Exhibition World Issue 3 — 2019 | Page 37

#GED19 Ready for #GED19! he fourth edition of Global Exhibitions Day, #GED19, is set to be celebrated bigger and better than ever before, on 5 June 2019! The four key main messages being pushed forward for #GED19 are: • Exhibitions are a large global industry • Exhibitions are an effective and sustainable way of doing business • Exhibitions can contribute to a sustainable world • The exhibition industry offers a variety of job opportunities. Who is it for? GED is open to all who are interested in increasing the visibility of the exhibition industry. In the previous editions, this initiative mobilised thousands of industry professionals all over the world: Associations, exhibition organisers, venues, service providers, universities and individual professionals. w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk How can you get involved? GED offers a broad mix of activities, both onsite and online, to promote exhibitions as business platforms as well as career and business development opportunities in the industry. A GED Project and Activity Tool has been set up, where projects and activities have been registered: http://ged.ufi.org/user/ project/create. Note that the tool registers English language only. If you wish to share media releases or other material in your native language, UFI advises using the upload function within the reporting tool. Registered activities and projects in the GED Project and Activity Tool are eligible for the Global Exhibitions Day Awards Competition, for which entries must be in by 21 June. The top five initiatives will be selected for one of these awards by a panel including senior staff from UFI and Exhibition World. The Exhibition World / UFI GED Awards competition was expanded to five categories last year and a dedicated GED18 International Fair Poster competition was launched. GED 2018 turned out to be the biggest day of advocacy for the exhibition world so far, according to data from UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry: • 85 countries and regions supported the exhibition industry: +10% compared to GED17 • 2018’s campaign saw over 160 editorial features (articles, media releases, blog posts). • 360 videos were uploaded on the dedicated YouTube GED playlist (www.ufi.tv): +14% compared to GED17. • #GED18 reached more than four million people on Twitter and the GED Facebook group has risen to over 2,500 members. Developments from past GED campaigns have included tightening the industry focus on advocacy projects, based on ‘Facts and Stats’ and ‘Key messages’ about the exhibition industry; as well as talent promotion, introducing ‘Follow me’ videos and the ‘Voices of the Exhibition Industry’ campaign. So get on board with #GED19 Issue 3 2019 37