Messe Berlin

Name

Messe Berlin

Legal name

Messe Berlin GmbH

Website

https://messe-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Fair and Event Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

General & Multi-Industry Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Exhibition & Trade Show Catering (Show Floor Concessions, Exhibitor Hospitality) (THAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Trade fair management
• Event organization services
• Exhibition venue rental
• Congress hosting services
• Trade show management

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Trade Fair and Event Organization: Core business of organizing and hosting trade fairs, congresses, and events. The Group organized 124 trade fairs, congresses, events, and exhibitions with approximately 1.9 million visitors and around 28,800 exhibiting companies in 2025. Revenue generated through exhibitor space rental, visitor fees, sponsorship, and related services.
2. Guest Event Services: Hosting external organizers' events at the venue, providing venue access, technical services, logistics, cleaning, and security. The Event Services division (approximately 100 employees) coordinates key services for both guest events and Messe Berlin's own events.
3. State Services (Refugee Accommodation): Services commissioned by the State of Berlin for accommodation and support for refugees at the former Tegel Airport site, generating €99.6 million in revenue in 2025. This engagement concluded at the end of 2025.
4. Venue Operations and Facility Management: Operating the 27-hall Berlin ExpoCenter with 190,000 square meters of event space, including the Funkturm restaurant and observation deck, and associated hospitality services through subsidiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Messe Berlin conceives, markets, and organizes international trade fairs, congresses, and events at its 190,000 m² Berlin ExpoCenter City (27 exhibition halls) and supplementary venues. Core revenue is generated by flagship owned events (ITB Berlin, Fruit Logistica, InnoTrans, Grüne Woche) sold as exhibition space and sponsorship to business customers, complemented by full-service Guest Events for external organizers (venue rental, technical services, logistics, cleaning, security).

Product overview

Messe Berlin operates as a trade fair and event management company providing a comprehensive portfolio of exhibition venues, trade shows, conference services, and digital services. The core offering centers on hosting major international trade fairs at the Berlin ExpoCenter City (27 event halls on approximately 190,000 sqm), supplemented by specialized venues including CityCube Berlin, hub27, Palais Berlin, and the historic Funkturm Berlin. Flagship trade shows include FRUIT LOGISTICA (world's leading fresh produce trade fair), ITB Berlin (world's leading B2B travel trade show), InnoTrans (transport technology), and Grüne Woche (agriculture/food fair). The company is expanding internationally with new events like Smart Health Asia and Smart Health Europe, geographic expansions including ITB Americas, InnoTrans Asia, and CMS Asia, and new proprietary events such as bio:cap. Supporting infrastructure includes the €100 million dock9 congress hall development and a 18,000-module solar power installation. Digital services include integrated BVG public transport ticketing and the MESSEnger newsletter platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• dock9: New multifunctional congress hall on the Berlin exhibition grounds, designed by gmp Architects, with capacity for up to 5,000 participants. Investment volume of approximately €100 million.
• MESSEnger
• Smart Health Europe
• bio:cap

Products and services

• ITB Berlin World's leading B2B travel trade show held annually at Berlin ExpoCenter City. Sold as exhibition space and sponsorship to travel and tourism companies seeking international audience reach.
• FRUIT LOGISTICA World's leading trade fair for the global fresh produce business covering the entire value chain from seed to sale. Features around 2,600 exhibitors and approximately 90,000 trade visitors from 151 countries.
• InnoTrans International trade fair for transport technology held in Berlin. Sold as exhibition space to mobility and transportation industry companies. Key industry event for rail, public transport, and mobility solutions.
• Grüne Woche (Green Week) One of Messe Berlin's flagship trade shows and one of the world's largest consumer fairs for agriculture, food, and gardening. Held annually at Berlin ExpoCenter City.
• ILA Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA Berlin), Europe's leading trade show for aviation, space, security, and defense. Co-organized with BDLI since 1992 at BER Airport in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region.
• ITB Asia International version of the ITB Berlin travel trade show held in Asia. Part of the ITB brand's expansion to the Asia-Pacific region through Messe Berlin's international licensing model.
• ITB Americas First expansion of the ITB travel trade show brand to the Americas, with inaugural show scheduled for November 10-12, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
• InnoTrans Asia Asian expansion of the InnoTrans transport technology trade fair, to be organized by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific in Singapore starting in 2027.
• CMS Asia Asian expansion of CMS Berlin (Congress, Messe, Seminars), to be organized by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific in Singapore starting in 2027.
• bio:cap New European platform for biotechnology and healthcare innovation, launched at Berlin ExpoCenter City in June 2026. Founding partners include Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, and Hasso Plattner Institute.
• Smart Health Europe New innovation platform for European healthcare systems, launching in 2027 in partnership with Bitkom. Part of the capital region's innovation strategy innoBB.
• Smart Health Asia New international congress and trade show focused on digitalization of healthcare, premiering in Singapore in July 2026.
• Berlin ExpoCenter City The main exhibition grounds of Messe Berlin with 27 trade fair and event halls plus multifunctional locations on approximately 190,000 square meters of event space. Sold as venue rental to trade fair organizers and external event customers.
• CityCube Berlin Modern conference and event venue within the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, used for congresses, conferences, and conventions.
• hub27 Multifunctional event location within the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, available for trade fairs, conferences, and special events.
• Palais Berlin Event venue within the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, available for corporate events, conferences, and special occasions.
• Funkturm Berlin (Radio Tower) Historic Berlin landmark and visitor attraction at 147 meters height on the exhibition grounds, featuring an observation platform at 126 meters, restaurant at 55 meters, and serving as a protected historic monument. Over 17 million total visitors since 1926; approximately 60,000 annually in recent years.
• dock9 New multifunctional congress hall under construction on the Berlin exhibition grounds with an investment volume of approximately €100 million, designed to provide capacity for international congresses and events with up to 5,000 participants.
• Site Experience Digital site inspection service allowing clients to virtually explore Messe Berlin's event locations. Provided as a sales enablement tool for prospective event organizers.
• Guest Events Services Comprehensive event management and organizational services provided to external organizers hosting events at Messe Berlin facilities, including venue management, technical services, logistics, cleaning, and security services for both guest events and Messe Berlin's own events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every €1 generated through Messe Berlin creates approximately €6 in additional purchasing power for Berlin
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992BDLI has co-organized the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region at BER Airport with Messe Berlin since 1992. Marie-Christine von Hahn, Director General of BDLI, joined Messe Berlin's Supervisory Board in 2024.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner for bio:cap, a new European platform for biotechnology and healthcare innovation launched in June 2026, contributing to the healthcare industry innovation cluster and Berlin's innoBB innovation strategy.
• Berlin Institute of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner for bio:cap, the new European platform for biotechnology and healthcare innovation.
• Hasso Plattner InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner for bio:cap, the new European platform for biotechnology and healthcare innovation.
• BitkomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bitkom to launch Smart Health Europe in 2027 as a new innovation platform for European healthcare systems. Also planning Smart Health Conference in Berlin 2027 to fill gap left by DMEA's relocation to Munich.
• Deutsche BahnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent travel partnership offering Deutsche Bahn event tickets with up to 10% discount for event attendees, starting from €16.19. Supports sustainable travel with 100% renewable energy trains.
• BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe)coreTechnology or IntegrationGermany-wide nearly unique pilot project integrating BVG public transport tickets directly into Messe Berlin's event ticketing system. Technical interfaces were developed to enable optional ÖPNV add-on tickets aligned with event durations. Tested at ITB Berlin 2025 with ~3,000 tickets sold; expanded to all 2026 events.
• gmp Architects (Gerkan, Marg and Partners)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWon competitive bidding for dock9 congress center design. The concept developed by gmp together with construction company Züblin was selected for the €100 million multifunctional congress hall project.
• Züblin (Construction Company)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected as construction partner for dock9 congress center in consortium with gmp Architects. Implementation begins after InnoTrans 2026.
• visitBerlinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partnership for Berlin destination marketing; provides hotel booking services and Berlin travel information for event attendees.
• Berlin Partner for Business and TechnologyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic-private partnership promoting Berlin as a business and technology location, collaborating with Berlin State Senate and over 200 companies.
• PhocuswrightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 2026 Leadership Exchange at ITB Berlin, convening senior travel industry leaders to discuss AI impact on global travel by 2046.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fiera Milano: Italian trade fair and congress company operating the Rho-Pero exhibition complex near Milan and organizing flagship events like HostMilano and Salone del Mobile. European peer competing for international exhibitors in furniture, hospitality, and design verticals.
• Messe Düsseldorf: Düsseldorf-based trade fair company operating events like drupa, MEDICA, and ProWein. Direct German peer with strong international medical trade fair franchise (MEDICA) that overlaps with Messe Berlin's emerging bio:cap and Smart Health initiatives, creating competitive pressure in healthcare event verticals.
• Koelnmesse: Cologne-based trade fair operator with flagship events including Anuga (world's largest food fair), gamescom, and Orgatec. Direct German peer with comparable revenue scale and venue footprint, competing for exhibitor and visitor attention in food, gaming, and office furniture verticals.
• GL Events: French-headquartered global event organizer and venue operator managing exhibition centers and major trade fairs across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Direct competitor in venue management services and trade fair organization with similar geographic expansion ambitions.
• Messe München: Messe München is Germany's second-largest trade fair company and the most direct peer to Messe Berlin, operating similar flagship events (bauma, IFAT, transport logistic), comparable 200,000 m²+ venue footprint, and competing head-to-head for German and European congress business. Just gained DMEA from Berlin, intensifying direct competition.
• Messe Frankfurt: Frankfurt-based global trade fair organizer operating flagship events like Ambiente, Frankfurt Book Fair, and ISH. Operates a comparable German venue footprint (592,000 m²) with significant international subsidiary network, making it a direct competitor for both German trade fair business and global brand licensing opportunities.
• Deutsche Messe (Hannover): Hanover-based trade fair company operating HANNOVER MESSE (world's leading industrial trade fair) and CeBIT successor events. Direct competitor in B2B trade fair organization with similar venue scale and industry vertical focus on industrial/technology sectors that overlap with InnoTrans.

Broad incumbents

• RX (Reed Exhibitions): Reed Exhibitions, part of RELX, is one of the world's largest event organizers with a portfolio of 400+ events in 30+ countries. Competes with Messe Berlin globally on industry trade fairs and increasingly in digital health, travel, and food sectors.
• Informa Markets: Informa Markets is the world's largest trade show organizer and a division of Informa plc (LSE-listed), operating hundreds of B2B events globally. Operates as a broad incumbent that competes with Messe Berlin across multiple verticals and has the scale to undercut on pricing or acquire event brands.

Emerging players

• dmg events: DMG Events is a Dubai-based international event organizer with growing presence in hospitality (The Hotel Show), construction (The Big 5), and energy verticals. An emerging global player expanding into markets and verticals where Messe Berlin has flagship positioning, particularly in hospitality (IHIF Berlin) and travel (ITB Berlin).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/messberlin
• Xx.com/MesseBerlin
• Facebookfacebook.com/MesseBerlin

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Messe Berlin