Nov 2020

Rs. 125

Nov 2020 Vol 8 Issue 04 Voice Of Asia’s Exhibition & Convention Industry

“Among my foremost priorities is to encourage businesses to remain resilient and make them immune to future contingencies and this can be achieved with purpose driven leadership. With the growing merger of physical and digital manufacturing worlds, technology, especially digital technology will be a key facilitator and exhibition industries need to leverage this sharply. UFI will continue to enhance its role as an organisation which provides professional and technical inputs to member organisations and governments in various countries. It will also further its research in analysing the global exhibition industry closely and continue to track and address challenges that industries face at a broader level.�

Anbu Varathan President, UFI Director General & CEO, IMTMA & BIEC

India’s One & Only awards initiative for the Exhibition Industry

21 DECEMBER st

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CELEBRATING INDIAN EXHIBITIONS

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World Map - News From The World Of Exhibitions Industry In Pictures From The World Of Social Media

Quick Bytes

Pg. 08-09 Pg. 10 Pg. 11-12 Pg. 13-29

Group Editor : Raghav Khosla Design : Firoz Accounts : Pappu Yadav

Bridal Asia’s Virtual Exhibition In Association With Jacob’s Creek

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electronica India and productronica India 2021 will take place in Bengaluru

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Cosmoprof India to be rescheduled in 2021

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India Mobile Congress 2020 Goes Virtual

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IHE 2020 Goes Virtual

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PRINTPACK INDIA 2021 Postponed – New Dates to be Announced

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Cover Story

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Interview

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In Conversation With Karthik Ramdas, Director, Sales & Marketing, JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi

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Exhibition Showcase Talks To Chandrika Behl, Managing Director, Comnet Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd.

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Global News

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UFI’s first digital Global Congress draws biggest audience to date

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Asia Pacific’s first international travel tradeshow TravelRevive opens in Singapore

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IAEE Transitions the LIVE Event to Virtual Expo! Expo! in 2020

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UNWTO Brings Tourism Sector Together To Plan For The Future

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KLCC’s Educational Partnership Wins ICCA Best Marketing Award 2020

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Insights

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Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans to remain pa ent with restric ons meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, saying that with promising vaccines on the way, “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” “In the fight against the pandemic it's not about health or economy, health or educa on, health or culture, health or social contacts, it's about all of these things,” she said. “To think of these things in opposi on to one another is a common misunderstanding, but it's always about both." Germany embarked on a so-called wave-breaker shutdown on Nov. 2, closing restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facili es but leaving schools, shops and hair salons open.

U.S.A The city of Grapevine, Texas, played host to Mee ng Professionals Interna onal’s World Educa on Congress, held in hybrid form from Nov. 3-6. “Reunite for Recovery” was the theme of the event, which took place at Gaylord Texan Resort & Conven on Center. The WEC Grapevine Digital Experience design sessions were focused on ensuring that both the inperson and digital format complemented one another.

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South Africa The gap between the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibi ons will be filled by the Aerospace and Defence Trade Show (ADTS) next year. Lanseria Interna onal Airport north-west of Johannesburg and west of Pretoria will host the ADTS event from 24 to 26 March.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE

United Kingdom The UK Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that business events will be allowed to con nue in Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas when the UK emerges from na onal lockdown from December 2 onwards. Earlier business events were restricted to a cap of 30 pax. As per new guidelines, large events, including business events, may run at the following capaci es: At Tier 1 these will be 50% capacity or 4,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower and at Tier 2 these will be 50% capacity or 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower. Venues hos ng business mee ngs and other such events will need to follow the Mee ng Industry Associa on’s Government-approved guidance, while larger events will need to comply to the AEO, AEV, and ESSA’s All Secure Standard.

China The China-Middle East & North Africa (Morocco) Interna onal Trade Digital Expo, hosted by China Council for the Promo on of Interna onal Trade (CCPIT) and co-organized by the China Chamber of Interna onal Commerce (CCOIC), kicked off in Beijing on November 19, 2020. The 10-day event aims to advance the economic and trade exchange between China, M i d d l e Ea s t a n d N o r t h A f r i c a countries.

Dubai In a bid to strengthen awareness of the city’s efforts in comba ng the global pandemic, Dubai Tourism hosted the first CEO FAM Trip post the Covid-19 lockdown. Stakeholders from leading travel companies in India visited the emirate for a familiarisa on experience of the city, to further learn about the safety and hygiene measures taken up as a precau on to combat the ongoing pandemic and ensure the wellbeing of residents and visitors alike The delega on comprised the top management of Veena World, Kesari Tours, Travel Bou que Online (TBO Group), Yatra.com, FCM Travel Solu ons India and Thomas Cook.

Australia Interna onal Conven on Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has announced exhibi ons will return to the premier venue, following advice from the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Health that ICC Sydney is able to proceed with public exhibi ons, subject to one person per 4 square metres of space and no capacity limit. ICC Sydney will immediately move ahead with the restart of this important market segment, welcoming two of Sydney’s most popular exhibi ons - the Reed Gi Fairs and Life Instyle –in February 2021 over four days.

