Interview in the Windfair Newsletter with Peter Becker, Managing Director of Messe Husum & Congress about HUSUM WindEnergy 2012

My team and I will especially be strengthening the fair’s locational advantages and USPs: the special charm and exhibition that no other trade fair city can offer, and which has been very favourable for the conclusion of quite a few business transactions. Husum is effectively a “living wind farm”, authentically grown, and in the direct neighbourhood of wind industry partner enterprises and wind farms. This is why we will be retaining the overall HUSUM WindEnergy concept. There are however some areas that we will be improving, for example as far as infrastructure is concerned. We will be building a wider road to the exhibition grounds. Exhibitor Service will gain in importance over the next few years. And by re-orientating our external communication we will be drawing more attention to our location.


Windfair: How many exhibitors and visitors do you expect in 2012?

Peter Becker: There will be around 1,200 exhibitors at HUSUM WindEnergy 2012, which represents an increase of more than 25% over 2010. By adding an additional exhibition hall we have been able to create about 7,500 sq m more exhibition space. We are expecting around 36,000 visitors.


Windfair: How international will Husum WindEnergy 2012 be?

Peter Becker: In 2010 we were able to record a 35% share of foreign visitors and exhibitors – and this is an upward trend. So that we can meet the increased internationalisation of the fair in the best possible way, we are intensifying our cooperation with industry associations at international level. With the support of GWEC, WTSH, IHK and AHK we are specifically addressing foreign delegations. As part of our new delegation management we will be offering comprehensive HUSUM WindEnergy packages that will include accommodation, reception at the fair, a tour of the exhibition, target group specific stand visits, and the establishment of contacts to individual exhibitors, as well as visits to manufacturing plants and wind farms in der region.
Our PR work will also be more international. We are in regular communication with the most influential foreign trade media – all year round, not just in the run up to the fair or during the fair. This will help us to sustainably strengthen our position as the leading international trade fair for the wind energy industry. During the fair, there will for example be simultaneous translation of all press conferences, and all the press releases will also be available in several languages.

We also show our colours at all the main international trade fairs, such as at the recent WINDPOWER fair in California, USA. There we had a very interesting encounter with a famous actor in L.A., which was just 30 km away. There are quite a few Hollywood stars who are discovering the latest ecological trends, becoming involved in environmental protection and sustainability. So maybe we should think about bringing over a celebrity with international media charisma for the next HUSUM WindEnergy trade fair? But I don’t want to go into more details about that just yet.


Windfair: Do you plan to offer extended services for the exhibitors?

Peter Becker: We will be paying more attention to exhibitor services for 2012, and will take on board the suggestions we have had from exhibitors at recent years. We will for example be reorganising the online booking system to make booking of all the modules simply easier. And we will be making the booking platform for hotels, B&B’s etc. more user-friendly.
This is where the intensification of our press and PR work will also play a significant role. We will not just help organise press conferences for exhibitors during the fair, but will in advance of the fair put together special packages for the media that focus on specific subjects. We will also be pushing a film and photo service for our exhibitors. Not everyone can bring their own photographer or film team with them, so we will be offering our exhibitors the chance to have photographs and short films of the fair and their stand with manageable effort and at reasonable expense.


Windfair: Can you give us some clues on the highlights of 2012's conference?

Peter Becker: We will be holding on to our Company Innovations concept, which enables leading companies to introduce their latest developments. On the four days of the congress that runs parallel to the fair, we will be holding over 75 lectures and presentations in seven conference rooms. Around 200 national and international speakers will be presenting and discussing the latest wind industry topics and trends with about 5,000 participants from all over the world. From 2012 onwards, admission to the congress will once again be free of charge to all fair attendees. On the final day of the fair, the congress will be closing with the Windcareer job fair, a chance for qualified applicants and prospective employers to make contact. It also provides information about training and degree courses.


Windfair: Thank you very much for the interview and good luck with Husum WindEnergy 2012.