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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: Hugh Jones 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 68 Recruitment: Miranda Martin looks at opportunities in Asia
FEATURES
20 Stateside with Stephanie: US tariffs bringing stronger engagement as industry works together
40 Standing out in Africa: SMARTBUILD’ S operations manager Marita de Vos discusses balancing global expertise with regional insight for success in Africa
42 Asia’ s‘ superconductor’ Hong Kong: Ahead of the UFI Global Congress, key industry experts offer insights into what’ s trending in this trade fair capital
48 Thailand’ s smart approach: Keeping the focus on southeast Asia, EW hears from TCEB on some smart new plans
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
23 How IEG is blazing an expo trail in Saudi: IEG CEO Corrado Peraboni speaks exclusively to EW
34 Interview: Insights from RX’ s digital enabler Jamie Harrison
46 Right place at the right time: Theo Reilly hears from Singapore Tourism Board ' s CEO Ong Huey Hong about Singapore ' s plan to triple MICE tourism receipts by 2040
60 ' Intimacy without compromise’: Iain Stirling speaks to HE Sara Ahmed Buhiji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority
THINK TANK
51 From prompt to product: Dr Barış Onay describes how his event strategy bot was born
55 Industry partners driving customer-centric innovation: Insights from the UFI Working Group
65 Producers’ Room: Con Bridgeman examines VisProm 2.0
Far left, top: Moving onto the ISO standard, p31
Left: Macau: More than the Las Vegas of Asia, p45
Far left, bottom: ITE HCMC in Vietnam, p67
Left: Excel London expansion, p70
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