Wednesday 31 October
Thursday 01 November
6:30 - 7:45 | UFI Running ClubThe ideal way to break the ice and get to know your industry peers. Join the running club for an invigorating jog, whatever your fitness level. Sponsored by ![]() |
9:00 - 9:15 | Official Opening![]() With: Howard Klein Corrado Peraboni Kai Hattendorf The UFI 2018 President Corrado Peraboni will open the 85th Global Congress, and Howard Klein will set the stage. |
9:15 - 10:00 | To boldly go…![]() With : Sergey Ryazanski, Cosmonaut (Russian Federation)
Lift off for the Congress! - and we will head straight for the "bigger picture" - a perspective from space. Nations from around the world are collaborating to operate the planet's most special venue space - the International Space Station. Cosmonaut Sergej Ryazanski will share insights into how to adapt quickly to changing challenges and expectations. |
10:00 - 10:45 | BRIC revisited![]() With: Graziano Messana, Fiera Milano Brasil (Brasil) Darya Ostrovskaya, R&C Market Research Company (Russian Federation) Anbu Varathan, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (India) David Zhong, VNU Exhibitions Asia (China) With the UFI Congress taking place in a BRIC country, we will revisit these particular markets and their potential as they generate new sources of attention - from China’s "Belt and Road" to Latin American comebacks, from Russian resurgence to India's investments. Sponsored by ![]() |
10:45 - 11:30 | Networking and RefreshmentsSponsored by ![]() |
11:30 - 12:30 | Digital Transformation![]() With: Matthias Tesi Baur, MBB-Consulting Group (UK) Stephan Forseilles, Artexis Easyfairs (Belgium) Daniela Stack, Deutsche Messe AG (Germany) Every one of us is confronted and faced with Digital Transformation: By impacting our everyday life, our industry and the whole society, it is much more than just technology. Tesi Bauer and Stephane Forseilles from the UFI Digital Innovation Committee together with Daniela Stack have prepared something special for you: an intensive 1-hour Digital Conference which will cover digital doubt, digital amazement and digital transformation. • What frightened me the most by Stephan Forseilles • What amazed me the most by Tesi Baur • What changed me the most by Daniela Stack Followed by a panel discussion where YOU will tell us what emotions and questions Digital Transformation brought into your life. |
12:30 - 13:30 | Networking LunchSponsored by ![]() |
13:30 - 14:30 | About the economy![]() with: Stephane Garelli, University of Lausanne (Switzerland) “Time to Look at the World Differently” - A competitiveness outlook for 2019, and beyond Let's talk economic growth, sentiments and fall-outs from protectionism. Let's review GDP, EPS, and stock indices. Let's discuss false news, perceptions, buying patterns, and expectations. Or - in short: Time for an economist's roundup. |
14:30 - 15:15 | Networking and RefreshmentsSponsored by ![]() |
15:15 - 16:15 | Special Interest Group Sessions (SIG) Part IUFI's Special Interest Group Sessions offer Congress participants the chance to zoom into specific topics in a more intimate environment. The sessions are fast-paced and interactive.
During this first time slot, we will run parallel sessions on the following topics: |
SIG Large Venues![]() with: Antonio Bruzzone, BolognaFiere (Italy) Carin Kindbom,The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre (Sweden) Mao Daben, Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Centre (China) Moderators: Andreas Gruchow, Deutsche Messe AG Hannover (Germany) Nick Dugdale-Moore, UFI (UK) Corrado Peraboni, UFI President 2018 This year’s Large Venue SIG will take the form of a brief intro from our panellists and moderators, followed by a workshop session wherein delegates will have the chance to discuss one or more of the following questions in greater detail: - What are the current/main venue challenges/issues facing large venues? What needs to be considered for renovation of a venue? - What are today’s priorities when renovating a venue: venue size, venue format, technology (venue signage), infrastructure (hotels, parking, traffic management etc.)? - Role of sustainable developmnt - What are the priorities/needs of a newly build venue? What does its business model look like? - What are the new long-term venue trends? | |
SIG Best Practice cases from the 2018 UFI Awards I![]() Moderator: Angela Herberholz, UFI (France) Sharing best practices is at the heart of our association, and with the annual UFI award programme, we receive many outstanding industry success stories to share among industry professionals. During this Special Interest Group, the 2018 UFI Award winners will present their innovative industry solutions in the fields of: - Human Resources: Successful changes in the exhibition industry: the strategic role of HR as business partners, presented by Arun Madhok, Suntec (Singapore) - Operations & Services: Smart and innovative use of technology for improving event productivity, presented by Andreas Holmgren, Stockholmsmässan (Sweden) | |
SIG Women in the exhibition industry![]() with: Carina Bauer, IMEX Group (UK) Gwen Kaufmann, Deutscher Fachverlag (Germany) Mary Larkin, Diversified Communication (USA) Monica Lee-Müller, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (Hong Kong) Sonia Thomas, UFI (France) Based on a survey titled “ Women in the exhibition industry – equal status or lagging behind" conducted by UFI and m+a, the panelists will discuss the role of women in the exhibition industry based on the survey's findings and feedback. Sponsored by ![]() | |
16:15 - 17:00 | Networking and RefreshmentsSponsored by ![]() |
17:00 - 18:00 | Special Interest Group Sessions (SIG) Part IIUFI's Special Interest Group Sessions offer Congress participants the chance to zoom into specific topics in a more intimate environment. The sessions are fast-paced and interactive. In this time slot, we will run parallel sessions on the following topics: |
