Preparing for Poznan parlay in person
EW hears from UFI ’ s regional director Europe , Nick Dugdale-Moore , about what ’ s on the menu for the association ’ s European Conference , in Poznan , 4-6 May
fter some stop-start
A months for the industry , UFI is again looking to gather the sector ’ s clans for its regional conferences , including in Poznan , Poland . Tell us , Nick , about the planning for the European Conference , 4-6 May , and about your plans for the content and maximising the opportunity to bring people back together again face-to-face . The main thing to say is that we are going ahead . We were first scheduled to have been in Poznan last year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our hosts – Grupa MTP . That was postponed due to the pandemic , however ; on our site visit back in February we seemed to be coming out of that crisis with a renewed sense of optimism and enthusiasm to meet when the military intervention in Ukraine began . Now Poznan , like all Polish cities , is diverting energy and resources to looking after Ukrainian refugees .
Nonetheless , our Polish hosts , the host association , and the Polish industry are united in their support for the conference to go ahead – they believe it is more important than ever for the industry to come together and meet face-to-face , so we are very happy to support them .
How will the conference template have changed for 2022 compared to previous editions and what can we expect in terms of a particularly Polish flavour to proceedings ? Is it fair to say that the central / east European location also reflects some of the new membership coming into UFI in recent years ? Our hosts are keen to make this an unforgettable experience . The main conference takes place in a state of the art conference centre and the official hotels are on site . The two evening functions are in stunning locations which will show off the city in its best light . In terms of the format , it will be similar to our last event ( Birmingham , 2019 ), however with some small improvements including speed networking sessions , workshops organised by the ETT Club ( Exhibition Think Tank ) and a few surprises .
Above : Nick Dugdale-Moore
Yes we have several new members in Eastern Europe in the last years , so it will be a great opportunity for them to first meet the UFI community face-to-face .
What are the main themes that we can expect to be covered in the content ? There are various themes that will be covered in the sessions : the changing business model of our industry , sustainability and the race to net zero , staffing and skills , data and digital , EU policy and advocacy . So , quite a broad range .
What advice would you offer firsttimers considering attending , so they get the most from it ? The first step is just to show up . The UFI community is a very friendly , welcoming crowd . If you work in the exhibition industry in Europe , whether your show is international or not , you should come . The most important reason is to meet colleagues and peers from around Europe and beyond , which will help newcomers grow their professional networks and also generate business opportunities for their companies .
They should also learn things that they can implement in their shows and organisations the very next day , so it should make an immediate impact .
What kind of social programme can be expected ? The welcome reception will take place at Grupa MTP ’ s newly refurbished Port Solacz venue – a stunning waterside setting by Lake Solackie , only a few minutes from the main hotels and conference venue . The Thursday networking dinner is in the town centre at one of Poznan ’ s smartest restaurants . The post- Conference tours are not finalised yet , but we have various options . Delegates should definitely consider staying on for the weekend , and visiting perhaps Krakow , Gdansk or other tourist destinations . Our hosts will be more than happy to advise . EW
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 2 2022 25