St. Petersburg Hosts World Exhibition Business Elite for the First Time

From October 31 to November 2 the 85th Congress of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) took place in EXPOFORUM, after St. Petersburg won the right to hold it in 2016. About 500 major players of the industry from 54 countries met in the city on the banks of the Neva to sum up the results of 2018 and discuss the plans of the association for 2019.

The Global Congress has taken place every year since 1925. The global exhibition community gathers at the Congress to make important decisions and define the vector of development. In the history of the event has only taken place in Russia once in 2005 Moscow when was the venue.

Addressing participants of the Anniversary Congress, Corrado Peraboni, UFI President, highlighted that the Association works hard to help its members grasp and accept all challenges of the industry. “In organizing the Congress, we help our colleagues to share experience by taking part in networking and to be aware of all important changes in the exhibition industry. I hope that the business program will be as useful to you as possible,” Corrado Peraboni said.

The overarching issue of this year's congress is ‘Dynamic Development as a Key to the Future of the Exhibition Industry’. In total the business program includes 15 business sessions. Aside from summing up the results of UFI work and plans for the next year, specialists discuss the digital transformation of the industry, strategic role of HR for the industry, the latest event technologies, UFI best practices, business tourism, transregional and international cooperation and much more.

The section entitled ‘Russia in Focus’ was an important event for Russia and St. Petersburg; it took place on November 2, on the final day of the congress. Participants spoke on successful leading of MICE business in Russia using the example of regions, as well as on exhibitions as essential tools to accomplish global strategic goals.

Holding the UFI Congress in the Northern Capital is recognition of the city's achievements in development of the congress and exhibition industry; the result of focused efforts of major players of the St. Petersburg MICE market. As Oleg Markov, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg, noted, the exhibition industry is a driving force of the economic development of the northern capital and one of the most important Russian economic realms.

“It’s a great honor for the city to host leading experts of the industry from all over the world on the banks of the Neva. We are proud that our city has been chosen,” the Vice Governor said. “St. Petersburg has a leading position in a prestigious rating of congress cities of the world.”

“We are pleased to welcome such important guests in our anniversary year: as we celebrate 50 years of Lenexpo and 10 years of the EXPOFORUM brand. As we merge 50 years of experience and unique exhibition traditions with new innovative views on how the industry should develop, we are already seeing the first results of this unification; the occurrence of such a major event as the UFI Congress is one such sign,” Sergey Voronkov, Director General of EXPOFORUM International, greeted delegates.

He also reminded participants that in 2014 Sergey Alekseyev, Vice President of EXPOFORUM International and the president of the RUEF, was elected President of UFI. He was the first President of the Association from Russia. “And this has also undoubtedly become a historic event for the entire exhibition industry community of our country,” Sergey Voronkov highlighted.

“I am confident that after the 85th UFI Congress, St Petersburg will remain in your hearts, and you will come back to our city both as organizers and guests,” the Director General of EXPOFORUM International concluded.

“St. Petersburg is a wonderful city with great history. It has always been a window for dialogue between Russia and Europe. St. Petersburg's beauty, its competencies and its good people, of course, allow the city to host events of the highest level!” Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director of UFI, noted.

He added that all participants of the Congress were pleased with EXPOFORUM as a venue: “There’s everything in this area: hotels, a congress center and large exhibition pavilions. In addition, it is located near the airport, which is also very convenient. I hope that many people will think of EXPOFORUM as a perfect platform for holding events.”

ABOUT UFI

UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) is a union of the biggest exhibition companies and centers around the world. It represents the interests of 50,000 people in this industry, unites 749 member organizations from 85 countries on 6 continents: exhibition venues, operators and their partners.

UFI grants 950 exhibitions and congresses organized by its members with a mark of quality. In total, UFI members annually hold more than 4500 specialized events, which attract more than 1,000,000 exhibitors and 150,000,000 visitors. The central office is located in Paris.

