Insight
These investments reflect a wider shift. Measures once viewed primarily as sustainability initiatives are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructure that helps venues maintain operations during periods of extreme weather.
Rossolimo points out that there has been significant investment in smarter building technologies and renewable energy, particularly at the country’ s major exhibition venues. While modern facilities are adapting quickly, she notes that older buildings, particularly those subject to heritage restrictions, face greater challenges in retrofitting cooling systems and improving energy efficiency.
Loading areas and staff welfare In South Africa, Mike Weeks, King Cargo Projects, says the country ' s leading convention centres are generally well-equipped, with commercial-grade HVAC systems, zoned climate control and, increasingly, backup power generation, providing resilience against both extreme weather and electricity supply challenges.
Yet, it’ s also interesting that the exhibition hall itself no longer appears to be the primary concern.
Weeks believes the industry ' s biggest vulnerabilities often sit outside the buildings.“ The challenge isn’ t usually the venue itself,” he notes.“ It ' s outdoor loading areas, queues, parking facilities, temporary structures, and the people working in them.”
Contractors working during build-up and breakdown, freight teams, security personnel, and drivers are often exposed to conditions far more challenging than those experienced by visitors inside airconditioned halls.
As temperatures rise, providing shaded rest areas, hydration points, cooling facilities, and revised working practices is becoming an increasingly important part of event planning.
Higher energy demand during heatwaves can increase venue operating costs, while extreme weather can disrupt transport, delay freight movements, and affect the availability and prices of goods and services that exhibitions rely on.
Climate resilience is also emerging as a competitive differentiator. Priscilla Leong, managing director of Expotrans Pte Ltd, Singapore, points out that“ where two destinations are similar in cost and market appeal, the venue or city that can prove better climate resilience will have an advantage.”
The exhibition industry has spent years focusing on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. That work remains essential. But the conversation is expanding.
For organisers, the issue extends far beyond health and safety. Shawna McKinley, principal at Clear Current Consulting, believes climate change is already influencing the economics of events through supply chains, logistics and operating costs. She points out that“ We complain a lot about the price of coffee at events but rarely talk about how more days of coffee-harming heat contribute to spikes in cost.”
As weather records continue to be broken around the world, success will increasingly depend not only on reducing environmental impact but on ensuring exhibitions can continue to operate safely, efficiently and comfortably, whatever the forecast.
For organisers choosing their next destination, climate resilience may not yet be the first question they ask, but it’ s rapidly moving up the list.
The good news for now is that most venues seem to be well prepared for heatwaves. It’ s worth taking a more holistic look, however, as outside the venue, hot weather can affect people beyond those air-conditioned halls. Contractors and suppliers, attendees moving between hotel and venue, and travel conditions all affect the experience.
Ultimately, we can never underestimate the tangible effects of climate change on the exhibition industry, but there’ s always an opportunity to take a temperature check. EW www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 4 2026 35