Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre’s (brand name Messukeskus) latest annual report shows that 2022 was an exceptional year for the business, despite pandemic restrictions only being relaxed at the end of March. What then followed was an unprecedentedly dense trade fair programme with events carried over from the Covid times.
The negative effects on the Finnish economy were not all down to Covid: the changed security situation in Europe, the energy crisis, the recession and high inflation all contributed and Messukeskus also had to grapple with the rescheduling of events and the personnel changes that inevitably followed that exceptional period.
The Centre’s management responded to the challenges by intensifying contact with its customers, strongly communicating the return of events and working hard to restore visitor numbers.
During 2022, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre and its subsidiary Expomark Oy organised 25 trade fair events and, in addition, 27 guest events, 476 meetings, congresses and parties, and one entertainment event. The turnover of the Group in 2022 was €46m.
Other achievements during the year included Messukeskus becoming the first organiser in Finland to receive a GOLD Excellent level SHORE safety certificate, which certifies high quality work in risk management and building a responsible business.
A 2022 Business Decision Makers (TEP) survey by market research company Taloustutkimus Oy confirmed the positive trend for the return of events: For the third year in a row, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is the company most valued by business decision-makers and also by far the best-known company in its field in Finland.
“During an exceptional and very fast-paced year, we were carried by strong confidence that our business is based on a sustainable mission. The results of the extensive fair visitor survey commissioned by the Association of Trade Fair and Event Organisers in Finland at the end of 2022 are encouraging and show that people are longing to visit fairs and live events. The majority of respondents think that they will visit trade fairs as often in the future as they did before Covid-19,” says the Centre’s CEO Anni Vepsäläinen.
The annual report 2022 of Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is published and can be seen here
Events produced by Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre include Habitare, Educa, FinnBuild, Helsinki Book Fair, Matka Nordic Travel Fair ja Vene Båt Boat Fair. Guest events organised at the venue include: Slush, Nordic Business Forum and Kennelliitto Dog Fair. www.messukeskus.com
