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Hattendorf Leaves UFI on Top of the World

Hattendorf signs off – for now: From the IBTM Forum for Advocacy in Barcelona to his final edition as chief executive of the UFI Annual Congress held in Cologne, Kai Hattendorf shares his reflections on ten years at the global exhibitions industry association helm, seven of which featured as a board member of the Joint…

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Letter from the UFI President: February 2025

With the arrival of a new year comes a pivotal moment – one charged with possibilities, challenges, and our collective commitment to driving progress as a dynamic and resilient community. If we reflect on the past year, we see that the global economic landscape remains complex and uncertain. Economic slowdowns in key markets, such as…

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Have We Come in From the Cold?

From Exhibition News – CloserStill Media and Nineteen Group chairman Phil Soar ponders the significance for recent mainstream media interest in exhibitions and events: Something very strange has occurred. In the past month we have seen two positive articles in the Financial Times praising trade show companies and talking about billion-pound deals, DMG declaring that…

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Why Tennis is Not the Only Smash-Hit Success Here

From Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry: Melbourne is serving up aces with our Summer of Tennis in full swing. The Australian Open has evolved beyond being a major, global sporting event to become a very Melbourne festival that appeals to all generations, budgets and passions. Whether it’s corporate hospitality, live sites brimming with tourists…

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Breaking down Borders on the Road to Global Growth

From Brave, Bold, Brilliant Podcast: Jeannette is joined by Don Welsh, the CEO and President of Destinations International. They explore the evolution of the travel and tourism industry, discussing how Destinations International has expanded from a U.S.-centric organisation to serving over 760 destination organisations in 31 countries. Don shares insights into the challenges of cultural…

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The Convention Centre Putting Sustainability at its Heart

From M&IT, GM John Burke on making sustainability a core business strategy at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre: As sustainability becomes a critical focus for the global MICE industry, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has emerged as a trailblazer. Recently awarded Best Sustainability Initiative (Convention Centre) at M&C Asia Stella Awards 2024, the convention centre’s efforts…

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How Women are Changing the Industry’s DNA

From Exhibit City News, by Danelle Dodds: There’s electricity in air. A palpable hum is buzzing through every corner of experiential exhibits and events. The energy is charged and crackling across boardrooms, ballrooms, and exhibit floors. It’s not just a felling; it’s a force, and it’s coming from women. More women than every are sitting…

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Brand USA Chair Ferguson Seeks to Broaden its Focus

From Meetings Today: Having a board chair who is a meetings industry veteran that knows the ways of Washington, D.C., is a definite advantage for Brand USA, which recently welcomed Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, to a one-year term helping steer the organization that markets the U.S. to international leisure and MICE…

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ARNALDO NARDONE: Latin America’s Architect of Progress

The Iceberg loves a movement. Especially a movement that uses business & professional events to drive positive change. But it often requires an evangelical personality, combined with an event, to achieve that change. In Latin America (LATAM), one such character has driven the evolution and development of the Business Events Sector – founder of the…

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An Interview with Sarah Fleming, 2024 ICCA BI Coopetition Winner

From ICCA: At the 2024 ICCA BI Coopetition, Sarah Fleming, Managing Director of SFA-Connect, showcased an innovative approach to utilise the ICCA Business Intelligence platform to drive strategic success in conference bidding. Her winning project, “Leveraging Sector-First Strategies and ICCA BI for Successful Conference Bids: The SFA-C Approach,” highlights how aligning destination knowledge hubs with…

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How International Associations Can Manage Political Risks in 2025

From Boardroom, by Tommy Goodwin, Executive Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance: We live in an increasingly politics-first world. From wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza to recent change elections in the United States and throughout Europe, the political environment grows more uncertain by the day. With trade wars, transatlantic tensions, and further anti-incumbency elections…

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5 Trends to Watch in 2025

From UFI: 2024 will go into the history books as the best year the global exhibition industry has ever recorded, measured by revenues—topping out an astonishing comeback after the global pandemic. Investors remain eager to put money into our industry’s core business model of connecting people for trade and innovation, but the future will see…

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The East Malaysia Destination with a Strong Purpose and Legacy

From M&C/ASIA: As the winner of M&C Asia Stella Award’s Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) title, Sarawak has solidified its position as a leader in legacy and innovation for the MICE industry. Amelia Roziman, CEO of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), discusses how the destination has seamlessly woven sustainability into every facet of its business events strategy.

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IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award Winner 2023 Interview

From IMEX: Destination Canada were the winners of the 2023 IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award. Presented during IMEX Frankfurt, the award honors outstanding achievements in sustainable innovation in the business events industry. IMEX Brand Ambassador, Tanja Knecht spoke to Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director Business Events, Destination Canada about their winning project, the Canadian Business…

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Lots of Business at Successful IBTM World 2024

From Meetings International, by Roger Kellerman: IBTM World 2024 was perhaps one of the best IBTM fairs I have experienced in my 20 years at the show. It surpassed last year’s success, with over 73,000 pre-scheduled meetings (an increase of over 19 per cent compared to 2023), but these figures should be taken with a…

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Global Policy Leadership Series | The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP

From UFI: We’re excited to share our interview with The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and Minister for Outdoor Recreation of the State of Victoria, Australia. This conversation offers a blueprint for integrating sustainability with impactful policymaking as Minister Dimopoulos discusses Victoria’s leading strategies to host world-class…

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