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What’s New in Attendee Acquisition?
What’s New in Attendee Acquisition?

What’s New in Attendee Acquisition?

I recently asked the following question on LinkedIn: Hi exhibition industry friends. Out of curiosity, what other attendee promotion/recruitment tools are you doing besides print, death by email and digital-based outreach? The reason I asked the question was two-fold: It seems many show organizers are over-dependent on emails to get the job done for recruiting quality visitors; and wanted to know what else industry colleagues are doing. A number of people answered, and there were over 1600 views [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-05-25T09:29:38+00:00 May 25th, 2018|All, Americas, Asia – Pacific, Best Practices, Europe, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Marketing, Middle East – Africa, Operations & Services, 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

The UFI European Conference 2018 review, future-proofing the exhibition world
The UFI European Conference 2018 review, future-proofing the exhibition world

The UFI European Conference 2018 review, future-proofing the exhibition world

Sophie Hackford, the keynote speaker Over 220 delegates from 35 countries gathered at the European Conference 2018 in Verona (Italy). Speakers and delegates discussed the challenge of how to future-proof exhibitions on the main conference stage and in breakout sessions over the course of two days. As one participant put it on Twitter: “To future-proof exhibitions, first listen to the future.” This was the theme behind the opening session with keynote speaker Sophie Hackford, Futurist and Resea [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2018-05-09T15:30:23+00:00 May 9th, 2018|All, Digital Innovation, Europe, Exhibition Industry, UFI News, UFI Updates|0 Comments

From West World to the exhibition world
From West World to the exhibition world

From West World to the exhibition world

Kai Hattendorf, UFI Managing Director / CEO One of the hottest tickets at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin last month was for the chance to step into and experience the saloon from the TV series “West World” – a show based on the story that humanoid robots in a “wild west” amusement park “awaken” from their programming, driven by artificial intelligence. In Austin, it took organisers four months to prepare this two-hour experience for ticket holders. Over 440 pages of script we [...]

By Kai Hattendorf| 2018-04-26T15:22:23+00:00 April 26th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, UFI News, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Next Generation Leadership Grant
Next Generation Leadership Grant

Next Generation Leadership Grant

During the last month, one activity stood out to me while carrying out my role as our association’s president: the day we selected the recipients of this year’s Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Grant. The UFI NGL Grant programme promotes next-generation leadership, by rewarding professionals who demonstrate clear initiative in driving change and innovation in their area of activity. We launched this programme in 2016 to help young leaders to connect, engage and exchange ideas with experienced pr [...]

By UFI President| 2018-04-19T15:01:50+00:00 April 19th, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, UFI News, UFI Updates|0 Comments

Everyone is a Consumer First
Everyone is a Consumer First

Everyone is a Consumer First

We are consumers first and foremost, and as such, our attendees, exhibitors and stakeholders expect face-to-face, business-to-business events to be more like the experiences encountered at festivals, concerts, and other live events. Unfortunately, most exhibitions are not. Here are a few thoughts to modernize trade shows so they are more interactive and entertaining for attendees. They are based on ideas expressed at the recent XLIVE Esports Summit in Los Angeles, USA. For those of you who have [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-04-11T15:24:00+00:00 April 11th, 2018|All, Best Practices, Digital Innovation, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Marketing|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

Digital transformation: How do I digitalize a trade fair?
Digital transformation: How do I digitalize a trade fair?

Digital transformation: How do I digitalize a trade fair?

Digital transformation is on everyone’s lips. With the constantly increasing relevance of online and social media, companies must have the courage to take a step forward. But what does that mean in concrete terms for a trade fair company? Which measures can be taken today to sensibly digitalize a trade fair? Promoting trade fairs effectively with digital media As a rule, one can say that a trade fair visitor’s entire customer journey from the first contact to the final visit to the event can be [...]

By Monika Fourneaux-Ceskova| 2018-04-03T08:01:41+00:00 March 29th, 2018|All|0 Comments

UFI Global Exhibition Barometer
UFI Global Exhibition Barometer

UFI Global Exhibition Barometer

The UFI Global Exhibition Barometer is a survey answered by almost 300 companies from 53 countries, painting a genuinely global picture. The results detail development for 17 geographical zones, including 14 major national markets, and in broad terms reveal positive trends for the exhibition industry. The good news is 2017 appears to have been a generally profitable year, although fewer than half (44%) of the companies we approached said their operating profits were actually growing. Exhibition [...]

By UFI President| 2018-03-22T15:49:51+00:00 March 22nd, 2018|All, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Industry Research|0 Comments

Keeping Your Exhibition Relevant in the Future
Keeping Your Exhibition Relevant in the Future

Keeping Your Exhibition Relevant in the Future

The UFI European Conference theme this year is Future Proof Exhibitions. Keynote speaker Francis Friedman, President of trade show consultants Time & Place Strategies plans to have a strategic conversation with delegates on Future Building and Future Profiting of Exhibitions. Friedman says, as we look to the future “Attendee acquisition will no longer be simply telling people they will get ‘excellent networking opportunities, see the latest products on the show floor, and get access to educ [...]

By Stephanie Selesnick| 2018-03-19T09:49:47+00:00 March 15th, 2018|All, Digital Innovation, Exhibition Industry|0 Comments