Quick takes

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UFI appoints new Research Coordinator

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the appointment of Raya Al Taher as its Research Coordinator. She will work with Research Manager, Christian Druart, and Research Coordinator, Natalia Limonova-Bonnel, to conduct analyses and reports supporting UFI’s strategic insights for the global exhibition industry.

SNIEC posts record breaking 2025

The Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) posted a record year in 2025, hosting more than 110 exhibitions and events of across various sectors. The venue welcomed over 6 million professional visitor numbers during the year.

Messe Berlin partners to host wind energy events in Singapore

Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC) announced the partnership with Messe Berlin Asia Pacific (MB APAC) to expand its WindEnergy Hamburg, a world-leadership trade fair of the wind energy industry, to Asia. RECHARGE Wind Power Summit Asia-Pacific powered by WindEnergy Hamburg in Singapore will take place at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, scheduling from 19th to 20th May 2026. A three-day WindEnergy Asia-Pacific powered by RECHARGE will be held in 2027 and 2029.

GLOBUS Events partners to launch new events in Southeast Asia

GLOBUS Events (formerly VNU Exhibitions Asia) will launch Southeast Asian edition of its successful events, including DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR and R+T Asia. R+T South East Asia will be part of R+T Alliance, serving the sun shading and doors/gates industry; while DOMOTEX South East Asia will join the DOMOTEX portfolio, serving the flooring and interior finishing industry. The new events will be jointly organised by GLOBUS Events, Messe Stuttgart and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd., the joint venture between Deutsche Messe and Fiera Milano in China.

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.

Meorient applies listing in Hong Kong

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Hangzhou, 25th December: On 24th December 2025, Zhejiang Meorient Commerce & Exhibition Inc. submitted an application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) for the issuance of overseas listed shares (H shares) and listing on the Main Board of the HKEX.

According to Meorient, the listing will need be approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), HKEX, and also relevant government departments, regulatory agencies. The process remains uncertainty due to the requiring consideration of market conditions.

RX Greater China’s leadership realignment

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Shanghai, 23rd December: Chinese subsidiary of international exhibition organiser, RX Global, RX Greater China, announced the realignment of its leadership structure to strengthen its leadership bench for the long term while enhancing speed, decision-making, and agility across its key portfolios and growth platforms.

The subsidiary will expand responsibilities within its leadership team. Lanny Zhang, Thomas Huang, Alex Wang, Maria Zhang and Chris Zang will take on enhance roles, with a new General Manager will be appointed in 2026 to further strengthen leadership capacity. The company will build a resilient, future-ready organisation and accelerate progress through the realignment.

Michael Cheng, President, RX Greater China, said, “As we enter 2026, these changes position us to deliver even greater impact and value for our customers and partners. We are investing in leadership strength and agility to ensure we can move faster and adapt to a rapidly changing market.”

Messe Frankfurt joins Automation Expo in Thailand

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Pattaya, 19th December: International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, has expanded its portfolio of Electronics & Automation Technologies events in the Southeast Asia, by co-organising Automation Expo with GMTX Co Ltd.

The upcoming edition of Automation Expo will run from 25th to 27th February 2026, at the Nongnooch International Convention and Exhibition Center (NICE) in Pattaya. The collaboration will extend Messe Frankfurt’s presence in Thailand to connect the region’s manufacturers with the international expertise and resources of the global network.

The event is expected to feature some 150 exhibitors and attract a professional audience of company owners, investors, factory managers, system integrators and engineers, covering 7,500 m2 of exhibition space. The event will present technologies across every stage of the production cycle, from factory floor systems to enterprise-level infrastructure. Conference programme be held alongside with the exhibition, offering technical insights across more than 50 topics.

Mr Wolfgang Marzin, President & CEO of Messe Frankfurt Group, was quoted, “Messe Frankfurt currently organises 11 events and conferences worldwide as part of its Electronics & Automation Technologies portfolio, covering smart and digital automation, intelligent motion and power electronics, alongside energy management solutions. With this new addition, we are reinforcing our commitment to supporting Thailand’s manufacturing sector through the next phase of digital transformation, ensuring that both local SMEs and multinational enterprises benefit from the same high standards and international connections found in our events worldwide.”

