"The fair was very well attended, business people have been able to make the contacts they want and, with the innovative segments of media technology and systems integration, a new, future-oriented growth market is opening up for the sector," said Florian von Hofen, chief executive of Germany's Association for Professional Light, Sound and Event Technology (VPLT), summing up the fair.
The mood of the exhibition appeared to be indicative of a new upswing in the sector: according to the organizers' research, the level of exhibitor satisfaction was around 12% higher than last year, with 86% of exhibitors reporting themselves to be very satisfied with the course of business at the fair. The research also shows an increase in the number of transactions concluded during the fair - reported by more than half of the company representatives polled from all segments and, on average, is up five percent on last year's event. The news was also good from the visitors, 93% of whom were satisfied with their visit to the fair.
The next ProLight&Sound will be held in Frankfurt from 6-9 April 2005, parallel to the International Musikmesse. ProLight&Sound Shanghai will be held at the new SNIEC exhibition centre in Shanghai from 20-23 October 2004.
(Lee Baldock)
