Security at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2019
Small bags – be prepared: tips for a safe visit to the fair
Security is of a top priority at Frankfurter Buchmesse (16-20 October 2019). This year, the Exhibition Management will once again do everything possible to ensure that exhibitors and visitors can participate in the fair successfully and safely. To guarantee security at the largest international book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse team works together closely with various partners: the Hessen police, Messe Frankfurt and a private security firm hired by Frankfurter Buchmesse, as well as the city’s fire brigade and emergency services. The security measures are tailored to the prevailing conditions at any given time.
Together with its partners, Frankfurter Buchmesse has developed a safety plan for the days leading up to and after the fair, as well as for during the fair itself. Vehicle inspections will be carried out in the days prior to and throughout the entire week of the fair.
Tips for trade visitors and the public
Visitors should be prepared for bag searches at all of the entrances to the exhibition grounds: “We recommend leaving backpacks and trolley suitcases at home since they can lead to longer waiting times at the entrances”, says Gabi Rauch-Kneer, Vice President Exhibition Management at Frankfurter Buchmesse. “Please allow sufficient time to arrive at the fair in the morning since bottlenecks may occur at the entrances.” Pocket knives, guns, replica guns and chemical irritant sprays are not permitted on the exhibition grounds.
Book sales at the weekend
In 2019, exhibitors are permitted to sell books and other publishing products to the general public at events and on the last two days of the fair (Saturday, 19 October and Sunday, 20 October) in accordance with fixed pricing. Visitors should not bring extra backpacks, bags or suitcases for this purpose since this can also lead to increased inspections and consequently longer waiting times at the entrances at the weekend of the fair.
What should cosplayers keep in mind regarding their costumes?
In accordance with the gun regulations concerning cosplay at Frankfurter Buchmesse, no guns or gun-like objects are allowed onto the exhibition grounds. No binding information about exceptions can be provided since final decisions are at the discretion of the security personnel on site.
In addition, uniformed police officers and security staff will be on duty in all of the halls of the fair during opening hours.
Located centrally on the exhibition grounds is the Operation and Security Centre, where representatives of the police, Messe Frankfurt, the security firm, fire brigade and emergency services will also monitor the fair with video cameras, working in close cooperation with the personnel in the halls and on the exhibition grounds, as well as with the Exhibition Management office.
For questions regarding security, please contact gruen@book-fair.com(opens in a new window)
About Frankfurter Buchmesse
Frankfurter Buchmesse is the international publishing industry’s biggest trade fair – with over 7,500 exhibitors from 109 countries, around 285,000 visitors, over 4,000 events and some 10,000 accredited journalists and bloggers in attendance. It also brings together key players from the fields of education, film, games, STM, academic publishing, and business information. Since 1976, the book fair has featured an annual Guest of Honour country, which showcases its book market, literature and culture to attendees in a variety of ways. Frankfurter Buchmesse organises the participation of German publishers at around 20 international book fairs and hosts trade events throughout the year in major international markets. Frankfurter Buchmesse is a subsidiary of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers Association). https://www.buchmesse.de/en(opens in a new window)
Contacts for the media:
Press & Corporate Communications Frankfurter Buchmesse
Katja Böhne, Vice President Marketing & Communications, tel.: +49 (0) 69 2102-138, press@book-fair.com
Kathrin Grün, Head of PR and Communications, tel.: +49 (0) 69 2102-170, gruen@book-fair.com
> Further press information >https://www.buchmesse.de/en/press/press-releases(opens in a new window)
> Pictures for media use >https://www.buchmesse.de/en/press/press-material(opens in a new window)