Doubled in surface area. That's what happened when ExpoProof decided to move the Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte to the halls of Royal Jaarbeurs. What followed was a close collaboration where 'understanding each other's situation' prevailed. Marcel Beelen, COO ExpoProof, tells us more about it.
'It took a while before we really wanted to switch to Jaarbeurs,' says Marcel. 'We had been having exploratory talks with each other for some time, but we ourselves were not yet ready. Besides, visitors and exhibitors of Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte were attached to the old location. People had some objections to changing location. And everyone knows: you have to be able to convince the whole fair and everything around it to change location. The important thing is that everyone benefits. The turning point was when we outgrew our premises, and our ambition was to grow. That was really only possible at Jaarbeurs. It was time to get serious with each other again.'
Marcel looks back on an intensive process with a smile. He says: 'Fortunately, Jaarbeurs was actively involved in the objections. Together we came to a compromise that exhibitors and visitors also felt comfortable with. We signed a multi-year contract and said: we are going to do everything to make it a huge success within Jaarbeurs, with the word 'cooperation' being an important factor. It was great to come out of it together like that!'
Meanwhile, Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte and Jaarbeurs have been linked for seven years. According to Marcel, in those few years, Jaarbeurs has become one of the most important cooperation partners. Not surprisingly, as the fair has grown tremendously. He says of the communication between the two parties: 'It is never one-way traffic, because it is up to us together to make this successful. Jaarbeurs understands that. If you knock it flat, we are not the customer. Our exhibitors and visitors are. Of course we organise the fair and rent the space, but if the conditions are not right, people won't come back.'
When asked what Marcel finds most valuable about the cooperation with Jaarbeurs, he says: "That we understand each other's situation. We give each other space to undertake. For example: an exhibitor wants to show something complex. But to do so, he needs more days to build up and dismantle than agreed. Jaarbeurs thinks along flexibly and also looks for a solution. The same applies the other way round: last year, car parks had to disappear. I raise the alarm at an early stage, but I know it's a circumstance that Jaarbeurs can do nothing about. We don't say to each other: how will you solve this? But rather: how will we deal with this? We never think in terms of problems.'
As an example, Marcel gives another impressive moment from recent years, namely the corona period. 'We didn't get to do the fellowship for a year. Hugely frustrating that was. But in 2021, we pulled together to at least start it up. Right in September, we had a window to organise the fair, provided all the conditions were right. So: one-way traffic, one-and-a-half-metre spacing and access controls. All the bells and whistles surrounding it were extremely intensive. In addition, we were subject to almost daily changing conditions from the government. And yet together we said: let's see if it works. We all wanted to run a fair so badly. Jaarbeurs did everything it could to adapt. That cooperation from was sublime! We consulted almost every day and the process was actually almost impossible. And yet we managed to pull it off. Fantastic!
That the cooperation pleases both sides also shows in the agenda. On 25 and 26 September 2024, the Public Space Trade Fair will take place again. During those two days, halls 2,3 and 4 will once again be transformed into the leading event for the design, maintenance and management of public spaces.
Number of visitors/participants: 6,706 visitors, 2,169 participants, 440 exhibitors
Visitors/participants come from: > 98% Netherlands, predominantly officials from 263 municipalities in the Netherlands
Location used + session rooms: halls 2, 3 and 4 + Juliana Halls for part of the substantive programme
Purpose of the meeting: bringing together buyers and suppliers within an increasingly important field because of biodiversity, climate, health, circularity, etc.: design and management of public space
Visitors' satisfaction rating for the venue: 52% give an 8, 25% give a 7, 12% give a 9, 5% give a 6, 4% give a 10 ...
Special element: for years head and shoulders the most beautiful trade fair in the Netherlands on a subject that concerns everyone
Account and event manager Jannemarije
Do you have a cool idea for an event or trade fair? In our exhibition and conference centre, we have the space and passion for your event. Get in touch with me. I will be happy to tell you more about all the possibilities at our event location in Utrecht.
ejaarbeursbeurs.nl +31(0)30 295 5023
