Trade show organizer Ramon Schlepers tells us: "We had a very good show last year. Visitors and exhibitors went away with a positive feeling, which has resulted in many of last year's exhibitors booking again. It's always a challenge to find new companies, but that's also going well this year."
The trade show is 1,000 m2 bigger this year. "That means exhibitors can pick a different location, which is interesting for many parties. There's now one big floor below the first story. I sure am looking forward to the fourteenth edition!" Ramon says. A new part on the first floor is the HortiNext Start-up Pavilion. "We provide space to new companies with a nice new product. They often don't have sufficient funds to book their own stand, so we give them some space in the HortiNext start-up pavilion."
International
There's also more international interest in the trade show. "Last year, 6 percent of visitors were from abroad. Let's hope it will grow, because that also gives exhibitors an incentive. That's why this year again we're organizing a HortiContact Tour for international horticulture entrepreneurs. They visit Dutch horticulture for two days, ending with a symposium and a visit to the HortiContact." Registration for the tour is still open. The last seats can be booked through www.horticontacttour.nl.
Does the fact that there's no GreenTech this year, also contribute to the international interest? "Most of our exhibitors are Dutch companies, they're always at the HortiContact, really. But we do see a number of foreign companies wanting to introduce themselves in the Netherlands. Simonetti from Italy for instance, but also Polish and Russian companies. They're more than welcome, following a quality assessment."
Networking
Ramon also expects Dutch exhibitors to invite their international relations. "We don't want to create any false expectations, but we do hear they have one less opportunity for networking this year." And the date of the show, the week after Fruit Logistica, is a nice bonus. "That makes it especially interesting for visitors from far away to come to Gorinchem as well." HortiContact doesn't come immediately after Fruit Logistica every year. "That's fine, because some companies like the shows not being back-to-back."
One thing is certain: Ramon likes the fact that people are talking about the three shows at the beginning of the year (Fruit Logistica, IPM en HortiContact). "We don't want to be arrogant – the show is incomparable in terms of numbers and square meters. Our concept is different too. But the fact that we're named in the list is something we're proud of."
The fourteenth HortiContact is held February 14-16.
Click here for more information about the HortiContact.
International
There's also more international interest in the trade show. "Last year, 6 percent of visitors were from abroad. Let's hope it will grow, because that also gives exhibitors an incentive. That's why this year again we're organizing a HortiContact Tour for international horticulture entrepreneurs. They visit Dutch horticulture for two days, ending with a symposium and a visit to the HortiContact." Registration for the tour is still open. The last seats can be booked through www.horticontacttour.nl.
Does the fact that there's no GreenTech this year, also contribute to the international interest? "Most of our exhibitors are Dutch companies, they're always at the HortiContact, really. But we do see a number of foreign companies wanting to introduce themselves in the Netherlands. Simonetti from Italy for instance, but also Polish and Russian companies. They're more than welcome, following a quality assessment."
Networking
Ramon also expects Dutch exhibitors to invite their international relations. "We don't want to create any false expectations, but we do hear they have one less opportunity for networking this year." And the date of the show, the week after Fruit Logistica, is a nice bonus. "That makes it especially interesting for visitors from far away to come to Gorinchem as well." HortiContact doesn't come immediately after Fruit Logistica every year. "That's fine, because some companies like the shows not being back-to-back."
One thing is certain: Ramon likes the fact that people are talking about the three shows at the beginning of the year (Fruit Logistica, IPM en HortiContact). "We don't want to be arrogant – the show is incomparable in terms of numbers and square meters. Our concept is different too. But the fact that we're named in the list is something we're proud of."
The fourteenth HortiContact is held February 14-16.
Click here for more information about the HortiContact.