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: From Sale to Scale
FEATURES
28 Stateside with Stephanie: The Little Engine that Could
30 A Vinted for the events industry: Theo Reily speaks to Albert Latorre about his concept – a marketplace to buy secondhand equipment
34 Shaping a future-proof Messe model: Kai Hattendorf analyses how a German Messe is re-programming its industry DNA with British partners
38 South Korea survey: Where exhibitions meet cutting-edge innovation: a report from Korea by Iain Stirling
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
37 The Euro Fair Statistics report: UFI’ s latest compilation of certified statistics for 2,240 exhibitions in Europe
42 South East Europe: A region on the rise: Insights from Berislav Čižmek CEO of Zagreb based specialist management consultancy CBBS
44 Driving engagement into the fast lane: Stephanie Selesnick reports on the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas 47 Aiming to unlock new value
THINK TANK
in APAC: Paul Colston speaks to RX’ s recently appointed president for Asia Pacific, Brian Thomas
9 Celebrating the past, shaping the future: UFI at 100: CEO Chris Skeith looks ahead to 2026, exploring emerging trends and collaboration
21 Build and burn: Some harsh warnings from PIE Factory on stand sustainability
49 Desperately seeking‘ delayed gratification’ SISO CEO Vinnie Polito revisits his‘ Embracing optimism’ article at the start of 2025
Far left, top: Beyond ChatGPT – how purpose-built AI can transform exhibition research, p11
Left: Selling an expo: Lesssons from the Midweest Solar Expo, p16
Far left, bottom: The 70 %, p19
Left: The Global Industry Performances unveiled, p32
www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 6 2025 3