In this issue :
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 everchanging 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 , app roved by UFI , based upon strict and exacting quality criteria , assuring excellent services for the benefit of exhibitors and visitors .
UFI President : Mary Larkin UFI Managing Director / CEO : Kai Hattendorf UFI Head of Global MarComs , Mina El Fazazi
17 rue Louise Michel 92300 Levallois-Perret Fran 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 Expo Center , Sharjah - UAE Tel : ( 971 ) 6 5991352 Email : 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 .
NEWS & OPINION
5 EDITOR ’ S NOTE 6-7 GLOBAL UPDATE 9 UFI : A new Fellowship to explore
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
10
FEATURES & RESEARCH
16-17
DEALMAKERS Steve Monnington sums up the past year and looks ahead at M & A
13-15 BIG INTERVIEW Paul Colston speaks to Informa ’ s new commercial overlord , Michael Duck
TOGETHER STRONG WITH IELA The International Exhibition Logistics Association ’ s Sandi Trotter tells us about a year of activity
18-19
20-21
22-23
THINK TANK
26-27
37
Top left , 13-15 Big Interview with Informa ’ s new executive VP , commercial
Top right , 16-17 Testing times at IELA
Bottom left , 24-25 Moving on . Time for a fresh take
Bottom right , 34-35 A fresh look at the Freeman model through the eyes of new president and COO , Janet Dell
STATESIDE WITH STEPHANIE Stephanie Selesnick looks at hybrid CES and interviews Joe Loggia
HOT TOPICS IN TECH Stuart Wood looks at the recent GDS Meet the Boss research results .
THE BIG DEBATE A report on a recent UFI Connect session with a lively exchange on event technology
EXHIBITION THINK TANK CLUB Report from the latest ETT Club brainstorming , discussion and findings
NOW FOR THE ( TALENT ) GOOD NEWS Tfconnect ’ s Trevor Foley is ever the optimist www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 1 2021 3