Quick takes

/

UFI announces winners of its awards in 2025

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the winners of the 2025 UFI Industry Partners Award and the 2025 UFI Sustainable Development Award. Kuehne+Nagel wins the 2025 UFI Industry Partners Award, with the theme of “Partnering in Customer Driven Innovation”. While RX Global wins the 2025 UFI Sustainable Development Award, under the topic of “Best Inclusion Initiative”. The winners will be officially celebrated and present their projects at the 92nd UFI Global Congress in Hong Kong SAR, from 19th to 22nd November 2025.

3m+ visitors to Macau in May 2025

Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released its latest statistics of visitor arrivals for May 2025, welcoming a total of 3,372,081 visitors, up 25% year-on-year. Same-day visitors (1,992,296) jumped 39%, while overnight visitors (1,379,785) increased by 9.4%. However, the average length of stay of visitors decreased by 0.1 day, down to 1.1 days.

Deutsche Messe hosts 70 shows in 2024

International exhibition organiser, Deutsche Messe, released its financial results for the fiscal year 2024, with consolidated revenue was €304 million (US$316 million), with a profit of €18 million (US$19 million). In 2024, the company organised about 70 trade fairs worldwide, featuring over 30,000 exhibiting companies and more than 3 million visitors. In the future, the company will grow its business by developing innovative trade fair formats and expanding into new domestic and international markets.

Informa’s revenues up 9.3% in first 5 months

/

London, 16th June: Informa PLC, the international Live B2B Events, B2B Digital Services and Academic Markets Group, announced its latest trading update, reporting its underlying revenue growth in the first five months of 2025 to be 9.3%.

In terms of business segments, B2B Live Events (Informa Markets, Informa Connect, Informa Festivals) posted an increase of 8.3%, and Academic Markets grew 14%.

The company announced “2025-2028 One Informa”, which is a four-year programme to maximise Informa’s B2B growth platform progressing to plan, developing market-leading capabilities in Customer Experience, Data-led Marketing, Brands and the AI Time Dividend.

Informa updated reported revenues in 2025 at £4 billion (US$5.4 billion), with its 2025 Group underlying revenue growth guidance to over 5% reaffirmed, with B2B Events at over 7%.

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa, said, “The commercial power of our Live B2B Event Brands and Academic Market Services is driving further strong growth for Informa. The Informa Growth Platform is built on leading specialist Brands, market categories in structural growth, International reach into growth economies, first party data and world class industry talent.”

Pico Thailand posts loss in Q2

/

Bangkok, 13th June: Pico Thailand, the Thai-listed subsidiary of Pico Far East Holdings, has released its results for the quarter ended 30th April 2025. Revenues in the quarter were US$7.03 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 9.6%. The company posted a net loss of US$887,000 in the reported period, compared with a net profit of US$12,000 in the same quarter last year.

The company attributed the decrease in revenues to the majority of the project were completed in the previous year. The expenses in selling and administrative increased as expected credit loss from account receivable increased, in the result of the loss the reported period.

Pico Thailand also reported its results for the six months ended 30th April. Revenues in the period amounted to US$16 million, which dropped by 1.9% year-on-year. In the six-month period, the company posted a net loss of US$647,000 compared with a net profit of US$102,000 recorded in the first half of the last financial year.

10,000+ visitors at Gartex Texprocess India in Mumbai

/

India, 16th June: Organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, Gartex Texprocess India (Mumbai) 2025, drew 10,293 visitors from 230 Indian cities and five countries.

Running from 22nd to 24th May 2025, at JIO World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, the event incorporated Denim Show, Screen Print India – Textiles, and the Fabrics & Trims Show, a total 125 exhibitors were showcased at the event, covering the entire value chain to offer industry stakeholders a unified source for knowledge exchange and business networking.

The next edition of Gartex Texprocess India will be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, running from 21st to 23rd August 2025, while the next Mumbai edition is scheduled to run from 9th to 11th April 2026, at Bombay Exhibition Centre.

Quick takes

/

IEG wins 2025 UFI Digital Innovation Award

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the winner of the 2025 UFI Digital Innovation Award to be Italian Exhibition Group (IEG). IEG won with its “All-in-one ecosystem” entry. The 2025 UFI Award winners will be officially celebrated and will present their projects at the 92nd UFI Global Congress, running from 19th to 22nd November 2025 in Hong Kong SAR.

Hong Kong expects 3% export growth in 2025

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) confirmed its export growth for this year to be 3%. The figure is navigating a period of almost unprecedented turbulence in the global trade arena, due to the radical shift in the U.S. trade policy. To anticipate the hefty tariff regime, many of Hong Kong’s exporters opted to “frontload” their orders in the early months of the year.

