Three decades ago, no one could have imagined that a company founded in Kraków would grow to become one of the key players in Poland’s exhibition and congress industry, quickly gaining international recognition. Today, Trade Fairs in Krakow celebrates its 30th anniversary, reflecting on its journey from a local event organizer to a market leader.
Krakow Roots, International Reach
Trade Fairs in Krakow was established in the 1990s, during a period of profound political and economic transformation in Poland. Four individuals with diverse interests and professional backgrounds joined forces to pursue a shared dream.
“From the very beginning, we had a clear vision: we wanted to build a company that would become a significant organizer of trade fairs and congresses in Central and Eastern Europe. Those were completely different times and a very different reality from today. We built everything practically from scratch. There were no ready-made solutions or proven models. No one taught us how to organize events — we learned by doing, by observing, by talking to others, and by adapting good ideas to our own circumstances,” emphasizes Ewa Woch, President of Trade Fairs in Krakow.
On February 13, 1996, the company officially began operations. At first, the team consisted of six people, and the entire office shared a single Macintosh computer, with a constant queue of employees waiting to use it. The internet was still in its infancy, and no one in Poland used the word “event” yet.
The first trade fairs were organized wherever space was available: in sports halls, tents, and even at the Aviation Museum — set up between airplanes. From the very beginning, the company’s strategic focus was on organizing trade fairs and conferences. In 1996, it hosted its first major event — the International Trade Fair of Hotel and Catering Equipment HORECA®. Held on 1,700 square meters of exhibition space, it brought together 180 exhibitors and 5,000 visitors. Today, the event attracts tens of thousands of participants annually.
A year later, Targi w Krakowie organized the first International Book Fair in Kraków®. Back then, it featured 150 exhibitors. Today, it is the largest literary event in Poland, gathering more than 500 exhibitors and nearly 60,000 visitors.
Step by step, the local company grew stronger, building brand recognition and becoming one of the key players in Poland’s exhibition industry. Importantly, Trade Fairs in Krakow not only survived numerous economic changes and crises — including the global challenges of the pandemic — but consistently expanded its portfolio year after year.
EXPO Krakow – A Turning Point in the Company’s History
A major milestone in the company’s history was the construction of the International Exhibition and Convention Centre EXPO Krakow — the most modern, multifunctional venue in the region. Built in just 228 days, it officially opened on May 14, 2014, marking the company’s entry onto the international stage.
The investment, fully financed with the company’s own funds, was developed on the site of the former “Prefabet” industrial plant in the Czyżyny district of Krakow. It marked a new chapter not only in the company’s history but also in the city’s development.
Designed in line with sustainable development principles, EXPO Krakow offers flexible, modular exhibition and conference spaces totaling 14,000 square meters. It quickly became a key destination on Europe’s business and cultural map, welcoming more than 100,000 participants from around the world each year. The venue hosts prestigious trade fairs, congresses, conferences, and special events, playing a significant role in the city’s growth.
The opening of EXPO Krakow has had a tangible impact on the local economy and job market, creating dozens of direct jobs and supporting hundreds of businesses in the surrounding ecosystem — from hotels, restaurants, shops, and taxi services to event agencies, photographers, stage designers, sound and lighting technicians, and many other event industry professionals.
The venue has become a hub for networking, knowledge exchange, and inspiration. Each year, it welcomes distinguished experts, scientists, cultural figures, Nobel Prize laureates, acclaimed writers and linguists, outstanding athletes, master chefs, and motorsport stars — reinforcing its role as a place where face-to-face meetings inspire, generate emotion, and truly shape the future.
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Meetings as a Driver of Growth
Today, Trade Fairs in Krakow organizes more than 100 events annually, including around 20 proprietary trade fairs and nearly 60 congresses, conferences, and special events. Each year, these events bring together approximately 3,000 exhibitors and 160,000 visitors.
The company is led by a four-member management board and supported by nearly 70 employees. Its quality and effectiveness have been recognized with prestigious Polish and international awards, including the industry’s most important distinction — the UFI Marketing Award, presented in 2025 by UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
As the company’s representatives emphasize, its success is first and foremost the result of the people who have been shaping Trade Fairs in Krakow story for 30 years.
“Over these three decades, we have been incredibly fortunate to work with dedicated, responsible, and committed people who take ownership of their projects and see them through to completion. Several team members have been with us since the very beginning, co-creating our first events and building their entire professional careers with Trade Fairs in Krakow. It is the people — their experience, passion, and loyalty — who are our greatest asset,” says President Ewa Woch.
Three decades of experience, thousands of completed projects, and even more ambitious plans for the future mean that Trade Fairs in Krakow enters the next chapter of its journey with the energy of a 30-year-old — and the conviction that the best is yet to come.