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Below is a list of the last five Press Releases to be consulted:
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Fifth UFI Global Exhibition Barometer tracks economic improvements by region
Paris, 8 July 2010 UFI’s fifth Barometer Survey of the global exhibition industry confirms that the decrease in turnover experienced throughout the industry since the start of the global financial crisis has finally bottomed-out. While a majority of survey participants confirm that their business is still suffering, they also see the light at the end of the tunnel and project an increase in turnover during 2010.
The current UFI Barometer confirms the significant regional differences identified in earlier surveys. Whereas survey participants from the Asia/Pacific region appeared hardest hit in 2008, their turnover spiral had bottomed-out by the end of 2009. 76% in the region are looking forward to a turnover increase during the first half of 2010. This shoots up to 87% of participants for the second half of 2010. Asia/Pacific is the only region where a majority of respondents expect an increase by more than 10% of their 2010 annual profit compared to 2008 (54%) and also consider that the impact of the economic crisis is finally over (58%).
Almost one respondent out of two in the Americas expect their 2010 annual profit to increase by more than 10% compared to 2009, and at the same time expect it to remain stable compared to 2008. The impact of the economic crisis is still felt by a large majority of those surveyed in the Americas and 62% believe that it will continue until 2011. Europe, which was more severely hit by the economic crisis than Asia/Pacific and the Americas in 2009, seems to be facing a longer recovery delay. Only 41% of survey respondents experienced an increase in turnover by the first half of 2010. 80% are still feeling the impact of the crisis today with a majority expecting this to continue until 2011 or 2012.
The Middle East/Africa region appears to be less severely hit than the other regions. Most companies declared a stable 2010 annual profit when compared to that of 2008 or 2009. While a majority continue to some consequences of the crisis, most anticipate this will be over by 2011.
Surveyed organisations were also asked to identify the three most important issues for their business in the year ahead. The top three issues ranked in order of importance follow:
• the state of the national/regional economy
• global economic uncertainty
• internal management challenges
Manfred Wutzlhofer, UFI President, summarized the situation saying, “When looking at the most important issue identified for the future, a majority of respondents in most parts of the world rank the state of the economy at either the global or national/regional level as their number one concern. UFI will continue to track this carefully as we develop new insights and trends in forthcoming editions of the Global Exhibition Barometer”
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For additional information please contact:
UFI
Ms Lili Eigl, Manager Communications
35bis, rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
75017 Paris, France
Phone: (33) 1 4267 9912
Email: lili@ufi.org
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UFI announces Board changes and new UFI approved events and members
Paris, July 6, 2010 UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has recently announced the election of new members to its Board of Directors and Executive Committee along with the approval of new UFI members and UFI Approved Events. Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Fondazione Fiera Milano, has been elected as a Vice President of UFI and member of the Executive Committee. Giovanni Mantovani, General Director of Veronafiere, and Wolfgang Marzin, Chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, have been co-opted to the Board of Directors by their respective UFI national members.
In addition, the UFI Board approved the admission of sixteen new members bringing UFI‘s total membership up to over 550 organisers, venues, associations and partners of the industry. “We are particularly delighted to welcome new associations from Argentina, Brazil and South Africa. UFI now includes 46 national and international associations under its umbrella”, said Manfred Wutzlhofer, UFI’s President. “We continue to provide an effective international forum for all members of the trade fair sector as we promote the interests of exhibitions around the world”,
Twenty two international exhibitions recently met the strict UFI criteria qualifying them as “UFI Approved Events”. Exhibitions carrying this globally recognised UFI label ensure exhibitors and visitors alike of a high international level of event quality. Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director, commented, “over 850 international trade fairs around the globe proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike. UFI members provide the global business community with a unique face-to-face marketing channel which offers outstanding business development opportunities.”
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For additional information please contact:
UFI
Ms Lili Eigl, Manager Communications
35bis, rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
75017 Paris, France
Phone: (33) 1 4267 9912
Email: lili@ufi.org
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Download this Press Release
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Paul Woodward takes over as UFI Managing Director
Paris, July 1, 2010: Paul Woodward is now Managing Director of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, following Vincent Gérard’s retirement. Woodward is well known within the UFI community as he was the UFI Asia/Pacific Regional Manager since 2004.
UFI’s President, Manfred Wutzlhofer, stated with confidence, “Our UFI members will certainly appreciate the seamless management transition facilitated by Paul’s move from east to west. Heading up the UFI headquarters team in Paris, Paul will ensure that we pursue our programmes and services and continue to successfully support the business objectives of our members and the exhibition industry worldwide.”
Paul Woodward is also the founder and Chairman of Business Strategies Group Limited (www.bsgasia.com), a business intelligence and strategy consulting firm which specialises in business media, information and events in Asia.
Paul was based in Hong Kong and involved in the development of business media and events in the Asia Pacific region since 1985. He has conducted over 500 business intelligence and strategy consulting projects since 1990.
Prior to founding BSG in 2000, he was Managing Director of Asian Strategies Ltd., the research and strategy consulting division of Miller Freeman Asia and a Director of Miller Freeman Asia, now UBM Asia. There he was responsible for regional strategy development, corporate communications and businesses around the Asia-Pacific region.
Paul stated, "I am delighted and honoured to be stepping into this exciting position. I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to work closely with our members in 83 countries around, helping them add value to their businesses and our industry through UFI's wide range of activities and services. I am deeply grateful to Vincent Gérard for the incredible job he has done over the last nine years leading the UFI team and which gives us a very strong platform on which to develop new products and resources for our members".
