BCEC to host LNG2029

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Brisbane, 15th July: The world’s largest LNG event, International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG2029), will be held at Brisbane.

The event will take place at the Brisbane Convention Exhibition Centre (BCEC), to shape the future of energy through high-level dialogue, innovation show cases and critical commercial negotiations. Launched in 2026, LNG is targeted to attract more than 4,200 international energy leaders, innovators and policymakers from over 80 countries to Brisbane.

According to BCEC, the bid was led by the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) in partnership with Australian Energy Producers (AEP) and was coordinated by BCEC in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) and Tourism Australia (TA).

BCEC General Manager Kym Guesdon was quoted, “We are delighted to continue our valued partnership with the Australian Energy Producers & the Australian Gas Industry Trust and support them in bringing their flagship international event to Brisbane. Hosting LNG2029 at BCEC reflects our shared commitment to advancing a sector that is critical to Australia’s energy transition. This event will showcase Brisbane’s global capabilities and foster collaboration that drives innovation and sustainable solutions for the future of energy.”

Messe Stuttgart posts €134m of turnover in FY2025

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Germany, 9th July: International exhibition organiser, Messe Stuttgart, released its result for 2025 financial year, reporting a turnover of €134.6 million (US$158 million), and an operating loss (EBITDA) of €2.9 million (US$3.4 million), which the company performed considerably better than predicted.

The company organised 39 of its own events and hosted 20 guest events, attracting a total of 16,030 exhibitors and 1,064,518 visitors.

Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Stuttgart, concluded, “The figures from 2025 have shown that, even under challenging conditions, we can be relied upon to deliver.”

For the 2026 financial year, the company predicts considerably higher event and turnover figures due to a strong event schedule. The company will develop new products, with three new formats adding to the portfolio in the course of the year.

Quick takes

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Messe München closes 2 shows

Messe München Shanghai concluded electronica Shanghai and ISPO Shanghai recently. electronica Shanghai, a platform for technological iteration and industrial transformation, featured 2,065 exhibitors and 79,026 professional visitors, occupying an exhibition area of 120,000 m2. While ISPO Shanghai gathered nearly 500 sports and outdoor brands from over 20 countries and regions, covering 30,000 m2 of exhibition space, and attracted over 26,000 professional visitors and sports enthusiasts from 99 countries and regions.

HKTDC opens concurrent summer events

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) opened its 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, 9th Sports and Leisure Expo and 6th World of Snacks at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), running from 15th to 21st July 2026. The public and tourist will be able to attend the events combining the joy of reading, sports and leisure, and tasty snacks from around the world with one ticket. More than 770 exhibitors will present at the concurrent events. The Book Fair will feature eight themed seminar series, Sports and Leisure Expo will offer a diverse range of sports experiences, and World of Snacks will be presented under six themed zones.

Messe Frankfurt acquires LiGHT Expo London

International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt announced the company has acquires LiGHT Expo London from [d]arc media, to strengthen its presence within the international lighting and building technology sector. Launched in 2022, LiGHT is one of the UK’s leading events for the lighting specification community, bringing together architects, interior designers, lighting designers, engineers, specifiers and leading international lighting brands. After the acquisition, LiGHT will add to Messe Frankfurt’s Light + Building portfolio, which has events in Frankfurt, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Las Vegas, Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, and Tashkent. No financial details of the acquisition have been released.

Informa TechTarget parters to launch Perner Demand Assurance

Informa TechTarget will launch Partner Demand Assurance (PDA), a partner engagement and enablement solution delivered in collaboration with UK-based partner marketing agency The Sherpa Group. The partnership will help B2B technology companies both maximize and prove ROI from their partner program investments. PDA will combine permissioned data from Informa TechTarget’s proprietary audience ecosystem and proven demand generation capabilities with The Sherpa Group’s partner enablement expertise and EdisonAI platform.

UFI: limited impact of the current situation in the Middle East

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Paris, 8th July: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has recently released its latest edition of the flagship Global Exhibition Barometer report, showing limited impact of the current situation in the Middle East.

Due to the current situation in the Middle East, only 14% of companies worldwide, and 10% outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated a strong negative effect on business. 27% of the surveyed companies stated to expect revenue growth above 5% annually, while 38% anticipate stable revenues.

AI is becoming increasingly widespread, Global AI adoption in the exhibition industry is also steadily increasing, with 91% of companies now reporting the use of AI, a 4% increase from the previous report.

