EMECA NEWS

EMECA General Assembly gathered on 23rd October 2025 at Fiera Milano, Italy

EMECA General Assembly gathered on 23rd October 2025 at Fiera Milano, Italy EMECA Members optimistic about sales growth in 2025 and 2026 Reaction to multiple ad hoc challenges due to the geopolitical environment and uncertainty, including intensified diversification of exhibition topics, other events and services, and international business Investments in… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED AT FERIA INTERNACIONAL DE LISBOA, PORTUGAL

  EMECA General Assembly celebrated at Feira Internacional de Lisboa, Portugal EMECA members' turnover outlook is excellent for 2025 Main focus on challenges in international business due to the geopolitical environment and uncertainty, leading to diversification and re-regionalisation Greenpact launched by Grupa MTP wins BELA Award 2025 Istanbul Expo Center approved… read more

EMECA Best Exhibition Launch Award - BELA 2025

EMECA’s BELA Award 2025, which recognises the best exhibition launch of the previous year, was presented to Greenpact, an event organised by Grupa MTP Poznań in collaboration with the Polish Chamber of Commerce. This B2B exhibition and congress, demonstrated an international outlook and ambition for impact, with a strong focus on content that responded to the needs and… read more

COMMISSIONER TZITZIKOSTAS AND MEPS ENGAGE WITH THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE

  Commissioner Tzitzikostas and MEPs Engage with the Travel and Tourism Industry for a Sustainable and Resilient Future [Brussels, 10 December 2024] Today, 10 leading European travel and tourism organisations convened in the European Parliament for a high-level meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, MEP Daniel Attard… read more

EMECA Best Exhibition Launch Award - BELA 2024

Quantum Effects launched by Messe Stuttgart wins BELA Award 2024 The BELA Award 2024, EMECA’s award for the best exhibition launch in the previous year, went to Messe Stuttgart for their “Quantum Effects”, a trade fair and conference for application-oriented quantum technologies. It fulfilled all criteria that EMECA supports with its BELA-Award for new, innovative… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED AT BILBAO EXHIBITION CENTRE; SPAIN

EMECA General Assembly celebrated at Bilbao Exhibition Centre, Spain EMECA Members’ turnovers reach record level in 2024 Main focus on challenges due to the geopolitical environment, continued pressure on margins and the process to sustainable industry solutions Quantum Effects launched by Messe Stuttgart wins BELA Award 2024 Elzbieta Roeske (Grupa MTP) elected next… read more

INDUSTRY SENDS CLEAR POLICY MESSAGE PRE-ELECTIONS

Brussels celebrated its Presidency of the Council of the European Union by convening EU Dialogue: Driving Positive Change In the Meetings Industry. This was a City Destinations Alliance / European Exhibitions Industry Alliance (EEIA) / Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) co-hosted advocacy event designed to mirror the same message within policy circles of the European… read more

THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY MANIFESTO - PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT EU LEADERSHIP 

Conclusions from the EU Dialogue conference on the Meetings industry, April 2024, Brussels   With this Manifesto, we call on national and regional authorities, the newly elected members of the European Parliament and the next European Commission to work with the meetings’ sector in areas such as the added value of meetings to the visitor economy, the European… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED AT MESSE STUTTGART, GERMANY

⦁    EMECA Members’ activity at record level ⦁    Sustainable transition, measuring and reporting main focus ⦁    Bella Center Copenhagen new member The EMECA members met at Messe Stuttgart premises for their spring General Assembly 2024. “EMECA members represent leading trade fair venues and exhibition organisers in Europe. The performance of the industry has not only… read more

GLOBAL EXHIBITIONS DAY 2024

  Happy Global Exhibitions Day 2024! Celebrate with us the 9th Global Exhibitions Day. This year's theme: "Exhibitions are catalysts to sustainable futures".   THE GLOBAL EXHIBITION INDUSTRY IS OF MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE Exhibitions, commonly referred to as trade shows or fairs, have a simple purpose: bringing industries together to build community and create supply… read more

THE EU BUSINESS HUB - Japan and the Republic of Korea - JOIN THE LAUNCHING EVENT!

