After attracting some of the world’s most creative exhibitions, EW briefs the industry on Basel, Switzerland, the destination behind UFI's Open Seminar.
As Switzerland’s foremost exhibition and congress hotspot, Basel comprises five exhibition halls, the Congress Center Basel and the Musical Theatre Basel.
The key show in Basel’s calendar is Baselworld, a trendsetting showcase for the global watch and jewellery industry. Its 2016 edition, 17-24 March, featured 1,500 of the world’s most famous brands, unveiling of new collections, innovations and creations.
More than 145,000 attendees from over 100 countries attended the show. Eric Bertrand, president of the Baselworld Exhibitors’ Committee, said: “The favourable feedback we’ve received, the outstanding business opportunities available, and the massive press interest will drive us forward constructively.”
Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, added that Baselworld is always the most important event of the year in terms of meetings.
The newer kid on the block is Fantasy Basel, a Comic Con event which unites the multimedia generation at Messe Basel. Its inaugural 2015 edition attracted 20,000 visitors when three halls at Messe Basel were devoted to films, multimedia, e-sports, virtual and augmented reality, comics, cosplay and modern pop culture.
For interested organisers, the MCH Group offers infrastructures for events and exhibitions in Basel, Lausanne and Zurich, with some 75 exhibitions on its books.
The venue options in Basel are also versatile: Messe Basel has an area of 141,000sqm across five halls, Congress Center Basel features 25 congress and conference rooms, with capacities for up to 5,000, while Event Halle Basel includes a multifunctional hall at 4,500sqm, elsewhere Musical Theater Basel boasts 1,557 seats.
More info:
fantasybasel.ch
mch-group.com
baselworld.com
