Exhibition organizers, venues, associations and service providers from countries all around the world are uniting behind a global initiative to stage the first ever "Global Exhibitions Day" on June 8, 2016.
The day will aim to highlight the exhibition industry's benefits for the economy—and the fun of working in the industry. Driven by Dallas-based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Paris-based UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, a growing list of associations and industry players have pledged to join forces to promote the industry and highlight achievements.
"There are many great national and regional initiatives, addressing exhibitors, visitors, policymakers, and other stakeholders," said UFI President Sergey Alexeev and 2016 IAEE Chairperson Julie Smith, CEM, CTA. "Uniting these achievements under one common umbrella will strengthen the messages.”
The campaign will focus on messages that promote the value of exhibiting for companies, the key support role of exhibitions for the development of trade and internationalization, and the stimulating role exhibitions play in driving innovation and competitiveness of companies.
At the same time, Global Exhibitions Day is also meant to be a celebration of the people working in the exhibitions industry, showing the excitement and career opportunities that the industry has to offer.
While it is the intention that Global Exhibitions Day will grow as an event in the coming years, the initiative will be global from the beginning. Already today, industry leaders from all continents have pledged their participation. "We are amazed by the support this idea has received already," said UFI Managing Director Kai Hattendorf and IAEE President and CEO David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA. "As preparations progress, we're inviting every player in our industry to get involved as well."
The following associations are currently members of the task force: AAXO and EXSA (South Africa), AEFI and CFI (Italy), AEO (UK), AFE (Spain), AUMA and FAMAB (Germany), CEFA and CENTREX (Central Europe), EEIA (EU), IAEE and SISO (USA), IECA (Indonesia), IEIA (India), LECA (Lebanon), PCEI (Poland), RUEF (Russia) and UNIMEV (France).
For more information about participating in "Global Exhibitions Day," email Christian Druart.
