New UFI President: Silence has hurt exhibitions, it’s time for action

The global exhibition industry needs to step out of the shadows and assert its economic importance, according to UFI’s new president Hugh Jones.

Taking charge of the industry’s leading association, Hugh set out that years of poor communication have left governments conflating trade shows with concert tours and tourism – undermining the sector’s strategic value.

That’s why he has chosen advocacy as one of the global association of the exhibition industry’s top three priorities moving forward. Read all about it in his inaugural letter to UFI members.

Here are the top headlines for your weekly event news updates:

• New UFI President: Silence has hurt us, it’s time for action
• RX expands into Saudi Arabia’s fitness industry with new event
• Koelnmesse veteran to lead Messe Dusseldorf’s new corporate division
• Messe Munchen posts record €530 million revenue in 2024 
• Liz Irving becomes new CEO of Clarion Events North America
• Informa Tech merges digital operations with TechTarget

New UFI President: Silence has hurt us, it’s time for action

UF’s new president has called for stronger industry advocacy, saying years of insufficient engagement with governments has resulted in the sector being overlooked and misunderstood.

Hugh Jones said governments often mistake the exhibition industry for concert tours or tourism – largely due to the industry’s failure to communicate its economic impact effectively.

In his inaugural address to UFI members, Hugh outlined advocacy as being among three priorities for his term – with sustainability and talent also making the final cut

🆕 Hugh Jones's inaugural 'Letter from the UFI President' is here! ✍️

📌 Dive in to learn about the top three priorities for his presidency: Talent, Sustainability, and Advocacy.

🔗 https://t.co/FESXImQDRT#ufi #ufipresident #talent #sustainability #advocacy #eventprofs pic.twitter.com/pLgW4RZd2q

— UFI (@UFILive) December 6, 2024

He said: “It’s fairly simple, we want our fair share of respect.

“National and local governments are not aware of our industry, and it pains me to say that most of them think about Taylor Swift’s ERAs tour or ‘heads in beds’ and tourism when they talk about our industry.

“This is mainly OUR OWN fault, as we have not really engaged properly for too long.

“We can achieve a lot by arguing our case of economic impact and relevance, but we also need to engage and drive the positioning of the whole sector.”

Hugh urged exhibition organizers, venues and partners to consistently communicate their economic contributions to host cities and countries.

He also emphasized the need to attract diverse talent to the industry, noting that while many professionals have “stumbled into” the events sector, a more proactive approach to recruitment is necessary.

Hugh said: “We need to share skills development across the industry to ensure that our teams are diverse, inclusive and ready for the next challenges in business, including AI.

“We need to look at sectors outside of the exhibitions industry who do this exceptionally well, and we need to learn from them.”

He highlighted UFI’s Next Generation Leaders Initiative, launched in 2016, which has already produced several industry leaders.

On sustainability, Hugh called it “possibly the most significant challenge” facing the sector.

He stressed that the industry must position itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis, pointing to UFI’s leadership in the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative since 2021.

Hugh said: “UFI’s working group for sustainable development is one of the oldest, most experienced, and most successful groups that UFI has ever created.

“But we need to do more and we need to do more, together.

“One issue where not all the major players in our industry are aligned in their respective strategies, is offsetting projects that invest in our industry specifically, creating a funding mechanism that drives our sector’s decarbonisation.

“Some UFI members have begun work on this, and I am eager to see this evolve into a scenario where UFI can act as the trusted party that connects and perhaps behaves as an arms-length auditor of these interests.”

RX expands into Saudi Arabia’s fitness industry with new event

RX is expanding into Saudi Arabia’s fitness sector with FIBO Saudi, a health and fitness exhibition scheduled for October.

The event marks RX’s first venture into the country’s growing fitness industry, which has experienced rising demand for wellness facilities.

The event at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center will showcase fitness equipment, sports nutrition, technology and wellness products.

Vasyl Zhygalo, managing director for RX Middle East, said: “The launch of FIBO Saudi will help further bolster and expand the burgeoning health and wellness sector in Saudi Arabia, offering opportunities for industry professionals and enthusiasts to network, showcase innovations, and drive advancements in health and wellness.

“FIBO Saudi will offer a platform for regional and international players in the fitness industry to connect with potential clients, partners, and distributors in the Kingdom, as well as attract consumers and sports enthusiasts alike.

