UFI: strong growth in exhibition industry

/

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

/

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

/

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

/

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).