Ulm-Messe GmbH

What Ulm-Messe GmbH does

Ulm-Messe GmbH is a municipal-owned event management company headquartered at Böfinger Straße 50 in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary (Tochterunternehmen) of the City of Ulm (Stadt Ulm). The company manages a multi-venue portfolio comprising seven exhibition halls (500–3,400 m²), the Donauhalle multi-purpose hall (up to 2,289 seats), the historic Kornhaus concert and conference venue (built 1594), the Congress-Centrum Ulm (CCU) with three auditoriums, the 10,000 m² Festplatz outdoor venue, and over 4,000 parking spaces with EV charging across five locations. It also organizes and operates a portfolio of recurring managed events, including the Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt (130+ stalls, 1M+ annual visitors), Ulmer Wochenmarkt, Ulmer Bildungsmesse (co-organized with IHK Ulm), Ulmer Hausbaucenter (12 model homes on 10,000 m²), Ulmer Zelt festival, and Ulmer Volksfest. The company is led by Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) Jürgen Eilts with Mayor Martin Ansbacher chairing the supervisory board.

The company's underlying business model is asset-based venue rental combined with integrated event organization services. Revenue streams include one-time venue rental fees for halls, conference rooms, and outdoor spaces; professional services for end-to-end event planning, consulting, and execution; and transaction-based income from market operations including stall fees for the Christmas market and weekly markets. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contract cadences typical for anchor clients. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and direct, leveraging personalized phone and email consultation, on-site visits, and a partner referral network spanning 25+ local service providers (hotels, caterers, event technology, security, tourism). Customer segments span corporate event organizers, exhibition and trade show organizers, market vendors, and home buyers visiting the Hausbaucenter. The core technology layer is physical infrastructure — exhibition halls, conference technology, AV services — rather than software platforms, with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, or proprietary digital products. Marketing is conducted through the company website (with 360° venue tours), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, complemented by SEO and partner referrals.

Name

Ulm-Messe GmbH

Legal name

Ulm-Messe GmbH

Website

https://ulm-messe.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ulm-Messe GmbH is a municipal-owned event management company in Ulm, Germany, operating exhibition halls, conference centers, historic venues, and outdoor spaces. It serves corporate event organizers, trade show operators, market vendors, and home buyers across Southern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Meeting & Event Space Services (Setup/Teardown) (BPABAFAL)

Keywords

• Event venue management
• Exhibition hall rental
• Trade fair services
• Conference center services
• Event organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Ulm

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental: Rental of exhibition halls, conference rooms, the Donauhalle, Kornhaus, Congress-Centrum Ulm, outdoor spaces, and event venues. Revenue generated through space booking fees based on venue type and event duration.
2. Event Organization Services: Comprehensive event planning and management services including consulting, planning, and execution of corporate events, conferences, trade shows, and festivals.
3. Market Operations: Operation and management of recurring markets including the Ulmer Wochenmarkt (weekly) and Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market with 130+ stands), as well as the Ulmer Hausbaucenter with model homes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ulm-Messe GmbH is a municipal event management company that rents out exhibition halls, conference rooms, historic venues, and outdoor spaces in Ulm, Germany, and provides comprehensive event planning, organization, and execution services. The company operates its own signature events including the Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market with 130+ stalls), Ulmer Wochenmarkt, Ulmer Bildungsmesse career fair, and Ulmer Hausbaucenter model home exhibition, while supporting external organizers with catering, stand construction, technical equipment, and marketing services through an established partner network.

Product overview

Ulm-Messe GmbH operates a multi-venue exhibition and event management company in Ulm, Germany. The portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) Core venue products including seven Messehallen exhibition halls (500-3,400 m²), Donauhalle multi-purpose hall (up to 2,289 seats), Donausaal conference room, three Konferenzräume conference rooms, Messefoyer entrance area (1,100 m²), Kornhaus historic concert hall, Congress-Centrum Ulm (CCU) with three auditoriums, plus outdoor venues including Festplatz (10,000 m²) and Freigelände outdoor areas, plus parking facilities with 4,000+ spaces; and (2) Managed events including Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt, Ulmer Wochenmarkt, Ulmer Bildungsmesse, and Ulmer Hausbaucenter. Supporting services include catering (partnered with Hotel LAGO), stand construction, technical services, marketing, and full event planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ulmer Bildungsmesse: Annual education and career fair for students, parents, and teachers in the Ulm and Neu-Ulm region
• Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt
• Ulmer Wochenmarkt
• Ulmer Hausbaucenter
• Ulmer Zelt
• Ulmer Volksfest

