What Messe Bremen does

Messe Bremen operates one of northwestern Germany's largest integrated event complexes, comprising six exhibition halls and the adjacent ÖVB-Arena totaling 40,000 m² of covered event space, plus 100,000 m² of outdoor area and the adjoining Congress Centrum Bremen with 16 conference rooms seating 15 to 1,600 participants. The company both operates the venue — renting halls and conference space to external organizers, promoters, and corporate event planners — and directly organizes a portfolio of proprietary trade fairs and consumer events including Bremen Classic Motorshow (46,000+ visitors, 730+ suppliers), jazzahead! (world's largest jazz meeting, 3,000+ delegates from 60+ countries), fish international (Germany's only fish trade fair, 12,761 industry professionals), HanseLife (80,000+ visitors), and a rotating set of consumer fairs (BOTTLE MARKET, FISCH&FEINES, KREATIV + SPIEL, TrauZeit, HerbstZeit, caravan bremen, ReiseLust). In 2024 the venue hosted 96 events; the operating target is approximately 110 events annually, of which roughly 60 are trade fairs and congresses.

The business is organized as M3B GmbH, a wholly City of Bremen-owned municipal enterprise established on January 1, 2018 that consolidates MESSE BREMEN, Congress Centrum Bremen, and ÖVB-Arena under unified governance, with a supervisory board chaired by the State Councillor for Ports. Revenue is generated from four streams: venue rental (one-time license per event), direct ticket sales through messe-ticket.de and third-party platforms (Eventbrite, Eventfrog), event management and technical services (professional services), and in-house event organization (transaction fees from exhibitors and visitors). The technology stack includes a virtual tour platform for remote venue preview and Streaming Studios Bremen for hybrid/virtual event production; sustainability infrastructure includes rooftop solar (750,000 kWh/year, ~25% of energy needs) and 75% green electricity procurement. Messe Bremen employs 101–250 staff, led by CEO Felix Böhme (appointed 2025) and Managing Director Hans Peter Schneider (in role since 2001).

Name

Messe Bremen

Legal name

M3B GmbH

Website

https://messe-bremen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Messe Bremen operates a 40,000 m² integrated event complex in Bremen, Germany, renting exhibition halls and conference space to external organizers while running proprietary trade fairs like jazzahead!, Bremen Classic Motorshow, and fish international, serving exhibitors, congress organizers, and consumer visitors as a municipal enterprise owned by the City of Bremen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Fair and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Center Operations (Expo Halls, Trade Show Venues) (MPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF), Venue Food, Beverage & Hospitality Operations (Concessions, Catering, Premium Seating) (MPAGALAN)

Keywords

• Trade fair venue
• Exhibition halls
• Congress center
• Event management
• Consumer fairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: Rental of exhibition halls, conference rooms, and outdoor spaces to event organizers and exhibitors. Provides spaces for trade fairs, congresses, consumer events, concerts, and corporate functions.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales for consumer and trade events through the company's own ticketing platform (messe-ticket.de) and third-party platforms like Eventbrite and Eventfrog.
3. Event Management Services: Technical services, project management, catering coordination, and event execution support provided to organizers. Includes services from advice and conception to project handling.
4. In-house Event Organization: Organization and hosting of proprietary trade fairs and consumer events including Bremen Classic Motorshow, HanseLife, fish international, jazzahead!, and others, generating revenue from exhibitor fees and visitor tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Messe Bremen operates a 40,000 m² exhibition venue in Bremen, Germany, comprising six halls and the ÖVB-Arena, plus 100,000 m² of outdoor space and the adjacent Congress Centrum Bremen with 16 conference rooms. It rents halls, conference rooms, and the arena to external event organizers, and organizes its own portfolio of trade fairs (e.g., jazzahead!, fish international, Bremen Classic Motorshow, hanseBAU) and consumer fairs (e.g., HanseLife, BOTTLE MARKET, HerbstZeit, FISCH&FEINES). Supporting services include event project management, technical services, ticket sales, and hybrid event production via the Streaming Studios Bremen.

