Balance sheet result
For the first time in 20 years, Messe Salzburg achieved a positive operating result and the opportunity to reduce debt. The balance sheet for this year was approved by the Supervisory Board on Tuesday. At the same time, the in-house Salzburg Arena was again brought into play as an alternative location for the Great Festival Hall.
The Salzburg trade fair is in a better position than ever before in its history. The operators of the event center can look forward to well-booked halls, high visitor numbers and many exhibitors.
26 million euros in sales
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As the shareholders of the city, state and Salzburg Chamber of Commerce (WKS) announced on Tuesday, the company will achieve sales of almost 26 million euros in the coming year – a record figure.
Business at Messe Salzburg seems to be booming, especially since the takeover of the former “Reed Messen”: “We are even exceeding the expectations we had set back then. And the financial resources that had to be used for this have more than paid off,” said Harald Preuner, deputy chairman of the supervisory board of Messe Salzburg.
Goal: reduce debt
The current mountain of debt of 30 million euros is to be reduced by at least one million every year. In any case, the managing director of Messe Salzburg, Alexander Kribus, is confident about the coming year: “The highlights are certainly the synchronized figure skating world championships in 2026. Then, thank God, we also have the return of the Cirque du Soleil in the Salzburg Arena. And we have the community day. So we definitely have an additional program to our standard events at the exhibition center.”
Festival in the fair?
The Salzburg Trade Fair is currently trying to make the Salzburg Arena, with its up to 5,000 seats, attractive as an alternative location for the festival. Because in 2028 the Great Festival Hall will be closed due to renovation work.
There has already been an inspection with the festival leaders. A final decision as to whether the Salzburg Arena will be able to represent the Great Festival Hall for a year is expected to be made in the next three months.
Trade fair made a profit for the first time in two decades
Record sales, a positive operating result for the first time in 20 years and the opportunity to reduce debt – Messe Salzburg is in better shape than ever before in its history. The balance sheet for this year was approved by the supervisory board today, and at the same time the in-house Salzburg Arena is once again being considered as an alternative location for the Great Festival Hall if it has to be closed in 2028 due to renovation work.
