The first Corona year at the Leipzig Trade Fair: 21 million euros deficit at the end of the year

The template still has to go to the management committee. But even there it will probably not turn out differently than in the service advice of the OBM that the management of the Leipzig Trade Fair will be relieved for the year 2020. Despite a minus of 21 million euros at the end of the year. Something like this was actually only known from earlier years, before the two current managing directors, Martin Buhl-Wagner (spokesman) and Markus Geisenberger, set about restructuring the portfolio of the Leipzig Trade Fair and increasingly focusing on congresses. The two of them could not have expected that the corona pandemic would paralyze practically the entire trade fair business for months from March 2020. A partial return to face-to-face events was only possible in September 2020. Overall, the number of visitors fell from 1.2 million to just 350,000. But a trade fair depends on the audience. And you make a lot of sales either with really big congresses or big public fairs. In recent years, it has been possible to push the annual deficit of the Leipzig trade fair into the single-digit million range. However, a trade fair like this does not work in a highly competitive market without subsidies. Why the Free State of Saxony and the City of Leipzig support the fair together. "The profit and loss account closes on December 31, 2020 with an annual deficit of -21,837,569.09 euros," says the template for the management committee of the Leipzig city council, which meets on November 25th and gives the mayor the Authorization to relieve the management of the Leipziger Messe from the Leipzig side. Or not. But you can't even play mouse when the management committee meets. "According to the available documents (annual financial statements, management report and audit report according to § 53 Budget Principles Act) there are no reasons that prevent the discharge of the supervisory board. The auditing company has issued an unqualified audit opinion for the 2020 financial year," said the OBM division in the template. Which at least means for 2020 that the management worked economically under the extraordinary conditions. Of course, 2021 will be a similarly difficult year on the books. Because this year too, lockdowns and restrictions have had a major impact on trade fair events, and not only in Germany. Editor's note on their own behalf Since the "corona crisis" we have opened our archive to all readers. Since then, all articles from the last few years have also been available on L-IZ for non-subscribers. en to discover. Beyond the daily reports without any paywall. Support local/regional journalism and our daily work in Leipzig. By taking out a free-buyer subscription (to the subscribers page) you ensure daily, freely available access to important information in Leipzig and our work for you.