BCEC celebrates 30 years of anniversary

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) celebrated its 30 years of anniversary. Managed by ASM Global, the venue has delivered 26,082 events for Brisbane, generating A$6.26 billion (US$4.1 billion) in economic benefit for Queensland, and welcomed 21.6 million guests since its opening in 1995.

BBTF 2025 promotes Indonesia

Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2025 opened with the theme of “Indonesia: Preserving Green Nature and Cultural Heritage for the World”. A total of 529 buyers from 45 countries attended the event to meet 499 seller companies from seven nations and 11 Indonesian provinces, occupying 284 booths. New elements at this year included the Pavilion Podcast Series and the Knowledge Sharing Sessions.

GED 2025 themed “Exhibitions Unleash Potential”

/

Paris, 6th June: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry hosted its 10th edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) on 4th June 2025, with the theme of “Exhibitions Unleash Potential”. This year, GED showcased how exhibitions empower individuals, elevate organisations, and drive economic and social growth through direct in-person interactions and connections.

Four key messages were highlighted at GED 2025: exhibitions drive progress in industries by fostering collaboration and innovation; empower individuals by supporting the growth of both emerging and established talent; advance communities by fuelling economic development and societal progress; and strengthen companies by amplifying brand presence, building networks, and boosting revenue through face-to-face engagement. Over 75 national and international industry associations supported this year’s GED.

Hugh Jones, UFI President and CEO of RX, said, “Global Exhibitions Day is a powerful demonstration of the exhibition industry’s unity and impact. Around the world, our community came together to showcase how exhibitions connect people, ignite innovation, and drive growth across industries, communities, and economies. The day reaffirmed that face-to-face events remain essential platforms for building a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future.”

GED 2026 will be held on the first Wednesday of June: 3rd June 2026.

Informa Markets partners with HIMSS APAC

/

Kuala Lumpur, 6th June: HIMSS – The Healthcare Information and Management System Society will host events in three continents for health and technology leaders from over 70 countries and regions.

HIMSS European Health Conference & Exhibition will be held from 10th to 12th June 2025 in Paris. Followed by 2025 HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition (HIMSS25 APAC) to be held in July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, and 2026 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas will run in March 2026.

HIMSS25 APAC will partner with Informa Markets to co-locate the APAC conference within International Healthcare Week 2025. The event will take place at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), running from 16th to 18th July 2025, strengthening collaboration across health ministries, private sector leaders, clinicians and technology partners.

HIMSS, serving as a global health technology advisor and though leader dedicated to improving health through information and technology, supports health professionals and organisations through education, professional development, networking, and digital maturity assessment tools and advisory services that help transform the global health ecosystem.

LEAP to launch LEAP East

/

Hong Kong, 3rd June: Riyadh-based Tahaluf, a joint venture with global event organiser Informa, will expand its LEAP, the leading technology event in Saudi Arabia, in Hong Kong, by launching LEAP East, the Asia-Pacific edition of LEAP, running from 8th to 10th July 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

This is the first time for LEAP to expand beyond Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia focuses on collaboration with Asia, Hong Kong’s mature market, robust financial system, strong exhibition infrastructure, and unique “One Country, Two Systems” framework, in the results to host the LEAP East.

The event will feature over 300 exhibitors spanning AI, fintech, healthtech, deeptech, and over 200 world class speakers, targeting to attract more than 25,000 visitors from across Asia-Pacific and beyond.

ewpartners, the leading global investment firm focusing on bringing Asia and the Middle East market, is the exclusive strategic partner for LEAP East.

Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President at Tahaluf, commented, “LEAP was created in Riyadh to position Saudi Arabia as a global innovation hub. After four record-breaking editions, we’re taking our next bold step, bringing LEAP to Hong Kong. This city is not only a gateway to Asia, but a proven launchpad for global ambitions. Through our partnership with ewpartners, we’re proud to build a platform that unites Saudi and Asian-Pacific innovators on one world stage.”

Quick takes

/

Record numbers at UFI European Events Week

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, concluded its UFI European Events Week, brining a record number of delegates to Thessaloniki, Greece. Hosted by TIF-HELEXPO, the event ran from 3rd to 7th June 2025, gathering some 400 industry leaders from 37 countries and regions for learning, networking, and memorable experiences.

Hong Kong hosts ISSCR for the first time

The world’s largest international convention in stem cell research and regenerative medicine, The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2025 Annual Meeting was held in Hong Kong for the first time. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) partnered with Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors from three local universities: The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The convention featured more than 2,400 top-tier researchers and experts in stem cell research and regenerative medicine from 58 countries and regions.

