The 54th edition of Milan's Salone del Mobile welcomed 310,840 visitors, confirming the trend seen in 2013, the last time the biennial exhibitions devoted to lighting and the office were held. On the two days the fair opened to the public, 30,881 visits were recorded.
With 69% of the visitors coming from outside Italy, along with strong purchasing power – to which all the exhibitors testified – the Salone has confirmed its strong international following, with a high number of Chinese and Germans in attendance, plus a good number of Russians. This edition saw a particularly high number of visitors from the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Egypt in particular. Visitor numbers from the US, UK and India were up.
“The data confirms the importance and attractiveness of an event that showcases the very best of Italian and international furnishing,” says Salone del Mobile president, Roberto Snaidero. “The companies are delighted with the quality of attendees and the solid business results achieved over the six days of the fair, thanks to their own commitment and dedication to tackling and overcoming the tough financial situation of the last few years. The Salone therefore constitutes the first signal of the forecast recovery.”
Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi referred to this recovery during his visit on the first day of the fair. As well as recognising the leadership of the exhibiting companies, he underscored his government's commitment to supporting the sector, both through specific domestic market development policies and international promotional activities and support.
The theme of the 18th edition of SaloneSatellite, in which 700 emerging designers aged under 35 took part, was Life Planet, and the showcase proved "extremely popular". The Rho Milan Fairgrounds pavilions also contained Michele De Lucchi's huge installation The Walk, a circular path through the labyrinthine meanderings of the workplace, and architect Dario Curatolo's installation In Italy, involving 64 Italian companies and a select group of designers, planners and architects – the installation became an app for exploring five geographically-styled interiors, in five different styles.
Attilio Stocchi's installation/event Favilla – To Every Light a Voice, in Milan's Piazza San Fedele, attracted more than 10,000 visitors. The Salone del Mobile was also one of the supporters of the Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519 exhibition, which opened on April 16th.
