Inside the UFI Americas Conference: Insights and Highlights
The UFI Americas Conference, held Sept. 10-12 at Cintermex, brought together 170 exhibition industry leaders from across North, Central, and South America for a landmark event in Monterrey, Mexico. This union marked a significant milestone as it was the first occasion where UFI members and industry experts from these regions were brought together under one event.
TSNN's Danica Tormohlen sat down with Martha Donato, regional director of UFI North America, to delve into the event's highlights, challenges, and future prospects.
Read six takeaways from our conversation and watch or live to the full interview here.
1. A Historic Collaboration
The UFI Americas Conference was a joint effort between the North and Central/South America chapters, the latter led by Ana Maria Arango. Her experience in hosting similar meetings in Central and South America for the last several years was instrumental in ensuring the event's success, Donato said.
2. Learning From Regional Leaders
The keynote—delivered by RX President, Americas Fernando Fischer, was particularly impactful, said Donato. His talk focused on the exhibitor last-mile concept, emphasizing the importance of fair pricing and strategic solutions for exhibitors.
3. Challenges Facing Exhibitions
The exhibition industry is currently grappling with a shortage of qualified workers and sustainability challenges. UFI is actively addressing these issues through educational initiatives, such as an introductory-level exhibition training program recently conducted in Saudi Arabia.
4. Global Connections
The event included participation from Canada in the north to Argentina in the south–not to mention an exhibition delegation from China, arranged through CCPIT. A full list of attendees can be found here.
5. Monterrey: A Hidden Gem
Donato described Monterrey as a vibrant and stunningly beautiful city surrounded by mountains. The modern convention center was a perfect fit for the event, supported by the city's leadership and travel and visitors bureau. Although primarily a hub for business and trade shows, Monterrey also offered ample leisure opportunities for attendees—a testament to the well-rounded experience UFI aims to provide at its conferences.
6. What’s next
Looking to the future, Donato revealed that plans for a regional conference in 2025 are still in development. The 91st UFI Global Congress awaits in November, promising further opportunities for networking and development. The event will be held Nov. 20-23 in Cologne, Germany.
Add new comment