UFI announces 2017 conference theme

UFI announced the theme of this year’s UFI Global Congress, Raising the Odds – Pressures and Profits in the Exhibition Industry, at a Meetings Africa press conference in Johannesburg recently.

Bringing together more than 400 delegates from the exhibition industry worldwide, the 84th UFI Global Congress will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 1-4, 2017.


(From left) Andreas Gruchow, UFI’s president, and Craig Newman, CEO of Johannesburg Expo Centre 

On why the UFI decided on an economic focus for this year’s congress, Kai Hattendorf, UFI managing director and CEO, said: “Huge investments are being made in exhibitions and events, and economists predict that the exhibition industry will outgrow global economic growth. But at the same time, economic growth has slowed. Politically, protectionism is on the rise. And operationally, digitisation is driving ever-faster change within organisations.”

The congress will enable its members from all continents to meet and gain insight into topics of strategic interest, current trends and challenges for the exhibition industry.

As well, it was announced that the 2018 Congress is scheduled for Saint Petersburg, Russia.

UFI currently has 83 members in Africa and the Middle East.

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