Paris – 8 June 2021: UFI’s Board of Directors has today elected Michael Duck as future President of UFI for the 2022-23 period.

This decision will become effective at the conclusion of the 88^th UFI Global Congress, which runs from 3-6 November 2021, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Michael Duck is currently EVP Commercial Development for both Informa Markets and Informa Group. Informa Markets is the world’s largest exhibition organiser, and Michael Duck has been active in UFI for 25 years, serving in various functions within the association. More than 20 years ago, he was the founding Chairperson of UFI’s Asia-Pacific Chapter, and, following that, was the founding Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee. He has also spent many years as the association’s Treasurer, a mandate he will now pass on.

Exhibitions, commonly referred to as trade shows or fairs, have a simple purpose – bringing industries together to build community and create supply chain opportunities. But the industry itself is not a simple one at all: with over €493 ($551) billion in business sales for attendees, exhibitions have an incredible impact on our global economy.
In addition, expenses of visitors and exhibitors generate a total impact of €299 ($334) billion for both the value chain of the exhibition industry (organisers, venues and service providers) and the tourism related activities (accommodation, food and travel).
In the wake of a pandemic that has left commercial sectors and regional economies on the brink of collapse, trade platforms offer an opportunity to rebuild supply chains that have remained relatively stagnant throughout the pandemic, bringing buyers and sellers together to network, do business, learn and innovate at a time when they need it most.

As global economies look for opportunities to rebuild business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, exhibition organisers and associations from around the world are joining together to form a coalition dedicated to bringing critical live event platforms back to market, with safety at the foundation of the collaborators’ approach. As industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare, aviation, agriculture, maritime and many others, look for opportunities to recover following devastating economic hardship, the exhibitions industry is dedicated to supporting commerce and connection by providing safe environments to network and do business.

 As industries and economies around the world look for opportunities to rebuild business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Informa Markets, a global organizer who creates platforms for a wide range of industries to trade, connect and grow, launched MAGIC Pop-Up Orlando from February 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center. The ‘Pop-Up’, a smaller scale regional version of their keystone fashion event which typically takes place twice-yearly in Las Vegas, Nevada was a comprehensive ‘one-stop-shop’ opportunity for various segments of the fashion industry, one of the many industries hit hard by the pandemic’s devastating economic impact, to discover new brands, safely network with like-minded retailers, and generate much-needed revenue. 

Informa Markets, which delivers over 450 international events and brands annually, is working in partnership with the Virtual Events Institute (VEI) to roll out the VEI certification training program across its global business. The program provides a platform for Informa Markets’ 4,000+ colleagues to develop their digital events skills and achieve professional certification in delivering expert, engaging and profitable digital event experiences.

Informa Markets is embarking on an exciting journey to evolve and grow their boat show portfolio, announcing an agreement with the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association to operate the Miami International Boat Show and Tampa Boat Show as part of a long-term partnership with the NMMA to create seamless, connected experiences in two of the country’s top boating markets. While the Tampa Boat Show will continue to operate independently under Informa Market’s management, as will the rest of Informa’s shows outside of Miami-Dade County, this announcement results in a landmark partnership, creating the first joint production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows—the Miami International Boat Show, Miami Yacht Show, and Superyacht Miami—creating one of the largest boating and yachting shows in the world.

Informa Markets is embarking on an exciting journey to evolve and grow their boat show portfolio, announcing an agreement with the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association to operate the Miami International Boat Show and Tampa Boat Show as part of a long-term partnership with the NMMA to create seamless, connected experiences in two of the country’s top boating markets. While the Tampa Boat Show will continue to operate independently under Informa Market’s management, as will the rest of Informa’s shows outside of Miami-Dade County, this announcement results in a landmark partnership, creating the first joint production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows—the Miami International Boat Show, Miami Yacht Show, and Superyacht Miami—creating one of the largest boating and yachting shows in the world.