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Industry In Pictures From The World Of Social Media

Major outcome of ICCA Hybrid Congress at the Middle East Regional hub, Riyadh: ICCA and SCEGA have announced a new collabora on framework to foster con nuous advocacy and awareness program to develop Associa on Mee ngs Industry. @ICCAWorld

Did you know that Montréal's Expo 67 is considered the most successful 20th century World Fair? It set the single-day a endance record at 569,500 visitors and 62 na ons a ended! #IBTMWorld

United Front #UFI Asia Pacific and #IELA More collabora on & more communica on than ever before, working together for a fast re-build of our industry. Thank you Monica Lee-Müller and @mtcochrane@UFILive for the frui ul and empowering mee ng at #UFIcongress

Trade show budget will return to pre-covid19 in one or two show cycles. Exhibi on industry pleads for harmonised travel rulings and rigorous tes ng. #IELARELOAD

With close to 1,000 a endees onsite, TravelRevive powered by ITB Asia and Singapore Tourism Board is Asia Pacific's first interna onal trade show to take place during Covid-19. Dr. Chris an Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, beamed in from Berlin via holographic technology to welcome guests at the event.

UFI’s first digital Global Congress draws biggest audience to date Most ambi ous Congress programme ever, with 16 hours of live broadcast from Paris, London, Bogotá and Dubai. More than 1,200 connec ons forged through the pla orm.

The Thailand Conven on and Exhibi on Bureau's "Thailand LOG-IN Events" campaign strives to reignite the country's successful MICE industry in the face of COVID-19.

Did you know that #ExpoExpo is following safety considera ons outlined in the Essen al Considera ons for Safely Reopening Exhibi ons and Events? Be “all in” with us this 8-10 December and join us in-person at the “show for shows!”

The @tcfcenter is the only conven on center in the US to receive the 2020 Leadership Award from U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Quick Bytes Korean Manufacturing Industry Collaborates With TradeIndia For Virtual Korea Sourcing Fair 2020 One of India's leading B2B online market places, has joined hands with the organiser of Korean G-fair 2020, namely, the provincial government of Gyeonggi-do & Gyeonggi Business and Science Accelerator. Korean Souring fair (12th Edi on) is one of the largest Korean SME expo conducted in a virtual format with one-to-one video mee ngs, digital product display and in a virtual business environment thereby paving a unique pla orm for visitors to a end and interact at the comfort of their home /offices. The marquee trade exposi on featured over 120 South Korean manufacturers and suppliers exhibi ng 500+ products rangng from diverse ver clas such as Electrical and Electronics, Industrial Building materials, Consumer products and Kitchenware, and Beauty 7 Wellness. The Small and medium scale eenterprises from both countries got the opprtunity to reap the benefit of duty-free imports owing to the landmark CEPA trade agreement finalised between India and South Korea. Sandip Chhe ri, COO Trade India said, " We are proud to host the vibrant Koren business community by catalyzing the G-Fair- Korea Sourcing Fair 2020 along with the Korean government and the Gyeonggi Business and Science Accelerator. This bilateral business confluence is set to herld a plethora of advantages for the SME and MSMEs of both countries."

Exhibi on Centre Liverpool For Mass Covid-19 Tes ng

London Fashion Trade Shows Are Canceled Due to ongoing UK government restric ons arising from the coronavirus pandemic regarding the hos ng of exhibi ons and events, trade show organizer Hyve Group has announced to cancel the physical edi ons of its London fashion events Pure London, Scoop and Jacket Required, ini ally scheduled 14-16 February and 18-20 July, 2021.Pure London and Scoop will now take place as a virtual forum, Fashion Together, on 23 February and will be open to both brands and buyers.The next planned physcial fashion events will run on 12-14 September, 2021 "with very exci ng plans to be announced soon," Hyve Group states.Addi onally, Jacket Required will change its concept: The menswear por olio will be curated by Karen Radley, founder and MD of Scoop, and will become a part of Scoop's September 2021 edi on at Saatchi Gallery in London.“Whilst it is regre able that we won’t be able to meet in person next February, we hope that Fashion Together will provide a great opportunity for our community to connect in a virtual forum. We hope that Fashion Together will provide our clients and customers with the opportunity to stay connected and inspired by providing a pla orm to showcase their businesses, as well as essen al industry insights. Following the success of our first edi on of Fashion Together, we are excited to develop the concept and deliver another inspira onal virtual forum this February," says Gloria Sandrucci, Pure London Event Director.

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Exhibi on Centre Liverpool has been deployed for ground-breaking mass Covid-19 tes ng. Keeping in mind that the venue is one of the sites for same across the city, everyone who lives and works in Liverpool is encouraged to get tested there. It is one of 19 sites made a tes ng centre with plans for more to open in the city. Above 23,000 people have been tested so far. The exhibi on centre is welcoming the members of the public who are not displaying symptoms. Of course, there are many gathering to get tested. Bob Pra ey, chief execu ve of The ACC Liverpool Group – operator of Exhibi on Centre Liverpool – said: “We have been commi ed to suppor ng Liverpool City Council throughout the pandemic, for example serving as a logis cal distribu on hub for deliveries of PPE equipment as well as food and household goods for the vulnerable. We are pleased to be able to provide a large venue to facilitate this vital and ground-breaking mass tes ng. We will do everything we can to con nue to support Liverpool City Region as required.” The military are located at the venues to support Liverpool City Council in the planning, coordina on and delivery of whole-city tes ng.

The Third Season Of NDC Partnering With Lakme Fashion Week Saw The Values Of Natural Diamonds The Natural Diamond Council (NDC), earlier known as the Diamond Producers Associa on, with the aim to strengthen its offers through the third season of its partnership with Lakme Fashion Week, showcased the heritage and values of natural diamonds. The six-day event which saw its digital-first season fluid edi on from October 20 this year, witnessed NDC not only suppor ng its edi on, but also aiming to become a digital publisher for innova ve content. NDC wishes to cover all the new in the industry. On the other hand, NDC focussed on promo ng the desirability of natural diamonds. The Natural Diamond Council supported Lakme Fashion Week and simultaneously showed the desire for natural diamonds by the world of fashion, for which stylists, models and other industry people joined it. The managing director-India of NDC Richa Singh, stressed slow fashion and sustainability being the need of the hour in the industry. Also, Jaspreet Chandok, Head-Lifestyle Businesses, IMG Reliance expressed that it was a pleasure to be associated with a brand like NDC once again.