New intelligent manufacturing show in Southeast Asia

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Bangkok, 29th December: International exhibition organiser, Deutsche Messe, will launch a new show, Intelligent Manufacturing Expo Southeast Asia (IME 2026), focusing on intelligent manufacturing and advanced technologies.

The new show will be jointly organised by Shanghai Industry & Commerce Exhibition Co., Ltd. of DLG Exhibitions & Events Co., Ltd., and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd. (HMF China), the subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, showcasing innovative products and technologies across 12 major sectors.

Running from 22nd to 24th July 2026, at the IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand, IME 2026 will provide a platform for global companies to connect with the Southeast Asian market. It is planned to occupy an exhibition area of 10,000 m2 and attract 200 exhibitors from China and overseas. Four industry forums and one China-Thailand technology exchange and equipment trade matchmaking event will be held during the exhibition, to promote cooperation and resource sharing across the industrial value chain.

Quick takes

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Baidu to spin-off and separate listing of Kunlunxin

Baidu, the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, announced the company proposed to spinoff and separate listing of the H shares of Kunlunxin (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., a non-wholly owned subsidiary, on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). It will show Kunlunxin’s value to attract investor focused on the AI chip sector and support the effort to unlock the value of Baidu’s AI-powered businesses.

Macau visitor arrivals up 18% in November 2025

Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reported its number of visitor arrivals in November 2025, with 3,345,683 visitor arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 18.1%. Same day visitors (2,035,555) grew 31.5%, while overnight visitors (1,310,128) were up 2.1%. However, the average length of stay dropped by 0.2 days year-on-year, down to 1.0 day, due to the growth in the proportion of same-day visitors in the total number of visitors; while the figure of overnight visitors remained unchanged at 2.3 days.

HKTDC to open three trade fairs

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will open three trade fairs on 12th January 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The 52nd Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, and the 17th Hong Kong Baby Products Fair are organised by the HKTDC, while the 24th Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair is jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. The three trade fairs will feature more than 2,6000 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions, with a newly launch pavilion, “Pop & Play”, bringing about 150 trendy IPs.

Thailand recovers from pandemic

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Thailand, 15th December: Thailand stated its exhibitions sector has returned to full performance before the COVID-19 pandemic, within three years, ahead of the original forecast of five-year recovery.

According to media release, participation and revenues will have surged to 135% of 2019 levels, by 2025.

Dr Duangdej Yuaiwarmdee, Director of the Exhibition Department at the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), stated the rapid rebound was due to strategic planning and strong collaboration between the Government and the private sector.

Thailand’s “High-Value Destination” strategy continues to leverage its geographical advantage as a gateway to the ASEAN market, and several international events will be held in the country in 2026.

Besides exhibitions, Thailand is also pushing traditional trade sectors, targeting to become “Mega City of Art & Design”, by promoting art and design exhibitions. The country will strengthen its exhibition ecosystem by enhancing operator capabilities and prioritising workforce development, to support the expansion.

Nearly 13,000 professionals at Cosmoprof India 2025

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Mumbai, 12th December: The 2025 edition of Cosmoprof India concluded with 12,977 professionals, a 17% increase over the previous edition. Organized by Cosmoprof India Ltd, a joint venture between BolognaFiere Cosmoprof and Informa Markets India, the beauty show was held from 4th to 6th December 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

This year’s Cosmoprof India featured 359 exhibitors and 800 brands from 23 countries and regions, occupying an exhibition area of over 24,815 m2. To showcase distinctive innovations and heighten the international dimension of the event, a total of nine international Country Pavilions were presented.

In addition to the exhibition, the event also featured the newly launched Cosmo Academy – EmpowHER in Beauty, a social initiative addressing the widening skills gaps in India’s beauty and wellness sector; Cosmoprof India and Cosmopack India Awards; and Runway by Cosmoprof India, bringing beauty innovation to the stage through a fusion of fashion and creative artistry.

