imm cologne: Tips for North American Visitors

Furniture World News Desk on 9/27/2018

Hundreds of North American retailers, distributors, architects and designers regularly attend imm cologne to source the latest in living room, bedroom, bathroom as well as home textiles, wall covering, lighting and accessories.
 
A visit provides the unique opportunity to see and compare the offerings from over 1,200 exhibitors from all over the world that are expected to showcase their lines next year.

Imm is segmented in 10 different products organized by furniture type, functionality and price point. North American attendees should use following tips to make the most of their travel experience to Cologne:

Travel:
Book your flight early enough to take advantage of lower rates. Economy class tickets from the East Coast start at $1,000.  All major North American Airlines offer direct flights to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).  The airport has its own train station. High speed Inter-City Express (ICE) trains run three times per hour and will take you to downtown Cologne in a little more than 50 minutes – one-way tickets cost about  US $ 80.
 

Entrance ticket /Show Hours:
Discounted entrance tickets ordered online offer a 35% discount. Day passes can be purchased for €45 Euros or $52 US dollars. The pass for all days costs €90 or US $104. Students can register for only €6 or $7. Entrance tickets provide you with free of charge transportation on buses and subways during all show days. Imm is open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and to 5 p.m. on the last show day. The seven day show will commence on Monday, January 14th and end on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Staying in Cologne:
Pre-booked hotel rooms in Cologne are available via imm’s US based travel partner, TTI Travel, at 212.674.3476 or cbrodsky@ttitravel.net. TTI holds a wide variety of room blocks in Cologne and offers advice to North American attendees to Cologne on the hotels proximity to the fairgrounds. The travel agency provides maps, commuting tips to the fairground, and a list of Cologne restaurants.

Pre-show preparation:
Use the exhibitor listing at www.imm-cologne.com to plan your trip and research the companies you would like to visit. You can sort the listing by product category or geography. We recommend making pre-show appointments via imm’s “online matchmaking services”, a service available six weeks prior to the event. Take some time to learn about products and competition prior to the visiting imm cologne  – make a list of companies you plan to visit and organize it by hall saving you time during your visit.

On-site:
imm takes place at the fifth largest fairground worldwide. The halls are connected via a central “Boulevard” providing a main artery to all 11 halls. Exhibitors at imm are easy to find in clearly categorized and marked halls.

Use your cell phone camera for recording images of products and people you meet. It will help you to organize your follow up! Last but not least, make sure to pack comfortable shoes, the aisles in Cologne are not carpeted!


VIP Buyer Program:
Find out if you are eligible for a free VIP Buyer ticket to imm 2019! Enjoy complimentary benefits, such as free admission, free use of the International Buyers’ Lounge (cell phone charger stations and PCs with Internet access) and exclusive VIP activities.

Every January, the movers and shakers in the home furnishing and design industry join the seasoned industry professionals at imm cologne. Many exhibitors use imm to introduce and showcase their latest furnishing and design lines and innovations to over 80,000 attendees from 5 continents.

Show dates are January 14-20, 2019 at the Koelnmesse Fairgrounds in Cologne, Germany.
The Lounge is located in the Congress Press Center East and is open on weekdays during imm show hours. For more details and eligibility please contact Leslie Fleck, VIP Visitor Manager NAFTA: l.fleck@koelnmessenafta.com


Things to do in Cologne:
Leave some time to visit the attractions Cologne has to offer, such as the famous Cathedral (Dom), a visit to the Old town “Altstadt” consisting of a large row of unique restaurants and bars. Feel like a hearty dinner and a taste of the locally brewed beer? Try one of the Brauhauses for where you will meet people from all over the world during imm. Recommended ones are Paeffgen, Frueh and Peters Brauhaus.

For more information contact Leslie Fleck at  l.fleck@koelnmessenafta.com

More about Koelnmesse, Inc.: Koelnmesse, Inc. is the Chicago- based subsidiary of Koelnmesse GmbH. The Koelnmesse group organizes more than 80+ trade shows in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our office serves as the main contact for North American exhibitors, attendees, media and trade associations interested in taking part in Koelnmesse events. We assist North American companies and attendees in all their planning steps towards participation in our show programs. We work with a broad network of selected suppliers offering services such as: travel, product shipping, customs handling, booth construction & design, pre-show preparation and attendance procedure.