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Indian Chamber Of Commerce Announces Launch Of Live Web Store Exhibi on Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) announced the launch of a ‘Web Store’ to showcase exquisite collec on of Indian tex le, handloom, apparel, garments, khadi, jute etc. by the MSMEs. The three-day long global online L2G (local to global) exhibi on for Indian products under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign is scheduled to begin on December 14, 2020, ICC said in a statement. The ‘Web Store’ will hold virtual buyer seller meets and is being backed by the Indian Missions in Middle East, Europe, America etc. The event is going to encourage interna onal buyers as well as Indian sellers to take part, interact and expand networks worldwide. The exhibi on will mainly focus on business to business dialogues. A dedicated website has also been launched to facilitate the ‘Web Store’. “With India going for resurgence a er the Covid-19 outbreak, ICC has taken the ini a ve to provide a pla orm to Indian sellers where they can exhibit their products at a very low price, start a fresh dialogue with their interna onal importers to tap into the interna onal markets and to run the wheels one more me in this pandemic,” said Rajeev Singh, director general, ICC.

3rd Edi on Of China Interna onal Import Expo Held

Reed Exhibi ons names new president for Americas

World’s Biggest Meat Trade Show To Include Alterna ve Proteins In Its Coming Edi on

The third edi on of the China Interna onal Import Expo (CIIE), the first dedicated import exhibi on in the world, was held in Shanghai, from November 5 to 10. The Chinese president Xi Jinping during the opening ceremony, demonstrates China's desire to share its market opportuni es with the world and contribute to the global economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, the third CIIE was able to go forward as a huge interna onal economic and trade event. This me the event included both online and offline exhibi ons, arranged to facilitate the epidemic preven on and control guidelines.

The CIIE was organized for the first me in 2018, from November 5-10, under the theme of “New Era, Shared Future”, aimed at strengthening the economic coopera on and trade, while promo ng global trade and world economic growth. Since then, three C I I E s h ave b e e n o rga n i ze d a n d t h e exhibi on's popularity con nues to increase.

In 2018, the CIIE concluded with deals worth US$57.8 billion and the expo had over one million a endees hailing from 172 countries, regions, and interna onal organiza ons; more than 3,600 enterprises par cipated in the exhibi on.

Hugh Jones, Global CEO of Reed Exhibi ons has announced that Fernando Fischer has been named president, Reed Exhibi ons Americas. Fischer joined Reed Exhibi ons as president, US in January 2020. Previously he was CEO of Reed Exhibi ons (RX) Brazil for three years, during which me he improved financial performance. In that role he also led the introduc on of high impact digital solu ons for matchmaking at the company's events and won RX Brazil the accolade of one the 'best places to work' in the country. Prior to joining Rees Exhibi ons, Fischer served as CEO of six companies in Brazil and one startup in the US across industries ranging from consumer electronics, mobile, gaming and healthcare, to security, foodservice and industrial. Commen ng on the appointment, Jones said: “I am delighted for Fernando and for us all at Reed Exhibi ons across the region. Since joining Reed Exhibi on US, not only has he had the tough job of naviga ng through these strange and challenging mes, he has been relentlessly focused on crea ng results-driven value for our customers and an inclusive and diverse environment for our team. Given his exper se and experience in digital innova on, I am confident that with Fernando at the helm, we are laying the founda on to grow our business and our customers' businesses in the future.”

The world’s leading trade show for the meat industry, the Interna onal Trade Fair for the Meat Industry (IFFA), has announced that it will broaden its base to include alterna ve proteins in its coming edi on planned for 2022. It marks the first me plant-based and cell-based meat and the technology behind it will be featured in the 70-plus years of history of the Frankfurt exhibi on, in what is a strong signal of the rapid growth and mainstreaming of the sustainable sector.

Held every three years for more than seven decades, IFFA represents the world’s largest trade fair for the global meat industry, drawing in more than 1,000 exhibitors in every edi on, including some of the biggest players across the supply chain, from manufacturers to packers and butchers.

Now, the organising body Messe Frankfurt has made the decision to expand its nomenclature to include plant-based and cell-based alterna ve proteins in a move that recognises the fast-growing sector and its disrup ve poten al. The new sub tle for the next edi on of the IFFA, to be held in 2022 between May 14-29 will be “Technology for Meat and Alterna ve Proteins”, said the organisers.

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November 2020

BRiDAL ASiA’S ViRTUAL EXHiBiTiON IN ASSOCiATiON WiTH JACOB’S CREEK

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or the first me since its launch in India, Jacob's Creek, the famed wine company, is joining hands with another brand for a oneof-a-kind collabora on. Jacob's Creek is Australia's largest wine brand which was established in 1847.

Rooted in 170 years of winemaking tradi on, the renowned wine company today exports to over 60 countries across the globe.

The celebrated wine producers are tying up with one of India's largest wedding exhibi ons – Bridal Asia.

Both the collabora ng brands are frontrunners in their respec ve industries. Bridal Asia is a pioneering wedding exhibit that ini ated and introduced the concept of luxury, mul -brand exhibi ons to India, and Jacob's Creek, the globally known wine manufacturing name, have come together in a unique experien al collabora on with 13 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

unparalleled luxury at its core.

