LARGEST UFI EXHIBITION CONVENTION TO BE HELD AT EXPOFORUM
In 2018, ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center will become a site for the main event in the convention and exhibition industry — the International Congress of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI). Every year the project brings together more than 600 representatives of companies — organizers of exhibitions and forums, as well as convention and exhibition companies from all over the world.
The Convention program was discussed on September 15 during the meeting of the UFI Executive Committee at ExpoForum. Heads of leading exhibition companies from Germany, Hungary and Italy visited ExpoForum and studied the potential of St. Petersburg as a convention and exhibition capital.
The participants of the meeting noted that the Convention would be attended by futurologists and world-famous economists. Two thematic sessions will be arranged: the first will be dedicated to major complex management, and the second – to exhibition marketing and IT business. Plans are that a representative of the federal authorities of Russia will attend and speak at the opening ceremony.
“The UFI annual convention promotes effective dialogue between industry experts. Among its participants are members of the Russian Union of exhibitions and fairs, including 65 organizers who implement more than 1,000 exhibitions and fairs in 43 cities in Russia”, Sergey Pavlovich Alexeev, President of the World Association of the Exhibition Industry, and Vice President of ExpoForum International, said.
According to Sergey Alexeev, the exhibition industry today includes 85 countries and 700 UFI members from all over the world. The turnover of the industry is 100 billion euros a year, the industry involves 700 thousand employees, its estimated sales area covers 30,000 football fields, or 260 million square meters. The number of visitors to convention and exhibition events is approaching 260 million a year. “Every day there are 85 major exhibitions being opened in the world. This is a very serious industry, the so-called “hidden giant” — not everyone has an idea of its size”, Mr. Alexeev said.
Members of the UFI Executive Committee noted the functionality and the aesthetic side of the St. Petersburg Convention and Exhibition Center: “The venue is very comfortable and well thought out: the hotel is directly adjacent to three pavilions, there is a set of multi-functional spaces that can be adapted to the needs of visitors and customers,” UFI Executive Director Kai Hettendorf said.
“The venue is really impressive. I like the colors, the undulating ceiling, it appeals to my sense of aesthetics. It is very comfortable — there is a lot of open space ” — says Sonya Tomas, UFI Operations Director.