Chris Skeith OBE, Managing Director and CEO at UFI, commented, “Our barometer indicates that there is no real evidence of a significant knock-on effect from the current Middle East disruption outside the GCC, and positive trends remain around the world, despite concerns about the state of national economies in some locations. Within the GCC, there is an understandable impact from the conflict, but the situation has positively evolved since our survey, and we are confident that the industry will bounce back quickly.”

This 37th edition of the bi-annual industry report was concluded in June 2026, which was based on data from 466 companies in 59 countries and regions. It also includes outlooks and analyses for 20 focus countries and regions: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, and the USA, as well as five additional aggregated regional zones.

Deutsche Messe organises 81 events in 2025

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Hannover, Germany, 2nd July: International exhibition organiser, Deutsche Messe AG, concluded its 2025 financial year, with revenue of €305 million (US$358 million) and a net profit of €18 million (US$21 million).

In 2025, the company organised a total of 81 trade fairs and exhibitions in Germany and abroad, featuring some 26,000 exhibiting companies and attracting about 3.4 million visitors from more than 150 countries. Of the 81 events, 48 were held abroad, including several new additions.

Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Managing Board of Deutsche Messe AG, said, “The 2025 financial year demonstrates that our international portfolio, strong event brands, and clear strategic direction have positioned us well for the future. Especially in economically challenging times, our trade fairs continue to prove their value for companies around the world. At the same time, we are making important strategic decisions to secure the long-term future of our business by expanding our international operations, launching new event formats, and further developing our exhibition grounds in Hanover.”

In the coming, the company will launch 10 new international events to develop its international portfolio and strengthen global demand for its industry-leading exhibitions.

Comexposium’s new strategic leadership appointments

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Worldwide, 8th July: International exhibition organiser, Comexposium, announced new leadership roles in Vietnam, the Middle East and Europe, to support the growth for the company’s international portfolio of event brands.

In Vietnam, Comexposium has appointed Khiem Vu as Managing Director, Vietnam, as part of its APAC’s strategic expansion into the Vietnamese market. He has more than 10 years of experience in the exhibition industry focusing on exhibitions, international trade, business development, and market expansion. He will report directly to Elaine Chia, CEO, Comexposium APAC.

The company announced the appointment of Jawad El Hajri as Managing Director, KSA & Middle East. In the new role, Jawad will lead the company’s activities and business development initiatives across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, supporting the development of the company’s brands and identifying new growth opportunities.

In Europe, the company announced the appointment of Nicolai Mouritzen as Managing Director of Insight Events Demark, effective August 2026. He will lead the company’s development strategy and support the growth ambitions across the region.

Jawad and Nicolai will both report directly to Driss Tazi, Managing Director, EMEA, US & Group Transformation.

Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti, CEO, Comexposium, was quoted, “The strength of Comexposium’s model lies in the combination of globally recognised brands and strong local leadership. Across our established and high-potential markets, we are building a network of experienced Managing Directors with the vision, expertise and knowledge required to drive long-term development, strengthen industry relationships and identify new growth opportunities. By combining empowered local leadership with the international reach of our brand portfolio, we are creating the conditions to accelerate our growth while remaining closely connected to the realities and needs of each market we serve.”

Quick takes

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2,800+ exhibitors at CBME China 2026

Informa Markets’ CBME China 2026 will open from 15th to 17th July, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) Shanghai, targeting as the world largest maternity, baby & children expo. More than 2,800 exhibitors will showcase over 4,200 brands, occupying an exhibition area of 270,000 m2.

Hyve acquires LegalTechTalk

Hyve announced the acquisition of LegalTechTalk, Europe’s leading event for legal technology and transformation, with US expansion on the horizon. Under the acquisition, LegalTechTalk, founded in 2024, will bring together senior decision-makers from across the legal ecosystem to shape the future of the industry. The upcoming editions will run from 16th to 17th June 2027 in London and from 13th to 15th December 2027 in Miami. No financial details were released for the transaction.

RX announces leadership transition in France

International exhibition company, RX Global, announced Michel Filzi, President of RX France, will retire next year, after 27 years with the company. At the same time, the company has also appointed Filippo Rean, currently Managing Director of the RX France Hub, as President of RX France, effective 14th September. After taking the role of President of RX France, Rean will report to Hugh Jones, RX CEO. Rean, joined RX in 2010, led MIPIM and held senior leadership positions across several of the company’s brands.

TCEB & EECO jointly support MICE industry

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Thailand, 25th June: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the promotion and support of Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development through the MICE industry.

