(TDB) - ProWein 2016 was officially the wine and spirit trade fair’s biggest ever show, attracting some 55,000 visitors – a 6% increase on 2015.

Last year the fair, organised by Messe Düsseldorf, attracted 52,000 visitors with its director Michael Degan setting the target for 2016 at 53,000. With the fair coming to a close today, organisers have confirmed that the number of trade visitors to its 2016 fair in fact reached 55,000 – a 6% increase on the previous year.

“Overall, we are seeing a trend where ProWein is primarily attracting decision-makers with great purchasing responsibility: over 70% of visitors came from top or middle management”, said the fair’s organisers.

Visitors were reported to have travelled from 126 different countries, compared to 123 last year, with some 6,200 exhibitors taking stands. According to the fair’s organisers, one in two visitors said that they found new suppliers while just under 96% reported that they had “entirely reached the goals” of their trade fair visit.

“Figures clearly show that ProWein is the world’s most important business platform for the entire sector”, said Hans Werner Reinhard, deputy managing director at Messe Düsseldorf. “This is where the trade fair budgets are spent. For the major, prize-winning wine estates, ProWein has become the absolute must-attend event.”

Over 300 events and feature tastings were hosted over three days, with the “same but different” show, now in its second year, showcasing new and unusual paths in wine production or marketing. Elsewhere the FIZZZ Lounge highlighted the emerging trend for Shim cocktails, which are made using shrubs and liqueurs and are generally lighter in alcohol. Outside of the fair’s walls, ProWein goes City marked its 10th year, with a host of event laid on for ProWein guests at venues throughout the city of Düsseldorf.