Economic Impact

Hamburg Messe und Congress – a business driver

With its attractive event campus, Hamburg Messe und Congress is a major economic growth factor for Hamburg, its metropolitan region, and all of Germany. According to a study by the institute Prognos, the company’s activities secure 7,182 jobs nation-wide while generating sales worth EUR 924m in an average event year. In addition, EUR 168m in tax revenues are realized.

Hamburg Messe und Congress with its workforce of roughly 380 employees secures 4,088 jobs in Hamburg. Another 3,000-plus jobs in other German states are directly linked to the exhibition and congress activities in Hamburg, particularly in the hospitality and transport sectors.

Generating revenues for Hamburg and Germany

For the hotel, food service, trades, transport and retail segments, Hamburg Messe und Congress is an indispensable business driver. From the combined value chain effects totalling EUR 924m, EUR 523m benefit Hamburg directly. The remaining EUR 401m are spent in other parts of Germany. This translates to EUR 168m in annual tax revenues, of which EUR 15m remain in Hamburg. The federal government and the other states receive EUR 153m.

It is really impressive to see proof of the positive economic impact our events have on Hamburg’s society. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the City of Hamburg located in the heart of the city, we are truly pleased to be able to make such a substantial contribution Hamburg’s prosperity.

Heiko M. Stutzinger
CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress

As a trade fair and congress company, we are not only Hamburg’s ambassador and representative; our activities also give many thousands of families stability and security. We take the positive outcome of this study as an obligation to continue our successful strategy with determination.”

Uwe Fischer
CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress

Study highlights positive economic effects

The Prognos study not only accounts for direct effects such as hotel and public transport company sales to trade fair and congress visitors, but also for indirect effects, such as purchases of materials or food by stand construction and catering companies in performance of their contracts, as well as induced effects created by people who spend their income earned through trade fair and congress activities for personal consumption.

The results of the study underline the economic benefits of trade fairs and congresses to the citizens of Hamburg. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg located in the heart of the city, Hamburg Messe und Congress is Hamburg’s face to the international business community as well as an active business driver that makes a significant contribution to the prosperity of the metropolis.