Interview with the creators of Caravans Salon in Poznań

The Caravans Salon Poland fair, which will take place from October 2 to 4 in Poznań at the Poznań International Fair, is one of the two largest caravanning events in Poland. This year is the 3rd edition of the fair, which is derived directly from the Poznań Motor Show and the Caravanning Exhibition that has been present there for years.

What attractions await fair participants this year and why are they worth visiting? We asked the creators of the Caravans Salon fair about it: Marta Szydłowska and Dariusz Wawrzyniak.

Camp Rest : Have you prepared anything new/unique for the fair this year?

Marta Szydłowska: This year's edition of the Caravans Salon fair promises to be unique, both in terms of size, because this year we are devoting two entire trade fair pavilions to the exhibition, which means there will be more exhibitors and campers to see, and in terms of attractions, such as such as visits by invited guests or bloggers. Our National Caravanning Rally also promises to be record-breaking in terms of attendance.

Camp Rest : Will there be any part of the show dedicated to retro vehicles?

Dariusz Wawrzyniak: Yes, this is one of our new products when it comes to the fair program. In Pavilion 3A, we have planned a space for collectors and owners of classic and vintage campers. In this way, we want to show the history of the caravan in real life, through these vehicles and the stories of the owners that are connected with them. We are still accepting applications, but the zone is almost full.

CR: How many exhibitors will be at the fair and can you tell us who will be there?

MS: The number of exhibitors is still growing, there will certainly be more of them than in previous editions, their diversity is also growing and completely new brands will appear in our event. An example here is Gentle Tent , a company from Austria, which offers a wide range of products, including innovative inflatable tents and vestibules. Of course, there will be leaders on our market: Benimar Polska, CarGO from Poznań, Elcamp Group, Centrum Campingowe Kutno, Burstner Polska , which will present new products for the 2021 season of virtually all the most important brands of caravans and campers from every price segment.

CR: Have you already estimated how many vehicles will be on display?

DW: More than twice as much at the moment. Our exhibitors are constantly sending us new hot premieres that will come to us straight from their factories. I think that this number of models will even exceed 200 pieces. We are counting on a variety of offers and a lot of new products, the presentation of which is particularly important to exhibitors, because many sales or rental agreements are concluded during the fair.

CR: Will it be possible to look inside campers and trailers?

DW : Both we, as the organizer and the exhibitor, want the fair to be safe, but at the same time attractive to visitors. That's why we talk to exhibitors and establish certain guidelines and procedures that will allow you to see the equipment of individual models up close. We will do it as safely as possible, using proven sanitary procedures from the fairs we have already organized.

CR: Have the exhibitors announced any premieres yet?

MS: Of course. We can certainly expect Polish premieres of vehicles that could be seen recently in Dusseldorf. A big event will be the premiere show of a new brand in Poland, the dealer of which is Centrum Campingowe Kutno, the Concorde brand, i.e. very luxurious campers that will certainly make a great impression on the fair participants. We also announced the premiere of Renault Trafic Camper , which you had the opportunity to test. You will be able to see many models for 2021: NOMAD trailers from Deathleffs and new products from Hobby and Adria . We are still waiting for confirmation of several other interesting premieres.

CR: Will there be any lectures? Are they charged extra?

MS: The lectures are free of charge, they are part of the fair. This year we managed to invite even more guests than last year. Travelers, bloggers, book authors, representatives of the VanLife lifestyle. Importantly, this year, almost all of them are caravanning teams. In addition to the lectures, on Saturday you will also be able to practice CPR with rescuers from the #CiśnijKlatę foundation and see a demonstration of pulling an injured person from a vehicle.

CR: Will there be any special guests?

MS: Each of our guests and speakers is our special guest (laughter). Participants will be able to hear, for example, about a trip around North America in a 48-year-old "Ogórek" (Calluna Trip), about how to start traveling in a camper from the Kamper Po Świecie team, or meet the authors of books about camper travel: Mikołaj Gospodarek "Polska on four wheels” and Bus Lapidus “W Drogę”. The Elcamper and Tripciak Crew crews will talk about their camping trips. TVN Turbo journalist Kuba Bielak will also be there. The full list of our guests is available on our website in a dedicated tab , and the lecture schedule will be presented a week before the fair.

CR: Will there be any restrictions due to sanitary recommendations?

DW: According to GIS guidelines, you will have to cover your nose and mouth throughout the fair space, and you will also have to disinfect your hands at catering points. The aisles between the stands have been appropriately widened and our employees regularly disinfect the required surfaces. At the entrance, participants' temperatures will be checked using thermal imaging. These are just some of the activities we conduct. As the organizer, Grupa MTP is prepared to conduct the event as safely as possible. Since June, the MTP has hosted gardening and automotive fairs, the National Red Car Rally, ecological fairs in conjunction with the Targi Dają More event, and Hobby fairs. All events confirmed the effectiveness of the implemented procedures.

CR: How many people will be able to be in the hall at the same time?

DW : In accordance with the guidelines of the sanitary services, we are currently obliged to use the conversion rate of 2.5 m2 per person, taking into account that this year the fair space has significantly expanded, also for safety reasons, we are confident about the capacity and freedom of movement in the fair space. We sell tickets only online, so purchasing a ticket in advance guarantees entry to the event.

CR: As organizers, what is your favorite moment during the fair?

DW: Personally, it may sound strange, but the editing period. Starting with meeting friends from the industry whom I see several times a year, through the moment of creating the stands and, above all, the time of the final "polishing" of the stands, when within several dozen hours the effect of the whole year's work is tangible. I love this feeling... :)

MS : This is definitely the moment when the first campers start arriving at the fairgrounds and setting up in our exhibition pavilions. You can see the commitment of the exhibitors, their effort and effort put into every detail of the exhibition. We are undoubtedly happy when we can open exhibition halls filled with campers and trailers to invited guests and the first visitors to the fair :)

DW: There is one more moment... when at the end of the market day a family comes out with a child, whose parents are already dragging them to the exit, and the child shouts that he wants to stay... :) It gives a nice, amazing feeling that we are doing a really cool event.

CR: How many camper spaces do you expect at the rally and will there be any restrictions?

DW : This year's 11th National Caravanning Rally promises to be record-breaking in terms of attendance. We have enlarged the area designated for pitches, both for safety reasons and to accommodate more teams. We have 150 plots prepared (130 smaller plots of 27 m2 and 20 larger ones of 40 m2. We are still accepting applications for the rally, but places are running out quickly and we will probably close the list of participants within a week.

CR : Can rally-goers use any toilets and/or camper services?

DW: As every year, access to sanitary facilities, water and electricity is included in the price. As always, we will prepare a special program of accompanying attractions for them.

CR: Since caravanning events have become a permanent fixture at the MTP fair, maybe you are planning to create a year-round camper park or even just a camper service at the fair?

DW: This is also planned to make it easier to stop, carry out a cleaning service in the center of Poznań and go, for example, to visit the city. However, we still need some time for this, because in the near future we will be starting several very large investments both inside and outside the fairgrounds.