MDfA appoints new Regional Head

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Singapore, 5th February: Messe Düsseldorf for Asia (MDfA) has appointed Lars Wismer as its Regional Head, succeeding Gernot Ringling, effective 1st February 2026.

Lars Wismer also outlined the importance of Asian markets, discussed strategic opportunities, and explained MDfA’s role as a connecting element within the global Messe Düsseldorf portfolio.

Lars Wismer is experienced in the trade fair and event industry. He has served several positions in the group, building for the new role.

Pico Far East’s revenues up 14%

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Hong Kong, 30th January: Hong Kong-listed Pico Far East Holdings reported its annual results for the year ended 31st October 2025. The company posted revenues of US$928 million, up 14% year-on-year. Pico’s net profit posted a growth of 18% during the financial year, reaching US$56 million. Diluted earnings per share for the year were HK$0.3477 (US$0.045).

More than 85% of Pico’s revenues (US$791 million) were generated from its Brand experience activation business, representing year-on-year growth of 7.3%. Other revenues were generated from the Museum & themed environment business (US$118 million), and the Meeting architecture activation business (US$19 million). The Museum & themed environment business jumped 116% over the previous year, however the Meeting architecture activation business dropped 16% year-on-year.

In terms of geographical region, the Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) generated about 33% of total revenues, amounting at US$311 million. The Asia-Pacific market generated revenues of US$242 million, or about 26% of total revenues.

According to the company, it continued to push forward its strategies to build a resilient and growth-sustaining business. The company also continued to solidify its position as a global leader in the brand and event experiential market.

In 2026, China will continue its “One Belt and One Road” initiative in the result of further growth globally.

BESarawak names acting CEO

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Sarawak, 4th February: Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has appointed Jason Tan Chin Foo as Acting CEO, effective immediately, to succeed CEO Amelia Roziman, who stepped down on 31st January 2026.

Jason Tan Chin Foo has 18 years of experience in hospitality and business events, he has also held senior leadership roles across business development, research, marketing, and communications, building deep institutional knowledge and trust industry relationships.

Hii Chang Kee, Deputy State Secretary (Operations) and Chairman of BESarawak, was quoted, “Jason is well positioned for this role, with strong industry insight and a clear commitment to collaboration and collective impact. The board is confident that his strategic leadership will further strengthen BESarawak and advance the business events industry to new levels of performance and impact.”

Quick takes

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TCEB targets business events expenditure to be 371b baht in 2026

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) targeted the business events expenditure for 2026 to be 371 billion baht (US$11.7 billion), which will be about 1.8% of GDP contribution. In 2025, business events expenditure was 338 billion baht (US$10.7 billion).

VNU AP hosts cybersecurity event

VNU Asia Pacific organised its Cybersec Asia x Thailand International Cyber Week 2026 (powered by NCSA), co-locating for the first time with AI ASIA. Running from 4th to 5th February 2026, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, the event is targeted to be a landmark reflecting the inseparable future of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The event will feature 140 exhibitors and sponsors from 15 countries, occupying an exhibition space of 3,500 m2.

Hyve expands Bett to USA

International exhibition organiser, Hyve Group, announced to expand its Bett portfolio to the U.S. in 2027. Bett USA will be launched in Nashville, under the Bett Global portfolio with Bett UK, Bett Asia and Bett Brazil. Bett, the platform of education technology, bringing together educators, leaders, policy makers and solution providers at scale. The new show reflects growing customer demand for networking and connections, against the backdrop of a continuously evolving sector.

Messe München launches new IFAT Saudi Arabia

International exhibition organiser, Messe München, held its inaugural edition of IFAT Saudi Arabia, serving the waste, water and environmental technologies industries. Taking place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, from 26th to 28th January 2026, the new event showcased more than 450 exhibitors from over 35 countries, attracting some 20,000 trade visitors. Following the success of the inaugural edition, the next edition of IFAT Saudi Arabia will return to Riyadh, running from 18th to 20th January 2027.

UFI: strong growth in exhibition industry

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Paris, 29th January: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released its latest edition of the Global Exhibition Barometer report, offering fresh insights into the current state of the exhibition industry.

Almost half of the respondents reported an increase in activity of more than 5% in their domestic market in 2025. One-third of the companies forecasted an annual increase in operating profits of more than 10% in 2026. The report also showed AI usage continued to rise worldwide, and about 37% of the companies considered the necessary to improve the format of exhibitions.

