Fibo, the world's largest fitness, wellness and health trade show, is moving to Cologne starting in 2013. The last two events in Essen will be this year and next. The new agreement for a Cologne show is good for 10 years.
The organizers, Reed Exhibitions Deutschland, felt the move was necessary because they needed more exhibition space. This year's show, scheduled for April 14-17, will take up 75,000 square meters, all the exhibition space available at the site. In the last five years, the number of exhibitors has grown from 339 to 561 last year.
For the 2013 show, organizers are already planning for 86,000 square meters of exhibition space. The new set-up there should also helps better separate the fitness, wellness and health segment from the one devoted to weightlifting and bodybuilding.
The Fitness Industry Association of the U.K. is going to join Fibo for the first time as a new partner next Apr. 14 to 17. The final Essen Fibo will take place on April 19 to 22, 2012. The first Cologne show is slated for April 11-14, 2013.
Meanwhile, a survey of more than 700 companies involved in the fitness sector polled by the German fitness association, DSSV, said they expected a further noticeable increase in demand for fitness and health products after the last Fibo.
