Bologna: Tanexpo, the international fair for the funeral and cemetery sector, is underway

In the secular world and in the religious world, the last earthly passage and the rites associated with it are of particular importance, involving, in an incisive way, the experience, affections and religious beliefs. It is dedicated to the funeral sector Tanexpoone of the largest trade fairs in the world, scheduled in Bologna from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April 2024.

For over 30 years Tanexpo – organized by Bexpo (Society of BolognaFiere e Conference Service – it is the b2b event of thefuneral industry (by number of visitors and exhibition space), the international reference event for analyzing and discovering new products and market trends, developing new businesses, comparing oneself with competitors and professionals from all over the world visiting the event.

The numbers

I am 225 exhibitors at this edition of the fair, of which 30% foreign; There are 3 large pavilions of the Bologna exhibition center involved in the exhibition – 16, 21 and 22 – for over 23,000 square meters of exhibition space.

The event is the reference platform for a large community of operators: 94% professionals in the funeral sector and 73% owners or purchasing/investment managers, with a presence from abroad of 30% (57 countries involved).

This is the figure of Tanexpo 2024 which will welcome visitors, alongside the proposal of the exhibitors of this edition with new initiatives and conferences.

The inauguration of the event is scheduled Thursday 4 April (pavilion 22, 10.45 am); to follow (at 11.30 am) the first discussion table dedicated to Italian cemetery heritage brought to light.

The meeting will develop a broad discussion covering sociological, anthropological, artistic, economic and regulatory aspects with the aim of generating new perspectives to understand how cemeteries can learn to dialogue with their communities, becoming a reference “heritage”. The meeting is organized in collaboration with Sefit Utilitalia. He will also take part in the debate Mauro Felicori, Councilor for Culture and Landscape of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

The initiatives

Training, innovation, internationalization are the guidelines of the initiatives of Tanexpo 2024 which is characterized as a true hub of multiple activities for the funeral sector with the aim of providing a concrete contribution to the growth and development of the sector, listening to the needs of operators.

Tanexpo Awards e Tanexpo Tech

Among the initiatives of this edition, which expand the offer and opportunities made available to business community of the eventi Tanexpo Awardsaimed at rewarding the talent of exhibiting companies and the new area Tanexpo Techan initiative to support Tech Companies to enhance the new digital services for the supply chain.

In their second edition i Tanexpo Award will be attributed by one international technical jury (made up of experts and representatives of associations) in the categories: Innovation, Quality and Design, Green Sustainability, Communication, Tech, Best Stand Experience.

The jury will identify the projects that stand out for their characteristics and which are deemed capable of bringing added value to the development of professionalism and the funeral sector in general. The awards ceremony is on the agenda April 5 at the Tanexpo Plazain pavilion 22.

The most advanced technologies for the digitalisation of the sector will be at the center of Tanexpo Techan innovation that will highlight digital services for businesses, cemeteries, crematoriums and families.

The new digital proposals will be disseminated through an ad hoc space that will bring together companies and start-ups that offer software and technological services. In the center of the area Tanexpo Techon a dedicated stage, exhibitors will have the unique opportunity to present their proposals to visiting operators.

Training in focus

The fair will also be the point of reference forprofessional updating in the sector through the workshops of Tanexpo Education and meetings End Café.

The meetings of Tanexpo Educationwill be held on 4 and 5 April and will see the participation of internationally renowned experts to illustrate the development of the funeral of today and tomorrow; the new methods, the new languages ​​and the new tools for modern businesses.

The contents and the speakers

Wendy van der Kooij, CEO Aftercare World, in the meeting “How to prevent critical situations and guarantee the growth of your business through a good aftercare service” will focus attention on the post-funeral care services provided by the company and the benefits they can bring to all those involved.

Anna Bernfeld, senior vice president for NFDA member relations e Christine Reichelt Pepper, ceo Nfda, will participate in the meeting “Families Talk: Are You Listening?”.

It will be an opportunity to analyze the results of the report drawn up by the US association Nfda to understand what families think of the funeral service and what are their experiences with entrepreneurs. An important opportunity to learn about trends arriving from overseas and how to transform challenges into opportunities for businesses.

Maria Angela Gelati, thanatologist, Death educator, author and blogger e Alessia Zielo, researcher, archaeologist, thanatologist and teacher they will be the speakers of the meeting “The role of professionals in the treatment and prevention of burn-out in the funeral sector”.

At the center of the comparison is care of the bereaved, both from the point of view of the emotional needs of the mourners and that of the professionals who assist them. The necessary tools for the promotion of the will be provided psychological well-beingfrom the mental health and the burn-out managementwith the aim of building a more humane and aware future for funeral businesses, preventing the psychosocial risks of operators in contact with death and emotional contagion.

Paola Minussi, secular-humanist celebrant and writer in the meeting “The secular funeral; new scenarios in society and current proposals to narrate the life story” will illustrate how the contemporary funeral scenario has changed and what the new needs of families are. We will discover how to make the first contact with the client, listen to the life story of the deceased and then narrate it in the most effective and respectful way.

Juan Pablo del Alcázar Ponce, consultant in digital transformation, analytics and generative artificial intelligence will close the program Tanexpo Education 2024 with the meeting “Artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the funeral business of the new era” which will allow you to discover the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of the funeral sector and market leadership. It will be an opportunity to analyze how to leverage cutting-edge tools and techniques to improve the customer experience and the operational efficiency of the company.

End Café Training

Professional training is also at the center of another novelty of TANEXPO 2024: the END CAFE space, an educational lounge created in collaboration with the Higher Funeral Training School which will offer discussions and debates with numerous guests. A journey between different areas to stimulate a change of perspective on funeral culture and a new motivation with respect to one’s own company history.