Chris Skeith OBE, Managing Director and CEO at UFI, commented, “This edition of the Global Exhibition Barometer confirms what we are seeing across the industry: strong, steady growth and a sector that continues to adapt at pace. We see solid growth in rented space and operating profits across many markets, alongside a notable acceleration in the use of AI to improve efficiency and customer experience.”

The latest edition of this biannual research was concluded in December 2025 and it featured data from 378 companies in 57 countries and regions. The report included outlooks and analyses covering 19 countries and regions: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, the UAE, the UK, and the USA – as well as five additional aggregated regional zones.

Messe Frankfurt India expands Media Expo

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Mumbai, Maharashtra, 2nd February: Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, the Indian subsidiary of the international exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, collaborated with BusinessLive Trade Fairs, to evolve Sign India Expo into Media Expo.

Under the collaboration, Media Expo Kochi and Media Expo Hyderabad will be launched while Sign India Expo Chennai will transit under Media Expo Chennai. Therefore, Media Expo’s portfolio will increase from three cities to five, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai and New Delhi. It also brings together the two exhibition brands from the industry to create a unified and impactful industry trade fair platform.

Media Expo has been held in Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai, and will become the primarily exhibition platform in Kochi, Hyderabad and Chennai, transitioning from Sign India Expo. While Sign India Expo was held across India, with a particularly deep presence in the Southern markets.

Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said, said, “South India continues to be one of the most dynamic and opportunity driven regions for the printing and signage industry. This collaboration with BusinessLive Trade Fairs allows us to expand Media Expo’s footprint while offering the industry a stronger, more centralised platform that supports long-term growth and meaningful engagement.”

Messe München’s 25th anniversary in China

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Shanghai, 30th January: Messe München’s subsidiary Messe Muenchen Shanghai Co., Ltd posted sales of €128 million (US$150 million) in its 25th anniversary.

Messe München’s two CEOs, Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel, were quoted, “With the founding of our subsidiary in Shanghai, the shareholders of Messe München took a bold and visionary step at the time. Today, China is not only Messe München’s strongest foreign market, but our local presence also provides important impetus for trade, networking, and growth for the domestic and international economy.”

Messe München Shanghai now has over 170 employees in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, organising more than 15 events in China, featuring more than 12,000 exhibiting companies and attracting over 1.6 million visitors. On the other side, more than 17,000 guests and over 2,000 exhibitors from China visited Munich.

Quick takes

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Haymarket posts £11.5 m profits in FY2025

Haymarket Group released its financial results for the year ended 30th June 2025, reporting the total turnover of £175 million (US$236 million), with annual earnings of £11.5 million (US$15 million). The results also saw positive growth in the UK, a steady performance in Germany, and Asia recording the best performance in over a decade. However, the US profits dropped due to a combination of challenging healthcare market conditions, political elections and the significant impact of fluctuating exchange rates.

IEG expects €265m of revenues in FY2025

Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A. (IEG) released its preliminary results for the 2025 financial year, expecting consolidated revenues of €265 million (US$311 million), increase 6% year-on-year. Adjusted EBITDA will be €71 million (US$83 million), up 9% over the figure in 2024. The company also announced the approval of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, to strengthen the path already mapped out, focusing decisively an organic growth through the company’s core business.

Tourism figures for the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore

The Philippine government positions tourism as a core pillar of national development, aiming at driving inclusive economic growth in the coming years. In 2025, the country recorded 6.5 million foreign visitors and returning overseas Filipinos, generating an estimated 694 billion pesos (US$11.8 billion).

In Vietnam, the country welcomed 21.2 million international travellers and 137 million domestic tourists in 2025, generating US$39 billion. In 2026, Vietnam will continue to expand its e-visa facilities and provide visa exemptions, to attract tourists.

A total of 16.9 million international visitor arrivals to Singapore were recorded in 2025, up 2.3% year-on-year. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) forecasted international visitor arrivals in 2026 to be between 17 and 18 million, with tourism receipts of S$31.0 billion (US$24.1 billion) to S$32.5 billion (US$25.3 billion).

Melbourne to host world’s largest conference on lung cancer in 2029

Melbourne will host the World Conference on Lung Cancer in 2029, presented by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and secured by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), to study and eradication of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. It is estimated to attract more than 6,500 delegates from over 100 countries to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

STB and CCPIT sign MoU for exhibition industry

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Singapore/China, 22nd January: Last week, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and he China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to cooperate in the exhibition industry.

