Contents
 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 : Michael Duck 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 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
 9-11 UFI : Kai Hattendorf balances priorities and looks ahead to the UFI Global Congress in Las Vegas
 INSIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
 18-19 Globex 2023 Stax shares a positive outlook and explores the drivers behind it
 24-37 Measured success Paul Colston explores the rising career of Mark Brewster , Explori
 65-66 Lessons on DEI & B Catie Owen interviews Ray Rhodes about RX ’ s new Trailblazer Status
 FEATURES
 20-22 Stateside with Stephanie Our US columnist revs us up for a race around the 56th SEMA Show
 Far left , top : Going beyond in Vegas , page 11
 Left : Co-Create 2023 as study , pages 20-22
 Far left , bottom : Case study from the heart of the RAI Amsterdam , pages 52-53
 Left : UFI ’ s class of 2023 , pages 54-55
 29-31 Event tech The latest news impacting the industry and two VR companies partner up
 54-55 AI match-making Matthias Tesi Baur goes back to the future in search of an industrytransforming matchmaker
 69-71 Class of 2023 We profile a selection of the new membership intake at UFI
 THINK TANK
 13 Dealmakers Steve Monnington casts his eye over the M & A landscape
 15 SISO Vincent Polito offers some lessons from the recent SISO leadership conference in Salt lake City
 52-53 Case study Paul Colston heads to Amsterdam to go behind the scenes of Europe ’ s largest medical conference
 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 5 2023 3