This associa on has been conceptualized and executed by Wavemaker India for Jacobs Creek in associa on with Bridal Asia. Speaking on this momentous occasion, Crea ve Director of Bridal Asia Dhruv Gurwara said "We are beyond thrilled to be taking Bridal Asia to a digital pla orm and cura ng a virtual luxury wedding exhibi on with the best of India's fashion houses and jewellery labels. To add to this, it is an honour to be partnering with a globally renowned brand and crea ng experien al celebra ons with Jacob's Creek.

will be a one stop des na on for brides-to-be, their families & for all the fashion enthusiasts for the upcoming fes ve and wedding season, and they can take part in the exhibi on from the safety of their homes!"

We are looking forward to the day we can showcase our exhibi on to our patrons who have supported us throughout.

This virtual shopping experience

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November 2020

50TH EDITION OF IHGF – DELHI FAIR AUTUMN’2020 VIRTUAL CONCLUDES

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he 50th edi on of IHGF-Delhi fair Autumn’2020 on virtual pla orm, concluded successfully. It was second show in the series of IHGF Delhi Fair held on virtual pla orm marking a new beginning in exhibi on industry to overcome the situa on arisen due to outbreak of covid pandemic when organising physical ac vity was not possible said Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH. Shri Ravi K. Passi, Chairman – EPCH spoke about the 50th edi on of IHGF-Delhi fair Autumn’2020 being first of its kind of virtual Trade fair for Handicra Products organised by EPCH from 04-09 November’ 2020 spread over in 25 virtual halls and par cipated by more than 1400 manufacturers and exporters from the Country. The show was considered as a tremendous success both in terms of exhibitors par cipa on as well as buyers visit leading to transac ng business, said Shri Ravi K Passi, Chairman-EPCH.

Shri Ravi K Passi, Chairman, EPCH informed the highlights of the fair remained Fashion Ramp shows, cra demonstra ons, webinars and panel discussions.

Horgan Import Export, Australia, Palazzo Timeless Accessories B.V., Belgium, Cromus Embalagens Ind̼stria e Com̩rcio de Embalagens Ltda., Brazil, Simpli Home Ltd., Canada, TJX Canada, Tirssa Gallery, Colombia, Trade Point A/S, Denmark, Julia Grup Furniture SL, Spain, Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd., Japan, Only Natural, Netherlands, Atlas, GmbH, Germany and JLA Home, United States and many more, informed Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General РEPCH.

The Ajai Shankar Memorial awards for Best Design Display for virtual booths were also given to the par cipants of various product categories like Decora ve and Gi s; Houseware & Table; Glass artware; Furniture; Home Furnishing & Made up; Carpet, Rugs & Floorings; Lamp & Ligh ng accessories and Fashion Jewellery & Accessories, bathraoom accessories; bags and accessories; candles; incense s cks; and gi wraps & ribbons alongwith awards to women entrepreneurs, informed

by Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General - EPCH.

Approximately 4360 overseas buyers from 116 countries, buying representa ves and domes c volume retail buyers visited the show on virtual pla orm to source home, lifestyle, fashion, furniture including buyers of MRD Home, 14 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

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November 2020

ELECTRONiCA INDiA AND PRODUCTRONiCA INDiA 2021 WiLL TAKE PLACE iN BENGALURU

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engaluru has been the place to be for the electronics industry in India for many years. A er the cancella on of the physical events electronica India and productronica India 2020, Messe Muenchen India decided to offer once again the opportunity for its customers to get together in this

strong region in 2021.

The next edi on of electronica India and productronica India 2021 will take place from September 22–24, 2021, at Bangalore Interna onal Exhibi on Centre (BIEC). Bhupinder Singh, CEO Messe Muenchen India, stated: “Bengaluru has tradi onally been an important des na on for the electronics industry.

Our customers and business partners support our plan to organize the shows in 2021 in this region. The twin trade fairs will accelerate growth and enable the aggregate electronic industry to gain momentum a er the current

economic slump.” Falk Senger, Managing Director Messe München GmbH, added: “The business needs of our customers take always center stage. In 2020, we were not able to realize the physical event in Bengaluru. But we are confident that we will come back stronger in 2021, giving the electronics community a new chance to connect, network and drive business in the heart of India’s technology and innova on hotspot.”

Co-located Trade Fairs The event por olio in September 2021 at BIEC will be accompanied by the parallel events MatDispens as well as LASER World of PHOTONICS India.

NATiONAL BOOK TRUST, INDiA CELEBRATES NATiONAL UNiTY DAY

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he Na onal Book Trust, India celebrated the Na onal Unity Day to mark the 145th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel – the Iron Man of India.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas – Na onal Unity Day – is celebrated every year on 31 October to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel – the great Indian leader and freedom fighter who made possible 15 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

the dream of integra ng India as one na on. We celebrate this day to remind ourselves of the great people who gave up their lives to unite the country as a whole, and what our responsibility as a ci zen of this great country is to ensure that as Indians we stand united and work towards the be erment of the society and the na on. To mark the occasion, a discourse on "Dimensions of Na onal Unity in Cultural Diversity" was organized by Na onal Book Trust, India which was held online and ea ended by all NBT officials.

As the keynote speaker, Shri Yogender Chaudhary, Principal Secretary to Government, Haryana (Sports & Youth Affairs Dept.) & Advisor, Resource Mobiliza on Cell

(CM Office, Haryana) spoke on the diversity of cultures in our country that unite us as a na on.

He also spoke about his experiences with people as an IRS Officer from different parts of the country and the sense of belonging to the na on that remains despite of difference in food, clothes and even language. He emphasized on the importance of leaving behind our parochial mindsets and immerse ourselves in opportuni es that allow us to experience the different social and cultural diversity that no other na on can afford us. “The many cultures of India are like pearls,” he said, “that are strung together by the thread of unity.”

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November 2020

MESSE FRANKFURT INDiA & MEX EXHiBiTiONS ANNOUNCE FiRST HYBRiD EVENT FOR GARTEX TEXPROCESS INDiA & SCREEN PRiNT INDiA

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n conjunc on with MEX Exhibi ons Pvt Ltd, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd announced that Gartex Texprocess India will be the first tex le sector exhibi on to take the hybrid route.

Scheduled alongside Messe Frankfurt’s Screen Print India fair a er a hiatus of one year due to trade and travel disrup ons caused by the pandemic, both Mumbai and Delhi edi ons aim to bring the en re tex le value chain together through their new co-located and hybrid formats.

A year a er tex le and prin ng sectors were hit by unprecedented business challenges, the muchawaited Mumbai edi on is set to bring industry players face-to-face with new opportuni es from 18 – 20 March at the Bombay Exhibi on Centre. However, with the on-going travel restric ons that are s ll in place globally, the new-age mul modal exhibi on will allow screen prin ng and tex le sector 16 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

exhibitors and visitors to take full advantage of both physical interac ons and virtual networking opportuni es. The hybrid format for both the fairs are being specially curated by the organisers with live product demonstra on features to allow exhibitors to showcase their innova ons and new product range to buyers who may be unable to a end the physical fair, thus ensuring dual access to trade opportuni es.

A first for the Indian subsidiary, Mr Raj Manek, Execu ve Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd shared: “We are delighted to announce our first hybrid venture for the co-located

shows – Gartex Texprocess India & Screen Print that will offer an intelligent combina on of digital and physical interac ons for business exchange. The tex le and prin ng businesses thrives on the ‘touch-andfeel’ aspect of networking which makes the physical trade fair the number one choice for buyers.

However, its virtual features will be the perfect extension to expand exhibitor visibility and networking opportuni es with buyers.”

Highligh ng the synergic effects, Mr Gaurav Juneja, Director, MEX Exhibi ons Pvt Ltd added: “The demand to meet in-person for business networking is strong and I believe the hybrid format together with its co-loca on with Screen Print India fair will create the perfect business synergy for the sector. We are looking forward to welcoming the en re industry for a successful first hybrid edi on and are confident it will provide mul -fold trade opportuni es to the sector.”

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November 2020

New Delhi edi on of Gartex Texprocess India & Screen print India rescheduled to August 2021 In order to keep the trade momentum going in the second half of the buying calendar, the organisers have also confirmed that the New Delhi edi on of the co-located fairs (ini ally slated in December 2020) will now be rescheduled to 6 – 8 August 2021 at Praga Maidan with its new hybrid format. Both Mumbai and Delhi edi ons will allow fair goers to explore a wide range of features like targeted business matchmaking, realme video calling, scheduling mee ngs in advance, live knowledge sessions through the digital pla orm alongside the tradi onal physical event. An all-inclusive show that

meets end-to-end business goals As the world was gripped with the Covid crisis, the tex le industry stood as a leading force driving need-ofthe-hour tex le product innova ons in the market. The two premier fairs scheduled alongside each other can, therefore, open a gamut of new business opportuni es.

While the focus segments under Gartex Texprocess India will draw a en on to innova ons in garmen ng & apparel machinery, Screen Print India will track technological advances in digital tex le and screen-prin ng technologies. Prominent highlights of the show include Denim Show,

Embroidery Zone, Garmen ng & Apparel Machinery Zone, Digitex Show, India Laundry Show and Fabrics & Trims Show. Together, the pla orm will also host a series of insigh ul sessions aiming to keep the industry abreast with the latest developments in tex le, garment machinery and screen prin ng.

Show Dates Ÿ Gartex Texprocess India Mumbai Edi on: 18 – 20 March 2021 Ÿ Screen Print India Mumbai Edi on: 18 – 20 March 2021 Ÿ Gartex Texprocess India New Delhi Edi on: 6 – 8 August 2021 Ÿ Screen Print India New Delhi Edi on: 6 – 8 August 2021

IFAT INDIA TO DIGITALLY CONNECT ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY – AND WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES

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FAT India online—a new digital pla orm will offer the environmental industry a unique chance to connect with partners, customers and with other industries—despite these challenging mes and the cancella on of IFAT India 2020. The online event will take place from December 9 to 11, 2020 and will be part of a cross-industry pla orm of Messe Muenchen India, which draws on its extensive Indian trade fair por olio.

“IFAT India online will offer the environmental industry an outstanding opportunity to establish 17 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

business contacts, to promote technologies and solu ons, and to reach out for contacts in other relevant industries,” emphasizes Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe Muenchen India. “The event is intended to combine various digital formats as well as the business networks of all Messe Muenchen India trade fairs.” Hence, the organizer expects par cipants not only from the field of renewable energies and environmental solu ons but also from electronics, energy, pharmaceu cals, packaging and beverage—to name a few.

Buyer-Seller Forum, virtual exhibi on, conference program The event’s Buyer-Seller Forum will facilitate direct contact between exhibitors and buyers from domes c and interna onal markets—enabling cross-selling of products and services. For this, exhibitors will get a real- me dashboard view on their

engagement with buyers. And the opportunity to virtually meet buyers from all over the world and in all me zones will extend the audience reach. For customers, IFAT India online will offer a streamlined exhibi ng experience. The suppor ng program featuring webinars and panel discussions will deliver valuable insights into trending topics.

Perspec ves in the Indian market “IFAT India online is an a rac ve opportunity for our interna onal IFAT community to evaluate perspec ves in the Indian market and to drive business there,” says Katharina Schlegel, Director IFAT abroad. IFAT India online is not the first digital offer for the IFAT community in this turbulent year: several webinars, a high-level panel discussion and a three-day business summit preceded the new Indian ini a ve.

