Organizer: "The IFA was a great success"
IFA 2024 came to an end on Tuesday evening with a significant increase in visitors. Organizers and industry draw a positive balance.
Entrance to the exhibition grounds.
(Image: heise online)
IFA 2024 came to a close in Berlin on Tuesday evening with a significant increase in visitor numbers. This year, the trade fair counted over 215,000 visitors from 138 countries, 133,000 of whom were trade visitors, according to the organizers. Over 1,800 exhibitors showcased their innovations in the fields of consumer electronics, IT and household appliances at the Berlin exhibition grounds.
With an increase in visitors of 18 percent compared to the previous year (182,000 visitors), the new start of the IFA has apparently been a success. The trade fair has been under new management since last year. The industry association Gfu has joined forces with the British organizer Clarion Events, while the Berlin trade fair company is no longer involved as an organizer.
"Wonderful party"
"What a wonderful party for IFA's 100th birthday, and what an amazing year for the world's leading technology trade fair," said a delighted Messe Berlin CEO Leif Lindner. "We are very pleased with the large number of bookings our exhibitors have already made for IFA 2025."
The industry is also satisfied with the 2024 edition of the trade fair. "IFA 100 has exceeded all our expectations," says Gfu CEO Sara Warneke. The new concept is working. "The feedback from our partners, exhibitors, retailers and, of course, all visitors is unanimous: IFA was a great success for them, for their business and for our industry."
A successful new start
The new team of organizers wants to reposition the trade fair without breaking with tradition. In addition to the traditional trade fair business, the IFA should once again be a "cultural event", says Lindner, who also wants to further develop the trade fair in the coming years. The IFA will remain loyal to its Berlin location for now.
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IFA was officially opened on Thursday evening by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Berlin's Governing Mayor. Major manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Miele presented their innovations over the past five days, but small suppliers and start-ups also had a forum at the trade fair. Performances by pop greats such as Bryan Adams and Faithless provided the cultural part of the event.
IFA 2025 will take place in Berlin from September 5 to 9, 2025.
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