Product overview

MESSE BREMEN is a comprehensive event venue and management company operating a network of facilities in Bremen, Germany. The core offering is the trade fair venue with six exhibition halls and the ÖVB-Arena totaling 40,000 m² of covered space. The company organizes and hosts approximately 96 events annually including owned trade fairs (Bremen Classic Motorshow, fish international, FISCH&FEINES, hanseBAU), consumer fairs (BOTTLE MARKET, HerbstZeit, TrauZeit, ReiseLust, caravan bremen, KREATIV + SPIEL, GrillGut), and professional congresses (LogisticsConnect, jazzahead!, DEWU Wundkongress). The portfolio also includes supporting venues (Congress Centrum Bremen, ÖVB-Arena) and services such as virtual venue tours. The venue hosts 110 events yearly with 60 trade fairs and congresses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Congress Centrum Bremen: Congress and conference center adjacent to MESSE BREMEN with 16 conference rooms for 15 to 1,600 participants
• ÖVB-Arena
• HanseLife
• jazzahead!
• fish international
• Bremen Classic Motorshow

Products and services

• MESSE BREMEN Trade Fair Venue Core exhibition venue offering six halls and the ÖVB-Arena with 40,000 m² of covered event space plus 100,000 m² outdoor area in central Bremen. Serves trade show organizers, congress planners, and corporate event clients across Germany and Europe.
• Bremen Classic Motorshow Germany's first major classic car and vintage vehicle exhibition held annually in February, featuring over 730 dealers and clubs from ten nations across 52,000 m² in eight halls, attracting 46,000+ visitors.
• fish international Germany's only fish trade fair held since 1988, attracting 12,761 industry professionals from across the seafood industry, held concurrently with GASTRO IVENT.
• jazzahead! World's largest jazz meeting and trade fair attracting over 3,000 delegates from more than 60 countries, including approximately 160 concerts.
• LogisticsConnect Germany's only congress trade fair for break bulk, RORO and heavy lift logistics, co-developed with bremenports GmbH and BHV, attracting 71 exhibitors and ~1,210 participants in 2026.
• hanseBAU & Bremer Altbautage Northwest Germany's largest building trade fair with 400+ exhibitors covering renovation, modernization, and energy efficiency, co-hosted with energiekonsens (Bremer Klimaschutzagentur).
• HanseLife Nine-day consumer trade fair held annually at MESSE BREMEN attracting approximately 80,000 visitors.
• FISCH&FEINES Gourmet trade fair featuring sustainably produced, handcrafted food and regional specialties, held alongside CRAFT BEER EVENT and concurrent with ReiseLust and caravan bremen.
• BOTTLE MARKET Premium spirits event featuring over 130 distilleries, importers, and independent bottlers showcasing whisk(e)y, rum, gin, with tastings and cigar lounge.
• caravan bremen Trade fair for caravans, motorhomes, and camping featuring vehicles, equipment, accessories, and camping sites, part of the MesseTrio alongside FISCH&FEINES and ReiseLust.
• ReiseLust Holiday travel exhibition featuring adventure destinations, local recreation options, insider tips, and fair discounts, part of the MesseTrio with FISCH&FEINES and caravan bremen.
• KREATIV + SPIEL Hobby, crafting, and games fair held during the Bremer Herbstmessen, featuring creative exhibitions, workshops, and play activities.
• HerbstZeit Indoor country-style event fair featuring fashion, jewelry, accessories, lifestyle, interiors, and seasonal decorations, held during the Bremer Herbstmessen.
• TrauZeit Wedding fair for couples planning their special day, featuring vendor consultations, concrete offers, and inspiration for both grand and intimate weddings.
• GrillGut BBQ event featuring street food, beverages, and the Bremen State Barbecue Championships, held during the Bremer Herbstmessen on the Bürgerweide.
• jobmesse bremen Career fair under the patronage of Senator Dr. Claudia Schilling, featuring 80+ exhibitors offering apprenticeships, jobs, and educational opportunities with application reviews and professional photo services.
• piccolino*-Markt Children's and baby items flea market with 500+ stalls featuring clothing, toys, books, bicycles, strollers, and accessories.
• Stoffmarkt Holland Fabric and haberdashery market with 100+ stands featuring clothing fabrics, patchwork materials, quilting supplies, and sewing accessories.
• Edelsteintage Bremen Gemstone and minerals exhibition featuring 60+ exhibitors presenting minerals, precious stones, jewelry, healing stones, and fossils from around the world.
• Congress Centrum Bremen (CCB) Conference center adjacent to MESSE BREMEN with 16 conference rooms accommodating 15 to 1,600 participants, offering spaces for congresses and guest events.
• ÖVB-Arena Multi-purpose arena venue within the MESSE BREMEN complex offering space for large-scale concerts, sports events, and productions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110 events hosted annually with 60 trade fairs and congresses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• bremenports GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of LogisticsConnect congress trade fair, bringing together project logistics, break bulk, RORO and heavy lift industry stakeholders. bremenports contributes industry expertise and network to the event concept.
• BHV – Bremische Hafen- und Logistikvertretung e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed LogisticsConnect congress trade fair concept. The BHV Project Logistics Expert Forum is integrated into LogisticsConnect. Contributes industry expertise in port and logistics representation.
• energiekonsens (Bremer Klimaschutzagentur)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit climate protection agency of Bremen that co-organizes hanseBAU trade fair. Partnership focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency topics in building and renovation.
• ÖVB-ArenacoreOthersAdjacent arena venue operated as part of the same venue complex, providing additional capacity for large-scale concerts, sports events, and corporate events.
• Congress Centrum Bremen (CCB)coreOthersConference center directly adjoining the exhibition halls, offering 16 conference rooms with capacities from 15 to 1,600 participants. Part of the integrated venue complex.
• AUMA (Verband der deutschen Messewirtschaft)minorOthersMembership in German exhibition industry association representing interests of German trade fair organizers and venues.
• GCB German Convention BureauminorOthersMembership organization for German convention and meeting industry promoting Germany as a destination for conferences and events.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)minorOthersInternational association for meetings industry providing global networking and benchmarking opportunities.
• degefestminorOthersGerman association for event, congress and festival organizers promoting professional standards and networking.
• M3B GmbHcoreOthersParent company of MESSE BREMEN, established on January 1, 2018 as a wholly owned entity of the City of Bremen. Oversees all venue operations including Messe Bremen, Congress Bremen, and ÖVB-Arena.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Messe (Hannover): Operates one of the world's largest exhibition grounds (HANNOVER MESSE, CeMAT, IAA predecessor), with both venue and event organizing activities. Comparable business model at much larger scale; addresses many of the same industrial vertical events.
• Messe Frankfurt: Germany's largest trade fair organizer with global brands (Ambiente, Book Fair, ISH) and operates the Congress Center Frankfurt. Larger incumbent with a global event portfolio; overlaps substantially with Messe Bremen's venue-plus-own-events model but at much greater scale.
• Messe München (Munich Trade Fair): Major German trade fair organizer of global brands (bauma, IFAT, BAU) and operator of the MOC event center in Munich. Larger incumbent with overlapping industrial fair ownership and venue rental capabilities.
• Messe Berlin: Berlin-based exhibition grounds and congress venue (ITB, IFA, Grüne Woche legacy), operating both owned and third-party events. Comparable in venue-plus-event-organizer model with strong congress business.

