New retail and specialty exec at Clarion Events North America
Clarion Events North America has hired a new executive to take charge of its retail and specialty division as it aims to bolster its presence in the sector
In his new role, Jeff Davis will lead several event portfolios, association partnerships and a media brand for the group.
Jeff is a seasoned events and media industry veteran and has spent 14 years at Emerald and Informa. Read the full story below.
Here are the top headlines for your weekly event news updates:
- Clarion Events North America appoints new executive for retail and specialty
- Omani organizer CONNECT posts 152% jump in net profits
- NürnbergMesse hits new sales record of €360 million in 2024
- WTTC issues warning over potential decline in UK travel and tourism
Clarion Events North America appoints new executive for retail and specialty
Clarion Events North America has named Jeff Davis as executive vice president of retail and specialty as the group seeks to expand its presence in the sector.
Jeff joins Clarion with 14 years of combined experience at Emerald and Informa.
He will report to CEO Liz Irving and manage several events including the Airport Experience Conference, Coffee Fest, Halloween & Party Expo and WWIN.
Liz said: “Jeff is a dynamic leader whose deep industry expertise, relationships and ability to create innovative strategies are matched only by his talent for building strong, cohesive teams.
“His vision and energy will undoubtedly strengthen our executive leadership team as we continue to elevate our impact in North America.
“I am thrilled to have him on board as we advance our commitment to delivering on our focus of customer obsession to deliver world-class events and solutions to our partners and customers.”
The appointment puts Jeff in charge of Clarion’s retail and specialty division, which includes trade shows, association partnerships and media properties.
Jeff’s portfolio includes the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, The NGA Show and Gift & Souvenir events.
Omani organizer CONNECT posts 152% jump in net profits
Oman-based exhibition organizer CONNECT reported a 152% increase in net profits for 2024, driven by strong performance across its portfolio of trade shows and events in Oman.
The company posted a 37% rise in domestic revenue and a 190% surge in international earnings, exceeding the global industry average of 17% according to UFI data.
CONNECT’s flagship Oman Petroleum & Energy Show drew 22,160 visitors, up 42% from its previous edition, while exhibitor participation grew 26% to 316 companies. The Oman Sustainability Week and Oman Design & Build Week saw attendance increases of 63% and 107% respectively.
Visitor satisfaction metrics for the company’s events surpassed industry benchmarks, with the petroleum show and sustainability week recording Net Promoter Scores of +43 and +33 compared to the industry average of +18.
CONNECT, which marks its 38th year of operations, projects revenue growth of 77% and an 81% increase in net profits by 2029.
The strong performance reflects broader growth in the Middle East events sector as the region continues to expand its conference and exhibition capabilities.
NürnbergMesse hits new sales record of €360 million in 2024
NürnbergMesse Group posted record sales of EUR 360m in 2024, surpassing its previous high of EUR 315m set in 2018 and marking a significant increase from EUR 257m in 2022.
The organizer’s 140 events worldwide drew 33,900 exhibitors and 1.56m visitors across 1.18m square meters of space, with international exhibitors accounting for 51% of participation at its home venue.
The company’s Brazilian and Chinese subsidiaries reported their strongest results to date, while flagship events in Nuremberg showed growth with FACHPACK increasing exhibitors by 26% and seeing visitor numbers rise by 33%.
NürnbergMesse expanded its portfolio through two acquisitions effective January 2025: WEKA Fachmedien GmbH, a trade publications provider and ALTENPFLEGE, Europe’s largest trade fair for the care sector.
The company expects sales of EUR 350m in 2025, with 140 events scheduled globally including new launches in Mexico and Brazil.
The calendar includes 76 events at its Nuremberg headquarters, where the company employs 590 people as part of its 1,181-strong global workforce.
WTTC issues warning over potential decline in UK travel and tourism
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned the UK tourism industry risks losing £60 billion in revenue over the next decade due to declining competitiveness.
The global tourism body released data showing the UK will have one of Europe’s lowest growth rates in international visitor arrivals over the next five years, falling behind Spain, Germany and Italy.
Julia Simpson, WTTC president & CEO said “The UK is at a critical juncture. The Government is looking for growth and its Travel & Tourism sector offers just that. As one of the country’s largest employers alongside the NHS, contributing £280bn to the UK economy last year, the sector has been misunderstood and poorly treated by successive governments.
“The Government cannot tax its way out of debt, it needs to invest to grow. UK taxes are higher than many of its competitors – VAT, no tax-free shopping, employers National Insurance, APD and now a potential new hotel tax, making the UK expensive to operate in and expensive to visit.”
She added: “Tourism promotion in the UK is chronically underinvested and it is arrogant to think tourists will always come to the UK.
“I applaud the initiative by the new Minister for Media, Tourism, & Creative Industries, Rt Hon Sir Chris Bryant MP, to get leaders round the table at the Visitor Economy Advisory Council to tackle this and ensure Travel & Tourism can continue to be a major engine to economic growth.
“The new government has a unique opportunity to change the trajectory of Travel & Tourism in the UK. Despite the industry’s resilience, years of government inertia are taking their toll. We welcome the new government’s commitment to surpassing 50 million visitors by 2030, but this can only be achieved with the right policies in place.”
Despite contributing £280bn to the UK economy in 2024 and supporting 4.1 million jobs, the sector faces challenges including increased air passenger duty, new visa requirements and the removal of tax-free shopping in 2021.
The WTTC cited underfunding of VisitBritain compared to international counterparts and potential hotel taxes as barriers to growth. The organization also highlighted the UK’s dependence on U.S. visitors as a vulnerability.
The warning comes ahead of the UK government’s first Visitor Economy Advisory Council meeting. While global tourism is projected to grow 3.7% annually over the next decade, the WTTC says the UK risks missing this growth without policy changes.
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