Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.

THERMIK is the premier exhibition for paragliding and hang gliding enthusiasts, taking place on January 30, 2027, in Stuttgart, Germany.
Dates
30 Jan 2027
City / country
Stuttgart, Germany
Venue
New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
Time
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
Are you the organiser of this event?
Event overview
THERMIK is the dedicated trade fair for paragliding and hang gliding, featuring a wide range of products and services from top manufacturers. The event will host numerous free expert talks, providing valuable insights into the world of flight sports.
Attendees can expect to see everything from beginner models to high-performance wings, along with accessories and training opportunities. THERMIK takes place in Stuttgart, Germany.
Venue: New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre.
TL;DR
Visitors will gain access to the latest innovations in paragliding and hang gliding, meet industry experts, and enjoy numerous free lectures. The event is a must for anyone interested in flight sports, offering a unique opportunity to network and learn from the best in the field.
Exhibitors will benefit from direct access to a targeted audience of enthusiasts and professionals, enhancing brand visibility and generating leads. This event showcases products and services from leading manufacturers in the paragliding and hang gliding sectors. Attendees include enthusiasts, pilots, and industry professionals looking for the latest in paragliding technology.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Stuttgart, Germany
New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre in Stuttgart typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre in Stuttgart typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
On 2027-01-30 to 2027-01-30, THERMIK in Stuttgart covering Paragliding wings and accessories, Safety equipment and gear, Navigation devices and technology, Training programs and c gives technology buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Wyndham Stuttgart Airport Messe
USD 140–185 / night
Breakfast (chargeable), free Wi-Fi, parking (chargeable), air conditioning, pet-friendly, fitness center, bar, restaurant
Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Messe & Congress
USD 145–195 / night
Breakfast (chargeable), free Wi-Fi, parking (chargeable), air conditioning, pet-friendly, fitness center, spa, bar
Aparthotel Adagio Access Stuttgart Airport Messe
USD 125–175 / night
Breakfast (chargeable), free Wi-Fi, free parking, air conditioning, pet-friendly, accessible, kid-friendly, smoke-free
Holiday Inn - the niu, Mesh Stuttgart Messe by IHG
USD 115–150 / night
Breakfast (chargeable), free Wi-Fi, parking (chargeable), air conditioning, pet-friendly, spa, bar, restaurant, accessible
Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport
USD 140–190 / night
Breakfast (chargeable), free Wi-Fi, parking (chargeable), air conditioning, pet-friendly
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
S-Bahn S2/S3 (VVS)
S2 and S3 serve the dedicated Messe Stuttgart station with a covered walkway to the halls. Roughly 20 minutes from the city centre. Buy through the VVS app or ticket machines; validate paper tickets before boarding.
S-Bahn S2/S3 (VVS)
One stop from the terminal station, around 5-8 minutes including platform transfer. The cheapest and most reliable move if you are staying airport-side.
Taxi
Taxis wait at the terminal arrivals level. The fastest option with bulky gear or demo equipment; insist on the meter and ask for the hall entrance you need.
Taxi
Only worth it at night or with heavy luggage; the S-Bahn does the same trip in about 20 minutes for a fraction of the price and avoids city-centre traffic.
Car parking (venue car parks)
Park in the car park assigned to your hall and keep the ticket with you; payment machines sit at the exhibition level exits. Expect queues after the halls close and allow 15 minutes to exit.
VVS day / multi-day pass
Good value if you are travelling between hotel and halls daily plus a city trip. Buy in the VVS app; group and multi-day tickets are usually cheaper per day than singles.
Weather
Late January in Stuttgart is deep winter: daytime temperatures typically sit around 0 to 6 C, overnight frost is common, and overcast skies dominate with a mix of drizzle, sleet and occasional light snow. Daylight is short, so plan hall time for the middle of the day and allow for outdoor walks between the S-Bahn station, car parks and the entrances. Pack an insulated coat, layers you can remove in the heated halls, gloves and waterproof footwear; confirm the forecast in the final 48 hours before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Germany has good 4G/5G coverage in Stuttgart and around the fairground. EU and EEA SIM cards roam at domestic rates under EU roaming rules; visitors from outside the EU should check their home plan or buy a prepaid SIM from Telekom, Vodafone or O2 at Stuttgart Airport or in the city. Messe Stuttgart offers Wi-Fi in the exhibition areas, but coverage and any charge should be confirmed on the venue site before you depend on it for stand demos. Download offline maps, the VVS app and your tickets before arriving, because dense halls can be slow on mobile data.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Language in the halls
German is the default at Thermikmesse, with English widely used by manufacturers and export staff. Product terms like Gleitschirm, Gurtzeug (harness) and Retter (reserve) appear on German spec sheets, so ask for the English data sheet if you are comparing certification details across stands.
Sunday closures
Shops in Stuttgart close on Sundays, and many close earlier on Saturdays than visitors expect. Buy spares, adapters or cold-weather gear on Saturday if you are staying across the weekend, and check restaurant hours for Sunday evening.
Cash, cards and tipping
Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants, but some small bakeries, kiosks and taxi drivers still prefer cash in EUR. Tipping is modest: rounding up or adding around 5-10 percent is normal in restaurants, and you tell the server the total you want to pay.
Punctuality and quiet hours
S-Bahn and ICE services run to the timetable, so arrive at the platform a few minutes early and keep the last connection of the evening in mind. German quiet hours (Ruhezeit) apply at night and on Sundays; keep stand parties and phone calls out of hotel corridors after about 22:00.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
For a January departure, Google Flights for New York JFK to Stuttgart STR showed KLM/Delta via Amsterdam at about 10 h 15 min with a 2 h 5 min connection, SWISS via Zurich at about 11 h 35 min and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul at about 14 h 45 min. Fares were still loading in the capture and Stuttgart is a thin long-haul market, so compare against Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) with an ICE rail connection to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof. Book the longest layover you can tolerate in winter, check whether the connection is on the same ticket and confirm baggage rules for sports or demo equipment before paying.
