Stephanie Selesnick, Author at UFI Blog

You can’t win if you don’t try
You can’t win if you don’t try

You can’t win if you don’t try

A fresh new year signals the beginning of Award Season. In the United States, films are being considered for Academy Awards, records and songs nominated for Grammy Awards, and designers are vying to have the hottest stars and artists wear their clothes, shoes and jewelry at the events. For the global exhibition industry, UFI has a number of prestigious awards that may be right up your alley. Is your company or organization doing something award-worthy? Have some of your team members successfully [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-01-19T14:33:42+00:00 January 4th, 2018|Best Practices|1 Comment

Re-Engaging Exhibition Critics
Re-Engaging Exhibition Critics

Re-Engaging Exhibition Critics

Exhibitions are more than just a marketplace. They are an annual gathering of a community – trade or public. And when done right, the community takes ownership of the event, which is simultaneously amazing – and terrifying. Amazing because attendees become super fans and evangelists. They are invested all the way. They tell everyone they know how wonderful your exhibition is. How much they look forward to going every year. It’s “their” event. Terrifying because as super fans, they think they kno [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-01-23T10:37:39+00:00 November 28th, 2017|All, Exhibition Industry, Topics|0 Comments

Jochen Witt to deliver his 10th and final Global Industry Review at the UFI Congress
Jochen Witt to deliver his 10th and final Global Industry Review at the UFI Congress

Jochen Witt to deliver his 10th and final Global Industry Review at the UFI Congress

For the past ten consecutive years, Jochen Witt has presented the Global Industry Review at each annual UFI Congress in Johannesburg, South Africa. The annual “State of the Global Industry” presentation is seen by many as the “cannot miss” session of the event. Stephanie Selesnick: Would you share a bit about your upcoming session at the UFI Global Congress in Johannesburg? Jochen Witt: This year, my presentation will be composed of three parts: Global politics and the economies of the most impo [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-18T13:59:33+00:00 October 9th, 2017|All, Exhibition Industry Research|0 Comments

What if WE, as an industry disrupt ourselves?
What if WE, as an industry disrupt ourselves?

What if WE, as an industry disrupt ourselves?

Blogger: Stephanie Selesnick, President of International Trade Information, Inc. Disruption for business is defined as a radical change in an industry, business strategy, etc., especially involving the introduction of a new product or service that creates a new market. We know change is coming and that exhibitions have to evolve now, or go away. For example, look what digitalization has done. Can you imagine an exhibition without a website, LinkedIn group and some kind of social media presence? [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-10T11:55:26+00:00 September 18th, 2017|All, Americas, Best Practices|0 Comments

Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 2)
Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 2)

Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 2)

Interview with UFI Global Congress 2017’s Keynote Speaker, Johan Reyneke, Founder & Owner of Reyneke Wines in South Africa (Part 2 of 2). Stephanie Selesnick: Please share your Cornerstone program encouraging home ownership and education for the winery’s workers and their families. How did it come about and where do you see it being in five years from now? Johan Reyneke: This ties in with biodynamics (part 1). We have to look after nature, profitability and people (who comprise the 3rd leg o [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-10T11:55:26+00:00 August 15th, 2017|All, Management, Middle East – Africa|0 Comments

Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 1)
Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 1)

Sharks, biodynamic vineyards and the exhibition industry (part 1)

Interview with UFI Global Congress 2017’s Keynote Speaker, Johan Reyneke, Founder & Owner of Reyneke Wines in South Africa (Part 1 of 2). Johan will share his story of overcoming obstacles and leading change within the winemaking industry in South Africa - and how to apply some of the lessons he has learned to our businesses. Since many of us don’t know anything about you past your bio, we’d like to know a bit more about Johan. Stephanie Selesnick: How long have you been surfing? How many cl [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-10T11:55:26+00:00 August 8th, 2017|All, Middle East – Africa|0 Comments

Can you afford not to be there? (part 2)
Can you afford not to be there? (part 2)

Can you afford not to be there? (part 2)

Interview with Alex Granger 84th UFI Global Congress Moderator (by Stephanie Selesnick part 2 of 2). South Africa, “the Rainbow Nation”, with eleven official languages, the largest economy of any African country and global recgnition as the birthplace of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, this is the country that has been selected to host UFI’s 84th Global Congress. The Congress will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 1-4 November 2017. Learn more about Alex Gr [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-01-16T13:32:54+00:00 August 1st, 2017|All, Middle East – Africa, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Can you afford not to be there? (part 1)
Can you afford not to be there? (part 1)

Can you afford not to be there? (part 1)

Interview with Alex Granger 84th UFI Global Congress Moderator (by Stephanie Selesnick part 1 of 2). “Raising the Odds – Pressures and Profits in the Exhibition Industry”, is the theme of this year’s UFI Global Congress (1-4 November in Johannesburg, South Africa) . With a rich variety of presentations, case studies, research, panel discussions, hot seat interviews and special interest-group discussions, the Global Congress offers you a high-level platform where participants can gain greater kno [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-10T11:55:26+00:00 July 10th, 2017|All, Middle East – Africa, UFI Updates|0 Comments

We must treat our exhibitors better!
We must treat our exhibitors better!

We must treat our exhibitors better!

Blogger: Stephanie Selesnick, President of International Trade Information, Inc. At last month’s European Conference (formerly the European Open Seminar) in Cologne, Germany, Mark Brewster, Founder and CEO of Explori, shared the results of a joint UFI-Explori study of European Net Promoter Scores (NPS) for venues, exhibitors and visitors. One of the more interesting findings, besides the fact visitors rate toilets as the most favorable aspect in a venue - even above WiFi - were satisfaction scor [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2017-12-10T11:55:26+00:00 June 12th, 2017|All, Americas|1 Comment

Interview with David Boon, UFI European Conference’s Moderator
Interview with David Boon, UFI European Conference’s Moderator

Interview with David Boon, UFI European Conference’s Moderator

Blogger: Stephanie Selesnick, President of International Trade Information, Inc UFI’s European Conference (Open Seminar) takes place May 10-12 in Cologne, Germany. With five billion Euros being invested in venues and venue infrastructure within the next 10 years, this Conference is focused on the future exhibition industry. I had a chance to speak with the event’s Moderator, David Boon, General Manager, International Business Development, Brussels Expo, Belgium about the upcoming event. To stay [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-01-16T13:31:32+00:00 April 24th, 2017|All, Europe|0 Comments

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