Outdoor by ISPO will open its doors for the first time ever in Munich in just a few days with a host of new features and highlights joining Europes largest outdoor trade fair. After 25 years, the relocation to the capital city of the German state of Bavaria not only means that Europe’s largest outdoor trade fair has a new venue, but the event’s concept has also been completely redesigned, said show organizers.
More than 1,000 exhibitors from 35 countries will be showcasing their latest products from June 30 to July 3, 2019 at the OutDoor by ISPO trade fair in Munich. Traditional areas such as hiking and climbing will be joined by newer activities and cooperation with other sectors.
“The design of the exhibition space, integrating numerous different focus and activation areas, will reflect the diversity of outdoor,” said event organizers Messe Munchen and ISPO. Areas include a hang-out for sport climbers and boulderers, the Indoor Climbing Hub; the River Lake Camp, focusing on water sports; THE BORDERLANDS, an exhibition space dedicated to urban outdoor culture; and the Adventure, Tourism & Travel Hub, concentrating on adventure travel.
There will also be several different areas covering over-arching topics.
The CSR Hub & Sustainability Kiosk in Hall B6 will be dedicated to the increasingly important topic of sustainability. CSR experts will be on hand to provide insights into the sector’s latest sustainability projects and products. The European Outdoor Group (EOG) will focus on the sector’s approach to disposable, single-use plastic and the Hohenstein Institute will present the topic of biodegradable materials. The program will also include a presentation by the world’s first ever climate-positive outdoor shoe producer Icebug, as well as a speech by The North Face on its experiences of and future plans regarding the manufacturing of sustainable products.
adidas will be showcasing its adidas X Parley collection, which is based on upcycled plastic waste collected from beaches and coastal areas. The keynote speech of the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Gerd Müller, entitled “Sustainability will only work if adopted by social consensus” on Monday, July 1 at 2:20 p.m. will be a highlight.
The latest trends and styles from the world of shoes, socks and accessories will be on display in their own special exhibition area, the Shoe & Trailrunning Village, in Hall A5. A 50-meter-long track will be available for putting products to the test. And on Tuesday, July 2, the agenda will include an elevator pitch for the trade fair’s most innovative trail-running products.
In collaboration with the Messe München “Frauen verbinden” (“Connecting Women”) initiative, the agenda of the Women’s in Outdoorbusiness Lounge in Hall B5 will be demonstrating that women have long been important industry drivers – in management positions and as athletes, opinion leaders and consumers. As such, Marion Schöne, Managing Director of the Munich Olympic Park, and Hetty Key, an adventurer and blogger, will be sharing their experiences, hopes and visions.
The Retail Lounge in Hall A4 will be the spot for retail trade visitors to network as well as relax and unwind. The presentations and panel discussions will primarily cover digital topics and provide extensive information, as part of a retail-focused program, on the development and future prospects of retail and the growing influence of social media. The Detox Happy Hour Breakfast will also be held in the Retail Lounge at 9 a.m. every morning for the duration of the trade fair.
The new outdoor mindset won’t only be celebrated in the halls as the outside area will also be turned into an interactive exhibition space. The HangOut Area will play host to numerous camping, glamping and outdoor-kitchen products just waiting to be put to the test right there and then. There will be a generously sized lounge available for visitors to recharge their batteries.
The automatica, electronica, EXPO REAL, IFAT, LOPEC, LASER World of PHOTONICS and transport logistic exhibitions and trade fairs will be presented as part of the X-Industry focus area in Hall B5, illustrating the true potential of cooperation for the outdoor sector. Cross Industry will also include the Next Entrepreneurs initiative, together with Messe München GmbH, the German Council of Shopping Centers e.V., the Volkswagen Group’s xStarters innovation program and outdoor equipment manufacturer Vaude. All partners will specify a global topic connected to their respective business. These will then be worked on live on site, from Monday to Wednesday, by eight teams consisting of Generation-Z youngsters (at the age between 12 and 17 years). The results will then be presented and assessed at 1:30 p.m. on July 3. 2