The next edition of Cosmoprof India will return to Mumbai, running from 10th to 12th December 2026.

2,200+ exhibitors present at Marintec China 2025

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Shanghai, 17th December: Organised and managed by Informa Markets and Shanghai Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SSNAME), Marintec China 2025 recently concluded at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), showcasing more than 2,200 companies from over 40 countries and regions, resulting the event to become one of the largest and most influential maritime exhibitions in the world.

Running from 2nd to 5th December 2025, the event attracted a total of 101,829 professional visitors from more than 100 countries and regions. Covering an exhibition area of 110,000 m2 across 11 halls, 16 national and regional pavilions presented the truly international nature of the industry.

Senior Maritime Forum was held alongside with the exhibition, providing a high-level platform for industry players. Under the theme of “Smart Navigation, Green Symbiosis, Convergent Innovation”, the forum featured sessions on shipbuilding and ocean engineering, shipping and ports, marine finance and law, and equipment technology.

Energytec Zone, a newly launched section in 2025, dedicating to alternative energy sources and their supply chains, covering hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, electrification, nuclear power, and renewable sources.

The next edition of Marintec China is scheduled to take place from 30th November to 3rd December 2027.

Quick takes

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Saudi Arabia’s EIF and Legends Global JV announcement

Saudi Arabia’s Event Investment Fund (EIF) and Legends Global announced a joint venture to support the vision and investment in the venue industry in Saudi Arabia. Under the JV, Legends Global will deliver Management Services exclusively for the EIF-developed venues in Saudi Arabia, to help the venues to host world-class events in the culture, entertainment, tourism, and indoor sports sectors. EIF, a Saudi public investment entity, develops, owns and operates permanent venues for sports, culture, tourism and entertainment, while Legends Global operates and management venues internationally, including stadiums, arenas, theatres, and convention and exhibition centres.

Excel London appoints Chief People Officer

Excel London has appointed Helene Sharrock as its Chief People Officer, a newly created Executive role, which continues to invest in further strengthening its industry-leading teams. In her new role, Helene Sharrock will play a central role in driving the venue’s people strategy, supporting organisational development, and helping to shape a workplace culture that supports its purpose mission and values.

IFSEC India 2025 features 350+brands

IFSEC India 2025, a leading and most influential security, safety and surveillance exhibition and conference in the South Asia, opened its 18th edition, from 11th to 13th December 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Over 150 exhibitors and 350 brands presented products and services, showcasing physical security, smart surveillance systems, AI-enabled analytics, drone technology, cybersecurity solutions, and indigenous manufacturing innovations.

9,700+ visitors attend GTE–2025

The Garment Technology Expo (GTE-2025) concluded at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, featuring some 225 brands, occupying an exhibition area of 5,000 m2. In its 38th edition, the event ran from 7th to 9th November 2025, positioning as South Asia’s most comprehensive platform for garment machinery, accessories, and allied services. More than 9,700 business visitors attended the show, including exporters, garment manufacturers, procurement teams, buying houses, and MSMEs.

CEIR: modest decline for exhibition industry

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U.S., 9th December: The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released its latest Q3 2025 Index Report, showing the exhibition industry declining moderately.

According to the report, the CEIR Total Index was 11.1% below Q3 2019, and 10.7% down from Q3 2024.

The Total Index consisted of four components: Exhibitors, Net Square Deet, Attendees, and Real Revenues. Compared with Q3 2019, Exhibitors was down by 5.0%, Net Square Feet decreased by 8.3%, Attendees dropped 12.3%, and Real Revenues declined the most of 18.2%.

CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, IPC, said, “The Q3 2025 results reflect an exhibition industry navigating a complex transition from policy-focused concerns to broader macroeconomic challenges. While we’ve seen a modest pullback in overall performance, the increase in events surpassing pre-pandemic levels demonstrates that many organizers are successfully adapting to current conditions. The shift toward economic and inflationary concerns underscores the need for strategic planning that accounts for both market dynamics and policy influences.”