91st UFI Global Congress

The 91st UFI Global Congress 2024 Turns Changes into Chances 

The 91st UFI Global Congress, a premier event for the exhibition industry, brought together 600 delegates from 55+ countries at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, from 20–23 November. This flagship gathering offered four days of networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiration, centered around the theme “Changes to Chances.”

UFI members and partners, including AIPC, ICCA, and SISO, convened to explore how global changes can create new chances. Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse, praised the Congress as a showcase of the industry’s collaborative strength, while UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf called it one of the most impactful editions in UFI’s history.

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Fact-Based Thinking Keynote with Anna Rosling Rönnlund

Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Co-Founder of Gapminder, delivered the opening keynote, urging attendees to adopt a fact-based view of the world to challenge biases and misconceptions. She stressed the need for data-driven decision-making to counter misconceptions about human progress and technology. Rönnlund urged small, informed steps toward sustainability and global collaboration, inviting attendees to explore Gapminder’s tools to enhance global literacy

UFI NGL Showcase:
Gaming with AI to Transform the Exhibition Industry

At this year’s Global Congress, the UFI NGL grant winners Showcase highlighted AI’s transformative role in the exhibition industry through a gaming lens. Alexander Caspari, Celia Hidalgo, Nadja Ella Hutton-Mills, Ana Carolina Aguilera, and Lesley Gurney explored how AI enhances attendees’ experiences, streamlines event logistics, drives productivity and revenue growth. They addressed challenges like job displacement, cybersecurity, and legal issues, emphasising the need for responsible AI adoption. A survey of UFI members revealed widespread AI usage and thoughtful integration, underlining its potential to revolutionise the industry responsibly.

Recognising Excellence: UFI Medal of Honour

For the first time, UFI awarded its Medal of Honour to Sandy Angus, Mary Larkin, and Kai Hattendorf for their outstanding contributions to the global exhibition industry.

Welcome to the 2024-25 UFI President

The UFI community warmly welcomed Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, as the association’s new President for the 2024-25 term during the Congress. Jones takes over from Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events. In 2025, both leaders will be part of UFI’s Presidential Trio, which comprises the incoming, current, and outgoing Presidents. Joining them will be Panittha Buri, Vice Chairperson of the Bhiraj Buri Group, as the incoming President.

Join us in Hong Kong next year

We look forward to welcoming you to the 92nd UFI Global Congress, taking place from 19 to 22 November 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. This marks a significant return to the Asia-Pacific region, last visited by the UFI Global Congress in 2019. Save the date and prepare to experience another impactful edition of the UFI Global Congress in 2025!