Informa releases latest trading update

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London, 1st May: Yesterday, London-listed Informa Group PLC released its latest trading update, reporting a strong growth in the first quarter of 2025 and continuing forward visibility through subscriptions, recurring revenues and forward booked contracts.

The company posted an underlying revenue growth of 7.6% in the quarter, with strong performances across its Live B2B Events portfolio and in Academic Markets.

Informa updated its full year underlying revenue growth guidance of over 5%, which will be amounting at about £4.1 billion (US$5.3 billion) revenue target, with a double digit adjust earnings growth reaffirmed.

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa, stated, “The Informa Group continues to deliver strong underlying growth in both Live B2B Events and Academic Markets. Specialist Brands in Specialist Markets, annual/multi-year Subscriptions, forward booked revenues, and leading positions in faster growing geographies, underpin the Informa growth platform.”

New exhibition venue to launch in Philippines

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Pasay City, Philippines, 23rd April: SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation (SMHCC) announced to develop the Philippines’ largest international exhibition venue under its brand portfolio, SMXCITE, which officially breaks ground in Pasay City. Located right across SM MOA Arena, within the SM Mall of Asia Complex, SMXCITE will be a world-class venue.

SMXCITE is scheduled to complete in early 2027, providing over 18,000 m2 of leasable trade hall space. The venue will feature five expansive exhibition halls, accommodating up to 803 standard 3×3-meter booths; four equipped meeting rooms, for breakout sessions, closed-door discussions, and strategic planning engagements; two dedicated VIP lounges, for top-level executives, dignitaries, and private delegations. It can host over 18,000 guests and engineered to support large-format events for both local and global audiences.

Walid Wafik, Senior Vice President for Operations of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation, said, “SMXCITE marks a pivotal step in our continued efforts to build future-ready venues that meet global standards. With this new exhibition center, along with exciting projects on the horizon in Cebu and in Cabanatuan, we’re expanding our reach and reinforcing our commitment to elevate the Philippine MICE experience across the country.”

Messe Berlin opens subsidiary in India

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India, 29th April: International exhibition organiser, Messe Berlin, announced a new subsidiary, Messe Berlin India. Messe Berlin India will be headquartered in Delhi NCR region, aiming to expand ITB India and launch new projects for the Indian market.

According to Messe Berlin, the company views India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration and sustainable business growth within the exhibition industry, therefore the company opens a new subsidiary in India.

Katrina Leung, Managing Director and Vice-president Asia Pacific of Messe Berlin, will lead Messe Berline India as Managing Director.

Dr Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, was quoted, “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us – vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms.”

Meorient posts decreases in revenues and profit in FY2024

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Hangzhou, 26th April: Last week, Meorient, a Chinese exhibition organiser listed in Shenzhen, released its results for the year ended 31st December 2024. Revenues dropped 10% year-on-year, down to US$103 million.

The company posted a net profit of US$21 million in the year, declining 18% from the previous year. Diluted earnings per share in 2024 were RMB 0.68 (US$0.093). In 2024, Meorient organised exhibitions in nine countries with a total net area of 300,000 m2, featuring 7,500 exhibitors and 240,000 buyers.

Meorient also announced its results for the quarter ended 31st March 2025, generating revenues of US$2.4 million, a decrease of 77% year-on-year. The company posted a net loss of US$5.1 million, compared with a profit of US$667,000 in the first quarter in 2024. The company’s management attributed the decreases to the adjustment of the time of some of its exhibitions. It is believed that the company’s exhibition business will return to the seasonal cycle of the exhibition industry as the global exhibition market has returned to normal.

DLG Exhibitions’ revenues up 31% in Q1

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Shanghai, 29th April: Earlier this week, Shanghai-listed DLG Exhibitions (formerly Shanghai Lansheng) reported its financial results for the quarter ended 31st March 2025. Revenues in the quarter were US$32 million. This represents a year-on-year increase of 31%.

The company claimed the revenues increase to the operating income from exhibition services, event activities increased during the reported period.

However, the company posted a net loss of US$3.4 million, compared with a loss of US$752,000 in the first quarter in 2024.

Quick takes

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UFI announces winners of 2025 NGL grant

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced its recipients of 2025 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) grant. This year, five winners were selected by international jury: Anida D’Costa – Senior Conference Producer, Informa Markets (UAE); Diana Maria Salman – Senior Sales Manager, FEXPOCRUZ (Bolivia); Ilaria Basile – Event Operations Manager, Clarion Events (UK); Sarah Jung – Sales Manager, Messe München (Germany); and Taher Hakami – Riyadh Business Events Manager, SCEGA (Saudi Arabia).

RELX updates on trading

London-listed RELX Group plc has recently released its latest trading update of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), reaffirming the outlook for the full year of 2025. The Exhibitions business, accounting for 13% of the company’s 2024 revenues, posted a strong underlying revenue growth, reflecting the improved growth profile of its event portfolio and making good progress on digital initiatives. In 2025, the company expected a strong underlying revenue growth with an improvement in adjusted operating margin for the Exhibitions business.

1.4m+ overnight MICE visitors to Hong Kong in 2024

In 2024, Hong Kong attracted 1.42 million overnight MICE visitors, a 10% increase year-on-year. According to media release, half of MICE events visitors were from overseas, with exhibition segment accounted for over 20%.

755 exhibitors at Macau’s MITE

The 13th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) opened on 25th April 2025. Under the theme of “Explore MITE, Experience the World”, the expo presented six major highlights, bringing 755 tourism-related businesses and governmental entities from 70 countries and regions. MITE was held at Cotai Expo of the Venetian Macao, from 25th to 27th April 2025, occupying an area of 30,000 m2, featuring 1,502 booths.