Industry Embraces Upcoming Global Exhibitions Day with Events Planned Worldwide
May 29, 2016
The first-ever Global Exhibitions Day, which will take place June 8, will bring together the global exhibition industry to raise awareness about the value of exhibitions, celebrate the professionals working in the industry and make a new generation of leaders aware of the opportunities the exhibition industry has to offer.
Launched by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, together with association partners from all around the world, Global Exhibitions Day is a combination of efforts from across the exhibition industry.
UFI is coordinating all global efforts from a GED project office it has set up in Paris.
“We are very pleased by the outstanding support we’ve received from more than 30 associations, dozens of UFI members, organizers, venues and service providers and hundreds of individuals,” said UFI President Sergey Alexeev.
He added, “There are many meaningful national and regional projects promoting the value of the exhibition industry, and we are delighted to be able to cater them all under the umbrella of Global Exhibitions Day. This initiative has activated the industry to not only share one cohesive voice but to make all efforts count.”
As one of the synergies and partnerships around Global Exhibitions Day, UFI is happy to share new industry figures that display the direct value of trade shows. Exhibitions take place everywhere – from the smallest market place to the world’s mega venues.
Today, and on every day of the year, an average of 85 major trade shows take place in the economic centers of the world.
Exhibitions engage large crowds. Globally, 260 million people visit major trade shows every year to drive their business forward.
The accumulated space that these major exhibitions allocate to their exhibitors over the course of the year represents a spectacular total surface area of 124 million square meters, the equivalent of 30,000 football fields. Exhibitions generate a substantial amount of business and create valuable jobs.
Annually, visitors and exhibitors spend around €100 billion on and around exhibitions. Globally, 700,000 people get their paychecks through working directly with our industry.
UFI is supporting and connecting numerous efforts and events to mark Global Exhibitions Day. National events are set to take place in more than 20 countries.
These include a Conference and Gala Dinner in Hong Kong organized by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA).
The Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) will coordinate a "Power of exhibitions" forum with courses on topics such as "How to exhibit".
Meanwhile, in Australia, special “spotlight events” will be organized through the Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) in connection with their annual Leaders Forum.
A conference is taking place in Moscow, initiated by the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF). The Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA) will arrange specific lobbying actions.
In Paris, the Union Française des Métiers de l’Evénement (UNIMEV) will coordinate a “Global Exhibitions Day Run”.
In the U.S., exhibition industry professionals will talk to lawmakers on Capitol Hill at the US Exhibition Day, together with an alliance of associations brought together by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
And Germany’s Institute for the Trade Fair Industry, part of AUMA, will host a special open house for professors and students.
Besides these national activities, many exhibition organizers, venues, and service providers are preparing their own company-wide activities for Global Exhibitions Day.
To view the full list of actions reported to the GED project office at UFI, please go to www.ufi.org/ged, where the list of activities is updated on a regular basis.
The Global Exhibition Day was launched in January 2016 by UFI and a task force of partner associations: UFI (Global), AAXO and EXSA (South Africa), AEFI and CFI (Italy), AEO (UK), AFE (Spain), AFECA (Asia), AFIDA (Central & South America), AMPROFEC (Mexico), AOCA (Argentina), AUMA and Fairlink (Sweden), FAMAB (Germany), CAEM (Canada), CEFA and CENTREX (Central Europe), EEAA (Australasia), EEIA (EU), HKECIA (Hong-Kong), IAEE and SISO (USA), IECA (Indonesia), IEIA (India), IELA (Global), IFES (Global), LECA (Lebanon), MACEOS (Malaysia), MFTA (Macao), PCEI (Poland), RUEF (Russia), TEA (Thailand), UBRAFE (Brazil) and UNIMEV (France). For more information, please visit www.ufi.org/ged or contact the UFI headquarters at GED@ufi.org.
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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