Global Exhibitions Day (GED), the annual celebration of the exhibition industry, will take place on 7 June 2023.
This year's GED theme, "We Run the Meeting Places and Marketplaces for Everyone," sets out to underscore the pivotal role of global exhibitions in shaping the marketplaces for customers of the future.
Explaining the thought process behind GED, UFI president Michael Duck says: “On this Global Exhibitions Day, we invite you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary comeback of the exhibitions industry, a remarkable story of resilience, transformation, and triumph.”
Duck adds: “With the overarching theme, 'We Run the Meeting Places and Marketplaces for Everyone,' exhibitions have emerged as the driving force that propels economies, fosters connections, and ignites innovation.”
In-person events have seen a strong comeback all around the world as industries and communities have reunited after the challenges of the global pandemic. The global exhibitions industry is scaling up to meet demand, with investors and customers pushing the sector to grow and evolve.
While the business model of exhibitions was challenged during the lockdowns, it has proven both its resilience and value proposition.
“It is fantastic to see how resilient the industry has proven to be and how much it has been able to adapt in recent times,” Lisa Hannant, group CEO, Clarion Events says, adding: “We do this with a singular purpose to meet the evolving needs of our communities and empower them to forge even deeper connections that drive economies forward.”
GED 2023 will showcase the industry's ability to adapt to the evolving landscape by creating marketplaces, leveraging digitalisation, and delivering enhanced value in the pursuit of new customers.
Facilitated by UFI, in collaboration with exhibitions organisers Clarion, Comexposium, Emerald, Informa Markets, and RX; GED 2023 strives to be a day of advocacy, showcasing the businesses and people that run the meeting and marketplaces, and highlighting the power of exhibitions globally in shaping the future industries and economies.
Patrick Martell, CEO, Informa Markets & COO, Informa Plc adds: “Exhibitions play a pivotal role in shaping marketplaces of the future. In addition to facilitating €500 billion annually in business sales, the exhibitions industry is a catalyst for innovation.
“Face-to-face experiences (at exhibitions) are irreplaceable; they create a fertile ground where ideas come to life, where products can be seen and where relationships are built and nurtured.”
On this theme, Hugh Jones, CEO, RX, notes: “Last year we launched the RX Customer Mindset Tracking Study across four markets, the UK, USA, France, and China. Seventy eight percent of those last surveyed told us trade shows offer them something unique, an environment that cannot be created elsewhere.”
“The sheer efficiency and economy of meeting with so many people to learn, buy, sell and network is unsurpassed. Events are where the magic happens, and Global Exhibitions Day is the time to celebrate our great industry and the pivotal role we all play in building communities.”
To learn more about Global Exhibitions Day, please visit the website.
