Positive financial year 2023 for Bernexpo Groupe
2023 was an eventful financial year for Bernexpo Groupe. For the first time in three years, regular events were held again from the start of the year. This is also reflected in the business figures presented at the AGM on Wednesday.
2023 was particularly intense in terms of the number of events and infrastructure utilization, Bernexpo Groupe announced following the Annual General Meeting. "With the many events and almost one million visitors, Bernexpo Groupe made a major contribution to value creation for the city and canton of Bern," summarized Chairman of the Board of Directors Peter Stähli.
In the cultural sector, the Group has focused on targeted partnerships. Last year, a concert by the rock group Muse and the hip-hop festival Spex were organized in cooperation with the Gadget Abc Entertainment Group. There was also a guest performance by Guns N'Roses in collaboration with Live Nation. A partnership was also launched with the Gurtenfestival for joint events in the fall and winter months.
Significant increase in sales
Despite the loss of space due to the construction site, the intensive event year resulted in consolidated sales of CHF 53.5 million for Bernexpo Groupe in the 2023 financial year. This represents an increase of 27.7% compared to the previous year, when revenue amounted to CHF 41.9 million. At the same time, operating expenses rose by 24.6% to CHF 52.4 million (previous year: CHF 42.1 million) due to the high number of events and the additional expenses incurred in connection with the new building.
The average headcount at Bernexpo Groupe last year was 132 full-time equivalents - 23 more than in the previous year. This increase is due to the increased business activity in connection with the marketing of the new festival hall, the internalization of digital marketing and the support of the construction project.
Two Board members re-elected
Re-elections to the Bernexpo Board of Directors were also on the agenda at the Annual General Meeting. Sandra von May-Granelli and Dominique Schmid stood for re-election at the end of their term of office. Both were re-elected for a further three years by a large majority. The terms of office of the other members of the Board of Directors run until the 2025 and 2026 Annual General Meetings.
New festival hall as a "game changer"
With regard to the new building project, Bernexpo Group said that the work is on track in terms of content, schedule and costs. Marketing is running at full speed and an important part of the activities is taking place in a concentrated manner in direct exchange with the respective existing and new partners, as well as very significantly in the network with the Congress Hub Bern.
"We are looking forward to putting the rooms into operation in time for the opening of BEA 2025. We are working hard to drive forward the marketing of the new festival hall," says Tom Winter, CEO BERNEXPO.
The new festival hall is a game changer in terms of sustainability, Bernexpo Groupe continued. The reasons cited include compliance with the Minergie-P standard, the biodiversity areas created, the mobility concept and the use of energy, building and event technology.
