Overseas visitors and business contacts have soared. The figures say it all: 208,302 total visitors, 65,000 net sq m of display space sold, over 1,100 B2B meetings, 1,450 exhibitors.
Innovation, trends, insights… Milan is driving a new beginning for the building industry.
The best way to sum up both the success of MADE expo 2015 and the expectations for a sector definitely starting to see a glimmer of recovery, is to look at the figures and the business opportunities generated by the show. With over 208,000 visitors and 1,450 exhibitors (including 279 from overseas) whose belief in MADE expo has never wavered, the show has played a key role in breathing new life into a sector of crucial importance for the global economy. In spite of the decrease in Russian and Ukrainian visitors, the show still attracted 36,103 trade operators from all over the world.
“Our focus on delivering a top quality event and fostering the best ever business opportunities has turned out to be a winning strategy,” explains Giovanni De Ponti, CEO of MADE Eventi, “as confirmed by the countless exhibitors who did some fantastic deals at the show. As well, many made good use of the International Business Lounge, which hosted 1,100 B2B meetings between exhibitors and delegates from 24 countries, leading to major supply contracts, and outshining the already marvellous results achieved at the last event”.
The spotlight was on driving business success, of course, but also on education, with workshops and seminars awarding continuing education credits. The Build Smart! areas attracted a throng of 9,000 professionals, all eager to learn more about the latest in innovation and sustainability. The Building the Expo exhibition provided exciting previews of Milan’s upcoming Expo 2015 pavilions and was the show’s biggest drawcard, more than living up to expectations. Audiences lapped up top-notch presentations by 13 of the world’s leading architecture firms, with some promising contacts being made between presenters and exhibitors.
“The MADE4Contract Hotel and MADE4Retail meetings, and the Building Envelope and Windows Forum were all extremely well attended. Participants were offered valuable insights into the hospitality and distribution sectors, as well as into the latest in windows and doors, during the packed four-day programme”, said Andrea Negri, Chairman of MADE expo.
The four-day event is more than an ordinary trade show: it is a wellspring of educational and business opportunities and the go-to place for cutting edge innovation. MADE expo attracts significant investments by manufacturers and businesses keen to put their best foot forward with superb display booths and trail blazing product offerings. The exhibitors demonstrated their confidence in an event that attracts buyers from every corner of the world, thanks also to the support of the Italian Foreign Trade Agency (I.C.E.) and a well-targeted and highly efficient international marketing and advertising effort.
The decision to welcome non-trade visitors to the show on the last day was also spot on: thousands of people grasped the chance to tour the gigantic showroom and check out the latest ideas for upgrading their homes with superb quality products, and also better understand the ins and outs of Italy’s tax benefits for home renovations and energy savings thanks to meetings with experts that trade and non-trade audiences were invited to attend.
“We are extremely pleased with the 2015 show”, stresses De Ponti, “but we’re already thinking ahead: over the coming months we’ll be putting together some very important business initiatives in Italy and abroad, in preparation for the March 2017 edition of MADE expo”.