Products and services

• Messehallen 1-7 Seven exhibition halls ranging from 500 to 3,400 square meters, usable individually or combinable for events, trade shows, and exhibitions across Ulm-Messe's exhibition grounds.
• Donauhalle Multi-purpose hall (Großer Saal) with up to 2,289 seats and adjacent Donauhallenfoyer (900 m²), suitable for concerts, balls, conferences, and trade events.
• Donausaal Conference room within the Donauhalle complex, suitable for conferences and congresses with flexible partition walls, accommodating 20 to 550 persons.
• Konferenzräume Three conference rooms with modern technology, accommodating up to 120 persons combined, suitable for meetings, workshops, and seminars.
• Messefoyer Light-flooded 1,100 m² entrance area providing access to main exhibition areas, suitable for registration, receptions, and smaller events.
• Kornhaus Historic concert and conference venue in Ulm's old town (built 1594), featuring a concert hall with Steinway D grand piano and Kornhaus Foyer (320 m²).
• Congress-Centrum Ulm (CCU) Conference center adjacent to Maritim Hotel, featuring Einsteinsaal (1,487 seats), Kepler Saal (320 seats), and Gartensaal (81 seats) with full technical equipment.
• Festplatz 10,000 m² outdoor venue near the fairgrounds, suitable for open-air concerts, festivals, circuses, and special events.
• Freigelände & Vorplatz Outdoor exhibition area with water and power connections, suitable for vehicle presentations, show trucks, and large exhibits.
• Parkplätze Over 4,000 parking spaces across five locations with direct access to exhibition halls, including electric vehicle charging stations.
• Ulmer Weihnachtsmarkt Annual Christmas market held at Münsterplatz featuring 130 decorated stalls, 18,000+ lights, a carousel, fairy tale forest, and live nativity scene, drawing over 1 million visitors annually.
• Ulmer Wochenmarkt Weekly markets held on Münsterplatz and other locations in Ulm, with a tradition dating back to the 14th century.
• Ulmer Bildungsmesse Annual career and education fair connecting students with employers, educational institutions, and training opportunities in the Ulm region.
• Ulmer Hausbaucenter Model home exhibition with 12 display homes from reputable manufacturers on approximately 10,000 m², open Wednesday to Sunday.
• Catering Services Full-service catering in partnership with Hotel LAGO, including star cuisine, event catering, stand catering, and conference hospitality.
• Standbau & Technik Exhibition stand construction and technical services including electricity, lighting, water, booth furniture, communication equipment, and event technology.
• Marketing & Kommunikation Marketing and communication services including advertising, banners, social media, print materials, and promotional items for events.
• Veranstaltungsplanung Comprehensive event planning services including space selection, technical consulting, personnel services, cleaning, signage, parking management, and documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Events for 50 to 4,000+ attendees supported
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadt UlmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company/owner of Ulm-Messe GmbH. Provides municipal backing, city planning coordination, and access to city departments and authorities for event permits and logistics.
• SWU Stadtwerke UlmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal utilities and public transport provider. Supports event logistics with public transportation connections and infrastructure services.
• Hotel LAGOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site hotel partner located adjacent to the exhibition grounds. Provides catering services including fine dining and star-rated cuisine, and accommodation for event attendees.
• Maritim Hotels UlmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent hotel partner connected to Congress-Centrum Ulm. Provides premium accommodation and gastronomic services for conference and event guests.
• GastroeventscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering partner providing stand catering, event catering, and food services for exhibitions and events.
• VMV Volksfeste Märkte VeranstaltungenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival, market, and event management company supporting large-scale public events.
• Gamperling VeranstaltungstechnikcoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent technology provider supplying audio, lighting, and technical equipment for events.
• Maurer VeranstaltungstechnikcoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent technology services provider for technical equipment and support.
• SHS Sicherheit und Service GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity services provider for events ensuring safety and crowd management.
• Ulm/Neu-Ulm Touristik GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism organization promoting Ulm as a destination and supporting event marketing.
• IHK Ulm (Industrie- und Handelskammer)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry. Co-organizer of the Ulmer Bildungsmesse and key network partner for business events.
• FAMA (Fachverband Messen und Ausstellungen)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association for fairs and exhibitions providing industry network and best practices.
• EVVC (Europäischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean association of event centers providing industry benchmarking and networking opportunities.
• BVMW (Bundesverband mittelständischer Wirtschaft)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal association for medium-sized businesses providing network access and event promotion.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Messe Frankfurt: World's largest trade fair organizer with extensive venue portfolio including Congress Center. Comparable in exhibition and congress services at a vastly larger scale with global proprietary trade fair brands.
• Koelnmesse: Major German exhibition venue operator in Cologne hosting large trade fairs, conferences, and consumer events. Overlaps with Ulm-Messe in congress and trade fair services but at a much larger scale with international exhibitor base.
• Messe Düsseldorf: Larger German trade fair incumbent with extensive exhibition halls and proprietary trade fair brands. Comparable in core exhibition/conference venue operations but at significantly greater scale and international reach.
• Messe München: One of the world's largest exhibition companies, operating ICM congress center and multiple halls near Munich. Broad incumbent comparable to Ulm-Messe's conference and exhibition offerings with much broader international drawing power.

Direct peers

• Congress Center Hamburg (CCH): Major German congress and conference center comparable to Ulm-Messe's Congress-Centrum Ulm. Operates auditoria and meeting rooms with similar event organization services for corporate and association clients.
• Hamburg Messe und Congress: German municipal exhibition and congress operator running halls, conference center, and major public events. Closely comparable business model combining venue rental with managed consumer events and congress operations.
• Congress Center Leipzig: Conference and event venue in Leipzig with multiple halls, auditoriums, and managed event services. Directly comparable congress and event venue operator serving German regional markets.
• Messe Stuttgart: Operates exhibition halls, congress center, and event venues in southern Germany. Directly comparable multi-venue operator with similar halls, conference facilities, and managed events including public festivals.

Regional players

• Messe Friedrichshafen: Regional exhibition venue on Lake Constance, also in Baden-Württemberg. Closest geographic peer to Ulm-Messe, operating exhibition halls and consumer trade fairs for the Lake Constance/Baden-Württemberg catchment.
• Congress Center Basel: Swiss-DACH congress and exhibition venue comparable in scale and service mix to Ulm-Messe. Regional peer operating in an adjacent but non-overlapping DACH market with similar event organization capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ulm_messe
• Facebookfacebook.com/UlmMesse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ulm-messe-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Ulm-Messe GmbH