GL events holds first exhibition in China since beginning of Covid crisis and acquires Tranoï activities in France

International event organiser and venue company GL events has announced the successful holding of its first exhibition in China since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis.

GL events held its China Association of Clinical Laboratory Practice Expo in China (CACLP) 21-23 August 2020 in Nanchang, southern China.

GL events Group chairman Olivier Ginon commented: “The success of the China Association of Clinical Laboratory Practice Expo in China (CACLP) demonstrates, on the one hand, the importance for exhibitors of having an opportunity to meet and, on the other hand, the Group’s ability to adapt its events to the health and safety measures adopted by governments in the different countries where it operates. The response received by the CACPL exhibition gives me confidence in the outlook for the upcoming Chinese exhibitions planned in 2021.”

Ginon also announced GL events’ acquisition the activities of Tranoï, a historic player in the Paris fashion scene. The deal, he said would enable GL events, “to henceforth operate across the entire value chain of the fashion sector”.

The CACPL exhibition had been initially scheduled for March 2020, but was pushed forward to August in Nanchang and eventually brought together 1,000 Chinese and international exhibitors (up from 870 in 2019). Stands occupied 70,000sqm of the venue, with the organiser reporting attendance up 50% from 2019 to a total of 35,000 attendees over three days.

In China, this clinical laboratory-related market represents approximately €1bn, according to GL events, and CACLP brings together experts in fields such as preclinical medicine and biomedical engineering.

GL events said the show’s performance bolstered its outlook for a rebound by all the Group’s Chinese exhibitions in 2021.

As for GL events’ acquisition of B2B creative fashion event organiser Tranoï in France, the deal means Tranoï Events will now organise shows as a 90%-held subsidiary of GL events Exhibitions, with the existing management retaining 10% of the capital.

Already present in the universe of fashion through Première Vision, GL events has now created a single B2B business unit to provide physical and digital services and content designed to address new market challenges, both upstream and downstream of the international creative fashion sector.

GL events says the combining of the expertise of the Tranoï and GL events teams, a new synergy will be generated enabling them to implement new development projects.