Las Vegas to Host First U.S. Edition of UFI Global Congress in 2023

November 8, 2021

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, unveiled plans to hold the 90th UFI Global Congress in Las Vegas, Nov. 1 – 4, 2023. It will be the first time the largest annual gathering of exhibition leaders will take place in the U.S.

The 2023 UFI Global Congress will take place at Aria Resort and Casino and will be hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), exposing Las Vegas to key decision makers in the global exhibition industry and poising the destination for future convention business.

Kai Hattendorf, CEO and managing director of UFI, underscored the importance of the U.S. to UFI.

“What a wonderful win-win. Congratulations to Las Vegas,” he said. “As the global trade association for our industry, this will allow us to connect our colleagues from across the U.S. markets even better with their global peers.”

UFI is the leading global association of international tradeshow organizers and exhibition center operators. Open to more than 50,000 industry professionals who work for UFI member companies worldwide, the congress creates an opportunity for exhibition leaders to network, develop strategy and discuss the challenges facing the exhibition industry. The announcement comes as the U.S. opened international borders to vaccinated travelers Nov. 8.

 

UFI chose Las Vegas because the destination put together a compelling bid to host the congress, and it is one of the exhibition industry’s global capitals for trade shows, according to Hattendorf. 

"We are fortunate to have destinations all around the world interested is hosting the event, with recent destinations including Shanghai, Johannesburg, St. Petersburg, Bangkok and, most recently, Rotterdam," he said. "We have not been in North America for a long time and, curiously, never in the U.S. so far. But with so many of our members now either based in the U.S. or with relevant business there, it was about time."

Las Vegas is honored to have been selected as the host city for UFI Global Congress’ inaugural U.S. show, according to Brian Yost, COO of the LVCVA.

"It further demonstrates the destination’s appeal as a global destination for business and leisure travel,” he said. “We are excited to welcome the congress’ delegates from around the world and look forward to providing them with an experience that can only be found in Las Vegas.”

Las Vegas pairs meetings and conventions with world-class resorts, entertainment and sports offerings. It has remained the country’s No. 1 trade show destination for 26 consecutive years, according to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN).

“On behalf of MGM Resorts and Aria, we are very excited to be chosen as the host the 2023 UFI Global Congress,” said Stephanie Glanzer, SVP and chief sales officer for MGM Resorts International.

The UFI Global Congress takes place in October or November each year in trade show destinations around the world. In 2019, the event was hosted in Bangkok. In 2020, due to pandemic related global travel restrictions, the congress went digital, with programming from Hong Kong, Dubai, London and Bogota. The Congress will take place in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman in 2022.

The 88th UFI Global Congress in Rotterdam, held earlier this month, welcomed 350 participants from roughly 40 countries and regions.

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact