Paris and Cologne - 18 April 2008: Building on the success of its first two sessions, the International Summer University for Trade Fair Management (ISU) is now calling for participants in its 2008 session to be held in Cologne, Germany from August 25 - 29. This year’s ISU theme, The Global Trade Fair Industry - Challenges Now and Beyond, will bring together renowned academics and executives from throughout the global exhibition community to identify the issues facing today’s tradeshow business and to analyze developments leading to their successful management.

The key objective of the ISU is to provide an educational platform to enhance international dialogue among trade fair managers and experts from all sectors of the exhibition industry. "In order to create an intense and productive exchange among our participants, the ISU is especially tailored to the interests and challenges facing exhibition executives and future executives," explains Professor Werner Delfmann, member of the Board of the Institute of Trade Fair Management - University of Cologne. "The heart of the ISU forum beats around the animated and fruitful discussions which arise when such a focussed group of participants meets to analyse and debate key issues."

Each of the five seminar days will focus on a specific exhibition industry related issue. This year’s International Summer University will concentrate on strategy, logistics, internationalisation, marketing and future trends and challenges. Speakers with strong international perspective will bring their handson experience to the seminar as the group discusses the most recent developments in the exhibition industry. ISU participants will gain a keen understanding of the solution options available to many of today’s exhibition industry challenges.

"Interaction among participants is also very important for us," explains ISU project manager Vera Kimmeskamp. "Outside of the classroom sessions, informal gatherings, dinners and excursions will create networking ties which will survive for years to come," she added. "The ISU has shown itself to be a global link in the networking chain of the international exhibition industry".

Since the ISU’s debut in 2006, eighty trade fair experts from 25 countries - including India, Korea and Russia - have shared knowledge and information within the framework of this unique programme. "The positive feedback from the past two programmes encourages us to match the expectations of a new ISU group of participants. The 2008 ISU will continue to provide a unique educational forum for executives in the international exhibition industry," Professor Werner Delfmann said.

UFI’s Managing Director, Vincent Gérard, summed up the goals of this programme saying, "continuous learning is key to continuous progress. The ISU provides UFI members and nonmembers with a global perspective which will push our exhibition industry to do what we do best - provide quality marketing opportunities for today’s international business world."

The complete ISU programme, registration and logistical information are available at:
www.tradefair.uni-koeln.de
or
www.ufi.org/pages/ufiactivities/summer_university.asp

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Paris, April 8, 2008: UFI continues to advocate all reasonable efforts regarding the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR). UFI has continually stated this position. Examples of UFI's proactive efforts are reflected in a joint agreement signed between UFI and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in November of 2006, and the recent publication of "UFI Recommendations for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at Exhibitions".

IPR attention and enforcement are now at the forefront of the industry. Efforts to penalize violators are taking place at trade shows worldwide, e.g. recently, during CeBIT in Hanover. A statement by a Hanover Police representative was very clear, he said, IPR violators "…should have known this and expected the raids." Exhibition organizers in Germany, for example, inform their exhibitors in advance about the protection of IPR. In many other countries also, joint initiatives have been raised to protect innovations and unique models during trade shows.

The protection of the intellectual property rights of an individual and/or company is a matter of business ethics in addition to a matter of law. UFI members acknowledge this responsibility as a part of their agreement to the association's Code of Ethics. More companies are taking vigorous action to protect their products and the adverse impact on their business from IPR violations. The exhibition industry must assist exhibitors with information about means available to protect their IPR, so that trade shows will remain the number one market place for innovations and unique products. UFI and its members around the globe additionally advocate reasonable and fair means to support the identification of violators who are harming this important business platform.

The exhibition organizer has a specific role to play, which is detailed in the "UFI Recommendations for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at Exhibitions". This brochure is available as free download on the UFI website:

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Paris, March 25, 2008: Cliff Wallace, President of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced that the UFI Board of Directors recently approved the entry of four new members: two exhibition venues, one organizer and one service provider. "The admission of these exhibition organisations reflects UFI's commitment to the development of strong international standards throughout the trade fair industry," said Wallace. In addition, Messe München GmbH has moved into the UFI Group member category with its nine international subsidiaries.

UFI's global membership now includes over 500 exhibition organisers, owners and managers of exhibition centres, national and international associations and partners of the industry. UFI has more than doubled its membership over the past five years.

UFI members organize over 4,500 exhibitions around the world and operate 162 exhibition centres in 84 countries. Thirty seven national and international exhibition related associations belong to UFI, making it the global "hub" of the industry.

At the same time, Wallace announced that six additional international exhibitions have met the quality requirements for the "UFI Approved" status. The UFI "label" ensures that exhibitors and visitors alike will profit from the opportunities provided by trade fairs and exhibitions to demonstrate products and services and to build solid marketing relationships in a sound professional environment. UFI Managing Director Vincent Gérard said that, "UFI Approved events must provide audited statistics on a regular basis. Our clients can verify the return on investment represented by their exhibition participation."

