Interview
and special effects like postponed exhibitions or one-time events added to the annual calendar . The appetite for in-person events is back . It remains unclear what the midand long-term effect of the current challenges of energy prices , supply chain problems , staff shortage and inflation will be , but the pandemic taught us to deal with major challenges never experienced before , therefore , we remain positive .
Hybrid solutions are not a good choice , with attendee groups not being fully satisfied , and then there ’ s the double work and costs involved . Digital exhibitions or meetings worked for some industries in extraordinary times for a limited period . Digital additions to a physical event like community platforms , though , are being developed everywhere , tailored to respective sectorial needs . These will complement the in-person events in the future .
What can you say about members ’ business turnover ? You quoted a figure of 87 % turnover as an estimate for 2022 compared to the year 2019 . Although recovery for turnover has come faster than expected , profitability has not yet fully recovered .
Exhibitor and visitor numbers and booked square metres are still lower than before the pandemic , due to a variety of reasons . However , quality criteria will become more important and diversifying additional services is a great way to support the clients in their needs .
Which sectors , for the trade fair market , have been particularly hit in recent times ? Some trade fairs , showcasing energy intensive sectors or the ones that are hit hard by supply chain problems , e . g . with Asia , are encountering clients that cannot exhibit temporarily . However , we are partners of these industries and do our best to find solutions . Other sectors see a revival in Europe and health , security and green economy are among them . The pandemic taught us to stay calm and act fast .
EMECA is focused on the EU and lobbying there , but are you lobbying also for members from countries that are not members of the EU ( such as the UK and Switzerland )? What kind of support can they expect ? We work closely with UFI through EEIA for advocacy in Europe . Not only in the EU , but we also work with the members from the other countries in Europe , usually affected by the same challenges , so initiatives can be used also for these countries .
On the global level we work with the Joint Industry Meetings Council , especially on the Net Zero Carbon initiative . By hosting both the International Federation of Exhibition Services and JMIC in the office in Brussels , we created a hub for the exhibition industry . Via EEIA , we are also in constant exchange with ECA , the Exhibition and Conference Alliance in the US , collaborate , but avoid duplication by clearly defining target stakeholders .
Tell us about your plans for an awards for organisers of new shows . The idea is to celebrate innovation in our sector ad to mark our 30th anniversary . We would like to draw attention to innovative , smaller players in the sector , new exhibitions and new topics . We are working on the criteria and will start the call before the end of the year . The awards will be given in 2023 .
EMECA members organise around a quarter of their events outside of Europe . Are those markets proving challenging to work in ? Asia is slowly opening up again for travel , although China remains an exemption . Many EMECA members do have subsidiaries or cooperations in China and it remains a complicated , uncertain exhibition market due to the Covid-19 policy ; besides , Chinese exhibitors and visitors are still not coming back to trade fairs in Europe .
Business in Russia has come to a halt , although markets such as the Middle East and North America are working well again . Latin America is coming back .
EMECA continues to function as a network of likeminded associates who learn from each other and continue to innovate and bring the exhibition industry to the next level , be it in the digital field or for sustainability , on the way to become net zero carbon in 2050 . We have a responsibility to our cities and communities we serve and we can make an important impact with our events and operations .
We will continue working closely with relevant organisations in our wider events sector .
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 6 2022 19