Fespa 2012 Mexico has been hailed "the most successful to date" after visitor numbers rose 11% on last year to more than 9,000, with a higher percentage of decision makers also in attendance.

The fifth Fespa Mexico event, which took place from 20-22 September at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City, featured 125 exhibitors across 10,500sqm of floor space.

In total 9,198 visitors attended the show over the three days, up 11% on Fespa Mexico 2011 and a 38% increase since Fespa acquired the exhibition in 2008.

Amongst those visitors the ratio of decision-makers also increased, rising 7% on last year to 48% of the total visitor turnout. Five-time exhibitor Sebastian Saidman, general manager of DT Tec said: "The quality of the audience was great - the exhibition attracts professionals who have come prepared to buy equipment and do business."

Inevitably, thoughts will now turn to Fespa 2013 in London, where the aviation-theme "Your Destination for Print" will highlight the international flavour of Fespa's flagship show.

However, Fespa managing director of events and exhibitions Neil Felton was quick to point out the importance of Fespa's upcoming regional events, such as Fespa Brasil (13-16 March) and Fespa Eurasia (3-5 October), to the success of Fespa 2013 (25-29 June).

"The regional shows are a shop window for Fespa and we see as very much complementary to the international show," he said. "Our purpose is to engage with printers globally and Mexico is a key part of our strategy to make London a success - as is Brasil, as is Eurasia.

"The reason we've chosen an aviation theme is because London is one of the best connected cities in the world and Fespa 2013 is the major global show in 2013 without question - we're attracting a truly international audience, not just from Europe but from America, the Commonwealth and Dubai.

"This is our chance to show off what the UK can do and it's been some time - particularly in our sector - since the UK has had a chance to shine like that. We want to show to the world that Britain has a very powerful printing base and is a great place to do business."

Felton added that the organisers had already had to enlarge the show in terms of floorspace, after filling out the digital hall. "We are way ahead of where we were this time last cycle (for the Munich show) and we only have six stands left in the whole south hall," he said.

"But if you're a good show organiser you will always retain the ability to take more space from around the outside and that's exactly what we've done."

The "Your Destination for Print" theme will extend throughout the marketing and exhibition collateral, including VIP luggage tags and boarding pass-style entrance tickets.