Joint press release
International Horti Fair and FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer, 12 April 2010 – From 2011 onwards the Horti Fair and the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer will be held together in one week in November. The two organisations will collaborate together in organising their trade fairs under the name ‘Holland HortiWeek’ (a working title). ‘This is in the best interests of horticulture,’ say Horti Fair chairman Marius Varekamp and FloraHolland managing director Timo Huges. The Horti Fair (which will still be held from 12 to 15 October in 2010) will take place in the first week of November in 2011 and subsequent years. The international horticulture trade fair will then be held in the same week as the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer and possibly other events as well, under the umbrella name ‘Holland HortiWeek’. This decision was recently taken by FloraHolland and Horti Fair. They will in future organise and develop ‘Holland HortiWeek’ jointly.
The autumn edition of the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer will be switched to November from 2010 onwards, as this is more in keeping with the commercial interests of those in the production chain. This takes account of the wishes of exhibitors and visitors alike and the available venue capacity. Both organisations have always wished to synchronise the two times of the two fairs. The desirability of such a move was borne out by research among exhibitors commissioned by Horti Fair last autumn. Until recently, synchronisation was not possible because of the exhibition calendar of Amsterdam RAI. However, things have changed as a result of the BedrijfsautoRAI (The European Road Transport Show) being moved from November to April. This has made it possible to combine the two horticultural events again in a single week, as was also the case from 1999 to 2009.
Strengthening of organisation in 'Holland HortiWeek'
From 2011 onwards the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer en the International Horti Fair will be held under the provisional title of ‘Holland HortiWeek’, possibly in combination with other events that strengthen the national and international position of Dutch horticulture. This means that from 2011 onwards Dutch and foreign exhibition visitors can visit both fairs in a single week and thus get a comprehensive overview of international horticulture and developments in production, sales, technology and supplies and services. The advantage of the cooperation from the point of view of the exhibitors is that the two fairs will be better placed to attract trade visitors from abroad. A single Holland HortiWeek organisation will be formed to develop and coordinate the exhibition concepts and carry out the acquisition and promotion. ‘This will enable us to organise the fairs and other activities more efficiently for our customers and visitors and thereby strengthen the position of the Netherlands as a horticultural centre,’ explain Huges and Varekamp.
When the plans are presented this year during the Horti Fair and the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer, they will take account of the wish to have the exhibition days overlap. And they will also explore and elaborate options such as combined visits , combined participation and joint activities to promote trade, communication and innovation. This will also make it possible to link up with other horticulture-related events. The organisers are thinking in terms of activities such as Open Days, in-house shows, seminars and workshops.
2010: Horti Fair from Tuesday 12 to Friday 15 October in Amsterdam;
2010: FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 November;
2011 onwards: Holland HortiWeek':
2011: Horti Fair from Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 November;
2011: FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 November.