The three-year agreement focuses on three key areas:

1.     Exhibition Facilitation Support: CCPIT will encourage Chinese exhibition enterprises and institutions to organise international economic and trade exhibitions in Singapore, while STB will provide assistance;

2.     Joint Promotion Efforts: CCPIT and STB will strengthen publicity efforts and promote international exhibitions in key economic sectors where in the two countries share synergies in, to support Singapore and Chinese enterprises expand international cooperation and enhance their global presence;

3.     Deepening MICE Exchange and Cooperation: CCPIT and STB will promote knowledge exchange and explore in-depth cooperation in shared focus areas.

Mr. Wu Shengrong, Director General of the Exhibition Management Department (Office of International Exhibitions Bureau and World Expo Affairs) of the CCPIT, said, “The signing of the Memorandum between the CCPIT and the STB is an important measure to deepen China-Singapore cooperation in the exhibition industry. It holds great significance for strengthening industrial chain ties between China, Singapore and Southeast Asia and boosting regional economic prosperity. It is anticipated that through the practical cooperation between our two institutions, positive contributions will be made to deepening exhibition cooperation in key industries and promoting the development of China-Singapore economic and trade relations.”

GL events posts 5.3% revenue growth in FY2025

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Lyon, 22nd January: GL events Group released its preliminary results for the year ended 31st December 2025, posting revenues for the year of €1.7 billion (US$2.02 billion), a year-on-year growth of 5.3%.

In terms of business sectors, more than 56% of revenues were generated from GL events Live, amounting at €969 million (US$1.1 billion), down 5.4% year-on-year.

The second largest sector was GL events Venues, generating revenues of €514 million (US$604 million), representing year-on-year increase of 16%, primarily driven by operations in France, Europe and Brazil.

The remaining revenues, €238 million (US$280 million), were generated by GL events Exhibitions, jumping 41.5% over the previous year due to a strong biennial cycle.

Olivier Ginon, Chairman-CEO of GL events, commented, “GL events closes 2025 with a remarkable performance, confirming the strength of our strategic vision and the proven resilience of our responsible business model. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and talent of our teams. In an international environment marked by heightened volatility, they demonstrated outstanding agility and determination, delivering sustainable, well-managed growth.”

SMHCC to open new venues in Philippines

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Philippines, 21st January: SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.’s (SMHCC) SMX Seaside Cebu and SMXCITE (SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions) are scheduled to open in the next few years.

SMX Seaside Cebu will open in the fourth quarter this year, with an exhibition capacity of 18,000 m2, which will be integrated into the larger Cebu South Coast City development.

SMXCITE will open in 2027, with 35,000 m2 of integrated complex, including an 18,000 m2 of exhibition capacity, at the SMX Mall of Asia. It will boast column-free halls, multi-event capacity, and expanded plenary capacity within a highly accessible district.

Walid Wafik, SMHCC’s senior vice president for operations, was quoted, “While regional competitors maintain larger inventories, Pasay’s advantage is integration. The district’s mix of hotels, retail, entertainment, an arena, bay-side lifestyle offerings, and airport proximity delivers a compelling value proposition beyond venue size alone… As we expand to 10 venues nationwide by 2027, this capability-building arm becomes even more critical. Growth in the provinces requires not only world‑class facilities but world‑class talent to operate them.”

Quick takes

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Comexposium’s new Executive Committee

International exhibition organiser, Comexposium, announced to establish a new Executive Committee to accelerate the growth of its brands and to drive its transformation. Following the appointment of Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti as CEO in August 2025, he has appointed eight members to lead the company’s strategy, performance and transformation: Carine Preterre (Managing Director, France Exhibitions), Rodolphe Lameyse (Managing Director, Food & Beverage Division), Driss Tazi (Managing Director, EMEA, US & Group Transformation), Elaine Chia (CEO, Asia-Pacific), Arnaud Boussemart (Group Chief Financial Officer), Ronen Cohen (Group Director, Operations & Purchasing), Morgan Lavielle (Group Director, Communications & CSR), and Sarah Martin (Group Director, Human Resources).

Macau records 40m+ visitor arrivals in 2025

Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released its latest visitor arrivals for the whole year of 2025. Macau welcomed a total of 40,069,360 visitor arrivals during the year, an increase of 15% year-on-year. Same-day visitors grew 25%, while overnight visitors were up by 3.1%. However, the average length of stay of visitors shortened by 0.1 day, at 1.1 days.

