UFI Congress in Abu Dhabi on Track to Break Attendance Records

October 14, 2012

UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry’s Congress, coming up Nov. 6-9 in Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates, is on track to break all-time attendance records that were set at the 2010 event in Singapore that drew 425 attendees (including all delegates, speakers, staff and accompanying persons).

“We are now a few past that and aiming for 450-plus,” said Paul Woodward, UFI’s managing director. “There are already over 50 countries represented. This is, to put it mildly, really encouraging!”

Last year’s event in Valencia, Spain, drew 405 attendees.

“The value of top managers from across the industry and around the world coming together face to face has never been clearer,” Woodward said.

He added, “They are looking for more international business opportunity and the UFI membership brings together expertise from almost every country where major exhibitions are taking place.”

The four-day 79th UFI Congress is packed with educational sessions that will kick off with Hamish McRae,chief economics commentator of U.K.-based The Independent, presenting “What is happening to the world economy?”

Other sessions throughout the event include H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing director of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, speaking on “Finding Growth in the Middle East” and a panel discussion moderated by Woodward addressing “When Can we Consider Growth to be Sustainable.”

Networking and other planned events will include sponsored meals, committee, association and chapter meetings, as well as a post-event tour in Abu Dhabi.

Woodward said that the opportunity to attend the Congress “is one of the most important UFI membership benefits.”

He added, “Members will be sitting down with their peers in a wide range of meetings throughout the Congress week to exchange ideas, uncover business opportunities and be inspired. We are focused on trying to make sure that we add value to our members’ businesses in all that we do and that we offer them good return for their time invested in UFI.”

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