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Stuttgart; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre: Messe Stuttgart / airport district: Wyndham Stuttgart Airport Messe; Messe Stuttgart / airport district: Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Messe & Congress; Messe Stuttgart / airport district: Aparthotel Adagio Access Stuttgart Airport Messe.
Ride-hail: Uber and Bolt normally operate across Stuttgart, and taxi ranks sit at Stuttgart Airport arrivals and at the Messe Stuttgart entrances. Ride-hail supply around the fairground can thin out in the 30 minutes after halls close, so either leave slightly early, walk to the S-Bahn at Messe Stuttgart, or pre-book. The airport-to-fairground hop is roughly EUR 25-35 on a meter; check the quoted app price before confirming, and note that surge pricing is common during large co-located events.
Public transit: Messe Stuttgart has its own S-Bahn station served by lines S2 and S3 on the VVS network, linking the halls with Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof (about 20 minutes) and with Stuttgart Airport (one stop). Single tickets are roughly EUR 4.90 from the city centre and EUR 2.90 for the airport short hop; day and multi-day VVS passes are cheaper if you travel daily. Buy and validate through the VVS app or station machines, keep the ticket until you exit, and check the last-train time before an evening stand party. The venue publishes detailed access routes on its public-transport page, and the airport publishes terminal connections on its own site.
Parking: Messe Stuttgart operates multi-storey and open-air car parks around the halls with direct access to the exhibition levels. Expect roughly EUR 10-15 per day, paid at machines near the exits, with disabled spaces close to the entrances and EV charging in selected car parks. Follow signage for the car park serving your hall rather than the first one you see, and arrive before 09:00 when a large co-located event is running. Confirm the current tariff and opening hours on the venue website before driving in.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: Late January 2027 (confirm the exact hall dates on thermikmesse.de)
Temperature: Daytime typically 0 to 6 C, overnight lows often around -3 to 0 C, with occasional colder snaps; frost on the walkways is common in the morning
Seasonality: January is a low-sun, damp month in Stuttgart: overcast days dominate, with drizzle, sleet or light snow possible on any day and only around 8-9 hours of daylight. Snow rarely settles for long in the valley, but the airport and fairground sit on open ground where wind makes it feel colder. Build a weather buffer into your arrival day rather than booking a tight connection.
Packing: Pack an insulated, windproof coat, a warm mid-layer, gloves and a hat for the outdoor walks between the S-Bahn station, car parks and the halls, plus waterproof shoes with grip for frosty pavements. The exhibition halls are heated, so wear layers you can shed and carry a light bag rather than a heavy coat indoors. Add a compact umbrella, a spare pair of socks and a power bank for long days on the floor; if you are handling wing fabric, keep it in a dry bag away from slush.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at THERMIK usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
Day -14: Define what you are replacing. Note your all-up flying weight, current wing class (EN-A to CCC), harness type and the reserve model you already own so stand staff can size equipment correctly.
Day -12: Book the flight to Stuttgart (STR) or a Deutsche Bahn connection to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof, allowing for winter delays and for the S-Bahn leg to Messe Stuttgart.
Day -10: Reserve accommodation in the Messe Stuttgart / airport district so the walk or single S-Bahn stop to the halls stays short in cold weather.
Day -8: Check your passport and, for non-EU visitors, current Schengen entry requirements and any ETIAS status that applies to your nationality before committing to non-refundable travel.
Day -7: Assemble documents if you are discussing service work: wing inspection record, reserve repack card, harness serial number and any licence or school enrolment you want to show.
Day -5: Download the VVS timetable or app and note the S2/S3 times from your hotel to Messe Stuttgart; save a taxi alternative for the morning of the fair.; Day -4: Check the weather forecast for Stuttgart and plan footwear and layers for the outdoor walkways between halls and the station.
Day -3: Prepare a shortlist of exhibitors by hall, split into wing, harness and instrument targets so you do not spend the day walking between repeats of the same product class.
Day -2: Charge phone, power bank and any action camera; clear storage for spec-sheet photos and set up a note template for prices and sizes.
Day -1: Print or save the ticket QR code, confirm the entrance for your hall, and book an early slot if you want unhurried harness sizing before the floor fills.
Fair day: Arrive at opening, work the technical stands first, then schools and travel operators in the afternoon; write down every quote in EUR and ask whether prices include VAT.
After the fair: Send follow-up emails within 48 hours asking for demo-flight slots, size availability and delivery dates, and compare against online prices before ordering.
Day -14: Confirm the confirmed hall days, opening hours and ticket terms on thermikmesse.de; buy or reserve your day ticket (published general admission is around EUR 15).
Registration and hall orientation at New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
Supplier meetings and product demos
Final negotiations and follow-up
THERMIK registration concourse
New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget

Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · General admission
EUR 15 / per person
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | General admission | EUR 15 / per person | organiser_published |
Decision
Use this quick check to decide whether THERMIK fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For THERMIK, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Paragliding wings and accessories and Safety equipment and gear solutions and benchmarking suppliers at THERMIK in Stuttgart.
Min. budget
$516.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Paragliding wings and accessories and Safety equipment and gear products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$2,322.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Stuttgart show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
Trust footer
2
References
1
Publishers
0
Date checked
THERMIK
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.