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 informal exchange. The two leading associations in the exhibition and business events sector stressed their intention to intensify their cooperation to cope with the challenges the business events industry currently encounters.
The talks focussed mainly on the latest political and economic developments. Even with the resumption of trade fair operations, the exhibition and events industry is facing numerous challenges, especially in light of the global situation. "The ongoing uncertainty about the energy supply and its costs as well as overall inflation and the still not fully resolved disruption of supply chains has an impact on the planning and execution of trade fairs and events worldwide", states Roland Bleinroth.
Close cooperation would be all the more significant to proactively meet the challenges. Through increased sharing of information, best practices and resources, both associations aim to develop solutions to strengthen the exhibition and events industry and increase its resilience. In Europe, EMECA and UFI have been sharing their advocacy efforts with the EEIA (European Exhibition Industry Alliance) since 2012 which proved particularly beneficial during the pandemic. For sustainability, both UFI and EMECA joined forces with JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council) and its Net Zero Carbon Events initiative. Another key field where cooperation will make a difference is data and statistics. Data showcasing the exhibition and business events sector’s size, impact on innovation and competitiveness as well as economic effects of the business events and exhibition sector need to be included in national and other official statistics.
Michael Duck says: "Given the changing global landscape, it is vital that the exhibition and events industry works together to address the new challenges and strengthen the exhibition and events industry as a key driver for business and innovation."
Photo enclosed:
1 – EMECA and UFI Presidents
Roland Bleinroth, EMECA President and CEO Messe Stuttgart
Michael Duck, UFI President and Executive Vice President Commercial Development Informa Markets
About EMECA
Before the pandemic, the EMECA Members hosted and organised nearly 2.000 trade fairs a year globally, out of which 1.550 in Europe on a gross rented space of nearly 38 million sqm. They welcomed nearly 500.000 exhibitors and roughly 38,5 million visitors in Europe.
The EMECA Members
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Belgium: Brussels Expo
Germany: Deutsche Messe (Hannover), KoelnMesse, NürnbergMesse, Messe Stuttgart
France: EUREXPO – Centre de Conventions et d’Expositions de Lyon, VIPARIS, Paris
Italy: BolognaFiere, Fiera Milano, Rimini Fiera, VeronaFiere
The Netherlands: Amsterdam RAI, Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs Utrecht |
Poland: MTP Grupa, Poznan
Russia: Expocentre Moscow (currently suspended)
Portugal: Feira Internacional de Lisboa
Switzerland: MCH Group (Basel, Zurich, Lausanne), Geneva Palexpo
Spain: Fira de Barcelona, BEC – Bilbao Exhibition Centre, IFEMA – Feria de Madrid, Feria Valencia UK: ExCeL London, NEC – National Exhibition Centre Birmingham
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Press and media contact
Ms Barbara Weizsäcker
EMECA General Secretary
Tel. +32 25357250