Messe Düsseldorf hosts 81 shows in 2025

International exhibition organiser, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, generated €370 million (US$435 million) in sales in 2025, with profits after taxes of €29 million (US$34 million). During the year, the company hosted a total of 81 trade shows worldwide, of which 26 were held in Düsseldorf. In the period from 2025 to 2027, 19 new events are planned or have already been implemented, with seven in Düsseldorf and five new formats in the Gulf region.

UFI to celebrate 11th GED

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Paris, 15th January: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced its 11th edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) to be celebrated on Wednesday, 3rd June 2026, with the theme of “Exhibitions drive opportunities”.

UFI also refreshed the GED logo after a decade. The more contemporary and modern design reflects the evolution and future-facing ambition of the exhibition industry.

Three core messages will be highlighted under the 2026 theme:

1.     Exhibitions drive opportunities for People

2.     Exhibitions drive opportunities for the Planet

3.     Exhibitions drive opportunities for Performance

UFI President Panittha Buri commented, “Exhibitions are essential drivers of economic and societal progress. They bring friends together across borders and industries, supporting people through skills development, employment, and international collaboration. They help shape the future by advancing national and global sustainability objectives, and by strengthening business performance through trade, investment, and innovation. Global Exhibitions Day 2026 calls on governments and policymakers to recognise and support the exhibition industry as a proven contributor to growth, competitiveness, and long-term impact.”

Montgomery expands into aviation & safety training sector

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U.K., 21st January: Montgomery Group will invest in Halldale Group, a leading global media and events business serving the aviation training, simulation and safety community. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Established by CEO Andy Smith 30 years ago, Halldale Group’s flagship events include World Aviation Training Summit (WATS) in Orlando, Florida; European Aviation Training Summit (EATS) in Cascais Portugal, and Asia Pacific Aviation Training Summit (APATS) in Bangkok, Thailand in 2026. Halldale also manages business publications of Civil Aviation Training (CAT) and Military Simulation & Training (MS&T) Magazines, and also online communities.

Under the acquisition, Halldale will complement Montgomery’s existing global events and media businesses and facilitates its plan to develop new event formats with alternative revenue streams. It will also bring new sector expertise and further strengthens its presence in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Halldale will continue to operate under its existing brand, with its senior leadership team remaining in place.

Andy Smith, Founder and CEO of Halldale Group, said, “Halldale has always been built around serving a highly specialist global community and promoting best practices in training, creating meaningful connections across safety critical enterprises. Joining Montgomery Group gives our business the scale, expertise and long-term backing to accelerate its growth, invest further in its events and media brands, and continue delivering value to aviation, military and safety critical training operations worldwide.”

GLOBUS partners to expand int Tier-2 city in China

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China, 15th January: GLOBUS Events (formerly VNU Exhibitions Asia) has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Beijing Qiyang International Exhibition Group Co., Ltd., to invest in the Qiyang’s series of catering industry exhibitions, including Qiyang Hotpot Exhibition, one of the China’s leading catering industry exhibition platforms.

The new investment will mark GLOBUS Events’ entering the Food & Beverage (F&B) exhibition sector and expanding into Tier-2 city markets in China.

Qiyang Hotpot Exhibition was founded in 2015, and it now has events in Beijing, Tianjin, Zhengzhou, Chengdu and Nanjing, with a total exhibition area of 250,000 m2 and about 500,000 professional visitors every year.

Mr. Edwin Tan, CEO of GLOBUS Events, was quoted, “This is a powerful alliance that combines both organizers’ strengths in operational expertise, industry connections, and market access. This investment enables GLOBUS Events to enter the F&B exhibition sector through a market-leading platform with strong regional reach. Qiyang’s deep industry expertise and access to China’s fast-growing Tier-2 cities will complement our operational capabilities and long-term growth strategy.”

After the transaction, a new joint venture, GLOBUS Qiyang (Zhengzhou) Exhibition Co., Ltd., will operate Qiyang’s exhibitions.

Informa posts revenue growth of 12.5% in 2025

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London, 20th January:  Informa PLC released its latest 2026 market update expecting Group Revenues to be over £4.0 billion (US$5.4 billion), which represents a year-on-year reported revenue growth of over 12.5%.

The company expects the Adjusted EPS to be about 55.5p (US$0.75), which will be a year-on-year increase of between 10.5% and 11%.

In 2026, Informa targets a higher underlying revenue growth at about 6%, with B2B Events underlying growth of more than 7%.

The 2025 Share Buyback Programme of £350 million (US$471 million) completed in December, with 42.8 million shares bought at an average share price of 817p (US$10.99). The 2026 Share Buyback Programme started with an initial minimum investment of £200 million (US$269 million).