Events & Congresses
Messukeskus’ Own Stand at the Congress Fair – A Striking Showcase of What the Venue Can Offer
Events & Congresses – the Event Expertise Unit
Messukeskus’ Events & Congresses unit serves organisers, companies and associations planning meetings, congresses, seminars, parties, exhibitions or other events at Messukeskus. The unit also participates annually in the Congress Fair, using its stand to demonstrate the comprehensive service it offers for making the most of the venue and its technical capabilities.
A Stand That Sells by Example
In preparing for the 2025 Congress Fair, the Events & Congresses unit decided to invest in a stand that would tangibly demonstrate the diverse potential of Messukeskus’ meeting and congress spaces – in an eye-catching and immersive way. The goal was to create a space that didn’t just tell but showed what kind of experiences and events Messukeskus can offer its clients.
The stand was designed and built in-house by Messukeskus’ own design services team, which was responsible for the overall visual concept, structures, spatial layout, technical implementation and decoration. This year, experts from Messukeskus’ subsidiary, Suomen Videoviestintä SVV, also contributed by providing the sound and lighting solutions. In this project, the Events & Congresses unit acted as the client.
“We wanted a space that would be both a sales pitch and a reference. And that’s exactly what we got.”
/ Anne Bask, Business Manager, Messukeskus Events & Congresses
The Campaign Look and Theme as Starting Points
The client’s goal was to capture visitors’ attention and showcase the versatility and adaptability of the Messukeskus spaces in a powerful way. The aims also included collecting tangible leads and requests for quotations, as well as incorporating a new campaign look and theme into the visual concept. The campaign Messukeskus – Living Your Event highlights the venue’s flexibility: it can transform into a concert centre, conference hub, party venue or even a sports arena. This core idea of transformable spaces was the key inspiration for the stand’s design.
The project began with a planning meeting ahead of the fair, where goals and expectations were set: the stand needed to be attractive, approachable and, above all, adaptable – just like Messukeskus’ real event spaces. There was also a wish to include a captivating feature to get visitors to stop and engage.
The design services team took full charge of the project and guided it efficiently from planning to production and through to the day of the fair. According to the client, collaboration was seamless. The designer clearly understood the client’s goals and successfully combined visual impact, practicality and technical possibilities into a compelling and interactive showcase of the campaign theme.
“From our side, the project was effortless. The design team immediately suggested the right solutions. We trusted they knew what they were doing – and they absolutely did.”
/ Anne Bask
A Transformable Space – Experiential with Just One Button Press
A key strength of the stand was its ability to transform: the entire atmosphere could be changed in an instant using lighting, video content and sound design. With the push of a button, the stand shifted from a businesslike meeting room ambience to a glamorous gala dinner setting – just like Messukeskus’ actual event spaces.
The stand featured a large video wall, AV technology that shaped the soundscape and lighting, and carefully curated furniture and decorative elements that adapted to different settings throughout the day.
There was also a photo booth where visitors could take pictures against a backdrop of their choice. The backgrounds reflected different event moods and visual styles – such as a party venue, meeting room or concert hall. Visitors received a printed souvenir of their photo, and many of the images were shared widely on social media with hashtags.
From the designer’s perspective, the stand also offered an opportunity to explore a new kind of implementation that combined visual flexibility with technical control over light and sound. “It was a new kind of execution, and the feedback was so positive that this concept can definitely be applied to future clients’ stands as well,” says stand designer Niko Aalto.
“It was almost like a live performance of how our spaces can adapt to anything.”
/ Anne Bask
A Successful Showcase That Won Praise
The stand’s appealing visuals, warm atmosphere and clear brand message received highly positive feedback from fair visitors and partners alike.
The space also served as a concrete example of what can be customised for clients at Messukeskus – and sparked ideas in potential event organisers. Several promising lead discussions were held at the stand with a view to future events.
Smooth Collaboration Saved Time and Effort
The Events & Congresses team felt that using the in-house design services made the project significantly easier. The process was streamlined, efficient and quick in terms of time management. Having everything – from structures and furniture to lighting and decor – provided by one in-house team made it all straightforward and well-coordinated.
Sustainability was also considered in the design: the stand was built using existing materials and structures, and no printed materials or long transports were involved. This reduced the environmental impact and demonstrated that visually impressive solutions can also be sustainable.
One major advantage of having everything under one roof is the ability to respond quickly during an event. If changes, additions or fixes are needed during the fair, design service experts are right there on-site. This ensures smooth, real-time adjustments – with no delays or unnecessary hassle.
With the design, implementation and coordination of the stand in expert hands, the client’s team could focus on what mattered most: client engagement.
“This was definitely one of the most successful stands we’ve ever had. Everything worked – and we received truly great feedback from outside the team as well.”
Anne Bask
Step into the Fair Atmosphere 👇
Would you like to make the most of your trade fair participation and ensure your stand truly stands out?
Messukeskus’ design services help companies create visually striking and functionally effective exhibition stands that not only attract visitors but also support long-term brand and business goals.
Explore more customer stories
Check out how others have succeeded with our stand solutions.
