than 30 countries around the world. Messe Frankfurt's strategic focus is on sustainable and long-term growth. The company organizes 150 trade fairs in Germany and in the world for 100,000 exhibitors and 3.8 million visitors. Some examples of trade fairs organized by the Mass: ACHEMA (the international exhibition congress for chemical engineering), the Book Fair (the largest book fair in the world ), the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (the world's largest automobile show), IMEX (the global exhibition for inventive journeys, meetings and events) .Messe Frankfurt has a French office, specializing in the fashion sector. The company notably has in its portfolio the fairs Apparel Sourcing Paris, Avantex Paris, Leatherworld Paris, Shawls & Scarves Paris and Texworld Denim.

Turnover: $ 600 million
More information: www.messefrankfurt.com

4. Clarion Events

Clarion Events is an English company founded in 1947 and based in London. Today it is one of the largest trade fair organizers in the world with 2,500 employees in more than 15 countries. The company organizes nearly 200 events in 50 countries with 1 million visitors. Excellence Awards organized by the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), Clarion Events has been named the most influential company in its industry for the past 25 years, including the Philadelphia Souvenir & Resort Expo, London International Horse Show , China Utility Week, DSEI in London, Brasilian Gaming Congress, Internet Retailing Expo in Birmingham; Hospital Management Asia.

Turnover: $ 500 million
More information: clarionevents.com

5. China Foreign Trade Centre

The China Foreign Trade Center (CFTC) is a government sponsored institution affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China. The CFTC organizes international and national trade shows, operates the Canton Exhibition Park and the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Center, the most famous trade shows organized by the CFTC are China International Furniture Fair, CBD Fair and Auto Show .

Revenue: $ 360 million
More information: www.cftc.org.cn

6. Comexposium

Comexposium is a French company based in Paris, employing 880 people in more than 30 countries. With more than 135 B2B and B2B2C events worldwide, Comexposium is one of the world leaders in the organization of professional and general public events. The company annually welcomes 48,000 exhibitors and 3.5 million visitors to its various events. At the end of 2018, Crédit Agricole Assurances acquired a majority stake in the capital of the company valued at 1.3 billion euros. Comexposium organizes several world-leading trade fairs including INTERMAT (the international construction and infrastructure trade fair), SIAL (the International Food Show), the Paris Fair, the International Agricultural Show and Paris Games Week.

Revenue: $ 350 million
More informaion: www.comexposium.fr

7. Emerald Expositions

Emerald Expositions is an American company specializing in organizing trade shows in the United States. The company organizes 55 trade shows that welcome more than 500,000 exhibitors and visitors in a total exhibition area of ​​7 million square feet. The company specializes in the Gifts & Home, Sport, Design & Construction, Technology and Jewelry sectors. Emerald Expositions' development strategy is based on external growth with recent notable acquisitions: IGES, Collective, RFID LIVE !, CEDIA Expo or even InterDrone

Revenue: $ 325 million
More information: www.emeraldx.com

Focus on the French market

The Fairs, Exhibitions and Congresses market is estimated at 3 billion euros in France. The main players in this market are:

• Comexposium: 135 trade fairs, 880 employees, 48,000 exhibitors and 3.5 million visitors welcomed.
  Organized events: SIAL, INTERMAT, Foire de Paris, Salon du Cheval, Salon International de l'Agriculture, Milipol Paris, EQUIP AUTO, Paris Games Week, ALL4PACK Paris, SOLUTRAN, etc.
  
• Reed Expositions: 40 trade fairs, 390 employees, 18,600 exhibitors and 1.08 million visitors welcomed.
  Organized events: Maison & Objet, Batimat, Pollutec, SITL, Livre Paris, Franchise Expo Paris, Expoprotection, etc.
  
• GL events Exhibitions: 200 trade fairs and events, 400 employees, 20,000 exhibitors and 2 million visitors.
  Organized events: GLOBAL INDUSTRIE Paris, Sirha, CFIA Rennes, Foire de Lyon, EUROBOIS, Paysalia, Europain, etc.
  
• Infopro Digital: 40 exhibitions in the insurance / finance, local communities, construction, distribution and industry universes.
  Organized events: Fairs for Mayors and Local Authorities, SIMI, C! Print, Luxe Pack, Patrimonia, Parkopolis, Garden Collections Days, 3D Prin, etc.
  
• Weyou Group: 18 B2B trade shows in Paris and Cannes, 3,000 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors. Organized events: Educatec Educatice, Heavent Paris, Workspace expo, Non-production purchasing and working environment fair, Europropre, E-Marketing Paris, etc.