UFI appoints new Sustainable Development Coordinator

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Paris, 8th January: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has appointed Zeeshan Ghazi as its Sustainable Development Coordinator.

In the new role, Zeeshan will advance and advocate for UFI’s global sustainability agenda. He will also contribute to the development of tools, frameworks, and guidance materials for members, coordinate UFI’s internal efforts toward the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative, and engage with international stakeholders to promote sustainable practices across the global exhibition industry.

Zeeshan has more than a decade of international experience in sustainability analysis, ESG frameworks, and the implementation of sustainable infrastructure and resource-efficiency projects. Before joining UFI, he has held roles with international NGOs and government agencies, leading renewable energy and water management initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Adeline Vancauwelaert, UFI COO, commented, “Zeeshan’s appointment marks an important step in advancing UFI’s commitment to sustainability. His expertise and experience will be instrumental in guiding UFI’s initiatives globally. We look forward to working together as we continue supporting our community in driving positive change across the exhibition industry.”

Koelnmesse: preliminary sales €450m

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Cologne, 13th January: International exhibition organiser, Koelnmesse, posted strong results for the year 2025. The preliminary sales for 2025 were €450 million (US$529 million), with a profit of €60 million (US$71 million).

In 2025, Koelnmesse hosted 79 events, including 39 events abroad, supplemented by eight new formats. Around 2.5 million visitors from 214 countries attended Koelnmesse’s trade fairs, showcasing 43,600 exhibiting companies from 120 nations.

In Asia, the company has appointed Mathias Küpper as Regional President Asia-Pacific to help more closely network the subsidiaries in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and also support development of its trade fair brands in key Asian growth markets. The company will open another subsidiary in Indonesia soon.

CEO Gerald Böse, said, “We are operating in one of the most difficult market environments of recent decades. It is crucial that we remain on course under these conditions and use our resources where we can make an impact. With a long-term perspective, we are investing not only in a building, but also in the quality and future viability of our entire location.”

Hyve posts double digit growth in 2025

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London, 13th January: London-based Hyve Group Limited posted an organic growth of 15% and total proforma revenue of US$391 million in 2025. EBITDA posted an organic growth of 26% in 2025, reaching US$100 million.

The company aimed at driving increasing demand from top-tier companies by focusing its approach on market-leading events, a total of 31 events across 18 global brands. Five new product launches are planned in 2026 and would continue to invest in digitisation to expand customer ROI.

Hyve has completed six acquisitions since launching GO27 18 months ago. The company set out GO27 plan to more than double the size of Hyve by 2027.

Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve was quoted, “We’re on a mission to re-define the role of events, and this year we’ve made meaningful progress – from transformative acquisitions and new product launches to key milestones in our technology and people strategies. We will continue investing in world-class B2B events in sectors undergoing significant change, remain active in M&A where there is strategic fit, and further develop our products.”

Tourism Australia appoints new MD

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Australia, 9th January: The Tourism Australia (TA) announced the appointment of Robin Mach as its new Managing Director, bringing his 30 years of multi sector global experience within the travel industry.

Over a decade serving TA, Mr Mack has been responsible for overseeing the market strategy and operations across the global markets, as well as commercial, distribution development and partnerships.

Tourism Australia Chair, Penny Fowler AM, stated, “We are delighted to appoint Mr Mack following an extensive recruitment process. Robin has a proven track record in tourism and brings a wealth of industry perspective and experience gained across multiple fields and roles in the sector. During his 13 years at Tourism Australia, Robin has demonstrated his ability to drive strategies to create sustainable international demand for visiting Australia.

Quick takes

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IMPACT’s new sustainability strategy

Thailand’s largest exhibition venue, IMPACT Exhibition Management Co. announced a new strategy framework, governing decision-making across environmental, social, and economic dimensions to ensure long-term value creation for stakeholders. The key strategy is to develop a Smart City Model for Muang Thong Thani, modernising event-related infrastructure to improve resource efficiency and urban resilience.

SEEC Media renames as BFB Health

SEEC Media Group Limited announced to change the English name of the company to “BFB Health Limited” and delete the Chinese name. The stock short names of the company for trading in the Shares on the Stock Exchange will be changed from “SEEC MEDIA” to “BFB HEALTH” in English and deleted the Chinese stock short name, effective from 22nd January 2025, with the stock code of the company remaining unchanged as “205”.

Diversified acquires Marine Money

Diversified announced the acquisition of Marine Money, a leading brand in ship finance events and publications, from International Marketing Strategies, Inc. (IMS). Founded in 1987, Marine Money organises events worldwide and produces newsletters, research, and industry reports serving the global shipping finance industry. The acquisition will strengthen Diversified’s Commercial Marine portfolio, with Maring Money brining a complementary focus on the financial side of the maritime industry, creating new opportunities.