“The FIBO brand enjoys a high reputation in the fitness industry worldwide.

“With FIBO Saudi, we are delighted to carry the spirit of the brand and a healthy lifestyle into one of the fastest-growing markets in the world and offer excellent new opportunities for the industry with the support of the key industry stakeholders.”

The three-day event will include business networking sessions, educational programs and product demonstrations targeting gym operators, fitness clubs and wellness professionals.

It aims to connect international brands with Saudi Arabia’s growing fitness market.

Koelnmesse veteran to lead Messe Dusseldorf’s new corporate division

Messe Dusseldorf has appointed Claire Steinbrück to lead its new Global Corporate Development and Strategy division, marking her transition from competitor Koelnmesse GmbH.

Claire will join the management board in mid-2025 to oversee the company’s international expansion initiatives.

She becomes the second female executive director at Messe Dusseldorf, alongside Petra Cullmann.

The appointment comes as Messe Dusseldorf seeks to strengthen its position in global markets.

The company reported that 78% of its exhibitors and 39% of visitors in 2023 came from outside Germany.

Claire brings over a decade of trade fair industry experience, including roles at Messe Frankfurt in Latin America and Germany.

She served until November 2024 at Koelnmesse, where she managed the company’s global food technology portfolio as divisional director.

Her previous experience includes serving as deputy director of the German Pavilion at EXPO Milano 2015 and working as a project manager for innovation at Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH from 2008 to 2012.

Messe Munchen posts record €530m revenue in 2024 

Messe Munchen reported €530 million in consolidated revenue for 2024, marking the highest earnings in the German tradeshow’s history.

The company achieved an EBITDA of €130m and a net income of €60m worldwide, driven largely by strong international operations. At its Munich headquarters, the company generated €330m in revenue and €8 million in profit.

Co-CEOs Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel said: “The strength of our portfolio of twelve leading international trade fairs and a robust core business is evident in this difficult economic environment in Germany.

“Our events continue to be as popular as ever—something that people are least willing to miss.

“By organizing events in Munich with a high proportion of foreign participation and holding trade fairs abroad, we offer small and medium-sized companies an international platform.

“This is how we can make Bavarian and German innovations visible internationally.”

The results position the company for 2025, when Munich will host eight major international trade fairs.

Messe Munchen projects revenues of €500m from its Munich operations alone next year, with an estimated €4 billion in indirect economic benefits for the region.

The anticipated economic impact is expected to benefit local businesses including hotels, restaurants, retailers, and exhibition service providers, with 80% of these effects concentrated in Munich and Bavaria.

Liz Irving becomes new CEO of Clarion Events North America

Clarion Events North America has named Liz Irving as new CEO, promoting her from president.

She has pledged to press forward with the organizer’s efforts to utilize technology to improve experiences, praising her team for progress made.

During her presidency, Liz led initiatives to develop new revenue streams and implemented a customer-focused business model.

She said: “The foundation we’ve built as a team has positioned us for even greater success.

“By embracing innovation, leveraging data and insights and creating connected experiences, we will continue to unlock opportunities that deliver exceptional value to our customers and partners.”

Liz will continue reporting to company chairman Greg Topalian and oversee all divisions except Clarion Connect.

He said: “Liz has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify new opportunities, navigate complex challenges, and drive exceptional result.

“Her leadership as President opened doors to meaningful partnerships, expanded our market reach, and laid the foundation for a thriving future.

“I have no doubt her vision as CEO will continue to transform our business.”

Lisa Hannant, global CEO of Clarion Events, added: “Liz’s promotion reflects our commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and leadership.

“Her work as President has been instrumental in driving new business opportunities and fostering a culture of delivering at the highest level.

“I am excited to see how Liz will build on this momentum as CEO to take our North American business to new heights.”

Informa Tech merges digital operations with TechTarget

Informa has confirmed the completion of its agreement to combine Informa Tech’s digital operations with US-listed TechTarget, forming a new entity called Informa TechTarget.

The deal gives Informa around 57% ownership of the combined company, which will continue to trade on Nasdaq under TechTarget’s ticker symbol TTGT.

The merger brings together more than 220 technology media brands and a first-party audience exceeding 50m users.

Mary McDowell will lead Informa TechTarget as chair. She stepped down from her position as non-executive director at Informa Plc on November 30.

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