As part of the ‘Sustainable Event Management’ module, students on the Sustainable Tourism degree programme visited the Kleve-based company Winkels Interior Design Exhibition GmbH, which specialises in interior fit-outs and exhibition stand construction.
As part of the ‘Sustainable Event Management’ module, fifth-semester students on the Sustainable Tourism degree programme at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences visited Winkels Interior Design Exhibition GmbH with their lecturer, Vanessa Jansen-Meinen. The Kleve-based company has been active in the fields of interior fit-out and exhibition stand construction since its foundation in 1962. In collaboration with Marijke Noy, who is responsible for marketing and business development at Winkels, a varied tour of the premises was organised. Dedicated staff guided the students, divided into two groups, around the premises and demonstrated the various stages of production. There, the student visitors gained interesting insights into the complex equipment and work processes involved in trade fair stand construction and saw concrete examples of sustainable working practices in this sector. There were also plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion.
Benedikt Winkels, Managing Director of Winkels Interior Design Exhibition GmbH, emphasised the importance of sustainability in his address. He noted that this is almost a long-standing tradition at the company, as the manufacturing process primarily utilises a renewable raw material – namely wood. A small working group comprising four students will tackle a task set by the company over the remainder of the semester. Katinka Müller – a member of the working group – is looking forward to this challenge and said that she finds the combination of such an exciting project as a trade fair with aspects of sustainability particularly appealing. Marijke Noy adds that the task addresses a real business need and – provided it is successfully resolved – will actually be put into practice next year. The working group will present its findings in a presentation at the end of the semester.