ABEA appoints Angie Becker to the Board

Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) appointed Angie Becker to join the Board effective immediately. Angie, from Victorian Convention and Event Trust, serves as Chief Sales and Customer Experience Officer overseeing Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre. She brings experience in hotels, hospitality and events for over two decades to take up the venue representative position, replacing Samantha Glass.

100,000+ professional visitors at SCIIF 2025

South China International Industry Fair 2025 (SCIIF), co-branded by HANNOVER MESSE and China International Industry Fair (CIIF), concluded with the theme of “Sharing an Intelligent Future Led by Industry”. Running from 4th to 6th June 2025, at Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, the fair covered over 100,000 m2 of exhibition area across five halls, welcoming a total of 107,222 professional visitors. More than 1,200 exhibitors presented major advancements in scale, lineup, and influence, establishing a comprehensive display system spanning from core components to end-product manufacturing.

Messe Frankfurt partners to co-organise Notes Shanghai

/

Shanghai, 29th May: International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, announced a strategic partnership between Messe Frankfurt (Shenzhen) Co Ltd. and Notes Shanghai Exhibition Co Ltd, to co-organise Notes Shanghai, a leading trade fair dedicated to China’s niche fragrance sector.

The partnership will enhance Messe Frankfurt’s global trade fair expertise and prestigious Beautyworld network, and also Notes Shanghai’s in-depth industry knowledge and local connections. Under the partnership, it is targeted to enhance the event’s international influence, foster new business opportunities, and support the rapid growth of China’s fragrance industry.

The event is scheduled to run from 16th to 19th October 2025, at the West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center in Shanghai. The event will feature over 200 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions, occupying 5,000 m2 of exhibition space, showcasing the unique scent philosophies. It is expected to attract over 16,000 visitors and professional buyers, including perfume and cosmetics retailers, department stores, distributors, agents, e-commerce platforms, social media influencers, and fragrance enthusiasts.

Mr Edward Che, General Manager at Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, commented, “This partnership represents an exciting milestone for us, marking Messe Frankfurt’s first trade fair dedicated to the fragrance and beauty sector in China. By harnessing our comprehensive industry resources and market knowledge through our consumer goods and beauty network, we aim to fulfil the needs of both industry players and consumers. With our global expertise, we aspire to attract more international brands, fostering industry innovation, amplifying the event's worldwide appeal, and provide a premium platform that connects exhibitors with brands and fragrance lovers.”

Hong Kong hosts 121 exhibitions in 2024

/

Hong Kong, 4th June: The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKCEIA) highlighted the exhibitions and trade show businesses in Hong Kong are facing labour shortage and global tensions.

According to HKECIA, Hong Kong hosted 121 large-scale exhibitions in 2024, including 80 trade or trade-consumer events, which is an increase of 9.6% from 2023. The total number of exhibitors was nearly 52,000, up 13.9%; while visitor numbers grew by 4.5%, to over 1.46 million.

Chairman Stuart Bailey, highlighted, “Despite the progress made, challenges remain. Exhibitor space rentals declined by 6.8% as companies scaled back spending due to global economic uncertainty. While the total number of exhibitions has nearly recovered to pre-Covid levels, exhibitor and visitor participation lags behind 2019 figures by 25.1% and 21.3%, respectively. Nonetheless, there are encouraging signs. Visitor numbers from mainland China rose by 21% year-on-year, even surpassing 2019 levels. This growth was fuelled by the excellent transport infrastructure within the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong’s enduring attractiveness to mainland businesses.”

Messe München partners to launch project cargo platform

/

Munich/London, 30th May: Messe München’s transport logistic exhibition series, transport logistic, announced a strategic partnership with Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International (HLPFI), aiming at elevating the visibility and networking potential of the heavy lift, breakbulk and project cargo sector.

The highlight of the partnership is the exhibition area that will debut across international transport logistic trade fairs, including the events in Singapore, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Istanbul, and Nairobi. Under the partnership, HLPFI will support international sales efforts and take the lead in curating a targeted conference programme, bringing top-tier expertise and insights to the event, while transport logistic will deliver their global reach, operational excellence, and an outstanding visitor experience.

Dr. Robert Schönberger, Global Industry Lead transport logistic exhibitions at Messe München, was quoted, “With project cargo, we’re extending our portfolio to address a vital segment of the logistics chain. Together with HLPFI, we are creating a new meeting point that sets a global benchmark for excellence in heavy and project transport.”

Quick takes

/

UFI elects President for 2026-27

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced Wolfram Diener (President & CEO, Messe Düsseldorf Group) has been elected by the UFI Board of Directors as the UFI President for the 2026-27 term. Diener will join the UFI Presidential Trio as Incoming President in November 2025 and will become President in November 2026 at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in Bahrain. The UFI Presidential Trio for the November 2025 – November 2026 term will be: Panittha Buri (Vice-Chairperson, Bhiraj Buri Group), President; Hugh Jones (CEO, RX), Outgoing President; and Wolfram Diener, Incoming President.