As a unique forum, UFI brings together industry organisations on a regular basis to examine issues and to work to ensure that the exhibition industry remains the number one opportunity for buyers and sellers to efficiently and effectively meet their marketing objectives.

New UFI Members

Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre
Zhengzhou (China) - Exhibition Centre

John Kotsis & Co.
Vironas (Greece) - Organizer

Agility Fairs & Events Logistics Pte Ltd.
Singapore (Singapore) - Service Provider

Expo-Center Meteor
Dnepropetrovvsk (Ukraine) - Exhibition Centre



New UFI Approved Events

Interwood - John Kotsis & Co. - Vironas (Greece)

CACFair Bathroom & Kitchen - Guangzhou YI-WU International Exhibition Co. Ltd. - Guangzhou (China)

TEXWORLD - Messe Frankfurt France - Paris (France)

Exopfranchise - IFE - International Faculty for Executives - Lisbon (Portugal)
Franchise Show - IFE - International Faculty for Executives - Lisbon (Portugal)

"Radio Electronics. Instrument-making. Automation" - FAREXPO JSC - St. Petersburg (Russia)

Busan International Seafood & Fisheries Expo - BEXCO - Busan (South Korea)

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Launch of UFI Global CEO Forum to occur in 2009

Paris, March 11, 2008: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has announced that beginning in January 2009 it will launch the "UFI Global CEO Forum for Exhibition Organizers" (UCF). Cliff Wallace, UFI President, announced the new event structure which will keep Seven Smulders, who previously led the exhibition industry's "International CEO Forum" (ICF), at the head of the UCF programme management, and the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH) as a coordinating body for the UCF. Wallace pointed out that "this by-invitation-only event provides a key opportunity for CEO's of exhibition organising companies from around the globe to identify and discuss the challenges facing the exhibition media and to seek ways to develop new forms of cooperation." This addition to the UFI portfolio enhances the educational development opportunities for UFI's members and the industry, one of Wallace's key goals as UFI President.

Seven Smulders, who has successfully developed the ICF annual programme since 2002, agrees that the incorporation of the UCF into the UFI portfolio will allow it to progress the previous ICF concept to a new level. "This three year agreement," said Smulders, "seems a natural match for both organisations. As in the past, the UCF will be open to the CEO's of exhibition organising companies, whether they are UFI members or not. By limiting attendance to 100 senior level participants, we are able to provide a unique forum for our industry decision makers." On a very restricted basis, CEOs from exhibition venues and service providers may participate in the UCF if they agree to support the event as industry sponsors.

Vincent Gerard, UFI Managing Director, stated, "UFI has wanted to offer the exhibition industry a quality CEO programme for some time. We look forward to working with Seven Smulders and the NCH team to further develop this unique programme opportunity."

At its recent meeting in St Petersburg (Russia), UFI's Board of Directors approved the first UCF which will be hosted by IFEMA at Feria de Madrid in Madrid (Spain), from 21 - 23 January 2009.

Additional programme information and registration will be made available online at www.ufi.org/UCF2009 .

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Paris, March 10, 2008: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has announced key changes to its team at its Paris headquarters. Vincent Gérard, UFI Managing Director, named Dr. Rowena Arzt as UFI's new Director of Business Development. Ms ARZT will replace Briac Le Mouël who passed away suddenly in October after a tragic illness. Mr. Gerard said, "replacing such a talented individual was not an easy task. But I am certain that with Ms Arzt's appointment, we have succeeded."

Ms Arzt brings a strong understanding of the exhibition sector to the position. She has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a PhD specialised in the trade fair sector earned at the University of Cologne, Germany. She began her career at the Trade Fair Institute in Cologne where she was instrumental in launching the first International Summer University (ISU), a management level exhibition industry educational programme partnered with UFI. She initiated a variety of research studies and was responsible for the coordination of a number of consulting projects with exhibitors, exhibition organisers and general service contractors. One of these projects was the first UFI European Benchmark Study for the exhibition industry.

In her new position at UFI, Ms Arzt will be in charge of the association's event programmes, the research, the education programmes and the development of new services for UFI's members.

Mr. Gérard also announced a change in position title for Ms Sonia Thomas. Mrs. THOMAS, who became part of the UFI team as Director of Administration in 2006, will become Director of Operations, a title which is more adapted to her responsibilities. She will continue with her current responsibilities managing the Paris office, UFI membership recruiting and administration.

Cliff Wallace, UFI President, remarked, "UFI's international staff in Paris, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi has always been strong. With these changes, I am certain that we will see UFI's support of the needs of its members and the exhibition industry reach a new level of excellence."

Both of these changes will be effective on April 1, 2008.

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