Presentation
The Verona Exhibition Authority (the legal name of VeronaFiere) officially became an international exhibition centre in 1977 yet traces its origins to shows linked with agriculture and horses launched in 1898 by Verona City Council. Numerous statutory and regulatory dispositions have since up-dated its legal status and objectives. Procedures are currently underway to convert the Authority into an equity company in accordance with legislation to re-organise the exhibition system (law n. 7/2001 and Veneto Region law n. 11/2002).
The objectives of the Authority are to perform and sustain every direct and indirect activity involved in the organisation of exhibition events, as well as the organisation of congress activity and initiatives promoting trade in goods and services and their commercialisation on a national and international scale.
VeronaFiere today focuses essentially on the B2B sector and flanks its operations as a direct organiser of events with Exhibition Centre services capable of hosting events organised by third-parties, independently or through the resources also made available by the Authority itself.
VeronaFiere in 2006
VeronaFiere closed 2006 with turnover of €70.4 mln. The leading direct show organiser in
The shareholders of the Authority include Verona City Council, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di
Mission
VeronaFiere - as an already established and active landmark for the effective interests of companies, associations, institutions and communities - now aims to become a specialist partner in the "events and communication" system. The development strategies that VeronaFiere aims to implement include strengthening its international leadership with historic events, launching new quality events, exporting its main exhibitions abroad, optimising events in harmony with associations and organisations and upgrading of Exhibition Centre facilities and services.
The main development outlines in the new company strategy include:
• an action plan based on human resources that will also turn VeronaFiere into an organisation focusing on processes and objectives (rather than hierarchical-functional stages)
• creation of 5 brands grouping events: Wine & Food, Agriexpo, Building Industry Logistics and Construction, Events, Exhibition Development
• creation of three service structures: International, Promotion, Marketing
• extension of the partnership network to develop the exhibition centre in terms of space and services.
Financial Statements as business value
In its first financial statement (2003-2005), VeronaFiere used as its references the financial publishing principles defined by the G.B.S. Accounting Group and the international Sustainability Reporting Guidelines issued in 2002 by Global Reporting Initiatives - a sustainability reporting system for assessments of company economic, social and environmental performances.
Implementing a social mission means adopting and promoting the spread of ethical values and attitudes with people, the environment and society as a whole. We aim to implement these concepts through effective action involving all centres of interest (internal and external) based on criteria including:
• transparency and responsibility: accountability of objectives and operations
• professionalism and orientation towards change: the awareness that everyone must perform their tasks with competence and continual efforts to improve performances
• dialogue: discuss matters with everyone involved to reach shared solutions that reflect the legitimate expectations of all parties concerned
• culture and tradition: acknowledge that local and national culture and heritage are fundamental elements for economic growth and ethics
• territory: enhance the well-being of the Veronese community by consolidating and, wherever possible, improving the distribution of wealth.
Our business partners – focus on prestige agreements
The needs for growth and internationalisation of companies have encouraged VeronaFiere to update the content of its events and improve the quality of services provided to ensure professionalism and timeliness in meeting the requirements of exhibitors and visitors alike. This undertaking will involve modifications of the calendar of events, a willingness to host events promoted and organised by third-parties, "exporting" our leading show events, agreements focusing on added value partnerships, expansion of facilities, modernisation of services and infrastructures, review of the business model and juridical status and the implementation of socially responsible ethics.
Some of the most important agreements stipulated.
2005:
• agreement between VeronaFiere and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Peking, China, 2005) – collaboration for trade promotion in the agricultural sector
• agreement between Milan Exhibition Centre and VeronaFiere (2005) for management of the Transpotec & Logitec event
2004:
• partnership between VeronaFiere and VeneziaFiere SpA (2004) – acquisition by VeronaFiere of 34% of VeneziaFiere S.p.A.
• system agreement between Veronafiere, Fondazione Arena and Aeroporti del Garda (2004) – focusing on image and hospitality promotion services benefiting business and tourism operators in Verona and the Veneto Region
• equity partnership with Optimist, the company organising international events such as NauticShow, Pescare and Luxury & Yachts - all leading events in nautical and luxury sectors. The agreement consolidates a relationship that began in 2003, when these events were transferred from Montichiari (Brescia) to Verona
in previous years:
• agreement with Unacoma (Confederation of Industry association representing the most important agricultural machinery manufacturers) and Unima (National Union of Agricultural Mechanisation Companies) to rationalise the exhibition calendar in the sector to benefit agricultural companies, mechanisation and sub-contracting operators
• collaboration with Plovdiv International Fair (Bulgaria) to promote trade between the two countries and assist VeronaFiere client companies in access to the Bulgarian and Balkan market
• commercial partnership with Ipack-Ima Spa (a leading company in the organisation of foodstuff packaging and processing events) for Eurocarne - the specialist event in the meat value chain - and various events dedicated to other agro-food value chains
• collaboration agreement with Reed Exhibition (the world's leading show organiser with a portfolio of more than 432 events in 32 countries and 5 continents) for holding SITL Italia in Verona in 2006 - an event dedicated to services, infrastructures, equipment and systems for logistics
• agreement with Promopan SpA for the organisation of SIAB - International Exhibition of Bread, Pastry, Confectionery, Fresh Pasta and Pizza - held since 1990 at the Verona Exhibition Centre
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