ispo china summer will not be taking place on 20 – 23 August 2006 as planned but is to start in summer 2007 in Shanghai. In many intensive talks with trade and industry organisations such as the CORA Chinese Outdoor Retail Association, the summer platform of ispo china has received very good feedback and numerous applications. However, the time calculated for preparing a participation in the fair-from spring to summer this year-turned out to be too short, especially for the globally operating international brands. Among other things, this is because exhibition budgets are already allocated and important exhibitors are currently orientating their product range even more intensively to the winter.

“Although we have already sold a lot of stand area,” says Manfred Wutzlhofer, Chairman & CEO of Messe München GmbH, “we were missing important market leaders and we did not want to carry out a brands-only exhibition like ispo china without them. Especially after two very successful winter events already, we aspire to present a top international offer in a high-quality event for the Asian and Pacific region. If we cannot guarantee this level of quality and the companies mostly prefer a starting date in 2007, then we as the organisers will be guided accordingly in the interest of the market. But the sector remains agreed that the dynamic and rapidly growing region of Asia requires a professional platform too for the summer collections and products.”

As already announced, ispo china winter 07 takes place on 14 – 16 March 2007 in Peking. Over 3,000 sq.m. of exhibition space has been sold at present and brands like Gore, Halti, L-Fashion-Group, Lowe Alpine and Sympatex have decided on three-year contracts, thus opting for a long-term participation in ispo china. Due to the move to Peking, the ski and outdoor industry in particular will be presenting more intensively at ispo china and Atomic, Fischer, Nordica, Rossignol, Volant and Wintersteiger have already confirmed that they are taking part. After a great success at this year’s March event, the Asia Pacific Snow Conference will be continued at ispo china winter 07.