Definitions of exhibition terms
Fixed terms as a solid basis
19 definitions – the foundations of certification
Each FKM certification of exhibitions is based on defined terms. Here you can find the corresponding definitions in short form. You can download the complete document with descriptions and further background information as a PDF document.
An exhibition is an event which takes place in a physical location, over a limited period of time, and is where economic goods (products, services and/or rights) are presented and/or marketed.
Note: The individual elements defining an exhibition are laid down in the current versions of §§ 64 and 65 respectively of the German Industrial Code.
An exhibition shall be deemed an international event if at least 5 % of the visitors and at least 10 % of the exhibitors are from abroad. (This is not part of the certification procedure).
Combined exhibitions are two or more exhibitions which take place at the same time, or which overlap at the same venue, and feature a joint visitor admission.
- that they are held in an enclosed and strictly demarcated area
- that the exhibitors represent a physically independent unit
- that in respect of exhibitors and visitors separate advertising is used whose content specifically targets this independent section.
An exhibition organiser is defined as an institution which develops a concept for, organizes and/or holds a trade fair or exhibition.
An exhibitor is defined as an entity (company, individual person or organisation) which has been granted approval for an exhibitor stand and, in said area together with present staff, exhibits and/or markets products, services and/or rights.
A main exhibitor is defined as an exhibitor who has entered into a direct contractual relationship with the exhibition organiser with regard to an exhibitor stand space.
A co-exhibitor is defined as an exhibitor who, with the consent of the exhibition organiser, is represented on the stand of the main exhibitor with his own economic goods and own staff.
An additionally represented company displays economic goods on the stand of an exhibitor without employing his own staff.
The nationality of an exhibitor is determined by the address he uses in order to enter into a contractual relationship with the exhibition organiser.
A visitor to an exhibition is defined as a person attending an exhibition during the hours in which it is officially open to visitors, who wishes to obtain information and/or make contact with exhibitors.
The exhibition organiser must supply suitable proof that the persons listed above are not counted as visitors.
Trade visitors are defined as visitors attending an exhibition for reasons to do with their employment or for business purposes.
Visitors who are members of the general public are defined as visitors attending a trade fair or exhibition for private reasons.
A visit to an exhibition is defined as a trade visitor admission to an exhibition.
The nationality of a visitor to an exhibition is based upon his own information during the visitor registration process or upon a representative visitor survey.
Information breaking down the individual characteristics of visitors to exhibition, as defined by FKM, serves to provide a more detailed look at the volume of visitor data. Information is to be polled according to standardized questionnaires in the shape of FKM visitor profile analyses.
In order for the FKM visitor profile analysis to be recognised, volume data certified by FKM for the corresponding exhibition must exist.
More details you can find in documents which you can download here.
Exhibitor stand space is defined as a surface area inside and/or outside a hall, allocated to one or more exhibitors by the exhibition organiser for a contractually agreed purpose at an exhibition.
The gross exhibition space is defined as the hall space and/or outdoor space, which comprises the net exhibition space made up of stands (omitting upper tiers) and ancillary areas used for traffic and services for the exhibition in question.
Service areas include temporary catering areas within the halls; areas for public authorities, associations and institutions used to provide general services for exhibitors and/or visitors; demonstration areas such as arenas, stages, halls etc. insofar as they do not fulfil the requirements of a special show space.
The net exhibition space is defined as the areas of the halls and/or outdoor exhibition space calculated as the sum of exhibitor stand space in conjunction with the special show space.
A special show space is defined as an area of an exhibition which illustrates the subject matter of an exhibition by taking a general look at it or by examining individual aspects. Special show space may consist of areas which feature stands, information boards and demonstrations.
