SHOW NEWS
Sustainability continues to be a strong focus for exhibition organisers as we come out of the first quarter of 2023 .
IFE ( International Food & Drink Event ), organised by Montgomery Events , has signed a three-year deal with Full Circle Events & Exhibitions to construct three zero-carbon show features out of recycled and recyclable materials .
IFE 2023 , which took place at ExCeL London on 20-22 March , was the first edition to use the recycled materials for the show ’ s Sustainability Stage , Trends & Innovation Platform and New Products Tasting Theatre .
Elsewhere , Diversified Communications has agreed a partnership with GES to use new , sustainably-produced carpet brand Rewind for the remainder of its 2023 shows . Diversified will roll out the Rewind carpets at its May shows , including Accountex , SITS , DCW , and GEO . It will then use the product later in the year at Accountex Summit Manchester , Lunch , Commercial Kitchen , Casual Dining , London Design Fair and Coach & Bus .
The Rewind carpet range is a zeroto-landfill alternative , taking 55 % fewer carbon emissions to make and is manufactured completely latexfree . It does this by taking water out of the manufacturing process , thereby reducing the energy required in production by 85 % less than traditional event carpets .
“ This is a much-needed innovation for the industry ,” said GES head of central planning Nikki Morris . “ Taking carpet away from the venue floor was never going to be a long-term solution
Show news
EN rounds up the season ’ s show news ; Who is launching ? Who is expanding ? Who is speaking ?
Climate friendly innovations on the rise
for events and working with the team behind the Rewind product has been inspiring .”
In launches , Olympia London hosts the first edition of an international climate event this month ; Innovation Zero – Climate & Clean Tech Congress . The event , endorsed by PM Rishi Sunak , will host more than 7,000 UK and international business leaders from finance , business and policy , along with over 200 exhibitors and 250 speakers .
Coventry Building Society ( CBS ) Arena continues to see new events launched at the venue – this time with Automation UK , organised by the British Automation and Robot Association ( BARA ). The show will host 60 exhibitors and an expected 1,000 visitors across two days from 20-21 June . The event will be co-located with the UK Industrial Vision Association ’ s ( UKIVA ) Machine Vision Conference , which attracts more than 500 visitors per day .
Jenni Ford , director of sales and marketing at CBS Arena , said : “ We ’ re delighted that Automation UK is launching at our venue and it is certainly a show with huge growth potential given how quickly the automation and robotics industry continues to develop .”
The Big Zero Show , also taking place at CBS Arena , has plans to grow from one-day to three in the next five years , organisers Future Net Zero said .
Another show which has plans to grow is the Water Expo , organised by Mara Media , following its successful launch at Eikon Exhibition Centre in March .
Outside of Europe , dmg events has launched a water infrastructure expo in Saudi Arabia to capitalise on the region ’ s towering water demands . Running from 11-13 September at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center , the Saudi Water Expo will be colocated with the second edition of the Saudi Infrastructure Expo , a trade event for the infrastructure industry .
As for expansions , Hyve ’ s Pure London will add the pop culture inspired zone , POP , to its existing Sustainable , Womenswear , Shoes , Accessories and Jewellery destinations when the show returns to Olympia London from 16-18 July .
In the States , Raccoon Media Group has further expanded its National Outdoor Expo portfolio into Boston . The first edition of event is expected to host over 15,000 visitors from 27-28 April 2024 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center .
Big name speakers at shows continues to be a strong trend . These have included Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the London Book Fair ( 18-20 April ), Dragons Den investors Steven Bartlett at the Retail Technology Show ( 26-27 April ) and Deborah Meaden at Fully Charged Live UK South ( 28-30 April ), before four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson headlines Infosecurity Europe on 20-22 June . EN
10 — Summer