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗯 – 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁! Date: May 28th, 10:00-11:30h Format: Online 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁? The EU Business Hub Launching Event aims to introduce the stakeholders in Europe, Japan and Korea to the programme and highlight the benefits of the programme, unveiling the first missions’ calendar. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲? Representatives of… read more

EU DIALOGUE: A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AROUND THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY

On 17 April, visit.brussels, in partnership with JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council), CityDNA (City Destinations Alliance), and EEIA (European Exhibition Industry Alliance), hosted the EU DIALOGUE: DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY. Organised as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, over 180 industry professionals and… read more

EU TOURISM: RESILIENCE IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS ERA

  Travel and tourism industry unites to tackle climate change [Rhodes, 9 April 2024] Association representatives from the European travel and tourism sector (business and leisure)[1] met in Rhodes, Greece, to sign a landmark declaration promising decisive action towards more sustainable travel and tourism. The joint declaration will serve as a roadmap to foster… read more

STATEMENT ON THE UNFOLDING SITUATION IN ISRAEL

EMECA fully supports the statement issued by Joint industry Meetings Council (JMIC), the global association for the meetings industry: JMIC Statement on the Unfolding Situation in Israel Acts of terror should have no place in our world. The killings of innocent civilians by Hamas are unacceptable, and this goes against the core of our industry's purpose. The global… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED AT FERIA VALENCIA, SPAIN

- EMECA Members’ activity at 2019 level, multiple challenges continue - Sustainable transition towards net zero carbon emissions main focus - Metropolitan Expo Athens, Greece, new EMECA member and EMECA Board 2024 elected   The EMECA members met at Feria Valencia premises for their autumn General Assembly.   Jorge Fombellida, General Director of Feria de Valencia, and… read more

POSITION PAPER - REVIEW OF EU LEGISLATION ON DESIGN PROTECTION 2023

EEIA once more draws attention to the review of EU Legislation on Design Protection.  EEIA calls for Exhibition Certificates’ recognition by EUIPO by adopting a modern definition of business exhibitions and trade fairs. Download the POSITION PAPER.   read more

EMECA AND UFI CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY COLLABORATION

  EMECA and UFI Presidents intend to continue and intensify collaboration. Meeting at Messe Stuttgart on challenges and opportunities of the business events sector. EMECA (European Major Exhibition Centres Association) President Roland Bleinroth welcomed UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) President Michael Duck at Messe Stuttgart premises for an… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED AT MCH IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND

EMECA Members’ activity reaches pre-pandemic level, multiple challenges remain The National Outdoor Expo 2022 launched at NEC Birmingham wins BELA Award EMECA supports Net Zero Carbon Events as Gold Sponsor The EMECA Members met at the premises of MCH in Basel for its spring General Assembly. “We see a very positive trend with a strong performance of nearly all EMECA… read more

EMECA Best Exhibition Launch Award - BELA 2023

The National Outdoor Expo 2022 organised by Raccoon Media Group and held at the NEC Birmingham is the winner of the first BELA Award 2023   EMECA has awarded Raccoon Media Group the BELA - Best Exhibition Launch Award 2023 for its outstanding achievement with the National Outdoor Expo 2022. EMECA created the BELA Best New Exhibition Launch Award on the occasion of… read more

UPDATE 2023-05-15: EEIA PUBLISHES STATE AID LIST IN CONTEXT OF RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE

The European Exhibition Industry Alliance publishes a list of member states measures approved under the European State Aid Temporary Framework in context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The document lists support from the EU and European governments to households and businesses in general and can be downloaded here: EEIA European State Aid Temporary Crisis Framework… read more

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AT FIERA MILANO

Collaboration between Fiera Milano and EUIPO aimed at raising awareness of intellectual property issues among companies   Milan, 04 April 2023. The trade in counterfeit products constitutes one of the most significant criminal phenomena facing companies and, in particular, impacts those who invest in creativity, innovation and research.   For this reason, Fiera Milano… read more

