• Registration open for 91st UFI Global Congress, taking place 20-23 November 2024
• Largest, most global event of the year hosted by Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany
• Special discounted pricing for first 91 registrations

Paris – 2 April 2024: The countdown to the 2024 UFI Global Congress has begun, as registration for the event is now open. The 91st edition of the association’s largest and most global annual event will take place from 20-23 November 2024 in Cologne, Germany, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has announced.

The UFI Global Congress is the premier annual gathering for the exhibition industry, where industry leaders convene from across the globe to forge connections and exchange knowledge. True to UFI’s global reach, the congress rotates through different regions worldwide each year. This year, it will be hosted by Koelnmesse in their new Conference and Exhibition Centre: Confex. With a total of 22 conference rooms and the large, multifunctional Confex hall, it will offer space for innovative event formats and more than 6,000 participants.

Geoff Dickinson, UFI President and CEO of dmg events, comments: “UFI’s Global Congresses are pivotal gatherings for our industry where we take the pulse of our industry with colleagues from around the world. This year’s edition in Cologne will offer opportunities to connect and learn that are second to none, and I very much look forward to navigating the industry’s future alongside you all in November.”

Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse, adds: “With the opening of the future-oriented Confex, Koelnmesse is also celebrating an important anniversary this year. We have been bringing people and markets together in Cologne for 100 years now. Even established trade fairs and modern trade fair grounds require constant renewal. It is, therefore, a true honour to welcome the professionals of our industry to Cologne. We look forward to the exchange and inspiring talks.”

As every year, the event’s content will reflect the latest trends and innovations that are driving the industry forward. Attendees can look forward to a diverse range of sessions focusing on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the global exhibition industry as well as unparalleled networking opportunities.

UFI invites the 50,000+ industry professionals in its member companies, as well as colleagues in partner associations, SISO, ICCA, and AIPC, to join this event that will bring together leaders from around the world to shape the future of the industry.

In honour of the 91st edition of the Global Congress, exclusive discounted pricing is available for the first 91 registrants. To take advantage of these rates and register, visit: www.uficongress.org.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and media inquiries for the UFI Global Congress, please contact events@ufi.org.

Attachments:

• 2024 UFI Global Congress visual – 1024 x 1024
• 2024 UFI Global Congress visual – 1920 x 1082

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• Close to 300 exhibition industry leaders gather in Macau
• Key issues discussed included sustainability, AI and changing event formats
• Success of conference in Macau underscores importance of Greater Bay Area

Paris / Macau – 12 March 2024: Close to 300 delegates from 20 countries and regions attended the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in Macau. The annual event was held at The Parisian Macao and hosted by the Macau Fair & Trade Association. It took place from 7-8 March and was co-located with the first-ever Event Directors Summit held in Asia.

“This was our first time bringing this event to Macau since 2008. Both Macau and its MICE industry have grown remarkably since then. This year’s conference was particularly successful in bringing together UFI members and industry leaders from around the region, including approximately 150 from Greater China. A key theme explored in Macau was the emerging importance of the Greater Bay Area and growth opportunities for our industry in this region,” commented Mark Cochrane, UFI Asia-Pacific Regional Director.

Ms. Synthia Chan, Council Chairperson for the Macau Trade & Fair Association, said, “What an honour it was to host the 2024 UFI Asia-Pacific Conference! It got our adrenaline pumping with fun and surprises! And as always it was a pleasure to work with the UFI team. We have been waiting for years to host this event again, and now I can honestly say it was worth the wait!”

Over the two days of the conference, speakers covered key issues such as the rise of AI and its expected impact on exhibitions, the importance of implementing sustainable best practices, the evolution of event formats and the exciting opportunities emerging in China’s Greater Bay Area which includes cities such as Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

All sessions will be made available to UFI members and conference participants in the coming days as on-demand videos.

Macau also saw the initial edition of the “Event Directors Summit” format in the region. Launched in Europe in 2023, this invitation-only summit connects show and portfolio directors across borders to discuss common challenges.

Alongside the conference, UFI held numerous association meetings, including the Asia-Pacific chapter meeting and a session of the Associations Committee. UFI management also hosted a student delegation from Macau’s City University.

In 2025, the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference will take place in Melbourne from 13-14 February, hosted by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

As the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI organises annual regional conferences in Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East & Africa, as well as the UFI Global Congress.

Full details about the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2024 can be found on the event website: www.ufiasia.org.

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