Contents
UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry promotes, represents and serves the interests of the world’ s leading show organisers, fairground owners and operators, major national and inter national associations of the exhibition industry and industry partners. As a non-political and non-profit organisation, UFI’ s main goal is to serve the exhibition industry worldwide and to emphasise its unique marketing characteristics for the development of world trade.
Present on six continents, in 84 countries, UFI is a unique and neutral forum for dialogue dedicated to all professionals involved in the trade fair business. Serving the exhibition industry since 1925, UFI applies its professional experience and renown to providing its members and the industry with the extensive know-how required to meet the challenges of ever-changing needs. Being a member of UFI is a proof of quality and international recognition. Over 4,500 tradefairs and exhibitions are organised by its members. More than 900 of these are international exhibitions, approved by UFI, based upon strict and exacting quality criteria, assuring excellent services for the benefit of exhibitors and visitors.
UFI President: Panittha Buri UFI Managing Director / CEO: Chris Skeith, OBE UFI Head of Marcomms: Pierre Aurelien Vidon
17 rue Louise Michel 92300 Levallois-Perret, France Tel: + 33( 0) 1 4639 7500 Fax: + 33( 0) 1 4639 7501 Email: info @ ufi. org Website: www. ufi. org
UFI Asia / Pacific Regional Office: Suite 4114, Hong Kong Plaza 188 Connaught Road West Hong Kong, S. A. R Tel:( 852) 2525 6129 Email: asia @ ufi. org
UFI Middle East / Africa UFI MEA Office Info Salons Middle East Office Sheikh Zayed Rd City Tower 2, Office 2001A PO Box 58580 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: + 971( 0) 4 331 7180 E-mail: mea @ ufi. org
UFI Latin America Corferias Cra 37 # 24-67 Auditorium Second Floor Bogota, Colombia Tel: + 571 3445486 E-mail: anamaria @ ufi. org
The opinions and views expressed in Exhibition World do not necessarily reflect UFI policy or position.
In this issue:
NEWS & OPINION
5 Editor’ s Note 6-7 Global Snapshot 9 UFI Column:
CEO Chris Skeith
50 Recruitment: Movers & shakers: Busy times for recruitment
FEATURES
18 What’ s on the content agenda? Matt Coyne urges making that initial impession count
28 Stateside with Stephanie: CES sees major ramp up of investment in startups
30 Teaching the future: Mark Parsons shares some classroom revelations about how organisers are changing
34 Better Stands: Progress or theatre? Theo Reilly asks whether the initiative is a genuine step forward or a modest fix for a deeper problem
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
27 Five trends to watch: UFI marks the card with five major industry trends for 2026
32 Prague green lights € 53.6m investment: Prague Congress Centre CEO welcomes final decision to back exhibition hall development
36 Start with strategy and only spend with purpose: Event Concept’ s Amelia Parmiter explains how strategy changes the event conversation
47 Going for Gold: Fiera Milano in training to benefit from Winter Olympic legacy
THINK TANK
Far left, top: New Year – new acquisitions, p12
Left: inD launch- a symbol of the rise and rise of Dubai, p23 Far left, bottom: CES Trends: report from our Vegas correspondent, p28
Left: Lessons from a major organiser collaboration in Saudi, p38
11 M & A: John McGovern reviews some M & A highlights from a very active period for deals
44 Risk, resilience and readiness: Tommy Goodwin, vice-president of ECA, offers thoughts on how to navigate political uncertainty in 2026 and beyond
www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 1 2026 3