The organisers of the German trade fair Opti have announced that in 2021, 2023 and 2025, the show will be held in Stuttgart rather than in Munich.
Explaining the reasons behind the move, Dieter Dohr, chairman of the GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen (pictured), said: “Because the entirety of Fairground Munich is occupied by the BAU trade show in January of odd years, Opti will take place in these odd years at Messe Stuttgart starting in January 2021.
“In odd years, Opti has always faced the challenge of all 18 fairground halls being occupied until shortly before the trade show,” Dieter continued. “This issue of occupancy every other year meant that there was always only a short window of time for our exhibitors to construct their trade stands – as just recently in January 2019.
“As a trade show organiser with the clear mission of further developing Opti for, and with, the industry, this situation did not please us. For this reason, we engaged in intense discussions with various trade show locations with the aim of finding a long-term and future-oriented solution for Opti and its exhibitors in those odd years.”
Ulrich Kromer, spokesperson for management at Messe Stuttgart, commented: “We are very much looking forward to the opportunity to welcome the prestigious trade show for optics every other year. From 2021, we will offer Opti a new home, as well as optimal room for development.”
Opti 2020 will take place from 10-12 January 2020 at Fairground Munich, where it will also take place in 2022 and 2024.