Messe Frankfurt has developed a concept that includes detailed hygienic, medical, and organisational measures for Heimtextil show, which will be held from January 12-15, 2021, at Frankfurt am Main.
Hygiene, distance and fresh air supply are important factors of the concept, which has been approved by the competent authorities of the State of Hesse.
To enable the safe resumption of trade fair operations, Messe Frankfurt has developed a concept and coordinated it with the authorities that takes hygienic, medical and organisational measures into account. The top priority is the safety and health of all exhibitors, visitors, partners and employees.
For all measures to improve hygiene on the premises, Messe Frankfurt follows the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. In addition, all provisions are based on the applicable requirements of the ‘Corona Contact and Operating Restriction Ordinance’ of the State of Hesse of May 7, 2020.
In the protection and hygiene concept and the resulting new planning of the exhibition halls and stands, keeping the distance is the top priority. According to the current requirements, the stands have a minimum size of 18 square metres, by 1.5 metres between exhibitors and visitors or between visitors to be able to maintain. Likewise, some aisles between the stands are widened significantly.
Five-metre wide boulevards can be crossed in both directions. Narrow aisles of three meters can be safely used on the one-way principle. Whether and in which situations a mouth and nose cover is to be worn depends on the current legal situation, which is not yet foreseeable as of January 2021, according to a press release by Messe Frankfurt.
The stand construction concepts must also be adapted with regard to the distance and hygiene rules. First and foremost, this means that more generous planning with clearly marked and controllable entrances and exits must be provided for the stands. In addition, the stands should have a lower level of development so that as many people as possible can visit the stand at the same time. When planning lectures and presentations at the stand, exhibitors are also required to consider distance and hygiene rules.
Disinfection dispensers are available on the premises, at the entrances and exits of the trade fair and at the stands. Contact areas such as counters, tables, showcases, displays, and exhibits are regularly cleaned and disinfected after changing visitors. Highly frequented areas and areas on the site are cleaned more intensively and more frequently by the service staff. The ventilation of the halls is also optimised to the best possible level: the powerful ventilation technology with up to 100 percent outside air above the exhibition areas and the corridors of the exhibition halls guarantees a high fresh air supply.
Messe Frankfurt, with its catering subsidiary Accente, will continue to provide culinary care for its guests – in accordance with the current requirements for gastronomy in Hesse. Trade fair visitors have to do without open meals and drinks. For exhibitors and visitors to the fair, a full registration including self-declaration of the current state of health is required. To ensure traceability of all participants, tickets are only valid on certain days. Online tickets enable fully electronic registration and contactless payment.
