UFI Releases “Women in the Exhibition Industry” Research Results

November 6, 2018

In keeping with its objective to provide vital data and best practices to the entire exhibition industry, UFI released the results of its “Women in the Exhibitions Industry” research at the 85th UFI Global Congress, held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

As a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a, the goal of the research is to provide insights into the perception of women’s and men’s skills in the workplace, the potential for advancement for women within the industry and details of the different aspects driving women’s careers drivers.

More than 200 mostly female respondents from around the world participated in the online survey that sought to discover whether women are enjoying equal status in the workplace or are lagging behind.

According to the survey results, a staggering 82 percent of respondents enjoy working in the exhibition industry and love their jobs.

Women were identified as having soft skills such as good communication skills, empathy, strong organizational skills and the capacity to multi-task. Yet despite these skills, women lagged behind men when it came to networking.

Meanwhile, all respondents of both sexes assigned self-confidence, technical know-how and power-related skills to men.

Concerning equal treatment and career advancement, more than half of the female respondents did not feel they were treated equally in terms of salary and career opportunities, and more than one third also believed they are held back from taking on more responsibility.

“Women clearly make up the majority of the workforce in the trade fair industry, but they only represent a minority of the leadership,” said Dr. Gwen Kaufmann from Germany-based Deutscher Fachverlag, who led the project.

She added, “Both men and women agree that women can deliver diversity with a more creative approach when it comes to solving problems, helping the industry to prosper.”

Most of the respondents said that the industry would benefit from more female leaders and 61 percent already see active support for women, although only 49 percent think that quotas are the way to go.

Contrary to men, women often have to choose between their career and their private lives, which is also seen as one of the major negative career factors, with career breaks taken due to maternity leave (78 percent) and institutional discrimination (68 percent).

After the initial presentation of these results at the UFI Global Congress, the association plans to continue to work on the topic, according to UFI officials.

“Men and women have different skills and are complementary, so the optimum is a mix of both sexes,” said Sonia Thomas, COO of UFI. “We all must consider how to increase female representation at senior level by making the path to the top a little easier for women.”

The full results of the “Women in the Exhibitions Industry” survey can be downloaded HERE.

Don’t miss any event news! Sign up for any (or all) of our e-newsletters HERE & engage with us on Twitter, FacebookLinkedIn & Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.