AUTUMN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN EMECA'S 30TH YEAR HELD IN ATHENS, GREECE

EMECA has celebrated its General Assembly in Athens, Greece, hosted by Nürnbergmesse.   EMECA Members’ exhibition activity is back stronger and faster than expected. Full recovery in terms of turnover will be reached already in 2023 for most Members.Roland Bleinroth, CEO of Messe Stuttgart, was elected EMECA President 2023-2024 To mark the 30th anniversary of EMECA, an… read more

UFI CONNECTS ONLINE SESSION IP RIGHTS

Help your exhibitors protect their IP rights: Support & training offer by EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for organizers In 2020, as part of its Strategic Plan 2025, the EUIPO launched the Ideas Powered for business Programme. This programme aims to empower EU SMEs to protect and enforce their IP rights and inform them of the benefits of IP for their… read more

EMECA’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED IN RIMINI, ITALY

During the last GA, EMECA Members report exhibition activity is back with busy calendars in 2022 and full recovery expected 2023/2024. For this year 2022, the average turnover may reach 87% of 2019. In addition, ExCeL London (UK) has become new EMECA Member and linked to the 30th Anniversary, an award for young or start-up organisers launching new shows is being… read more

THE EUIPO SIGNS COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS WITH EMECA AND UFI

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has recently signed collaboration agreements with EMECA, the European Major Exhibition Centres Association and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.  With these agreements, the EUIPO consolidates its connection with exhibition venues and event organisers across the entire value chain, reaching out to… read more

GLOBAL EXHIBITIONS DAY 2022

The 2022 Global Exhibitions Day highlights the irreplaceable value of physical exhibitions and face-to-face business events in creating platforms for economic growth and recovery, as well as being the perfect occasion to network and meet new people. Meeting in person creates trust, the basis for co-operations and business deals. Exhibitions are an effective and… read more

30TH ANNIVERSARY EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN RIMINI

EMECA Members held their General Assembly in Rimini, hosted by Italian Exhibition Group. This year, EMECA celebrates its 30th Anniversary – it was founded in 1992. Members discussed news, challenges and opportunities in the exhibition sector related to the pandemic, impact of the war in Ukraine and other relevant developments and trends. read more

TOURISM MANIFESTO - TOWARDS FREE MOVEMENT OF TRAVELLERS WITHIN AND INTO EUROPE

Resilience of the EUDCC System is Critical for EU Tourism Crisis Preparedness The European Tourism Manifesto alliance, the voice of the travel and tourism sector in Europe, welcomes the ongoing progress of the revision of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) Regulation.  While we strongly support countries in their efforts to progressively remove restrictions in the… read more

INTERVIEW "GREEN TRANSITION" - TAGUNGSWIRTSCHAFT WITH BARBARA WEIZSÄCKER

Green Transition "Trade shows can become the driving force toward climate neutrality" By Gwen Kaufmann   Friday, 8th April 2022   If an entire continent plans to stop emitting greenhouse gases, it will trigger a major wave of change. In all industries and sectors of the economy, a development towards climate-protecting production and processes is required. For… read more

EMECA STATEMENT ON THE UKRAINE CRISIS

The European Major Exhibition Centres Association joins its voice to all those who are speaking up to express their solidarity to Ukraine and to condemn the unjustified military aggression by Russia on Ukraine. War must never represent a means to resolve controversies. The attack not only destroys Ukraine territory and its people’s lives but endangers the security and stability of the entire European continent. The European basis is “United in Diversity”. While remaining proud of their own national identities and history, Europeans are determined to transcend their former divisions and, unite ever more closely, to forge a common destiny. Invading another country is simply unacceptable. EMECA as a European association believes that the values that… read more

POSITION PAPER - EU TO OPEN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

The European Exhibition Industry welcomes European countries’ lifting internal measures and restrictions on international travel calls for immediate adoption of an updated framework to travel from outside the EU that is fit for purpose expects coordinated implementation of such a framework across all Member States once more encourages the Council and all Member States to specifically enable smooth business travel and to protect the safe functioning of the economy and its exhibition platforms for R&D, innovation and trade EEIA recognises the efforts of the Commission and the recent adoption of recommendation by the Council for intra-EU travel, focussing on the status of the traveller instead of a country-based approach. As the peak of the… read more

