Arguing against Globalization is like arguing against gravity

Blogger: Stephanie Selesnick, President of International Trade Information, Inc.

Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the United Nations and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize once said, “Arguing against Globalization is like arguing against gravity.” This quote is one that a speaker mentioned at the UFI Open Congress in Abu Dhabi back in 2012. It’s still true.

What happens in Brussels or Paris has an impact on what happens in New York, Chicago or Las Vegas. What happens in London may have an impact in Santiago or Shanghai. We in the exhibition industry bring lots and lots of people together to engage in commerce. When an entire city is shut down due to terrorism, we are all affected. When there’s a threat resulting in exhibition centers, sports stadiums or airports being shut down, we’re all affected.

That’s part of the reason I’m excited to attend the UFI Open Seminar in Europe for the first time this June 20-22 in Basel, Switzerland. Networking with industry colleagues from all over the world – not just Europe – and hearing from experts with different perspectives are definitely worth the long journey. Plus – it’s Switzerland! Basel is the second largest city in the country and is known for its culture and the world famous Art Basel show.

Since most US media coverage is focused inward, it should be fascinating to hear solutions on topics impacting the entire global exhibition industry – including how our European friends are handling terrorist attacks and living with the ongoing threat of terror.

Learning what others in our industry think about where increased digitalization will take us and how it will continue to further transform our businesses is also part of the Seminar’s agenda. Another session, I’m particularly interested in about, is the online-to-offline cooperation between exhibition organizers and online companies partnering to keep the 24/7 selling cycle alive.

Grow your business. Learn new things. Meet new people. I invite you to join the UFI Seminar in Basel this June. There’s still time to register.

About the Author: Stephanie Selesnick

Stephanie Selesnick, President of Las Vegas-based International Trade Information, Inc. works with exhibition organizers to internationalize their shows, one expo at a time. They recently introduced the International Exhibitor Representation Program are the long time North American representatives for SNIEC, the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. A second-generation former show organizer, Stephanie blogs for UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry and Exhibition World, and enjoys sharing knowledge online and in person. She is a founding member of the Exhibitions Think Tank, Women in Exhibitions Network North America, serves on the faculty of UFI’s Exhibition Management School and is a Virtual Events Institute Subject Matter Expert.

Arguing against Globalization is like arguing against gravity