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St. Petersburg Hosts World Exhibition Business Elite for the First Time

From October 31 to November 2 the 85th Congress of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) took place in EXPOFORUM, after St. Petersburg won the right to hold it in 2016. About 500 major players of the industry from 54 countries met in the city on the banks of the Neva to sum up the results of 2018 and discuss the plans of the association for 2019.

The Global Congress has taken place every year since 1925. The global exhibition community gathers at the Congress to make important decisions and define the vector of development. In the history of the event has only taken place in Russia once in 2005 Moscow when was the venue.

Addressing participants of the Anniversary Congress, Corrado Peraboni, UFI President, highlighted that the Association works hard to help its members grasp and accept all challenges of the industry. “In organizing the Congress, we help our colleagues to share experience by taking part in networking and to be aware of all important changes in the exhibition industry. I hope that the business program will be as useful to you as possible,” Corrado Peraboni said.

The overarching issue of this year's congress is ‘Dynamic Development as a Key to the Future of the Exhibition Industry’. In total the business program includes 15 business sessions. Aside from summing up the results of UFI work and plans for the next year, specialists discuss the digital transformation of the industry, strategic role of HR for the industry, the latest event technologies, UFI best practices, business tourism, transregional and international cooperation and much more.

The section entitled ‘Russia in Focus’ was an important event for Russia and St. Petersburg; it took place on November 2, on the final day of the congress. Participants spoke on successful leading of MICE business in Russia using the example of regions, as well as on exhibitions as essential tools to accomplish global strategic goals.

Holding the UFI Congress in the Northern Capital is recognition of the city's achievements in development of the congress and exhibition industry; the result of focused efforts of major players of the St. Petersburg MICE market. As Oleg Markov, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg, noted, the exhibition industry is a driving force of the economic development of the northern capital and one of the most important Russian economic realms.

“It’s a great honor for the city to host leading experts of the industry from all over the world on the banks of the Neva. We are proud that our city has been chosen,” the Vice Governor said. “St. Petersburg has a leading position in a prestigious rating of congress cities of the world.”

“We are pleased to welcome such important guests in our anniversary year: as we celebrate 50 years of Lenexpo and 10 years of the EXPOFORUM brand. As we merge 50 years of experience and unique exhibition traditions with new innovative views on how the industry should develop, we are already seeing the first results of this unification; the occurrence of such a major event as the UFI Congress is one such sign,” Sergey Voronkov, Director General of EXPOFORUM International, greeted delegates.

He also reminded participants that in 2014 Sergey Alekseyev, Vice President of EXPOFORUM International and the president of the RUEF, was elected President of UFI. He was the first President of the Association from Russia. “And this has also undoubtedly become a historic event for the entire exhibition industry community of our country,” Sergey Voronkov highlighted.

“I am confident that after the 85th UFI Congress, St Petersburg will remain in your hearts, and you will come back to our city both as organizers and guests,” the Director General of EXPOFORUM International concluded.

“St. Petersburg is a wonderful city with great history. It has always been a window for dialogue between Russia and Europe. St. Petersburg's beauty, its competencies and its good people, of course, allow the city to host events of the highest level!” Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director of UFI, noted.

He added that all participants of the Congress were pleased with EXPOFORUM as a venue: “There’s everything in this area: hotels, a congress center and large exhibition pavilions. In addition, it is located near the airport, which is also very convenient. I hope that many people will think of EXPOFORUM as a perfect platform for holding events.”

ABOUT UFI

UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) is a union of the biggest exhibition companies and centers around the world. It represents the interests of 50,000 people in this industry, unites 749 member organizations from 85 countries on 6 continents: exhibition venues, operators and their partners.

UFI grants 950 exhibitions and congresses organized by its members with a mark of quality. In total, UFI members annually hold more than 4500 specialized events, which attract more than 1,000,000 exhibitors and 150,000,000 visitors. The central office is located in Paris.

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