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November 2020

INDiAN TOURiSM TO BOUNCE BACK FASTER THAN EXPECTED; GOVT SUPPORT CRiTiCAL FOR SURViVAL & REViVAL: FICCI-THRiLLOPHiLiA CONSUMER TRAVEL SURVEY

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s Rupinder Brar, Addi onal Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India, said that the silver lining in the pandemic induced lockdowns is the fact that even though the industry got severely impacted, but in a sense it also gave me to the industry to step back, slow down, and me to introspect the consumer’s needs and demands and people are looking at travelling more than double in the next year.

Speaking at the report launch of the Consumer Travel survey conducted

by FICCI and Thrillophilia, Ms Brar said that delving into the customer’s demands becomes an impera ve need of what is it that the customer is looking for. Ci ng the FICCIThrillophilia report findings, Ms Brar said that the report brings to the fore 18 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

some interes ng figures.

“Not be saying so if they did not have the faith in all the systems that are being created- by government ini a ves, civil socie es or whether through private enterprises. All sectors must get together to deal with the pandemic,” she said.

Further, Ms Brar believed that the Consumer Travel Survey report would send a cheer in the market. The report will give a sense of confidence among consumers, she said.

Commending FICCI for its efforts in reviving the travel and tourism sector, Ms Brar said that she was glad that FICCI has gone ahead and taken on the ini a ve of picking out what is really going to fuel demand in mes to come. “The ini a ve that FICCI took to reach out to more than

5000+ people is a fantas c sample size,/l she said. Ms Brar also pointed out that all of us who travel must respect all protocols because even though the COVID numbers have been showing a downward trend, it does not allow us to be complacent.

She also said that with interna onal travels not allowed at present, it offers a great opportunity to bring forth the lesser known Indian i neraries and the splendour that India has to offer. The travel survey conducted by FICCI and Thrillophilia aimed towards understanding the post-COVID preferences of Indian travellers revealed that 73 per cent of travellers are eager to take a weekend break or go for a worka on amidst nature for their first postpandemic trip.

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November 2020 Customers footprints are the data points that need to be mapped digitally in a techdriven environment as much as possible. The consumer is looking more for a transac onal experience,” he

Elucida ng on the survey, Mr Dilip Chenoy, Secretary-General of FICCI said that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel, tourism and hospitality industry has changed the way travel and hospitality businesses must func on and manage their opera ons. “We are looking at a tectonic shi in consumer behaviour pa ern and the way of travelling. The future of travel, tourism and hospitality industry will be completely different with a new set of rules laying more emphasis on social distancing, safety, health and hygiene,” he said.

“Through this survey, we have tried to look at things from the demandside which also may be useful to the policymakers, industry, stakeholders to reimagine and remodel themselves to meet these expecta ons and try and actually survive, thrive and revive,” added Mr Chenoy. Adding further, Mr Chenoy said that everybody must pivot their business and innovate to the needs of the customer and this (the report) is our li le effort in enabling that to happen.

Mr Ashish Kumar, Co-Chair FICCI Travel and Technology Commi ee and Though Leader said that consumer study and the tenets of consumer behaviour has been the core of any travel and tourism study.

“Tenets of consumer behaviour have been magnified post-COVID. 19 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

said.

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Ms Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co-Founder & CEO, Thrillophilia said that as travel restric ons are being eased up across the country, travellers are now resuming their travel plans in the new normal. Various resorts, monuments and tourist a rac ons have also reopened for travellers with strict adherence to safety measures and guidelines

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Speaking of the report, Ms Daga said the survey was conducted in October 2020 to understand the post lockdown preferences of travellers.

This included preferred accommoda ons, mode of travel, me for the first post-pandemic trip among others. “The survey was responded to and completed by 5000 par cipants from metros and Tier-2 and 3 ci es,” she added.

Speaking about the report and the associa on with FICCI, Mr Abhishek Daga, the co-founder of Thrillophilia said, “Thrillophilia has been looking for ways to help the travel industry recover from the adversi es of this pandemic. Our partnership with FICCI in conduc ng this survey has brought to the fore some compelling results that can help travel industry stakeholders redesign their services in line with inclina ons of the travellers.”

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‘Need a weekend break’ cited to be the most popular reason for people to take the first trip post the pandemic.

More than 50% plan to travel in the next 2 months and 33% said in 2021, they would travel twice of what they did in 2020.

75% said they will travel in their own closed group of friends or family.

65% of respondents said they are comfortable travelling outside their states in flights or personal vehicles.

40% of people are open to taking regular experiences and visi ng monuments, parks and waterfalls.

65% of respondents chose places away from crowds into the mountains, on the beaches, amidst nature, deep into jungles and smaller villages or towns.

Most respondents expressed li le concern in travelling in flights and at airports.

Private and luxury accommoda ons are being preferred over shared ones.

60% respondents said they were not really stressed about their safety while shopping or visi ng monuments and parks.

62% respondents expect the government to provide clear informa on, rules and updates via a dedicated travel app.

43% of respondents are ok to start travelling as soon as cases fall below 50k mark.

Mountains are the most preferred des na ons followed by beach & Jungle 10% of the respondents are willing to have an Ayurveda & Wellness experience 22% willing to take regular local experiences 21% willing to take adventure and rural ac vi es away from crowd

Highlights of FICCI- Thrillophilia

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COSMOPROF INDiA TO BE RESCHEDULED iN 2021 Signature Event by Informa Markets In India – a unique combina on of physical and virtual Expo – to be held on 22-23 February 2021 Cosmoprof India, postponing the appointment with local operators and players to 2021,” said Gianpiero Calzolari, President of BolognaFiere, adding, “Our goal is to guarantee to the cosme c industry joining us in Mumbai the quality and professionalism that have dis nguished the Cosmoprof brand all over the world for over 50 years.”

