(City Tour Image, courtesy of UFI)
Submitted by UFI
Paris/Monterey– The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) has announced the successful conclusion of the 2024 UFI Americas Conference, which brought together more than 170 exhibition industry leaders and stakeholders from across the Americas and beyond. The conference was hosted by the Monterrey Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCV) at Cintermex and took place September 10-12. The event featured a rich program of engaging sessions, extensive networking opportunities, and post-conference tours that showcased Monterrey’s vibrant culture and landscape.
For the first time, UFI brought together members and industry leaders from North, Central and South America in a joint event, providing a unique platform to share regional updates and insights. Sessions and roundtable discussions were held in English, Spanish and Portuguese, exploring key industry trends and innovations impacting the global exhibitions and events industry.
In his keynote, Fernando Fisher, CEO of RX USA, introduced the “Exhibitor Last Mile” concept, which focuses on supporting new exhibitors through fair pricing, strategic locations and tailored solutions. Rodolfo Andrade, General Manager of Anhembi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, shared his company’s successful tips for optimizing venue space for flexibility and appeal. In the highly regarded Sustainability Conference, speakers jointly emphasized sustainability as an inspiring challenge that encourages practical measures to improve environmental impact.
In addition, exhibition industry associations from the region met within the framework of the UFI Associations Committee to coordinate industry work and common initiatives around advocacy and education. AMPROFEC members also had the opportunity to come together in a special meeting to discuss the association’s ongoing initiatives.
After the conference, delegates also experienced the charm of Monterrey on two unique tours: a post-event trip to San Pedro Garza and the stunning La Huasteca Canyon, and a city tour from Fundidora Park to downtown Monterrey, highlighting the city’s rich history, culture and local attractions. Both tours provided delegates with unique opportunities to explore the rich resources of Monterrey while cultivating meaningful networking experiences.
David Manllo Valdés, Director of the Monterrey Convention and Visitors Bureau, said: “UFI Americas is a milestone for Monterrey, bringing together for the first time in the city important trade show experts from different countries and key industry players from Mexico and the region. It is also a great opportunity to showcase to the world the great advantages of Monterrey in terms of infrastructure and event services, its magnificent tourist attractions and the wonderful culture of northeastern Mexico. We thank UFI for choosing us as the venue for the conference and all the local suppliers who participated in making this event a success..”
Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO, added: “This was undoubtedly our best Americas Conference ever, as it was the first time we have ever held one. But the concept worked very well, with representatives from Canada in the north to Argentina in the south, not to mention the Chinese delegation arranged through CCPIT. UFI’s role as a global connector for the exhibition industry was on full display this week, with contacts made that will drive future growth for our industry in all regions.”
As the global association for the exhibition industry, UFI organizes regional conferences in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the UFI Global Congress each year. The next event will be the 91stEnglish Stone The UFI Global Congress will be held in Cologne, Germany, November 20-23. For a complete list of upcoming UFI events, visit www.ufi.org/events.
For full details on the 2024 UFI Americas Conference, please see the event website: www.ufiamericas.org.
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