Informa TechTarget’s revenues up 13% in FY2024

TechTarget, Inc., now under Informa, released its full year results for 2024, with reported revenue of US$285 million, which is a year-on-year 13% increase. However, the company widened its GAAP net loss to US$117 million, which reflected the small contribution period of TechTarget, acquisition and integration costs, and non-cash impairments at the point of combination.

ICC Sydney to host 63 exhibitions in 2025

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) announced the venue will welcome more than 618,000 attendees to 63 exhibitions in 2025. The venue hosts exhibitions representative of New South Wales and Australia’s broader economy, reflecting business and community interests. In addition, several creative, innovative and entertaining exhibitions will be added to the venue’s portfolio.

Informa Markets launches F&B conference

Informa Markets, the world’s leading exhibition organiser, will launch FutureFWD – Hospitality, Food & Beverage, in part of its F&B series of event: Food & Hospitality Malaysia (FHM), on 25th September 2025, at EQ Kuala Lumpur, focusing on the rapid transformation impacting Asia’s food, beverage, and hospitality sectors.

Messe Frankfurt opens JV in Zhuhai

/

Zhuhai, 28th May: International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt GmbH, opened a new joint venture (JV) in Zhuhai. Messe Frankfurt (Zhuhai) Airshow Co Ltd, a JV between Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and Zhuhai Airshow Group Co Ltd., will be a strategic expansion set to enhance the global reach of AERO Asia, a leading business platform for the general aviation (GA) industry and low-altitude economy.

According to Messe Frankfurt, the new office in Zhuhai targets to improve logistics and regional partnerships and on-ground support for AERO Asia. AERO Asia is positioned for global industry players expanding their business in the Chinese and Asian markets. The new JV will provide operational support for exhibitors, in terms of venue coordination, onsite services, pre-show promotion, and rapid feedback on domestic markets.

AERO Asia was launched in 2023, showcasing 268 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, 92 aircraft with 32 fly-ins, attracting over 68,000 visitors. AERO Asia 2025 will cover an exhibition area of 40,000 m2, under the theme of “A New Era: Explore More”, focusing on emerging topics, and five key areas will be presented at the exhibition.

Mr Wolfgang Marzin, President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, was quoted, “Zhuhai is a hotspot for aviation manufacturing and trade, and is well connected as part of South China’s Greater Bay Area. Establishing a JV office in the city is a crucial step for Messe Frankfurt to strengthen local ties in the GA industry and low-altitude economy; ahead of the upcoming show, and for many years to come. This new JV demonstrates our Group’s commitment to the sector, and together with Zhuhai Airshow Group, will be the launchpad for us to grow the AERO brand in Asia.”

ICCA and IFES announce new partnership

/

Amsterdam, 28th May: The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) announced a two-year strategic partnership with the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES).

The new partnership will focus on education and professional development, fostering collaboration between ICCA and IFES and highlighting innovation, sustainability, and emerging trends. The two organisations will also exchange select research and educational resources to further enrich their respective communities.

ICCA’s CEO, Dr. Senthil Gopinath, stated, “This partnership with IFES reflects ICCA’s dedication to uniting all facets of the global events industry. Together, we’re not only expanding our reach, we’re also creating new opportunities for learning, innovation, and sustainable growth that will benefit our entire community.”

Messe Düsseldorf posts strong FY2024

/

Düsseldorf, 23rd May: International exhibition organiser, Messe Düsseldorf, posted strong financial results for fiscal year 2024, with a recorded sales of €395 million (US$411 million) and a profit after taxes of €78.8 million (US$82 million), which are in line with the usual event cycle.

In the past years, Messe Düsseldorf focused on the emerging markets. The company acquired stake in a new subsidiary in Türkiye and launched its first events in Mexico. The company also established business in Dubai.

In overseas markets, Messe Düsseldorf hosted 54 events outside Germany. In Asia, the company has five subsidiaries, including New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, which were united into Messe Düsseldorf for Asia (MDfA). Based in Singapore, MDfA coordinates sales and visitor marketing for both the leading regional trade shows in Asia and the leading global trade shows in Düsseldorf.

Wolfram N. Diener, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, explained, “In the Middle East, we are expanding in the world’s fastest-growing trade show market, which strengthens our position as one of the most successful trade show companies internationally. We’re also doubling down on our commitment in other select growth markets, which further boosts the global appeal and competitiveness of Düsseldorf as a trade show location.”