Buenos Aires bound
UFI ’ s Latam Conference goes ahead in-person in Argentina , 11-12 May , and the association ’ s regional director Ana Maria Arango tells us what to expect
e delivered the first UFI
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Latam Conference back in 2018 in Mexico City , where 120 delegates from 15 countries attended . It was a nice starting point in terms of visibility and branding . Our second regional event in 2020 in Buenos Aires was all set before having to be postponed to 2021 and the face-toface event to 2022 .
Our objective for the 2022 conference is for it to be a landmark event that will jumpstart the region ’ s recovery , hence the importance of making it 100 % in-person and leveraging the power of face-to-face . The regional community has not been together since 2018 so there is a lot to catch up . Best practices need to be shared more than ever .
How is the support in Argentina and what can we expect ? Buenos Aires is a spectacular location and is one of the most relevant cities for our industry and has been ranked as the top meetings destination in the Americas .
Our conference takes place during Buenos Aires MICE Week with its Meet-Up event organised by the Argentine Association of Professional Organisers ( AOCA ). Our attendees will have access to Meet- Up gatherings such as the After-Expo Party and the exhibition floor .
Professionals from the two events will coincide at Buenos Aires Centro de Convenciones ( CEC ).
Our major allies for the conference are AOCA , our host and also our member in Argentina , headed by Fernando Gorbaran , Messe Frankfurt Argentina ´ s CEO and also our Chapter vice-chair , and the local government agency Travel Buenos Aires .
What are the main themes for discussion ? There will be more than 10 sessions packed with content and 20 speakers from 10 countries . Stephanie Selesnick from the US , Antonio Brito from Portugal , Javier Contreras from GL Events Chile , Andres Escandon from ICCA and Arnaldo Nardone from Fiexpo Group are among those lined up . The themes are aligned with the five trends to expect in 2022 , produced by our CEO Kai Hattendorf at the end of 2021 , but we will also customise content to the region ’ s reality and needs of the industry .
As well as trends , challenges and success stories there will be discussion of data , sustainability and crisis management .
Tell us about the priorities for the industry in the region . Currently , over 50 organisations and associations in the industry , from Mexico to Argentina , bear UFI member status . Membership is up 30 % in recent years and we offer customised activities such as UFI
“ Our objective for the 2022 conference
is for it to be a landmark event that will jumpstart the region ’ s recovery ”
Above : Ana Maria Arango
Connects in Spanish and Portuguese and have produced the first research on the state of the exhibition industry in the region . We also advocate at regional events .
Although exhibitions are now operating without restrictions , according to the latest UFI Global Barometer Survey , the main challenge in the region currently is the readiness of exhibitors and visitors to participate again .
Another key issue is lack of government funding . Approximately 70 % of the organisations in the region surveyed said they don ’ t receive any public financial support .
Check out our conference website below and maybe try to reach out to attendees in advance . You can also follow my LinkedIn profile for updated news related to the conference .
We have social activities planned and start with a welcome reception in the Recoletta Neighbourhood . On Day 2 we offer a city tour of Buenos Aires and hold our Dinner in the Puerto Madero Yacht Club . We are also organising a Running Club and a post conference tour for those wanting to stay longer .
Early Bird registration for the Latam Conference is available until 11 April . Email : latam @ ufi . org Full programme available at : www . ufilatam . org
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