Information for American Attendees

Although the turnout of visitors from America does usually not fully represent the strength of the U.S. printing industry, the American presence is unmistakable at Drupa. Helping to accomplish this is Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA), the Drupa fairgrounds representative based in Chicago, and NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies.

Their joint effort at the show results in 120 U.S. exhibitors, 37 of which will display their products within two U.S. Pavilions organized by MDNA and co-sponsored by NPES.

The U.S. Pavilions are located in Hall 9 (prepress and converting) and Hall 15 (press and finishing). NPES officials plan to build awareness about the U.S. print market and the international Print 05 show to be held at McCormick Place in Chicago in September 2005.

MDNA provides complete information about visiting Drupa 2004. For details, phone (312) 781-5180, e-mail info@mdna.com, or visit mdna.com.

Americans thinking about attending Drupa can choose from a variety of group and individual travel packages.

TTI Travel, Inc., New York City, MDNA's official agency for visitors to Drupa from the U.S., still has land-only packages available for individuals, including hotels both in Düsseldorf and in surrounding towns, such as Leverkusen and Cologne. For information about land packages, which start at $1,155 for accommodations outside Düsseldorf, call TTI at (866) 674-3476.

Print America, whose principals have organized Drupa group tours since 1982, has openings on its packages, which include travel on United Airlines, accommodations in the four-star Radisson SAS Hotel in central Düsseldorf (10 minutes via free trolley to the fairgrounds), show admission, a German banquet, and special Drupa briefings held each morning, with debriefings offered each evening.

The fee is $3,475 per person, based on double occupancy.

Print America's visits are available in three different time periods, each covering five nights in the hotel: May 6-10 (Group 1), May 11-15 (Group 2), and May 16-20 (Group 3). Flights to Germany are from United's gateway cities in the U.S., commencing the day before the first night in the hotel. Call Print America at (704) 663-5808 or e-mail to marg2e@statesville.net.

The Printing Industries of Illinois/Indiana Association (PII), Chicago, has availability on air-and-hotel travel packages to Drupa listed for $2,250 per person, based on double occupancy. Packages are offered in three different time periods, each covering five nights: May 5-9, May 10-14, and May 15-19. Roundtrip travel to Düsseldorf is from Chicago, with flights to Germany commencing the day before the first night in the hotel.

PII packages include transportation from the airport to the hotel and back, an evening reception on the day of arrival, daily transportation to and from the fairgrounds, and show admission. Accommodations are at the 209-room Dorint Am Rosengarten Hotel in Düsseldorf-Neuss.

Call Maria Silva of PII at (312) 704-5000 or e-mail to msilva@pii.org.

The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) is offering group tours that include roundtrip travel from New York City, five nights at the four-star Lindner Hotel Rhein Residence in downtown Düsseldorf, show admission, and daily transportation to the fairgrounds.

The PICA tours, which are co-sponsored by the National Association for Printing Leadership and regional affiliates of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation/Printing Industries of America, are priced at $3,750 per person, double occupancy.

Three group trips are taking place during the expo period; however, since Group 1 has been filled and other rooms have had to be released, PICA is now providing its Drupa tours on a per-request basis only. Call Gwen Doster at (800) 849-7422 or visit picanet.org.

Next month in Countdown Drupa: Exhibitors make final preparations and expo managers offer a warm welcome.