Cologne at night.
From January 18-23, 2011 all the leading names in the international home furnishing industry will be represented at imm cologne. The halls of the Cologne exhibition grounds, the “who's who” of the international design will once again present various segments of the furnishing industry segmented by price point and product segment.
If you plan to attend, representatives and organizers of the event offer the following tips to make the most of your travel and Photokina experience.
Flights: Book your flight early enough. Best rates are available when you book before Early December. Economy class tickets from the East Coast should start with $ 800. Fly into Frankfurt – Germany’s largest and most centrally located airport. Most major cities in the US service direct flights to Frankfurt. The airport has its own train station. Take a high speed “ICE train” which will reach Cologne in 58 minutes – trains race safely along the “Autobahn” and leave even the fastest cars behind. Alternatively you might also consider flying into Duesseldorf and take the RE trains to Cologne. Use discount offers available to North American attendees of imm cologne.
Staying in Cologne: For pre-booked hotels in Cologne you should get in touch with imm-cologne’s US travel partner, TTI Travel, at 212.674.3476 or cbrodsky@ttitravel.net. This outfit specializes in trade shows and provides advice on getting from the hotel to the fairground and other interesting sites in Cologne. The agency provides maps, information on the easiest way to fairground, and a Cologne restaurant list.
Time Management: Build in an extra day to make sure you visit of the attractions in Cologne, such as the Cologne Cathedral (Dom), which dates back to 1248 and took until 1880 to finish. At night make sure you visit the Oldtown (Altstadt), a large row of unique restaurants and bars. Try one of the Brauhauses where you will meet people from all over the world during imm cologne.
Prepare: Use the exhibitor information at imm-cologne.com to plan out your trip and seek out the companies you would like to visit. You can sort the more than 1,000 exhibitors from 50 countries by product category or geography and request exhibitor meetings. An online route planner will list exhibitors by halls and provide easy navigation. The show is divided in following segments: Pure – Cutting Edge Interior Design / Pure Village – Creative Furnishing Concepts/ D3 Design – Young Design Talents/ Prime – Modern living and bathroom/ Comfort – upholstered furniture /Sleep – mattresses and sleeping systems/ Smart – Self assembled furniture/ Basic – Living Room and Bed Room/ Specialized product ranges – home accessories, floor coverings and lighting.
Admission: Make use of discounted pre-show registration and avoid waiting in lines in Cologne. A show pass for the 6 days cost EURO 63, a 2-day pass EURO 40 and a 1 day pass EURO 26. Use the ticket link: http://www.imm-cologne.com/tickets/index.php
Pace Yourself: Wear comfortable shoes; the aisles in Cologne are not carpeted and there are 11 halls to walk.
Leave Time when scheduling meetings with Exhibitors: Exhibitors at the show like to entertain and engage in longer talks. Take some time to learn something about the products but also about the people who you might want to do business with.
Website: www.imm-cologne.com