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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: 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 looks towards the November Global Congress and beyond
49 Recruitment: Miranda Martin, MD, tfconnect, explores conversations and opportunities that can arise when
FEATURES
cultures collide post acquisition
12 Digital‘ international passport for goods’ requirements: The Rhenus Group’ s Rob Mulligan explains what organisers need to know
17 Low lift, high return: Ian Davis, VP marketing, Snöball, highlights the economics of peer advocacy in events
25 ITE HCMC 2026 – 20:20 vision: Simon George finds government buy-in and MICE ambition coalescing in Vietnam
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
18 Polishing the keys to more CES success in Las Vegas: Stephanie Selesnick speaks with Consumer Technology Association president Kinsey Fabrizio ahead of the 2027 edition of the‘ Granddaddy’ of US exhibitions.
30 Opening a window into the future: Hugh Jones, CEO of global organiser RX, offers insights into how the company is orchestrating the modern event experience
32 Celebrating a 40-year connection in Oman: Ashley Roberts on landmark moments along a long eventful journey
THINK TANK
Far left, top: Lord Stephen Carter set to keynote UFI Global Congress in Bahrain, p9
Left: Event tech trends on the rise in APAC, p23
Far left, bottom: Vinnie Polito ' s latest view from the SISO hot seat, p31
Left: Mark Blair on insuring for a pandemic, p52
21 M & A Event platforms are entering next stage of growth says John McGovern,( CEO / owner) and Sandeep Yadav( research analyst) – Grimes McGovern & Associates
31 # 16 is not as good as # 13 SISO CEO Vincent Polito’ s conclusions from the association ' s recent Leadership Conference
www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 5 2026 5