EU’s Overseas Trade Fairs 2.0 (OTF 2.0) European pavilions at CES Las Vegas and Arab Health Dubai

The OTF 2.0 Programme kicked off successfully with EU pavilions at CES in Las Vegas and at Arab Health in Dubai. The European Commission funds selected European start-ups and SME’s to export their innovations at exhibitions overseas. The programme will cover 15 shows in 2 years. It is managed by Deloitte and the European Exhibition Industry Alliance’s Sara Lanzilotta is… read more

WARNING ON UNAUTHORISED DATABASE OFFERS

UPDATE 2021-12-09: New unofficial mailings offering "FIT Expo 2021" Attendees/Visitors/Registrants list. Find more information (in Polish) on the MTP Poznań Expo and the Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry website.   Unauthorised exhibitors and visitors databases continue to be offered by mailings. Such mails pretend to offer official data for specific show, using the brand name and other features that suggest it is an official mail from the respective exhibition organiser. EMECA warns on accidentally purchasing such data. EMECA Members should actively warn their exhibitors and visitors. Those clients who purchase these data at a high price will have great difficulties to get their money back. In the past, disputing the contracts and legal action… read more

TOURISM MANIFESTO - Position on the European Commission’s Proposals for Council Recommendations on Intra-EU and International Travel

EEIA is part of the TOURISM MANIFESTO and strongly endorses this Position Paper.   70 travel and tourism organisations express their support to any effort – based on scientific evidence – to keep protecting and ensuring the freedom of movement and avoid a patchwork of diverging national measures within the EU/EEA as well as internationally. In light of the evolving… read more

URGENT CALL FOR A COORDINATED APPROACH TO BUSINESS RELATED TRAVEL

  The European Exhibition Industry - welcomes the Commission’s proposals to strengthen coordination of safe travel in the EU and for an updated framework to travel from outside the EU and expects swift adoption implementation - calls for a coordinated approach to swiftly adapt the EU Digital COVID Certificate’s validity and to adopt the unified EU Digital Passenger Locator Form - encourages the Council and all Member States to specifically enable smooth business travel and to protect the safe functioning of the economy and its exhibition platforms for R&D, innovation and trade   Download the latest Position Paper of the European Exhibition Industry Alliance: An urgent call for a coordinated approach to business related travel. read more

EEIA met with EUIPO

EEIA welcomed Nicolas Vigneron and Alessandro Corrado from the European Union Intellectual Property Office in Alicante. We discussed possible collaboration for the promotion of EUIPO’s new tools for SMEs, via webinars, newsletters, exhibitions’ websites. Furthermore, EEIA stressed the need to enshrine the modern definition of professional exhibitions into the EU Design… read more

EMECA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CELEBRATED IN PERSON AT JAARBEURS UTRECHT

EMECA Members restart strong, with packed Q3-Q4 calendars, while overseas exhibitors’ and visitors’ attendance still low Call for facilitating international travel for WHO vaccinated attendees of trade fairs   Jaarbeurs Utrecht hosted this autumn’s EMECA General Assembly, the first in-person meeting since the pandemic started. “It marks the moment of strong restart of… read more

GLOBAL EXHIBITIONS DAY 2021: EUROPEAN EXHIBITION INDUSTRY ALLIANCE PUBLISHES NEW POSITION PAPER

The European Exhibition Industry - welcomes the EU Digital Covid Certificate and urges all European countries to restore and maintain safe travel for business purposes at any time  - calls for recognising and involving trade fairs and other professional events as the key instrument for green and digital transformation of all industries   Industry and business communities need live exhibitions and events As vaccination campaigns are advancing fast and additional safeguards like Covid tests and health protocols are widely available, it is high time for companies and R&D communities to resume their most efficient way of meeting and doing business. While the exhibition and events industry has proven rapid development and adaptation of… read more

EU DIALOGUE AND UPDATE IN RECOGNITION OF GLOBAL EXHIBITIONS DAY - 01.06.2021

On the occasion of this ye