Antony Reeve-Crook, Author at UFI Blog

The importance of tugboats when tankers run aground
The importance of tugboats when tankers run aground

The importance of tugboats when tankers run aground

Antony Reeve-Crook, Director, ArciMedia Ltd. When the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement the USMCA (aka the new NAFTA) was signed earlier this year, exhibition industry observers said that it should yield financial growth and political negotiations that would complement the creation of trade shows in this part of the world. We all (according to social media at least) breathed a collective sigh of relief. Our consternation instead returned to Trump’s foreign economic policy on the other side of t [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-12-11T13:39:02+00:00 December 11th, 2018|All, Americas, Asia – Pacific, Exhibition Industry|0 Comments

Our place in an inclusive future / Standing up for gender equality
Our place in an inclusive future / Standing up for gender equality

Our place in an inclusive future / Standing up for gender equality

Mary Larkin, UFI Incoming President. For those of you who may have missed it, Diversified’s Mary Larkin joined the UFI presidential trio at UFI’s annual congress in St Petersburg earlier this month. As part of her new role, Larkin will work on increasing the number of women in leadership positions within the global exhibition industry. Her newfound platform to advocate gender equality and diversity is underpinned by a call for action. Consider the Thursday afternoon panel discussion in St Pete [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-11-16T08:53:40+00:00 November 15th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, UFI News, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Mexico’s triumph and tribulation in Trump’s wake
Mexico’s triumph and tribulation in Trump’s wake

Mexico’s triumph and tribulation in Trump’s wake

As we land in Mexico for the first UFI LatAm Conference (World Trade Centre, Mexico City, 18-19 September) we do so on firmer ground following last month’s Trump-Mexico trade agreement. “Markets rose in relief when America and Mexico announced on 27 August that they had agreed on changes to the [24-year-old] North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),” published The Economist the day after Trump made Congress aware of his intent. The revised pact between the US and Mexico (America’s third bigge [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-09-18T14:19:01+00:00 September 18th, 2018|All, Americas, Best Practices, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Industry Research, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Peru sailing with, not against, global headwinds
Peru sailing with, not against, global headwinds

Peru sailing with, not against, global headwinds

With the inaugural UFI Latin America Conference taking place in Mexico City next month, the exhibition industry will soon be paying more attention than usual to a region with a combined GDP of almost $9.5 trillion (Caribbean countries taken into account). The region presents a mixed bag in terms of opportunity for global organisers and I'm interested to see what the focus of conversation will be both on stage where the content is planned, and in the breaks where the discussion will not be filter [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-08-30T08:39:03+00:00 August 30th, 2018|Americas, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Marketing, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Build it and they will come
Build it and they will come

Build it and they will come

Plans for Hitex's new Hall 4 (Hyderabad, India). One of the things I’m most looking forward to learning about at UFI’s debut Latin American event in September, is plans for major venue development in the region. It’s not because I’m a huge fan of buildings you can see from space, it’s because venue development tends to happen only after public sector buy-in – and so it follows that venue development is an indication of a government’s commitment to the virtues of a burgeoning exhibition industr [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-08-03T07:32:35+00:00 August 2nd, 2018|Americas, Asia – Pacific, Exhibition Industry, UFI Updates|1 Comment

Is the UK government putting more stock in business events as Brexit looms?
Is the UK government putting more stock in business events as Brexit looms?

Is the UK government putting more stock in business events as Brexit looms?

Kerrin MacPhie, VisitBritain. While the UK is home to many of the world’s leading organisers, its event business at home is largely a domestic market. But in light of the country’s upcoming departure from the European Union, the role of exhibitions at home has become increasingly important. Take for example the Farnborough International Airshow, which runs this week – 37 weeks before the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union. “This is an incredibly exciting time for aerospace. Not only [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-08-03T07:45:41+00:00 July 19th, 2018|All, Best Practices, Europe, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Marketing, Management, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Should associations be using M&A activity to turn national into global?
Should associations be using M&A activity to turn national into global?

Should associations be using M&A activity to turn national into global?

John Barrett , Executive director , Worldwide Cleaning Association ISSA The practice of using acquisitions and mergers to expand an organiser’s global presence is commonplace. But how about when an association tries to increase its influence using the same approach? Historically we've only seen a few private organisers from the US make their presence felt in the international marketplace. Diversified Communications did so in Europe with its health and seafood shows, and more recently EJ Krause [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-06-15T10:53:02+00:00 June 15th, 2018|All, Best Practices, Exhibition Industry, Topics, UFI Updates|0 Comments

When will disruption naturally occur in our business?
When will disruption naturally occur in our business?

When will disruption naturally occur in our business?

“Disruption is a term that has been overused in the last 10 years. A lot of people talk about digital disruption, but to me the term often leads to people scratching their heads,” Eddie Choi told the audience at the UFI European Conference in Verona. Many of us will be in agreement. The subject is a staple of plenary halls at business conferences and while we all appreciate the opportunities that accompany destabilising the status quo, the only experience most of us will have of being truly disr [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-05-18T10:48:49+00:00 May 17th, 2018|All, Best Practices, Digital Innovation, Exhibition Industry|0 Comments

Are Brazil’s events returning to strength?
Are Brazil’s events returning to strength?

Are Brazil’s events returning to strength?

'A view of Sao Paolo including exhibition venue Expo Center Norte' Provided you haven’t been running the country in the past 10 years, things are looking increasingly positive for the people of Brazil. On Tuesday, the president of the Central Bank of Brazil Ilan Goldfajn, said the country’s economy could expand beyond the otherwise “well-calibrated” 2.6 per cent forecasted for 2018. Speaking at an event in São Paulo, Goldfajn said that the nation’s recovery from the deepest recession in decade [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-04-05T15:39:47+00:00 April 5th, 2018|All, Americas, Exhibition Industry Research, Topics, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Improving exhibitor satisfaction and loyalty at the big shows (2 of 2)
Improving exhibitor satisfaction and loyalty at the big shows (2 of 2)

Improving exhibitor satisfaction and loyalty at the big shows (2 of 2)

It won’t surprise anyone to say that when UFI and Explori teamed up to analyse the email survey responses from exhibitors at 1,040 trade shows, asking how they would improve their event experience, the majority asked for more people to attend their stand, followed by an increase in overall visitor numbers. Exhibitors pay good money to be at the biggest events. What might surprise you however, is the fact that venue shortcomings (quality of food outlets, parking and ease of build-up/break down) a [...]

By Antony Reeve-Crook| 2018-03-14T11:52:59+00:00 March 8th, 2018|All, Best Practices, UFI Updates|0 Comments

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