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For additional information please contact:
UFI
Ms Lili Eigl, Manager Communications
35bis, rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
75017 Paris, France
Phone: (33) 1 4267 9912
Email: lili@ufi.org
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Download this Press Release
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UFI Seminar Participants Debate Issues to “Drive Business Forward”
Paris, June 23, 2010 : “Driving Business Forward” was the key objective for the 140 participants at this year’s UFI Open Seminar in Europe hosted in Budapest by Hungexpo from June 21-23, 2010. Gathering from 30 countries, these exhibition organizers, venue operators and partners of the industry, debated a number of hot topics which will ensure that this face-to-face media retains its acknowledged position as a key marketing tool. In addition to organizing this international event, open to all professionals in the exhibition industry, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, used this occasion to also hold a number of internal meetings in Budapest. Among these, the UFI Executive Committee and Board meetings, the Associations’ Committee gathering national and international exhibition industry associations, the UFI European Chapter, Marketing and Education Committee meetings, reviewed issues related to services and exhibition industry related issues management.
Steve Monnington, moderator of this year’s UFI annual event, polled participants and found that 37% acknowledged they’d used the period during the recent economic crisis as an opportunity to review and revise internal systems. Surprisingly, 38% revealed that they took advantage of this period to launch new events and make new acquisitions - and the majority of the remaining participants wished they’d done the same.
There was a general acknowledgement that our efforts to support the objectives of our visitors and exhibitors should be a priority with particular emphasis on assisting them to analyze the ROI of their exhibition participation. As a particularly appreciated addition to this session, UFI listened carefully as an outspoken international exhibitor (Claudia Kreowski of Grohe AG) provided her perspective on changes which would be welcomed by the exhibitor community. Pricing transparency was at the top of the list and as a topic, led to heated discussion. Seminar topics challenged venues, organizers and suppliers to develop viable cooperative solutions, review pricing strategies and adopt new communications vehicles to support their exhibitor and visitor clients.
Animated discussion was dominant at this year’s UFI event, and participants openly shared their perspectives, questions and solutions on a number of issues. Vincent Gérard, UFI Managing Director, said “I’ve been attending UFI events for almost ten years, but this year’s Open Seminar in Europe was the one I’ll always remember for the frank and open exchange of ideas which drew us into valuable discussions of issues which our industry will be addressing actively in the years ahead.”
Leaders of the international exhibition community will be meeting next in Singapore at the 77th UFI Congress hosted by SACEOS in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands from November 10-13, 2010.
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For additional information please contact:
UFI
Ms Lili Eigl, Manager Communications
35bis, rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
75017 Paris, France
Phone: (33) 1 4267 9912
Email: lili@ufi.org
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Download this Press Release
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Trade fair market in Asia grew by 3.8% in 2009 according to UFI report
June 22, 2010 – Paris/Hong Kong: The trade fair industry in Asia expanded by 3.8% in 2009 despite a very challenging global economic environment according to the sixth edition of UFI’s annual report on the trade fair market in Asia. Net area sold by organisers in Asia reached a total of 14.9 million m2. The research was once again undertaken for UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, by Business Strategies Group (BSG) in Hong Kong.
China continues to dominate the exhibition industry in Asia. It is the largest market in the region by any measure: net space sold, industry revenues, number of exhibitions and number of venues. Year-on-year, net m2 sold in China grew by 6.7% outperforming the regional average of 3.8%. Over 8.1 million m2 were sold in China in 2009 – accounting for almost 55% of 14.9 million m2 sold across Asia. The second largest market, Japan, continued to lose ground to China. The Japanese market was the worst performing market in Asia in 2009 shrinking by 3.9% with 1.9 million m2 sold.
Although China remains the largest market, one much smaller market did grow faster than China last year. Space sold in Macau expanded by 47.5% largely on the back of the resurgence of Macau’s gaming-based economy. It is worth noting that Macau’s growth was from a very low base (i.e. 98,000 m2). Two other markets also performed above the regional average: Malaysia (4.7%) and Korea (3.9%).
Revenues from trade fairs in Asia were mostly flat year-on-year. This can largely be attributed to the weak global economic environment and to discounts offered by many organisers across the region in an effort to attract more exhibitors. Regional revenues in 2009 were US$3.39 billion (vs. US$3.44 in 2008). China generated revenues of US$1.14 billion accounting for 1/3 of all revenues in Asia last year, followed by Japan at 24% and Hong Kong which now accounts for 10% of total industry revenues in Asia on the back of just 88 exhibitions.
This report provides detailed information on the development of trade fairs and supporting facilities in 15 markets: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The report also includes detailed analysis on actual market performance in 2009 as well as forecasts and commentary on key trends in each of those 15 markets.
Vincent Gérard, UFI Managing Director, commented, “While the exhibition industry in the U.S. and Europe struggled to find their feet in 2009, Asia posted another year of substantial growth. As China, Asia’s largest trade fair market, grew by nearly 7% and the regional as a whole grew by 3.8%, it is clear that in 2010 and beyond the global exhibition industry will be looking to Asia for opportunities to grow existing events as well as launch new ones.”
As an added-value service, each UFI member will be entitled to receive a four page executive summary of the research and to purchase the full report at a substantial discount.
This report has been edited by UFI Asia/Pacific Regional Manager and BSG Managing Director, Mark Cochrane. He commented, “Asia will continue to provide the key platform of growth for the exhibition industry worldwide. The growth here has been impressive. In 2004, 8.2 million m2 were sold in Asia. Last year, China alone recorded net space sales 8.2 million m2 and over 14.9 million m2 were sold across the region. By the end of 2010, we expect that figure to reach more than 15.8 million m2.”
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For additional information please contact:
UFI
Ms Lili Eigl, Manager Communications
35bis, rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
75017 Paris, France
Phone: (33) 1 4267 9912
Email: lili@ufi.org
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Download this Press Release
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