UFI Connects gives overview of MEA region

“Empathy & Adaptability during Times of Crisis” were the topics addressed in the UFI Connects session focussing on the MEA region on April 1, 2020. Over 320 exhibition professionals from the region and around the world joined the interactive session moderated by Naji El Haddad – UFI Regional Manager for MEA. Craig Newman, Johannesburg Expo Centre and outgoing UFI president, emphasised that only empathy can bring the industry through the virus crisis. He also reported on the speedy reaction of the South African government and how the venues across the country are turned into emergency hospitals, trying to bring as many service providers as possible into the equation to support these partners.

Trixie LohMirmand, Dubai World Trade Centre, pointed out how crucial it is to stay in touch with clients and customers by empathically reaching out to them. She is sure that after the crisis is over, many exhibitors will assess very carefully which trade shows to exhibit at. To her mind, this will lead to some formats become even more important and others to vanish.

“We’ll have a much broader price conversation with our customers post COVID-19”, said Informa Market’s Peter Hall. He believes that the industry will remain a relationship maker but the speed of change towards digital and data services has picked up. She personally believes that the space revenue will be reduced most after the crisis, and so do 47% of the participants in a poll during the session. Another 34% see the biggest loss in sponsorship revenues.

Paul Grinnall, Riyadh Exhibitions, reported that in Saudia Arabia currently hardly any transactions are happening at all. But he remains confident that the industry will recover as it is very inventive and will find ways to move forward.

“What the last weeks have taught us”, Grinnall states, “is that people want to meet and interact.”

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