Five high-potential industry clusters were highlighted: comprehensive medical services, digital, modern automotive, BCG, and services, as well as integrating advanced technologies into the manufacturing and service sectors to strengthen Thailand’s long-term competitiveness.

In addition, TCEB will focus on three key initiatives: the Empower Eastern Exhibition (EEE) project to promote exhibitions and business activities in targeted industries; the EEC MICE Product Premium project to elevate products, services, and community products in the EEC; and the EEC MICE Cluster Destination project to promote marketing and build domestic and international partnership networks, while enhancing standards for products, services, communities, venues, and events in the EEC in accordance with international standards.

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, President of TCEB, said, “The MICE industry plays a vital role in creating platforms that attract investment, connect networks, foster innovation, and drive collaboration, linking the world to the EEC. TCEB will leverage the MICE industry as a strategic marketing and investment tool to support the EEC’s target industries, providing investors and MICE travellers from around the world with opportunities to experience the region’s full potential through networking platforms, conferences, exhibitions, business matching activities, industrial site visits, and business networking events.”

MyCEB: 429 business events held in Malysia in 2025

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Malaysia, 30th June: Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) released its latest Annual Report 2025, reporting a total of 429 business events were held in Malaysia.

Over 876,000 delegates generated an estimated economic impact of RM 3.98 billion (US$983 million). The 429 events included 164 convention, 66 trade exhibitions, 163 corporate meetings & incentives, and 36 international sports events.

Through the MyTripleE Campaign 2025, MyCEB supported 119 business events, drawing some 349,427 delegates. MyCEB also secured 41 event bids for the years 2025-2030, estimated to attract over 33,000 delegates, and generate an estimated international economic impact of RM 478 million (US$118 million).

Ms. Tan Mei Phing, Chief Executive Officer, MyCEB, was quoted, “In 2025, MyCEB secured 393 Business Events, generating an estimated international economic impact of RM3.98 billion, reflecting both the scale and quality of events attracted.”

Pico generates US$427m first half of FY2026

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Hong Kong, 26th June: Last week, Hong Kong-listed Pico Far East Holdings announced its interim results for the six months ended 30th April 2026. Revenues were US$427 million, a year-on-year decrease of 3.5%. Profits in the six-month period was nearly flat with the same period last year, amounting at US$26 million. Diluted earnings per share in the first half of the financial year were HK$0.164 (US$0.021).

In terms of business segments, more than 86% of Pico’s revenues were generated from its brand experience activation business (US$368 million), which dropped 8.7% year-on-year. The decline was attributable to business disruption in the EMEA region. The company had minimised the impact through the strategic redevelopment of resources to projects in other markets while maintaining its commitment to the region from a longer-term perspective.

The remaining revenues were generated from its museum & themed entertainment business (US$53 million), and the meeting architecture activation business (US$6.5 million).

Revenues from the museum & themed entertainment business jumped 56% over the previous year, while the meeting architecture activation business increased by 8.6%. The museum & themed entertainment business’s growth was supported by projects delivered across Asia-Pacific and Greater China. The increase of the meeting architecture activation business was driven by increasing demand for integrated marketplace activations.

Two international shows conclude at IMPACT in Thailand

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Bangkok, 26th June: THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2016 and ProPak Asia 2026 recently concluded at Thailand’s IMPACT, attracting 175,000 visitors and generating a combined trade value over Baht 142 billion (US$4.25 billion).

Jointly organised by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) and Germany’s Koelnmesse, THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2026, running from 26th to 30th May, covered an exhibition space of about 140,000 m2 in all 12 exhibition halls at the venue. Some 3,590 exhibitors were featured at the show, welcoming over 94,000 trade visitors from 148 countries.

ProPak Asia 2026, running from 10th to 13th June, was organised by Informa Markets, relocated to the venue for the first time, with over 2,500 brands and 80,000 visitors, occupying over 60,000 m2 of exhibition space.

Paul Kanjanapas, IMPACT CEO, stated, “That kind of outcome does not happen by accident. It reflects years of investment in infrastructure, in operational capability, and in the relationships we have built with the world’s leading exhibition organisers.”

The two events are confirmed to return to IMPACT in 2027: THAIFEX-Anuga Asia will take place from 25th to 29th May 2027, while ProPak Asia 2027 will run from 9th to 12th June 2027.

Quick takes

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Easyfairs Nordic acquires 100% in Nordic Live Expo

Easyfairs Nordic announced the company has taken full ownership of Nordic Live Expo to further strengthening its commitment to the business and its portfolio of events. Easyfairs Nordic has already been a shareholder and long-term strategic partner in the company, the acquisition will increase its commitment to Nordic Live Expo and its future development.

Messe München posts best-ever result in FY2025

Messe München, a world’s leading exhibition organiser, posted best-ever results for the financial year 2025, generating consolidated sales of €594 million (US$698 million). The annual net income was €99 million (US$116 million). The company’s trade centre hosted a total 18 own events in 2025, and 74 guest events, featuring about 34,600 exhibitors and attracting over 2.5 million visitors. The company organised a total of 42 events outside Germany, with a total of 17,000 exhibitors and more than 1.8 million visitors.

Koelnmesse’s growth driven by strong brands and global portfolio

International exhibition organiser, Koelnmesse, released its financial results for 2025, with a turnover of €455.5 million (US$535 million), and a consolidated result of €62 million (US$73 million). In 2025, the company organised a total of 79 events worldwide, welcoming about 2.5 million visitors from 214 countries, over 43,800 exhibiting companies from 120 nations.

Informa posts strong growth in B2B Live Events

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London, 18th June: Informa Group PLC, a leading international B2B Live Events, B2B Digital Services and Academic Markets Group, released its latest trade update, with five-month underlying revenue growth of 6.4%. The company estimated its full year group revenues to be US$4 billion traded, booked or visible through subscriptions, recurring revenues and forward booked contracts.

For the first five months of 2026, Informa’s B2B Live Events (Informa Markets / Connect / Festivals) posted underlying revenue growth of 7.6%. Strong growths were recorded in the America, Greater China, ASEAN, Europe and IMEA. The full year underlying revenue growth will be over 7% with more than US$1.5 billion traded.

The company continues its “2025-2028 One Informa”, a four-year programme to maximise the B2B growth platform building momentum, focused on Data-led Marketing, Customer Experience, the group-wide deployment of AI technology and driving efficiency, productivity and product innovation.

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa, said, “The depth and breadth of Informa’s portfolio, both geographically and by market category, continues to deliver growth, international expansion and product and brand innovation. We have momentum in both our businesses, B2B Live Events and Academic Services, and are reconfirming full year earnings guidance.”

WTCMM announces expansion project

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Philippines, 17th June: The World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) in Philippines announced its expansion project of three billion Philippine pesos (US$49.7 million).

The expansion is scheduled to complete in 2028, the venue will double its indoor footprint to 20,000 m2, with preserving 7,000 m2 of outdoor space for flexible activations. The new facility will feature advanced multi-hall configurations and seamless indoor-outdoor integration to accommodation highly complex event structures.

Pamela D. Pascual, chairman and CEO of WTCMM, was quoted, “This expansion is an investment in the future of the Philippine exhibitions and events industry. It reflects our confidence in the market, our commitment to helping our partners scale, and our determination to ensure that the Philippines remains competitive in attracting major regional and international events.”

Informa Markets & MCH Group join force

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Basel, Switzerland, 18th June: Informa Markets and MCH Group, two of the world’s powerhouses in global trade events, announced to collaborate for the first time.

Under the collaboration, the two organisations will launch Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair in April 2027 in Hall 2 of Messe Basel. It is estimated to feature more than 400 exhibitors, and gather manufacturers, designers, brands, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and sourcing specialists.

Margaret Ma Connolly, President and CEO of Informa Markets in Asia, stated, “Partnering with MCH Group was a natural choice. Both of our organisations are leaders in creating platforms where business thrives and meaningful connections are made. Together, we are building a global event that responds to the industry’s evolving needs while celebrating the diversity that makes it so dynamic.”

Quick takes

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SACEOS elects new EXCO

The Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) has elected its Executive Committee (EXCO) for the 2026-2027 term. The new committee’s President will be Richard Ireland, and will consist of event organisers, venues, suppliers, and educators to represent the local business event ecosystem.

BaliCEB’s new leadership

The new executive board of the Bali Convention and Exhibition Bureau (BaliCEB) for the 2026-2031 term, with Ketut Jaman as its General Chairman. BaliCEB provides complimentary support, including destination insights, site inspection, bidding support, and local coordination, to international associations, corporations, and meeting planners.

Macau welcomes 3m+ visitor arrivals in May 2026

Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released the latest number of visitor arrivals in May 2026, amounting at 3,487,994, representing a 3.4% increase year-on-year. Same-day visitors grew by 7.9%, while overnight visitors dropped by 3.0%. The average length of stay of visitors was 1.0 day, down by 0.1 day.