Definition of terms

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.

Exhibition

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.

International exhibition

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

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.

Combined exhibitions may feature similar themes, but this is not mandatory.

Combined exhibitions may be managed by one or more exhibition organisers.

Visitor access to a combined exhibition may be granted in full or separately to each individual event.hibitors are from abroad. (This is not part of the certification procedure).

Independent sections within exhibitions presenting various sectors of industry are to be treated as combined exhibitions, on condition they meet the following criteria:

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.

Exhibition organiser

An exhibition organiser is defined as an institution which develops a concept for, organizes and/or holds a trade fair or exhibition.

Exhibitor

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.

An exhibitor may be represented as a main exhibitor or co-exhibitor.

An exhibitor may be counted more than once, provided that he is represented in more than one exhibitor stand space, which must be in a visually distinctly separate area, and provided that the exhibitor targets different audiences with different key products.

Main exhibitor

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.

Co-exhibitor

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.

Additionally represented company

An additionally represented company displays economic goods on the stand of an exhibitor without employing his own staff.

An additionally represented company can be a company, individual person or organisation.

An additionally represented company is not to be regarded as an exhibitor, however it can be listed in an exhibitor directory if appropriately marked.

Nationality of exhibitors

The nationality of an exhibitor is determined by the address he uses in order to enter into a contractual relationship with the exhibition organiser.

If the invoice address and the address of the exhibitor who is registering differ from one another then the address of the recipient of services shall apply.

If the address used for entering into a contractual relationship and the nationality of an exhibitor do not coincide then a note in writing from the exhibitor declaring his nationality can be accepted.

Visitor to an exhibition

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.

Employees on the stands, journalists, employees of exhibition service providers, employees of the exhibition organiser and of the operators of the exhibition grounds are not categorized as visitors.

The exhibition organiser must supply suitable proof that the persons listed above are not counted as visitors.

Speakers and congress attendees are only to be counted as visitors providing they attend the exhibition.

Trade visitor

Trade visitors are defined as visitors attending an exhibition for reasons to do with their employment or for business purposes.

General public visitor

Visitors who are members of the general public are defined as visitors attending a trade fair or exhibition for private reasons.

Visit to an exhibition

A visit to an exhibition is defined as a trade visitor admission to an exhibition.

Nationality of visitors

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.

Visitor profile

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

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.

A surface area may be at ground level or at other levels.

Gross exhibition space

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 are defined as areas which pertain directly to a respective exhibition but which may not be used by exhibitors for their presentations.
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.

All areas designated for regular office use, for meetings and conferences etc. are not part of the gross exhibition space. Nor are storage areas, catering areas featuring permanent installations or corresponding outdoor areas part of the gross exhibition space.

At farming exhibitions, outdoor demonstration areas are calculated without any extra percentage as part of the gross exhibition space.

Net exhibition 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.

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.