InnoTrans sets special services; offers North American discount

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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InnoTrans 2014 Freigelände InnoTrans 2014 Open Air Grounds

Numerous services are available at InnoTrans 2018 to make a visit to the massive transportation trade show in Berlin “both efficient and enjoyable,” organizers say. “A much wider range of data and facts is now provided online, focusing on the convention as well as on the exhibitors, products and innovations.”

In the run-up to InnoTrans, which takes place Sept. 18-21, visitors can make detailed plans and arrange appointments with important contacts. In addition to business tools, details are also provided about travel to the event, accommodation, the many useful services on the exhibition grounds, and after-work events as well: www.innotrans.com/Visitors/YourVisit/.

North American visitors to InnoTrans will once again have access to deeply discounted admission again. The price is 25 Euros, instead of 70, for all show days, and includes access to free public transportation during InnoTrans. https://mb-av-usa-innotrans.shop.secutix.com/

Virtual Market Place®

The Virtual Market Place® “is the ideal tool for planning and networking,” organizers say. “It contains all relevant contact information about exhibitors at InnoTrans, as well as addresses and details about their home base. With this virtual system visitors can follow a series of direct links that will bring them to their business partners, whose short profiles and products can also be found at www.virtualmarket.innotrans.com.”

Travel service

For travel to and from the event, and for hotel accommodation as well, visitors can make reservations online with the InnoTrans Travel Service at www.innotrans.de/en/Visitors/YourVisit/. Trade visitors and exhibitors can also take advantage of reduced fares offered by Deutsche Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn. Professional agencies are available to find the right place to stay. The city of Berlin alone offers its visitors a choice of more than 143,000 beds.

Shuttle buses

Regular shuttle services are available, with buses operating between Berlin’s Tegel and Schönefeld airports and InnoTrans. A reliable and comfortable service is also provided on the exhibition grounds, with buses linking the various entrances, halls and Outdoor Display. Transfers are also provided to and from several of the hotels and downtown areas.

Wi-Fi, website and app

Visitors to InnoTrans can stay up to date at all times with free wi-fi throughout the exhibition grounds. “Not only does this enable them to stay informed about all aspects of their business, but it also helps them to find their way around: the InnoTrans app constantly shows their location and is a useful aid to orientation in the 41 halls and on the extensive Outdoor Display as well,” the organizers note.

Business breakfast and Business Lounge

“A business breakfast is the ideal way to start the day at the fair,” organizers point out. “It is available before the official opening times, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the CityCube Berlin (Messedamm entrance) and in Hall 9. And afterwards the Business Lounge at the center of the Exhibition Grounds provides the perfect meeting place for discussions with customers, partners and friends, or for taking a short break from all the activity at the trade fair. Electronic equipment can also be recharged here, and the computer terminals can be used to read emails.”

Innovation Tours

“The best way to find out what’s new in areas outside one’s own specialist field is to book a place on one of the popular Innovation Tours,” organizers say. “These last around 90 minutes and deal with a variety of key topics at InnoTrans. Participants can visit a number of selected exhibitors to obtain far-reaching insights and overviews of their products. In addition, for anyone who wants to find out independently about the latest products and world debuts, the Innovation Report is available online in advance and provide an excellent summary: www.innotrans.com/Press/Innovations. To make it easier to find one’s way around the exhibition grounds, items making their international debut are marked accordingly with a red World Premiere button.”

Travel Catering & Comfort Services Route

“Services and catering are an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining customers throughout the railway sector,” InnoTrans organizers say. (Editor’s Note: This is apparently lost on Amtrak.) “A special thematic route has been created at InnoTrans offering details about the latest trends. On this same subject, experts will be speaking about innovations and developments, with the focus on customer satisfaction, at the newly created Onboard Hospitality Forum on Sept. 19. More details can be found at 
www.innotrans.com/Visitors/TravelCateringComfortServices/.

Career Tours

“The job market in the transport sector is becoming more and more interesting every year, not just in the rail industry, but in all other areas as well,” organizers stress. “That is why InnoTrans is offering students from around the world career tours that will stop in on selected exhibitors, where they can establish initial contact. This will be an opportunity not only for newcomers, but for young professionals wishing to broaden their knowledge too: www.innotrans.com/Visitors/CareerEducation.”

Executive Tours


InnoTrans organizers note that the trade show’s emphasis “is on face-to-face meetings. Thus on Friday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., CEOs and management executives can take part in so-called Executive Tours. On these tours, which are individually organized for participants, they can meet with customers, established suppliers and potential new business partners. The tours will be covered by the media.”

Event database

The many events at InnoTrans, ranging from the Opening Ceremony to the German rail industry’s Future-Workshop, “represent a unique source of knowledge for trade visitors,” organizers say. “Lectures and discussion rounds featuring leading experts will highlight every aspect of the latest transport topics. The following database contains an overview: www.innotrans.de/en/Visitors/Events/index.jsp.”

Speakers’ Corner

“This is where exhibitors can speak freely for one hour on any subject they wish, and these are as diverse as the trade fair itself,” event planners note. “Visit www.innotrans.de/en/Visitors/Events/SpeakersCorner/ to find out about product and company presentations, lectures on digitization, national trends and smart assistance systems.”

Trade Press Stands

Trade publications “are a natural part of trade fairs,” InnoTrans organizers point out. “Throughout the grounds, in Halls 1.1, 11.1 and 23, trade press stands can be found featuring industry publications that will invite trade visitors to read about rail vehicles, transport technology, transport and logistics.”

A Touch of Bavaria

September also marks the start of the Oktoberfest. This year, anyone who is unable to go to Munich, or who wants a foretaste, can visit the Oktoberfest marquee at InnoTrans, where they can enjoy pretzels and a freshly poured mug of beer.

InnoTrans, described as “the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology,” takes place every two years in Berlin. At the 2016 event 2,955 exhibitors from 60 countries presented the global rail industry’s innovations to 137,391 trade visitors who came from 119 countries. The five segments at InnoTrans are Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. InnoTrans is organized by Messe Berlin. More details are available online at www.innotrans.com.

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