UFI’s World Map of Exhibition Venues Data Shows Growth of Global Venue Space

December 20, 2017

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released its full 2017 report on the World Map of Exhibition Venues.

The report analyzes indicators on key regional trends and includes the largest venues for all 28 markets with a total capacity exceeding 200,000 square meters (more than 2 million sq. ft.) of gross indoor exhibition space.

It has been six years since UFI last produced this global exhibition venue census. This year’s release shows a capacity increase in the majority of markets around the world.

According to report data, global venue space has grown by 1.2 percent on average per year since 2011. There are now 1,212 exhibition venues with a total of 34.6 million sq. m. around the world.

The fastest-growing segment is venues offering more than 100,000 sq. m. of exhibition space. Although there are only 61 of these venues globally, making up five percent of the market, there has been a 27 percent increase compared with the past six years.

Venues offering 5,000-20,000 sq. m. of space make up 61 percent of the market, coming in a close second in terms of market growth. The remaining third is medium-size venues, offering 20,000-100,000 sq. m.

While the growth trend is worldwide, the Asia-Pacific region is at the forefront of new development, with more venue space available across Asia-Pacific than in all of North America.

Europe retains its global lead on available venue capacities with 45.4 percent of the global market share, ahead of Asia-Pacific with 23.7 percent and North America with 23.6 percent.

The U.S. remains the market with the most exhibition venue space available (19.8 percent of global capacity), with China (16.6 percent) and Germany (9.3 percent) completing the top three.

These three, plus Italy and France, each offer more than 2,000,000 sq. m. of total gross indoor exhibition space, and taken together, these markets account for almost 60 percent of the total world indoor exhibition space.

“We are pleased to see that in recent years, additional venue space has become available in almost all regions of the world,” said Kai Hattendorf, managing director and CEO of UFI.

He continued, “Venue investments are long-term investments, so these trends underline the positive outlook for the exhibition industry mid- to long-term. In addition to adding new space, many venue operators have also made significant investments to upgrade their existing venue capacities.”

Hattendorf also commented on the quality of the space, adding that in addition to new developments and space expansions, many venues have also made significant investments to upgrade their existing venue capacities.

The 2017 UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues covers markets in countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, the U.K. and the U.S.

The report includes data for each region and for the main national markets and includes a list of all venues with a minimum of 100,000 square meters of gross indoor exhibition space.

Download a copy of the report for free HERE.

TSNN.com, sister site to Corporate Event News, supplied information to the report covering more than 400 venues with exhibit space. The searchable TSNN Venue Directory can be found HERE.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.