City focus
Maastricht, an exhibition entreaty
aastricht, where the
Treaty on European
Union was signed in
1992 is, together with the
surrounding region, fast emerging as
a new life sciences hub, with all the
potential that has for a new seam of
exhibitions and events.
Innovation and knowledge can be
leveraged via the city’s universities,
institutes and competitive clusters, to
build a sustainable future, including
for events. The city boasts facilities
such as Brightlands Maastricht Health
Campus, the Maastricht University
Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), and the
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life
Sciences of the Maastricht University.
The city’s bio-hub credentials are
further burnished by three major
international events targeting the
sector.
The annual European Conference
on Biomaterials, and the European
Congress on Biotechnology will come
to MECC in 2020, and the Congress of
the European Society of Biomechanics
(ESB) in 2021.
Applications developed in the
city’s research institutions in recent
years include the development of
complete heart valves, tissue for bone
reconstruction and even minuscule
artificial ‘spheres’ measuring a
hundredth of a millimetre filled with
antibiotics that release medicine at
the exact location of an infection.
The city is also one of the top 10
locations in Europe for medical and
health science valorisation.
“Exhibitions are great platforms
to showcase knowledge and provide
opportunities for the sharing of
best practices. In terms of legacy,
they leave more behind than
what delegates spend in hotels
and restaurants. If you want to
demonstrate the kind of ‘output’
values that are associated with
exhibitions like TEFAF, UTECH
Europe, Stainless Steel World,
58
Issue 2
2019
Organisers say:
“MECC continues to be a
great venue for UTECH Europe
[polyeurathanes exhibition), as
we are happy to return again
in April 2021. We have seen
growth year over year since
first bringing our show in 2006.
Maastricht is well located to
attract visitors from many
European countries.”
Debbie Hershfield, Tradeshow
Director UTECH Europe, Crain
Communications
APEX, you indeed have to think in broad terms and look
at the economic, business, professional, academic and
community benefits that such events create,” says Oana
Cipca, Manager International Business Development for
Exhibitions at MECC.
Renovation at MECC
A major €49m upgrade and expansion of MECC
Maastricht, which already has 30,000sqm of exhibition
space, will begin in June 2019.
In 2021 the new-look venue will be able to
accommodate events for up to 5,000 guests simultaneously,
up from today’s 3,000.
“This will help us to play an even larger role in the
international conference and exhibition world,” says
venue Director Rob van de Wiel.
TEFAF in the house
One huge piece of recent business was the TEFAF (The
European Art Fair), which has been hosted at MECC
Maastricht for 31 years. The exhibition halls were
transformed again this March for a world exhibition of art
of the highest level, all seen by 70,000 visitors.
During TEFAF, the city becomes an expansion of the
show and one of the conditions in the 10-year contract
signed last year with TEFAF, was that the exhibition and
the city would be more connected through more activities
in the city centre.
Examples were the special TEFAF Club where visitors
and exhibitors of TEFAF could enjoy a drink and a dance
“In addition to two successful
editions of the Second Home
Fair every year in other
locations, we have made the
choice with our exhibitors to
organise a third edition at the
MECC Maastricht… It is unique
to have a venue as a partner
and not as a supplier.”
Henkjan Prins, Second Home,
Fairs Consult
in the evenings. There were special
TEFAF menus in restaurants and
TEFAF flags around the city.
Why Maastricht?
Maastricht is a compact city but
close to eight airports (the two main
hubs are Brussels Zaventem and
Düsseldorf Airport) and good national
and international train connections.
It has a strong exhibition community,
not least because everything is within
walking distance: venues, hotels and
the city centre. An exhibitor badge
can mean travel free on public bus
transport within Maastricht.
The city also offers 5,000 hotel
rooms.
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk