ProWein 2014: Top tips for visitors

ProWein is massive and visitors are advised to heed the military term “prior planning prevents poor performance”.

In addition to planning your visit, first time attendees can be forgiven for being a little overwhelmed by the size of the show as well as the ever challenging nature of navigating a public transport system in a foreign country.

Fortunately though, ProWein has come up with five “Top Tips” for visitors offering valuable advice on how to deal with planes, trains and automobiles and making the most of your trip.

So log in, get organised and gird yourself for one of the biggest events in the wine world. Newcomers will need to shape up quick, because it’s only going to get bigger next year.

1. Travel and accommodation

Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus (DMT) is the official service partner of Messe Düsseldorf advising and supporting trade fair visitors in travel and accommodation matters. DMT reserves air and rail tickets as well as hotel rooms (or private accommodation) at reasonable rates.

Attractive hotel and travel offers can also be booked online here.

It’s generally recommended that you book for accommodation well in advance to get good rates and to secure a spot in an accessible part of town.

2. Online ticket shop

Those registering and submitting their credentials as trade visitors online in the run-up to the trade fair can “beat the traffic” at the ticket offices and also benefit from discounted prices. 1-day tickets for ProWein 2014 purchased at the Online Shop cost just E30 instead of the E45 at the ticket counters (season tickets cost E55 vs. E70 on site).

What’s more, these tickets include free use of public transport in Düsseldorf and some neighbouring cities (means of transport marked VRR – price category D, Region Süd/South). The ticket shop can be found in the “Visitor Service” area at www.prowein.com.

3. MyOrganizer

If organisation seems like too much of a chore, ProWein has helpfully cut out some of the legwork. ProWein’s Internet Portal presents you with all the details related to the trade fair and its exhibitors, events and Special Shows. The ProWein Magazine supplements the online offering with news and background reports on the wine market.

There is also an exhibitor database which is updated on a daily basis and has an associated “MyOrganizer” app which allows you to design your own itinerary for the show.

As is explained: Registered users can then save their search results in a personal “favourites list” via the MyOrganizer function. Needless to say, additional exhibitors can be included in the list or deleted from it again at any time. The location of the selected exhibitors is displayed hall by hall on the interactive site map.

The system can even plan your most efficient route through the halls. Another plus point: there is also a dedicated database for the over 300 tastings and seminars held at ProWein and the events selected here can also be saved using the MyOrganizer function. No excuses then.

4. Matchmaking/Cooperation exchange

This is a way that ProWein attempts to match exhibitors and visitors, particularly if neither party is aware of the other one – but maybe exactly what they’re looking for. Visitors and exhibitors post questions and offers online and these can be seen by those on the exchange and, hopefully, brings them together.

5. ProWein app

Available in German and English, this app is free and contains basic info on the fair, the exhibitor list and events.

If you’re logged in with the MyOrganizer system then these combine to make an essential navigation tool around the event.