BOE INTERNATIONAL

What BOE INTERNATIONAL does

BOE INTERNATIONAL is the leading international trade fair for the event and exhibition industry, held annually in January at Messe Dortmund in Germany and organized by Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH. Founded in 2019, the event operates under the motto "People. Events. Innovations." and serves as the calendar kickoff for the European event industry, bringing together exhibitors across stand construction, event technology, Event IT, catering, locations, and entertainment with trade visitors from marketing, HR, and procurement functions. The product portfolio has expanded well beyond a traditional exhibition floor: the 2026 edition introduced multiple themed stages (vision, career hub, digital & events, safety & security, acts on stage, culinary hub), a dedicated AI showcase area called plAIground, the Startup & Innovation Area with the Founders Fight Night pitch competition, the 8th-edition BrandEx Award creative competition (147 submissions from 72 companies in 2026), the boe night networking event, the digital boe Magazin publication, and a mobile app with exhibitor directory. Supporting tools include a Stand Price Calculator and Banner Generator for exhibitor self-service.

Name

BOE INTERNATIONAL

Legal name

Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH

Website

https://boe-international.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BOE INTERNATIONAL is the leading international trade fair for the event and exhibition industry, held annually in January at Messe Dortmund under parent Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH, serving exhibitors and trade visitors across stand construction, event technology, and live communications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Fair & Event Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHABAB

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Exhibition & Trade Show Organizers

SECONDARYTHAHACAF

Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Trade fair management
• Event industry exhibition
• Exhibition organizing services
• Live event marketing
• B2B trade show

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth/Stand Fees: Primary revenue stream from companies renting exhibition space at the trade fair. Includes booth sizes from S to L, with pricing determined by stand price calculator.
2. Visitor Tickets: Ticket sales to trade visitors attending the event, available through the official ticket shop.
3. Advertising in boe Magazin: Digital magazine featuring advertising opportunities with ad closing deadline in October 2026 for the November 2026 edition.
4. Event Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities for highlight events including BrandEx Award ceremony and boe night.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BOE INTERNATIONAL operates the leading annual trade fair for the event and exhibition industry, held every January at Messe Dortmund, Germany. It brings together exhibitors from stand construction, event technology, EventTech, AV, event IT, catering, and locations with trade visitors and decision-makers from marketing, HR, and procurement. The offering encompasses exhibition booth rentals, multiple specialized stages, an AI-focused zone (plAIground), the BrandEx Award competition, networking events (boe night, Founders Fight Night), and supporting digital tools such as the boe App, Stand Price Calculator, and Banner Generator.

Product overview

BOE INTERNATIONAL is the leading international trade fair for the event and exhibition industry, held annually at Messe Dortmund under the motto 'People. Events. Innovations.' The company offers a unified platform combining the core trade fair exhibition with multiple specialized stages and areas. The portfolio includes the main trade fair covering stand construction, event technology, Event IT, catering, and locations; the BrandEx Award (competitive awards program); the digital boe Magazin publication; the boe App mobile application; and dedicated zones including plAIground (AI-focused), vision stage, career hub, digital & events stage, safety & security stage, acts on stage, and culinary hub. Supporting tools include the Stand Price Calculator and Banner Generator. The event features networking programs like boe night, Founders Fight Night, Insider Tours, and the forum event continuing education congress.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BrandEx Award: Award for outstanding achievements in live communication and event architecture, held annually at BOE International.
• boe night
• Founders Fight Night
• plAIground
• forum event
• career hub

Products and services

• boe international Trade Fair (Exhibition Booth Rental) The flagship annual trade fair for the event and exhibition industry held each January at Messe Dortmund. Exhibitors (event industry suppliers) purchase booth space in size tiers (Stand S, M, L) at the trade fair, and trade visitors attend to source suppliers and discover industry innovations across exhibition construction, event technology, EventTech, AV, event IT, catering, locations, and entertainment.
• BrandEx Award Annual creative competition recognizing outstanding achievements in live communication and brand experience, with EVENT and ARCHITECTURE categories including Best Brand Activation, Best Corporate Event, Best Conference, Best Stand (S/M/L), Best Brand Architecture, and Best Thematic Exhibition. Open to event industry companies for paid entry and submission.
• boe Magazin (Digital Magazine Advertising) Annual digital magazine featuring in-depth articles, expert interviews, and industry reports covering innovations, best practices, and future trends in the event and exhibition industry. Advertising space is sold to event industry suppliers and partners.
• forum event (Continuing Education Congress) Continuing education congress for young talents organized by IST-Hochschule für Management. Features expert presentations, best practices, and Q&A sessions on festival management, AI, automation, and career opportunities in the event industry. Includes 3 scholarships awarded through 'Weiterbildung macht Karriere' initiative.
• boe night Annual evening networking event held during the trade fair combining industry celebration with the BrandEx Award ceremony. Includes sponsorship opportunities for highlight events.

