UFI Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia, Draws 450 Members to Opening General Assembly
October 31, 2018
More than 450 events professionals from UFI members in more than 54 countries met today in St. Petersburg, Russia, to review UFI’s work throughout 2018 and confirm plans for the year ahead.
The 2018 UFI General Assembly took place before UFI’s Global Congress, “The Dynamics of Transition – Our Industry’s Complex Future”.
Chaired by UFI’s 2018 President, Corrado Peraboni, the General Assembly highlighted an array of new initiatives supporting UFI’s 780 members in 86 countries. Global membership has grown by another 5 percent this year.
“It has been a busy year serving the growing global community of UFI members around the world,” Peraboni said.
He added, “Never before has the UFI team organised this many meetings and events for our industry, and we have seen a record number of participants. After a year as UFI President, I can say with conviction that there is no other global community like this in our industry.”
Peraboni highlighted two developments: the opening of our regional office in Bogota, Colombia, marks UFI’s presence in all our four regions around the world.
He added, “This is a vital milestone in our strategic project of ‘glocalisation’, where we are investing to serve our members close to their respective homes. Secondly, I am very happy to share that we now have more than 1,000 “UFI Approved Events” in 75 countries. This certification is a globally recognised standard of quality, as all the shows that carry it are audited.”
More than 1,300 industry professionals attended the broad array of UFI events around the globe, from the “Global CEO Summit” in Cannes, France, to the current “UFl Global Congress” in St. Petersburg.
UFI’s inaugural Latin American Conference alsi was one of the year’s focal points. Hosted by AMPROFEC, it took place at the World Trade Center in Mexico City (Mexico) on 18-19 September. Around 120 people participated from 16 countries. A Latin America Chapter meeting took place alongside the event.
“The UFI team around the world is working every day to make sure we can serve our global member community of over 50,000 industry professionals,” said UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf.
He added, “The fact that more industry leaders and professionals are attending our events, using our research, and joining our educational offers than ever before encourages us to continue on this path. We are very happy to welcome additional members into the UFI network around the world – the knowledge and experience they bring enables everyone to get together to explore new business opportunities in our fast-evolving industry.”
During the next 12 months, UFI is set to continue with its current strategic initiatives, focusing on events, research, education, and advocacy globally.
The annual Global CEO Summit will take place in London Jan. 30-feb. 1. Three Regional Conferences are scheduled to take place in Tokyo March 14-15, Dubai April 8-9 and Birmingham May 15-17.
The Global Congress will take place in Nov. 6-9.
The latest overview of UFI events around the world is available on the UFI website: https://www.ufi.org/our-events/ufi-events-calendar/
While the Congress is only open to members, conferences and Educational Forums are open to all industry professionals.
Craig Newman, CEO Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) (South Africa), is UFI’s 2019 President. He is joined in UFI’s new presidential leadership trio by Mary Larkin, EVP at Diversified Communications, Portland, Maine, as Incoming President.
As Corrado Peraboni will leave the association due to starting a new enterprise, he cannot serve as Outgoing President.
Therefore, Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe AG Hanover, will stay on the presidential trio for an additional year.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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