Koelnmesse Celebrates 100 Years with Opening of New Event and Congress Location, Confex
Cologne, Germany – Friday, June 28, 2024 – Marking its 100th anniversary, Koelnmesse, Europe’s leading trade fair organizer, is proud to announce the grand opening of Confex, the most technologically advanced event and congress center on the continent. The state-of-the-art venue, with capacity for 6,200 guests, is strategically located at the Cologne Messe/Deutz ICE railway station, offering perfect transport links for visitors and attendees.
The new Confex building, a core element of Koelnmesse’s one-billion-euro investment program, Koelnmesse 3.0, has been in construction for almost three years and is launching on schedule. With a total size of 20,500 square meters, the centerpiece of the building is the Confex Hall, which can be divided into three sections and has space for 4,300 people. Additionally, there are two conference levels with 22 rooms, ranging in size from 27 to 205 square meters, providing ample space for a variety of event formats. The foyer, bathed in natural light, offers a welcoming space for receptions, presentations, and side events, and leads directly onto the 5,600 square meter open-air terrace, the Confex Plaza.
NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, who will be attending the opening ceremony, praises Koelnmesse’s contribution to the economy of the West and its role as a European peace project. He says, “For 100 years, Koelnmesse has been a center for ideas and innovations from all over the world. Confex will secure this special position for the next generation.” He also notes that the trade fair’s founder, Konrad Adenauer, envisioned it as a place of encounter and understanding between nations and that Koelnmesse continues to fulfill this vision.
Koelnmesse’s shareholders, the city and state, have also shown their support for the new venue, with Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker stating, “The new Confex is a significant addition to our trade fair infrastructure and will attract entirely new events and target groups to Cologne.” She also emphasizes the venue’s importance as a pillar of North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location and its role in strengthening the region’s innovative power and international reputation.
Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH, notes that Confex will bring massive locational benefits to Cologne and the region, as it provides support for trade fair operations and new events held with new target groups outside of the main trade fair schedule. He says, “The location stands for flexibility, efficiency, and emotional appeal – and thus for the future of the trade fair industry.”
The sustainable design of Confex has already received Platinum pre-certification by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) during the construction phase. Jürgen Steffens, from the architecture firm JSWD, responsible for the design and general planning, states, “Architecture is not only the stage for encounters and communication, but is itself an expression of social and technological developments.” He adds that sustainability and digital networking were central focuses of the design process.
The market success of the new venue has been evident even before its opening, with Koelncongress, Koelnmesse’s subsidiary and marketer of Confex, already receiving bookings and requests until the end of 2029. General Manager Ralf Nüsser says, “Confex will host its first events in summer 2024, with many organizers coming to Cologne for the first time.” He adds that major multi-day events, including the UFI Global Congress of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in November 2024, will take place at Confex.
For 100 years, Koelnmesse has been a lively hub for innovation, trade, and international cooperation, and Confex is a new milestone on this path. The anniversary celebrations, under the motto “Yesterday | Today | Tomorrow – Koelnmesse connects,” will offer sensory experiences from the past, present, and future, including a two-hour multimedia show taking guests on a journey through time from the 1920s to the present day and into the future. Culinary highlights will be served up by TV celebrity chef Johann Lafer and the Koelncongress catering team at numerous live cooking stations.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Jasmin FischerTel +49 221 821-2494e-mail jasmin-fischer@koelnmesse.de
About Koelnmesse:
Koelnmesse, with around 1000 employees, is the third largest trade fair grounds in Germany and among the top ten largest in the world. Each year, it organizes and manages approximately 80 trade fairs, guest events, and