Quantifiable outcome

• BrandEx Award received 147 submissions from 72 companies in 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration1 record

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• fwd: Bundesvereinigung VeranstaltungswirtschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional/trade association serving as the industry's professional and content partner for BOE. The fwd: association provides strategic direction and content expertise, with Markus Illing (CEO) participating in press breakfast discussions. Also curates the fwd: stage at the exhibition.
• UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal trade association representing exhibition organizers and exhibition center operators worldwide, with over 900 member organizations in 90 countries. UFI membership provides international credibility and network access.
• VPLT - Verband für Medien- und Veranstaltungstechnik e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for event and media technology representing approximately 700 member companies including manufacturers, service providers, dealers, and operators in the event technology sector.
• EVVC - Europäischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean association representing approximately 600 venues of all sizes from Stadthalls and congress centers to special event locations, fairs, arenas and stadiums.
• bvvs - Bundesverband Veranstaltungssicherheit e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman industry association for event safety, hosting the safety & security stage at BOE and providing expertise on security planning, crowd management, and safety protocols.
• degefest - Verband der Kongress- und Seminarwirtschaft e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCongress and seminar industry association presenting at BOE with a joint booth, offering members opportunities to showcase venue offerings and network with industry professionals.
• IST-Hochschule für ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution as strategic education partner, organizing the forum event (9th continuing education congress for young talents) and career hub at BOE, with joint scholarship initiative 'Weiterbildung macht Karriere' providing 3 scholarships.
• Studieninstitut für KommunikationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunication studies institute serving as strategic education partner, curating the career hub stage at BOE with programming focused on career development, skills training, and continuing education.
• LiveCom AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-European event industry alliance with Maarten Schram (Founder/CEO) participating in press events to share LiveCom Alliance European Industry Survey results, trends and developments.
• LiveVoicesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for AI-powered real-time translation supporting vision stage, safety & security stage, and digital & events stage with German-English translation, audio streaming, and live transcription.
• Founders Fight ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup ecosystem partner for Founders Fight Night live pitch event featuring startup pitch battles, jury evaluation, and networking zone for investors, partners, and pioneers at BOE 2026.
• bvik - Bundesverband Industrie KommunikationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent industry communication association representing over 3,000 marketing professionals from industry and creative sector, hosting events and producing whitepapers and studies.
• ExpoPlatformsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner powering the NetWorks-Networking Area at BOE, providing digital networking infrastructure for exhibitors and visitors.
• Neumann MüllersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent technology provider and sponsor of the BrandEx Award, supporting award ceremony infrastructure and production.
• Merchants BlocsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast production partner for FORMAT SHIFT podcast covering event industry innovation topics, produced in cooperation with BOE INTERNATIONAL.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Reed Exhibitions: Global B2B events organizer operating 400+ events across 43 industries. Comparable to BOE as a large incumbent event organizer with international event portfolios, including event industry shows.
• Koelnmesse: Major German trade fair organizer operating across 25+ industry sectors including events and entertainment. Comparable to BOE as a peer German Messe organizer with similar exhibition and event management capabilities.
• RX Global (Reed Exhibitions) / IBTM Events: Division of RELX operating major event industry trade shows including IBTM World. Comparable to BOE as the parent operator of its most direct competitor with deeper resources and global reach.
• Deutsche Messe (Hannover): German trade fair organizer operating Hannover Messe and other B2B exhibitions. Comparable to BOE as a peer German Messe operator with similar B2B trade fair business model and venue ownership.
• Messe München: Leading German trade fair company operating events in multiple industries. Comparable to BOE as a peer German exhibition organizer with comparable venue operations and trade fair management expertise.
• Messe Frankfurt: One of the world's largest trade fair organizers operating 150+ events globally, including event industry and consumer goods shows. Comparable to BOE as a fellow German trade fair organizer with venue and event portfolio diversification.

Direct peers

• IBTM World: Leading international trade fair for the meetings, events, and incentive travel industry, held annually in Barcelona. Directly comparable to BOE as both serve event industry suppliers and corporate event buyers with B2B trade fair formats.
• IMEX: Major trade show for the global meetings, events, and incentive travel industry held in Frankfurt and Las Vegas. Comparable to BOE as both target event industry professionals with B2B exhibitions and education programming.

Emerging players

• Event Tech Live: UK-based trade show focused on event technology and live event innovation. Comparable to BOE's plAIground and digital & events stage, with a narrower technology focus within the broader event industry ecosystem.

Others

• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Industry association for the meetings and events industry producing Convene conferences and education. Comparable to BOE's partnership model with fwd: and content-driven event industry programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/boemesse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boe-die-internationale-fachmesse-f%C3%BCr-erlebnismarketing
• Instagraminstagram.com/boe_international

Compliance1 record

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 BOE INTERNATIONAL