Exhibition World Issue 2 — 2019 | Page 5

Welcome Venue vistas broadening the view Some of you may be reading this issue at UFI’s MEA Conference 8-9 April at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where I hope you are truly embracing change and looking forward to the future! And we celebrate that venue’s 40th anniversary with an infographic illustrating some key events held there over the years. Those of us based in the UK will also be waiting for our UFI friends for the European Conference in Birmingham in May. At time of writing, it looks as if the UK may even still be part of the European Union during that conference. I am sure our UFI friends will be impressed to see the transformations at the NEC and by its Vox conference centre. The NEC has had a proud heritage in local authority ownership and is now seizing its chance to transform with major private investment from its new owners Blackstone. We showcase in our supplement to this issue a selection of venues around the world and what their offer is for organisers. By comparing and, indeed, competing, we can all push the bar higher on that front. Another piece of the exhibition ‘hardware’ jigsaw is, of course, stand design and EW organised two major forums at International Confex in London recently that brought together select organisers and stand designers and contractors to discuss common challenges and trends. You can read some of that debate and discussion on pages 36-43. This issue sees Matthias Baur provide KPI food for thought in a fast-changing exhibition environment, while Informa’s Group Brand Director offers insights on succeeding in Life Science exhibitions. We also surf the fast rushing tide of M&A activity and follow up from Jochen Witt on our Cover Story from the previous edition on the question of Big v Small. And we go Dutch, with a couple of destination reports and I urge you to heed the rallying call from SISO, who had that Ragin’ Cajun James Carville speaking at their recent CEO Summit in Miami. Paul Colston Managing Editor Twitter: @ExhibitionWorld @paulcolston Publishing Director: Simon Farnfield; Managing Editor: Paul Colston; Global Portfolio Director: Jonathan Gordon; Account Director: Iain Stirling; News Reporter: Stuart Wood; Graphic Designer: Kateryna Smirnova; Production Manager: Elizabeth Nixon. Contact us: Subscriptions:[phone], Editorial: [phone], Advertising: [phone], Production:[phone]. Exhibition World is published by Mash Media, Second floor, Applemarket House, 17 Union Street, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1RR, UK. Tel: [phone] fax: [phone], Email: [email protected] Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers. Printed by Pensord Press Ltd. w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk Issue 2 2019 5