Direct peers

• Messe Stuttgart: Mid-sized regional German trade fair venue and event organizer with comparable hall footprint, mixing consumer and trade events (e.g., CMT, Interbad). Directly comparable in scale and event mix profile.
• Messe Düsseldorf: One of Germany's leading trade fair venues and event organizers, operating multiple halls with flagship events in F&B, plastics, and medical sectors. Directly comparable to Messe Bremen as a German regional Messe venue combining owned event brands with third-party venue rental.
• Hamburg Messe und Congress: Northern German trade fair and congress venue with comparable size and event mix (e.g., hanseboot, Internorga hosting relationship, CCH congress center). Most direct geographic peer alongside Messe Bremen in northern Germany.
• NürnbergMesse: Mid-sized German trade fair and congress venue operating across consumer goods, building, and security segments (e.g., BrauBeviale, it-sa). Closest peer in size, ownership profile, and event portfolio breadth.
• Koelnmesse (Cologne Trade Fair): Cologne-based trade fair and congress venue operating across consumer goods, food, and leisure Fairs (e.g., gamescom, Anuga). Same dual model of owned event brands plus venue rental and similar mid-sized venue economics.

Emerging players

• Estrel Berlin: Europe's largest hotel-congress-center complex in Berlin, focused on congress and corporate events. Comparable in congress infrastructure (large conference rooms, on-site hotel) and partially overlaps with Messe Bremen's CCB congress offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/messebremen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/m3b-messe-bremen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Bremen