Kai Hattendorf, Author at UFI Blog

IFA Berlin: first post-COVID Global Consumer Electronics trade fair opened its doors!
IFA Berlin: first post-COVID Global Consumer Electronics trade fair opened its doors!

IFA Berlin: first post-COVID Global Consumer Electronics trade fair opened its doors!

A small summary of the first day of international consumer electronics show IFA at Messe Berlin, as trade shows and exhibitions are taking place again in Germany as of September. Remember: The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona was the first major exhibition in Europe that got cancelled as the COVID virus spread around the continent this spring. In the US, SXSW as well has been cancelled, and the Consumer Electronics Show has already announced it will be all digital in 2021. IFA is the only phys [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2020-09-04T11:11:34+00:00 September 4th, 2020|All, Europe, Exhibition Industry, UFI News|0 Comments

Beyond the Coronavirus – Resilience
Beyond the Coronavirus – Resilience

Beyond the Coronavirus – Resilience

As I am writing this, the new coronavirus is creating uncertainty in public life as well as in our industry. I meant to write these lines about the challenges that we are expecting in the year and years ahead, as we have entered a new decade. But, right now, our industry is called to deal with this health threat. As government authorities in China are focusing on public health by shutting down long distance travel, banning public events, and prolonging the spring break holidays, we are seeing ma [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2020-02-12T11:19:49+00:00 February 12th, 2020|All|0 Comments

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 3 to 1
My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 3 to 1

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 3 to 1

2019 has been a momentous year in our industry – and a very active year at UFI. I thought about how best to capture some of the year's highlights from our association's advocacy, education, events, and research. I ended up with this series of small blog posts – some short, personal comments alongside the work we did this year for you, our members. We’ve already published Part 1 and Part 2. Here are my personal top three – I hope you enjoy them. Happy holidays, and have a successful 2020! 3. Our [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2019-12-20T14:55:27+00:00 December 21st, 2019|All|0 Comments

Five trends to watch in 2020
Five trends to watch in 2020

Five trends to watch in 2020

2019 is drawing to a close, and the second decade of the century will soon be behind us. So get ready to enter the 2020s! As we enter this new decade, the world seems to have become less stable and more disrupted in many aspects of life - in politics, in tech, in societies and in business. Every year, UFI tracks developments in the exhibition and event industry worldwide, at our events, in numerous conversations and through many other channels. Here are our five trends that leaders in exhibition [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2019-12-20T12:52:29+00:00 December 20th, 2019|All|0 Comments

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 6 to 4
My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 6 to 4

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 6 to 4

2019 has been a momentous year for our industry – and a very dynamic year at UFI. I thought about how best to capture some of the year’s highlights from our association’s advocacy, education, events, and research. I ended up with this series of small blog posts – some short, personal comments alongside the work we did this year for you, our members. We already published the first part of the list. Here are my choices 6 to 4 – I hope you enjoy them. 6. The 3rd UFI-VMA Venue Management School Shan [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2019-12-19T10:05:21+00:00 December 19th, 2019|All|0 Comments

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 10 to 7
My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 10 to 7

My top ten UFI moments in 2019 – from 10 to 7

2019 has been a momentous year in our industry – and an active and engaging year at UFI. I thought about how best to capture some of this year’s highlights from our association’s advocacy, education, events, and research activities. I ended up with this blog post – some short, personal comments alongside the work we did this year for you, our members. Here are my places 10 to 7 – I hope you enjoy them. 10. A BIG Screen Washington, DC (U.S.A.), May 2019 – I admit I do quite a few presentations at [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2019-12-19T10:29:11+00:00 December 17th, 2019|All|1 Comment

More global business ahead!
More global business ahead!

More global business ahead!

Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director/CEO at UFI. This year started in much the same way as last year finished – with new acquisitions and takeovers: Blackstone-backed PSAV has bought the in-house AV company Encore Event Technologies from Freeman, Reed is taking over Mack Brooks, and there are even more deals on the horizon. Despite – or perhaps because of – a more complex political and economic environment, there’s been a lot of interest in investing in our industry. In fact, this issue was a hot [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2019-02-26T09:41:26+00:00 February 25th, 2019|All, Exhibition Industry, UFI Updates|0 Comments

UFI’s 5 trends to watch in 2019
UFI’s 5 trends to watch in 2019

UFI’s 5 trends to watch in 2019

Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO/ MD. As every year, the UFI team has used our association’s Global Congress as well as many separate conversations all around the world to isolate and identify the core themes that the UFI team feels will impact the global exhibition industry in 2019. So today, let me share with you “UFI’s 5 trends to watch in 2019”: Written by Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO/ MD. Shifting trade patterns and a jittery global economy Amidst a climate of political tension, protectionism and fals [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2018-12-07T08:59:51+00:00 December 4th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, UFI News, UFI Updates|1 Comment

Glimpse ahead
Glimpse ahead

Glimpse ahead

Kai Hattendorf, UFI MD/CEO. It’s that time of year when many of you will be booking your trips to the upcoming UFI Global Congress. The UFI team is busy getting ready for what is sure to be another memorable meeting. (If you still need to register, just click here). After Shanghai in 2016 and Johannesburg in 2017, our industry’s global annual gathering will take place in St. Petersburg (Russia). It’s been a memorable year for our industry, so there are many issues to discuss – from M&A to [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2018-10-19T12:09:46+00:00 October 19th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Industry Research, UFI News, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Global connections
Global connections

Global connections

Kai Hattendorf, UFI MD/CEO. Right now, our industry is running on all cylinders – that was a clear takeaway from the latest UFI Global Barometer, released this summer. For the first time in ten years, all four global regions reported a positive turnover development at the same time. More importantly, in terms of operating profit, most companies maintained a good level of performance in 2017, and over 40% of companies from all regions declared an increase of more than 10% compared to 2016. Howe [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2018-09-06T15:02:03+00:00 September 6th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry|0 Comments

About Kai Hattendorf