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osmoprof India, the event of the Cosmoprof network, dedicated to the beauty and cosme cs market, has been postponed. The show will now be held in a hybrid format called ‘Signature Event by Cosmoprof India’ – a unique combina on of physical and virtual expo, on 22-23 February 2021 at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai, crea ng a niche business networking pla orm for the industry where both domes c and interna onal Industry players can a end and interact. This expo will reinforce the Industry together reviving their exis ng connec ons and crea ng new ones, wrecking the void that has been created under the onslaught of COVID-19.

The flagship edi on will take place in the second half of 2021.

BolognaFiere and Informa Markets, organisers of the event, jointly decided to reschedule the second edi on of Cosmoprof India, in order to guarantee a endees a high-level and safe business experience. The announcement comes soon a er the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Govt 20 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

of India, has started to allow B2B exhibi ons to take place with due SOP. Ever since the lockdown started, the organisers of the Cosmoprof India have been in constant discussions with key industry stakeholders, partners and the local government to stay abreast of the challenges and complexi es in the face of disrup on due to COVID-19.

Organising the Signature Event in February will allow more me for normality and confidence to return to the market and provide all-round be er condi ons for exhibitors and visitors to engage. The tradeshow will also be organised in accordance with the organisers’ health and safety standards. The detailed set of enhanced measures will provide the highest levels of hygiene and safety at the event, providing everyone with the reassurance and confidence that they are par cipa ng in a safe and controlled environment.

“The evolu on of the pandemic in the country and the travel restric ons s ll in force worldwide have prompted us to reschedule

According to Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, “India is a large, heterogenous market for the beauty and cosme cs sector with varied dynamics, while catering to different segments. The size of the market has propelled its beauty and wellness market which was growing at a CAGR of around 18%.

The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown had impacted the sector significantly with a revenue loss projected between 30-35 % and we believe our mely signature edi on will aid in placing the industry back on track.”

“An analysis of beauty trends reveals that there will be a preference for quality products based on the principles of ethical prac ces, wellness, as well as formula ons made of toxic-free, safe and organic ingredients. Our show will focus on trends, personal care formula on challenges, innova ons and opportuni es around crea ng new products to for fy the sector. It will be the perfect pla orm for beauty & personal care companies and professionals wishing to reinforce their business rela onships with partners and to have greater visibility among stakeholders and new players,” he added.

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November 2020

ITB INDiA GOES ALL-ViRTUAL FOR 2021 EVENT

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hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community), which is a one of a kind, unrivaled 24/7 experience for trade professionals to forge connec ons, strike conversa ons with industry peers and do business allyear-round.

ue to the ongoing travel restric ons and the circumstances around the current pandemic situa on, ITB India organiser has decided to hold the inaugural ITB India 2021 as an en rely virtual event, set to take place from 7 – 9 April 2021. The new event format provides exhibitors and a endees with both maximum safety and planning certainty.

“We had high hopes that we could combine a live and a virtual event for the very first ITB India next April.

Unfortunately, the travel restric ons in place, and the economic uncertainty resul ng from the worldwide pandemic have become too unpredictable to proceed with the show as a hybrid event as originally planned.

The virtual show welcomes over 400 Indian and Southeast Asian buyers from MICE, Corporate and Leisure sectors. ITB India 2021 Virtual will be

As much as we would have wished to bring the industry together face-toface, I firmly believe our highest priority should be the health and

safety of our a endees and personnel,” said Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB India.

A endees of ITB India 2021 Virtual can expect the following key privileges: Business Matching – Live pla orm to exchange business contacts and schedule virtual appointments. Delegates can benefit from business appointment via social video and messaging func ons. Ÿ Conference – A robust line-up of key industry speakers with thought-providing insights or showcases of innova ve technology and solu ons. Ÿ Supplier Directory – A comprehensive view of all suppliers, such as company profiles, product resources and downloadable ar cles. Ÿ On-demand Videos – All a endees of will be en tled to exclusive videos from virtual events or industry contributors. Ÿ

ITPO HOLDS ITS 43RD AGM 2020 through video conferencing in the Board Room at Praga Maidan, New Delhi.

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he 43rd Annual General Mee ng of India Trade Promo on Organisa on (ITPO) was held on November 24,

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The mee ng was a ended by Shri L.C Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, members of ITPO’s Board including senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

While addressing the AGM, Shri L.C. Goyal, CMD men oned that despite significant reduc on in interest income and limited exhibi on space due to ITPO’s ongoing Interna onal Exhibi on and Conven on Centre (IECC) project, ITPO was able to generate total income of Rs.241.96 crore and a net surplus of Rs.87.21 crore during 2019-20.

Shri Rajesh Agrawal, ED, ITPO thanked all those present in the mee ng.

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INDiA MOBiLE CONGRESS 2020 GOES ViRTUAL

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he India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020 has been scheduled for December 8-10.

The fourth edi on of the tech event will be held virtually. Minister of State for Communica ons, Educa on and Electronics & Informa on Technology, Shri Sanjay Dhotre announced the fourth edi on of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020, through a video message.

