This study is based on a global survey concluded in December 2025. It represents up-to-date information on the status and outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 19 specific markets and regions. The Barometer has a truly global reach, with 378 companies participating in this edition from 57 countries and regions.
In this episode of The Meeting Room podcast, James Lancaster, Editorial Director at Northstar Meetings Group, and Iceberg Ambassador, discusses the latest implications of Trump travel policies suggesting a silent revolution on the part of event organisers and international visitors is well underway…
GatheringPoint’s David Adler takes global experiential agency Jack Morton’s latest annual report as a starting point to explore how factors such as trust, credibility and alignment enable events to become purposeful platforms for the exercise of soft power.
From AI abuse scandals to collapsing trust, X is no longer just “controversial” – it may be fundamentally broken. And that matters for meetings, events and destination marketers. With the use of the Grok AI tool to manipulate images by removing clothing, the demise of X as a credible social media platform feels complete.
Kai Hattendorf draws together strands from multiple sources in an attempt to isolate the seven most important issues facing our sector in the coming year. In an era of accelerating change and unpredictable complexity, this is a call for observation of what’s happening, serious debate and contemplation of multiple perspectives, and for flexible, mission-focused leadership.
AIPC has signed an MOU with UFI and ICCA to jointly co-fund and support the work of ISO Technical Committee 354, responsible for developing international standards covering meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and related event services. This strategic collaboration reflects a shared commitment by the three global associations to advance consistency, quality, and professionalism across global markets.
When attention is scarce and expectations are high, it’s design that helps organisations, brands and events stand out, argues Carina Bauer. The World Economic Forum predicts that creative thinking and curiosity will be among the most in-demand skills by 2030. IMEX invites the events industry to embrace design as our business superpower.
Event matchmaking platform Conferli has produced this guide for associations to help them maximise the financial and in-kind support they can obtain from host destinations, with advice built on the results of a collaborative research project with #Meet4Impact and the GDS-Movement into the worldwide subvention environment.
The 11th edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) will be celebrated on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, under the theme “Exhibitions drive opportunities”. UFI encourages all businesses and professionals across the industry to celebrate GED by showcasing how exhibitions create opportunities for people, planet, and performance. Download resources and tools, and find inspiration here…
Anna Abdelnoor, CEO and Founder of isla, observes that too many travel and event sector association leaders are underplaying the turmoil in geopolitics and international business systems that we are currently experiencing and don’t understand that their members would welcome clear-eyed leadership statements on the changed reality of the environment they’re operating in. From AMI…
Meeting design guru Mike van der Vijver calls for the adoption of organisational and evaluation frameworks that highlight the good that meetings deliver (for delegates, event owners, host destinations and society at large), rather than those designed to simply minimise the negative carbon impact of holding the event. From AMI…
From Exempla: Exempla Management & Consulting, based in Brussels, Belgium, and Meet4Impact, based in Montreal, Canada are excited to announce a strategic partnership, creating new consultancy services designed to enhance the impact of mission-driven international associations. This collaboration brings together the complementary strengths of both teams to offer a unique, integrated value proposition.
2025 marked a major shift for the events industry, and Freeman’s End-of-Year Trends Recap examines what was most impactful. One of the significant opportunities, and challenges, coming in 2026 is how the industry must prioritise stronger retention strategies. Attendee retirement is outpacing attendee retention, creating a significant workforce challenge over the next three years.
The world’s first international professional body to support the professional development and recognition of everyone working across the global events industry. The Centre for Events & Festivals (CEF) is an international Not-for-Profit providing resources to all event and festival sectors – from sports, business and private events to public, arts, and cultural festivals. We do…
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This report from IMEX explores how design matters not only at events, but across adjacent fields where human experience, brand perception and long-term impact are at stake. Drawing on research, industry insight and real-world examples, it examines how intentional design strengthens and seeds relationships, builds brand power and reinforces long-term commercial resilience.
The biggest common denominator among this season’s PCMA Convene podcast guests: Put your audience at the center of your design strategy and event execution, even if it means taking a different and unknown course. From AI and sponsorship reinvention to values-based design and measuring joy, the topics covered help shape the future of business events.
The objective of the annual recognition day is to raise awareness and appreciation for the important role of destination organization professionals, celebrate them and highlight the varied and exciting career tracks the sector offers as a means of attracting future generations of destination leaders. Find out how you can participate / download DI’s Toolkit here…
In December 2024, Skift Meetings published its annual Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report, outlining the forces expected to shape business events in the year ahead. One year later, the results are mixed. Several trends materialized decisively. Others showed early promise but stalled amid operational, financial, or regulatory realities. Here’s how each prediction played out…
From TSNN: The global exhibitions industry is entering 2026 with a burst of momentum, as leading organizers push into new regions, sectors and formats through a mix of high‑profile launches and strategic acquisitions. From safety and energy to tourism and design, established players are widening their footprints and accelerating growth plans to meet rising demand…
A cooling labor market is compounding a long-simmering problem. Event professionals are being asked to do more with fewer resources, less institutional support, and, often, less pay. Simultaneously, seasoned professionals are exiting the industry at an accelerating pace. In many cases, they are replaced by less experienced workers, or not replaced at all.
The events industry rarely lacks opinions. There are countless conversations, articles, and posts, about the purpose, priorities, and mechanics of successful business events. There are prophets and preachers, pundits and partners – all promoting what they claim (or seek to sell) as the truth or the best way forward. Yet there are just as many…
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