SIG HR Management![]() with: Cecilia Henningsson, Stockholmsmässan (Sweden); Enio Gualandris, Fiera Milano (Italy); Stefan Rummel, Messe München (Germany) Said al Shanfari, CEO at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (Oman) Technology can't replace human interaction but we need to combine both human and digital elements to ensure the future of our industry. Today’s HR challenges are strongly connected to digitalisation, and the increased need to develop competencies, drive change and secure competitive organisations. During this session HR experts and participants will discuss how digital innovation changes people’s culture, and how they work and interact within organisations. | |
SIG Global Visitor Insights![]() with: Sophie Holt, Explori (UK) Jimé Essink, UBM Asia Limited (HK) Jana Dewitz, Messe Berlin (Germany) Based on exclusive new research commissioned for the Congress, UFI research partner Explori drills down into the expectations of visitors. With participation from 21 countries in 14 languages, the Global Visitor Insights project represents the largest study ever undertaken into the experience of trade show visitors around the world. The study captures a visitor’s perspective on key trends, from the impact of new technology to sustainability and inclusion. This presentation aims to identify regional trends, visitor priorities for the future direction of the industry and the strengths and challenges of trade shows vs. competing information channels. Report author, Sophie Holt will present the findings of the UFI / Explori Global Visitor Insights study and discuss the findings with a panel of industry leaders. | |
SIG Best Practice cases from the 2018 UFI Awards II![]() Moderator: Angela Herberholz, UFI (France) Sharing best practices is at the heart of our association, and with the annual UFI award programme, we receive many outstanding industry success stories to share among industry professionals. During this Special Interest Group, the 2018 UFI Award winners will present their innovative industry solutions in the fields of: - Digital Innovation: Exhibition Industry 4.0, presented by Arun Madhok, Suntec (Singapore) - Marketing: Innovative formats creating marketing success, presented by Lilian Burgardt, Informa (Brazil) In this session, we will as well share the themes of the 2019 UFI Awards that are already known | |
20:00 - 23:00 | UFI Congress Grand Night Out![]() at: Catherine’s Palace
As night falls over Russia, be ready for a very special Russian evening! Sponsored by ![]() |
Friday 02 November
8:30 - 9:00 | Networking and RefreshmentsSponsored by ![]() |
9:00 - 9:15 | Welcome again!![]() With: Howard Klein |
9:15 - 10:15 | A Cultural Transformation for the Next Generation![]() with: Lilian Burgardt, Informa (Brazil) Glen Foulstone, GES (UK) Miranda Martin, Fresh Montgomery (UK) Maria Tsedeviyn, Expoforum International (Russian Federation) Join our 2018 NGL grant recipients as they discuss issues and opportunities our industry faces, with a view into community, emotional engagement, digital experiences and attracting talent. A session for those interested in a millennial perspective on how to appeal to future generations. Sponsored by ![]() |
10:15 - 11:00 | Networking and RefreshmentsSponsored by ![]() |
11:00 - 12:00 | UFI Regional Chapter Meetings![]() with: David Zhong, VNU Exhibitions Asia (China) Craig Newman, Johannesburg Expo Centre (South Africa) José Navarro Meneses, E.J. Krause Tarsus (Mexico) Gerald Böse, Koelnmesse (Germany) This is the time for UFI's four chapters to meet - to update on developments in their respective parts of the world, and to discuss ongoing initiatives and activities. |
12:00 - 12:15 | Networking BreakSponsored by ![]() |
12:15 - 13:10 | The Year in Review / What lies ahead?![]() With: Chet Burchett, Reed Exhibitions (UK) Eric Everard, Easyfairs (Belgium) Jo-Anne Kelleway, Info Salons Group (Australia) Rachel Wimberly, Trade Show News Network (USA) This will be the moment to review and discuss the year's most important developments for our industry - and look ahead to what will shape exhibitions and business events in 2019 |
13:10 - 13:35 | Wrap up & Outlook![]() with: Howard Klein, Corrado Peraboni, Craig Newman, Kai Hattendorf With a wrap up by our moderator, the "passing of the torch" to the next UFI President, and the invitation by our UFI Congress Host destination in 2019. |
13:35 - 14:35 | Networking LunchSponsored by ![]() |
14:35 - 16:35 | Focus on RussiaThe Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF) is hosting a workshop focused on doing business in Russia. This session is open to local industry professionals and all those UFI members interested in meeting and talking about the Russian market. Moderator: Paul Colston, Managing Editor at Mash Media Welcoming words by: Kai Hattendorf Part 1. Prospects of Development of the Exhibition Industry in the Russian Federation With: Georgy Kalamanov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin, President of the chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Moscow Sergey Alekseev, President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF), Vice-President of ExpoForum-International Ltd Pankevich Evgeny, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg Part 2. The Experience of Exhibitions and Congresses in Russia With: Sergey S. Bednov, Vice-President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF), General Director of Expocentre Ltd Sergey G. Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum-International Ltd Vasily E. Grudev, Investment Department Director, Far East Investment and Export Agency, Ministry for the development of the Russian Far East Eugen Alles, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt RUS LLC Thomas Stenzel Managing Director, Messe Dusseldorf Moscow LLC Sponsored by ![]() |
Saturday 03 November
09:00 - 16:30 | Post Congress TourTake the time to view the beauty and sights of St. Petersburg in the company of your peers - the post Congress tours are a great opportunity to explore this historical and world-renowned destination before you head back home. |