UFI Releases “Women in the Exhibition Industry” Research Results

November 6, 2018

In keeping with its objective to provide vital data and best practices to the entire exhibition industry, UFI released the results of its “Women in the Exhibitions Industry” research at the 85th UFI Global Congress, held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

As a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a, the goal of the research is to provide insights into the perception of women’s and men’s skills in the workplace, the potential for advancement for women within the industry and details of the different aspects driving women’s careers drivers.

More than 200 mostly female respondents from around the world participated in the online survey that sought to discover whether women are enjoying equal status in the workplace or are lagging behind.

According to the survey results, a staggering 82 percent of respondents enjoy working in the exhibition industry and love their jobs.

Women were identified as having soft skills such as good communication skills, empathy, strong organizational skills and the capacity to multi-task. Yet despite these skills, women lagged behind men when it came to networking.

Meanwhile, all respondents of both sexes assigned self-confidence, technical know-how and power-related skills to men.

Concerning equal treatment and career advancement, more than half of the female respondents did not feel they were treated equally in terms of salary and career opportunities, and more than one third also believed they are held back from taking on more responsibility.

“Women clearly make up the majority of the workforce in the trade fair industry, but they only represent a minority of the leadership,” said Dr. Gwen Kaufmann from Germany-based Deutscher Fachverlag, who led the project.

She added, “Both men and women agree that women can deliver diversity with a more creative approach when it comes to solving problems, helping the industry to prosper.”

Most of the respondents said that the industry would benefit from more female leaders and 61 percent already see active support for women, although only 49 percent think that quotas are the way to go.

Contrary to men, women often have to choose between their career and their private lives, which is also seen as one of the major negative career factors, with career breaks taken due to maternity leave (78 percent) and institutional discrimination (68 percent).

After the initial presentation of these results at the UFI Global Congress, the association plans to continue to work on the topic, according to UFI officials.

“Men and women have different skills and are complementary, so the optimum is a mix of both sexes,” said Sonia Thomas, COO of UFI. “We all must consider how to increase female representation at senior level by making the path to the top a little easier for women.”

The full results of the “Women in the Exhibitions Industry” survey can be downloaded HERE.

Don’t miss any event news! Sign up for any (or all) of our e-newsletters HERE & engage with us on Twitter, FacebookLinkedIn & Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact