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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: Hugh Jones 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 Update 9 UFI: Chris Skeith column
INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
14 Stateside with Stephanie: Our correspondent revs it up in Sarasota
16 Tesi Baur reports on a top-level discussion on US market nuances
18 Baby grow: We hear from one of the organisers of The Baby Expo Dubai
28 Shaping the future in Saudi with 1st Arabia
34 Business check: A view from IFEMA Madrid with executive vice-president Daniel Martínez
FEATURES
Far left, top: IEG takes its Italian style to the Gulf markets, page 42
Left: Integrating digital technology into the brand experience, page 49
Far left, bottom:-45dB ' s smart sound of silence moves east, page 37
Left: IFEMA making the most of Madrid, page 34
26 Theo Reilly looks at some future venue trends
30 Theo Reilly examines the true cost of sustainability
32 US tariffs: EW examines the potential knock-on effect for exhibitions
42 Expanding IEG: We hear about the Italian organiser ' s strategy for developing its business in the Gulf
THINK TANK
11 M & A: GMA’ s John McGovern on the role of private equity and why we should care
47 Donna Salle flags some legal clauses to consider when booking a venue
49 Connecting beyond screens: Brand experience agency SGK discusses integrating digital technologies
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