UFI elects President for 2027-28

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Paris / Izmir, 3rd June: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the UFI Board of Directors elected Said Al Shanfari (CEO, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre) as the UFI President for the 2027-28 term.

The UFI Presidential Trio for the November 2026 – November 2027 term (effective at the conclusion of the 93rd UFI Global Congress in November 2026) will be:

·       Wolfram Diener (President & CEO, Messe Düsseldorf Group), President

·       Panittha Buri (Vice-Chairperson, Bhiraj Buri Group), Outgoing President

·       Sais Al Shanfari, Incoming President

Al Shanfari will bring experience in marketing, destination development and venue management across the Middle East & Africa. He has served as UFI’s Middle East & Africa Chapter Chair, and the appointment will bring a regional perspective and renewed energy to UFI’s global leadership.

Chris Skeith OBE, UFI CEO and Managing Director, commented, “Said has been a familiar and much-valued face at UFI events for many years, and his dedication to our community has never wavered… As Chair of UFI’s Middle East and Africa Chapter for the past three years, he has been an active and passionate advocate for the region and for our industry. I am delighted to welcome him as UFI’s Incoming President and look forward to working closely with him as we advance UFI’s mission.”

TCEB launches Thailand’s first digital MICE platform

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Thailand, 28th May: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) launched “JerGan” (meaning “Let’s meet” in Thai), Thailand’s first digital MICE platform, under its MaxiMICE Thailand.

The “JerGan” application will connect MICE travellers with local businesses, to expand income distribution across the boarder MICE value chain. It will establish a MICE Behavioral Data Infrastructure to support more targeted and effective marketing strategies.

The platform will develop through three integrated pillars: 1) Data-Driven MICE Intelligence, transforming customer pain points into a Behavioral Data Infrastructure capable of driving actionable industry strategies; 2) MICE Ecosystem Connector, integrating venues, communities, food and beverage services, transportation, and local experiences into one connected ecosystem; and 3) MICE Economic Booster, expanding MICE traveller spending beyond venues into surrounding local economies and communities.

JerGan targets both Thai and international MICE travellers across three primary user groups: 1) International MICE Travelers, 2) Conference Organizers, and 3) Thai exhibitors participating in domestic trade exhibitions.

Dr. Jaruwan Suwannasat, Vice President of the TCEB, explained, “JerGan serves as a strategic solution that systematically addresses the evolving demands of MICE travellers. The platform enhances the overall MICE experience while enabling spending to flow more effectively across the wider industry value chain and related sectors. It also supports the sustainable growth of Thailand’s MICE economy and ecosystem. In addition, the platform provides venues and operators with valuable insights into traveller behaviour – including how delegates spend their time outside events and their pre- and post-event spending patterns. JerGan will therefore become a powerful data platform that can help shape more personalized and effective MICE experiences in the future.”

Vietnam opens new Vietnam Exposition Center

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Hanoi, 29th May: Vietnam will have a new venue, Vietnam Exposition Center (VEC), targeting as a strategic bridge connecting Vietnam to the world.

Located in Cổ Lao, Hanoi, VEC has a capacity of 900,000 m2, including Kim Quy Exhibition Hall, a 13-tectare centerpiece designed with flexible operational capacities capable of accommodating exhibitions and events. It will serve as a standalone venue to connect commerce, tourism, entertainment, and culture.

The infrastructure also includes a 135,000-seat Hùng Vương Stadium and a 60,000-seat PVF Stadium, with a retractable roof system. In addition, Vingroup will support the VEC with an integrated supporting ecosystem, with Vinpearl’s hospitality inventory of over 16,000 hotel rooms, a dedicated international event organising arm (V-Spirit), and Green SM’s fleet of 186,000 electric vehicles to manage large-scale delegation logistics.

HKECIA releases latest industry figures

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Hong Kong, 1st June: At the latest Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Industry Association (HKECIA), Hong Kong’s exhibition industry figures has been released.

Last year, a total of 152 large-scale exhibitions (over 2,000 m2) were held in Hong Kong, exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the first time, with total rented space exceeded 924,000 m2. Visitor numbers increase 10.9%, reaching 1.62 million. However, exhibitor number dropped 8%, down to about 47,000.

Quick takes

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Tourism Australia appoints new EGM Global Markets

Tourism Australia has appointed Ms Kathryn (Kath) O’Brien as its Executive General Manager (EGM) Global Markets, effective 10th August 2026. She has more than 20 years of industry experience in tourism and aviation. In the new role, Ms O’Brien will be responsible for managing Tourism Australia’s network of international offices across 16 global markets along with airline and distribution channel partnerships.

HKECIA elects first woman chair

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Industry Association (HKECIA) elected new chair to succeed Stuart Bailey, who will step down after a decade. The new chair, Wendy Lai, will become the first woman to lead HKECIA, while Bailey will be the Honorary Life President. Lai, Vice President of Global Sources Exhibitions, will bring her over 20 years of experience in the exhibition industry. She has events career of portfolio management, business development and strategic planning across multiple markets.

bauma SHANGHAI 2026 to held in two venues

Messe München Shanghai’s bauma Shanghai 2026 will expand to be held across two venues in Shanghai for the next edition. Under the “One Show, Two Venues” concept, the events will take place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC), running from 23rd to 26th November 2026, and the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), from 24th to 27th November 2026. The expanded trade fair will create a broader and more comprehensive industrial ecosystem platform.