Editor’ s Note
The best of times, the worst of times …
n these recent months of international conflict
I around Iran, and the even longer conflict in Ukraine, it is easy to circle the wagons, particularly for those who were badly hit by Covid and all that entailed for the sector. For sure, despite a Gulf ceasefire in place( at time of writing at least), what the markets crave is stability and predictability. Our trade show business is all about planning ahead and reliability and continuing cancellations at regional travel hubs and fears of rising costs, with fuel and energy front and centre, continue to over-exercise our creative minds.
Just as water flow will always find a way, our ingenious industry is carrying on, finding alternatives and thinking outside the box. Our big Logistics feature, starting on p28, offers several expert voices around the world on how that side of our industry is coping.
Meanwhle, one door closes and another opens, as Informa Markets illustrated as we went to press, by signing a MoU with the Hong Kong Tourism Board for a new type of‘ City showcase’ event based on the luxury sector. Check out that story and more on www. exhibitionnews. co. uk
We are blessed to have the thoughts of some big industry beasts in this issue – many of whom have seen it all before – with the consultants at jwc delving into venue safety and asking if we’ re spending on the wrong risks. RX Global CEO Hugh Jones also joins with thoughts on the industry’ s growth in breadth but not necessarily depth: Success of exhibitions, he argues, is no longer defined by volume, but by value.
We also present new M & A analysis from GMA’ s John McGovern which shows no lessening of PE appetites for event businesses, as witnessed by the acquisition of CloserStill for close on $ 1.77bn.
And we offer our regular columns of insight from UFI, SISO and, on recruitment, from tfconnect.
To bookend this note, I’ ll leave you with another quote from Dickens:“ There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.” EW
Paul Colston Editor X: @ ExhibitionWorld Instagram: @ ew _ magazine
Managing Editor: Paul Colston; Portfolio Director: Iain Stirling. International Marketing Executive: Jack Belcher. International Account Director: Myran Balasingham. Graphic Design: The Magazine Production Company. Contact us: Subscriptions:+ 44( 0) 20 8481 1128, Editorial: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1152, Advertising: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1122, Production:+ 44( 0) 20 8971 1132. Exhibition World is published by Mash Media, Second floor, Applemarket House, 17 Union Street, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1RP, UK. Tel: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1122 fax: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1144, Email: info @ mashmedia. net Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers. Printed by Pensord Press Ltd.
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