Dear members, dear colleagues,

The whole Paris team is back in the office after having used the past two months to take some time off respectively. Recharged and energised, we are working now to prepare our Global Congress in Las Vegas. We will have a unique event for all of you, and with colleagues from more than 50 countries around the world signed up already, we may see our most international event ever this November. Check out this UFI Info for more updates, and don’t forget to register at www.uficongress.org.

This does not mean that UFI has not been active in July and August – just the opposite. Let me give you three examples.

On research – if you are catching up yourself, make sure to have a look at the latest edition of the Global Barometer research that we released in July. With global revenues in our industry now expected to reach 97% of the 2019 levels, it is safe to say that the pandemic is now completely in our rearview mirror. With 19 country and market profiles, you will find a wealth of data to check against our insights. As a lead analyst from an investment bank wrote in an investors’ note covering this edition: “The UFI Global Barometer is one of the best insights we have into the mood of the exhibitions industry.” Thank you as always to all the hundreds of UFI members sharing data and inputs for this!

On advocacy – UFI has supported a key project done by the OECD, the production of two specific policy guides on tracking and measuring the impact of global events. In the past, the organisation focused on sports and cultural events, and only included the World Expo. Now, for the first time, exhibitions and conferences are included in the definition of global events as well – a breakthrough. And work from UFI is being referenced in these publications – for instance, our economic impact model for exhibitions, and the Net Zero Carbon Events guidance. While these reports won’t make big headlines, they inform and guide policymakers and governments around the world, creating a lasting positive impact on how we are seen as a key industry.

On talent – we all know (and the Barometer shows again) that this is one of the most pressing issues we face today as an industry, and we continue to work on this. Over the past months, a dedicated project working group has picked up what last year’s NGLs presented at the Global Congress in Oman, and produced a new white paper. The report aims at helping organisations in our industry to unite on a common talent narrative, and it is suggesting central threads for customising your own “people story”. Please have a look and share it internally.

A lot more has happened, as you will see when reading through this edition of UFI Info. And a lot lies ahead as well, with research and insights now under production to be shared in Las Vegas.

I am looking forward to seeing many of you in the US soon!