(Representatives of the 91st UFI Global Congress took a group photo in front of the iconic Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The conference was held from November 20 to 23, bringing together 600 industry leaders from more than 55 countries to explore the theme of “Change into Opportunity” through networking, knowledge sharing and cultural experiences. Photo courtesy of UFI Global Congress. )
Submitted by UFI
Paris/Cologne— UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) held its 91st Global Congress in Cologne, Germany from November 20th to 23rd, welcoming 600 representatives from more than 55 countries and regions.
Hosted by Koelnmesse, UFI members from around the world, including members of the AIPC, ICCA and SISO associations, gathered for four days of communication and knowledge sharing.
“The strength of our industry is its ability to bring people together. The past few days in Cologne have impressively demonstrated what we can achieve when we unite our ideas, knowledge and enthusiasm. We come with renewed energy and Innovative ideas return to our company, ready to set new benchmarks and shape the future sustainably,” said Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. “It is an honor to host this conference at Confex, our state-of-the-art conference and exhibition center. I would like to thank UFI for their trust.”
UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf added: “This year’s congress in Cologne will rank among the largest and best congresses the organization has ever seen. The number of attendees is comparable to the 2016 congress in Shanghai, which was the largest to date A conference. Beyond numbers, through good collaboration we are able to provide value to each participant, allowing them to turn changes into opportunities that reflect this year’s theme.”
Speaker and Content Program
Centered around the theme of “Changes in Opportunities,” the diverse projects define and describe ongoing and upcoming global changes and address the question of what opportunities these changes will provide for the industry.
The conference kicked off with an inspiring keynote speech titled “Gaining Clarity in a Changing World” by Gapminder co-founder Anna Rosling Rönnlund. Rönnlund challenged attendees to rethink human biases and misunderstandings, emphasizing the importance of a fact-based approach rather than opinion-driven narratives to better understand the world.
Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, shares insights into viewing change as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Shapiro urges the global exhibition industry to shift toward agility in today’s dynamic marketplace, to view failure as part of growth and to cultivate curiosity to innovate and thrive.
The Power Hour session brings together analysts from the Economist Intelligence Unit and The Guardian to delve into the forces shaping the industry. Topics range from a fragmented political landscape and generational divides to global economic growth and the transition to a greener, more sustainable future.
The ‘My View’ session was moderated by thought leaders James Latham (Founder, The Iceberg), Sonia Prashar (Managing Director, NürnbergMesse India) and Enrico Gallorini (CEO, GRS Research & Strategy), each focusing on the global exhibition industry advantages. Their message highlighted the critical role of collaboration, connection and inclusion in ensuring the industry’s success.
Returning for the second consecutive year, specific spotlight sessions showcase this year’s UFI Award winners and their innovative projects. The sessions also explore key industry topics including energy, advocacy and pathways to net zero carbon by 2050.
This year’s Next Generation Leaders (NGL) delivered engaging presentations on using artificial intelligence to enhance the exhibition industry. Their insights demonstrate the transformative potential of AI to drive efficiency, innovation and growth.
Finally, a country focus session led by AUMA, the German exhibition industry association, and Koelnmesse highlighted the role of exhibitions as an important international business center, underscoring Germany’s leadership in promoting global connections and business.
UFI Medal of Honor
The UFI Medal of Honor was presented for the first time by President Jeff Dickinson. Selected in consultation with members of the UFI trio, the three winners were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the global exhibition industry and the UFI community in particular.
Honorees include Sandy Angus (UFI President 2001-2003), Mary Larkin (UFI President 2020-2021) and Kai Hattendorf (UFI CEO since 2015) .
Welcome to the 2024-25 UFI Presidents
UFI welcomes RX CEO Hugh Jones as the association’s new President for 2024-25. Addressing the global UFI community, Jones said: “The exhibition industry is just one part of the global events industry. We are the ‘E’ in the word ‘MICE’ – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions. In 2025 we need to push forward with With initiatives focused on the exhibition business, we must continue to lead by example and lead the wider events industry in our efforts.”
Jones succeeds Geoff Dickinson as CEO of dmg events. By 2025, the pair will form part of a UFI trio that includes the association’s new, current and outgoing presidents. They will also be joined by incoming President Panittha Buri, Vice Chairman of the Bhiraj Buri Group.
Association business
The conference is also an opportunity for the UFI governing body to hold its annual meeting and share the latest developments and plans for the coming year. These include the UFI Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Association Committees, Working Groups (Sustainability, Industry Partners, Marketing, Digital Innovation, Human Resources, and Operations & Services), and Regional Chapters (Asia Pacific, EMEA, North America, Central America and South America).
Unforgettable moments in Cologne
During the conference, delegates can also network with industry peers and experience the charm of Cologne through evening outings. Highlights included a welcome reception that immersed delegates in the city’s Cologne culture, a private organ concert in the historic Cologne Cathedral, and an elegant dinner at Flora Köln in the heart of the city’s Botanical Gardens.
Finally, delegates have the option of post-conference tours showcasing Cologne’s cultural treasures, including the historic Old Town, the Chocolate Museum and ancient Roman ruins, each providing an unforgettable end to this year’s conference.
UFI Global Conference – Background and Outlook
The UFI Global Conference is held every November and is open to more than 50,000 industry professionals from UFI member companies around the world. It is the largest annual global event in the exhibition industry. It offers exceptional networking opportunities, as well as unique content and experiences tailored to industry leaders.
2025, 92ND The UFI Global Conference will be held in Hong Kong from November 19th to 22nd, hosted by AsiaWorld-Expo. The Kingdom of Bahrain has been selected as the host country for 2026.
The most recent host cities are Las Vegas (USA) in 2023, Muscat (Sultanate of Oman) in 2022 and Rotterdam (Netherlands) in 2021.
Sponsors and Partners
UFI would like to thank the sponsors and partners who have made the conference a success, starting with UFI’s Diamond Sponsors, Art of Fiber, AsiaWorld-Expo, IT-EX, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Qatar Tourism Authority, as well as the conference’s Gold Sponsors business, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Saudi Convention and Exhibition General Authority (SCEGA).
A full list of conference sponsors and partners is available here: www.uficongress.org/sponsorship.
About UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
UFI is the global trade association of the world’s trade show organizers and exhibition center operators, the major national and international exhibition associations and selected partners of the exhibition industry. UFI’s main objective is to represent, promote and support the commercial interests of its members and the exhibition industry. UFI directly represents more than 50,000 exhibition industry employees worldwide and works closely with more than 72 national and regional association members. Currently, nearly 900 member units from 90 countries and regions around the world have registered as members. More than 900 international trade shows proudly carry the UFI Approved label, which is a quality assurance for visitors and exhibitors. UFI members continue to provide the international business community with a unique marketing medium designed to develop outstanding face-to-face business opportunities.
For further information please contact: UFI Head Office: Email: media@ufi.org Phone: +33 (0)1 46 39 75 00 or www.ufi.org
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