Olma trade fairs: Budget exceeded
In a challenging market environment, Olma Messen was able to hold its own and significantly exceed the budget. The cash flow for the past financial year amounts to 7.6 million Swiss francs.
The results and visitor numbers of Olma Messen St. Gallen were maintained at a good level. The two large public trade fairs Olma and OFFA even recorded an increase in visitors.
Sales amounted to CHF 29.6 million, and the operating result before depreciation was CHF 7.3 million. Four strategic projects were launched in 2019, with which Olma Messen is investing in digitalization, the event agency business and new trade fair and event formats. Initial financing costs were also incurred for the Olma-Neuland construction project. Cash flow excluding these costs reached CHF 7.6 million (previous year CHF 8.6 million) and including the strategic projects CHF 7.1 million.
The Olma-Neuland project (pictured above) is on track and reached various milestones in fiscal 2019. The project competition was completed and the building application based on the winning project by Ilg Santer Architekten, Pedrazzini Guidotti Ingenieure and Meta Landschaftsarchitektur was submitted.
CongressEvents St.Gallen
CongressEvents St.Gallen accompanied 114 congresses, conferences, meetings, exhibitions, festive occasions and other events and again achieved a very good result. Hall occupancy rose to a high of 277 occupancy days, an increase of 5%. The success is due to a strong congress year.
With the renovation of the legendary Moststube, which has been an essential part of Olma since 1943 and now also of OFFA, the use of the restaurant has also been extended to congress events and their organizers, and the restaurant can be booked throughout the year outside the two major public exhibitions.
Change of leadership
At the end of March, Director Nicolo Paganini will hand over the operational management of Olma Messen St.Gallen at his own request after nine years. On March 13, 2020, the Board of Directors elected Christine Bolt as the new Olma Director (Werbewoche.ch reported). In agreement with her current employer, Christine Bolt will take up her new position at Olma Messen as early as June 1, 2020. In the months of April and May, business will be managed by Deputy Director Adi Stuber. Nicolo Paganini will be available to both Deputy Director Adi Stuber and the new Director for special tasks, in particular in connection with the management of the coronavirus crisis.
The measures taken to spread the coronavirus hit Olma Messen St.Gallen - like countless other companies in the event industry - with full force. Numerous events have had to be cancelled or, at best, postponed. Trade fairs are particularly hard hit. Olma Messen St.Gallen is doing everything in its power to maintain the company's liquidity and to take appropriate measures. One of these is the introduction of short-time work of varying degrees, which affects all departments. The aim is to preserve all jobs and be ready as soon as the usual work in the trade fair and event business can be resumed.