Bharat (Digital inclusivity in connec ng nearly 6 lakh villages with op cal fiber and sustainable development), promote Samagra Bharat - Saksham Bharat (entrepreneurship & innova on), drive foreign and local investments, encourage R&D in the Telecom and Emerging Technology sectors and to facilitate suppor ve regulatory & policy frameworks.

pla orm for bringing together the industry, Government, academia, and other ecosystem players to discuss, deliberate and display the latest industry technology trends around major themes such as SG, Ar ficial Intelligence (Al), Internet of things (loT), Data Analy cs, Cloud and Edge Compu ng, Open source tech, data privacy and cyber security, Smart Ci es and automa on.

This pres gious event, jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunica ons (DoT) and Cellular Operators Associa on of India (COAT), will see 50+ par cipa ng countries, 110 + Global Speakers, Start-ups, 30 plus hrs of content, with over 15000 expected visitors over the three day programme.

This year prime Partners include Dell Technologies, Ribbon Communica ons and Red Hat. India's largest technology event this year will witness the coming together of some of the top industry stalwarts, Regulators and Policy Makers from across the globe. It also includes par cipa on from various Ministries, the Telco CEO's, Global CEO's and Experts in SG Broadcas ng, SG Enterprise solu ons, OTT, and Sustainable Futurists, virtual in the light of pandemic to discuss and deliberate upon industry issues, challenges, future trends and opportuni es.

Speaking at the curtain raiser, the Hon'ble Minister of State for Communica ons, Educa on and Electronics & Informa on Technology, Shri Sanjay Dhotre, said, "We firmly believe that the India Mobile Congress 2020 will be a key showcase for technology driven ini a ves as it brings together all stakeholders in the Telecommunica ons ecosystem and provides the right forum for valuable discussion on key topics relevant to policymakers, regulators and the industry. India Mobile Congress is one such pla orm, where the efforts of the Indian Government and the Telecom Industry are given an apt showcase to not just our na on, but to the world at large."

This year IMC's theme is going to be "Inclusive Innova on - Smart I Secure I Sustainable". IMC 2020 would aim to align to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Vision to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat (Make In India local manufacturing and to push for 'Make for World') , foster interna onal regional coopera on, inspire Satat Bharat — Sanatan 22 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Considered the largest Digital Technology Forum in Asia, IMC has established itself as a leading

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IHE 2020 GOES VIRTUAL

The virtual India Interna onal Hospitality Expo (IHE2020) is set for December 2 opening with more than 200 exhibitors Ÿ India’s largest B2B hospitality show will also include a four-day conclave, featuring talks by industry leaders, cookery masterclasses and mixology sessions Ÿ Peru checks in as country partner; Olives from Spain to sponsor masterclass by Saransh Goila; exhibitors also sign up from Belgium and Germany Ÿ

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HE STAGE is set for the 2020 edi on of the India Interna onal Hospitality Expo (IHE2020), India’s biggest food industry and hospitality sector B2B show. It opens on December 2, 2020, as a 100 per cent online experience that will both facilitate maximum buyer-seller interac on and respect the physical distancing norms necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has challenged us to create new opportuni es out of adversity. So, instead of deferring IHE2020, we opted to make it a clickand-navigate experience accessible from anywhere in the world,” Mr Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Expo Mart Limited (IEML), said as he welcomed exhibitors and a endees to log on to h ps://www.ihexpo.com/ and par cipate in the show, which will conclude on December 5, 2020.

More than 200 exhibitors have signed up for IHE2020 and so have 4,000 delegates, whose number is growing daily. The delegates are not 23 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

only from all over India, but also from different countries around the world. The exhibitors include both manufacturers and service providers from the food produc on, kitchen and bar equipment, laundry, furniture and furnishings, tableware dand wellness industries and various allied hospitality-related business ver cals. Since its incep on, IHE has been ge ng the support of a number of professional organiza ons, who have rallied behind the show this year as well.

major global player to sign up with IHE2020. Exhibitors from Belgium and Germany will also showcase their products. Supported by a userfriendly naviga on system, visitors to the virtual IHE2020 can access the product catalogues of exhibitors, watch their corporate films, exchange virtual calling cards and even conduct follow-up conversa ons on WhatsApp – all without stepping out of their workplaces, or flying out of their ci es.

They include the Indian Federa on of Culinary Associa ons, Indian Culinary Forum, Purchasing Professionals ForumIndia and Professional Housekeeper Associa on, as well as the na onal associa ons of suppliers and vendors of hospitality products and services – HOTREMAI and ARCHII.

With industry leaders such as K.B. Kachru, Priya Paul, Rajiv Kaul, Dilip Puri, Rajeev Menon, Sonica Malhotra Kandhari, Mandeep Lamba and Anil Chadha, along with dis nguished chefs Manjit Gill, Davinder Kumar, Vineet Bha a, Manish Mehrotra, Manisha Bhasin and Sharad Dewan, all set to speak at the IHE2020 Conclave, the much-an cipated event promises to be as much of a celebra on of knowledge as an opportunity to network with people you know, make new friends, and discover new products – virtually.

Support has come also from different parts of the globe. Peru, which has emerged as one of the world’s leading fine dining des na ons, has come on board as the country partner. Olives from Spain is another

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EXHICON CONSORTiUM DEBUTS iN HOSPiTALiTY SEGMENT iN INDiA FROM AYODHYA

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er venturing into Thailand Hospitality sector in 2017; EXHICON Group is now ready to launch it’s Hospitality Division in India from Ayodhya. Religious tourism & hospitality sector in Ayodhya are to get a huge boom as Ram Mandir is expected to be open for pilgrimage by the end of year 2023 or first quarter of 2024. An expected 2 lac travellers are to be visi ng the city everyday from 2023 onwards.

The consor um held a press conference at Hotel Shan-e-Awadh, Faizabad to share the survey findings of the sector and it’s plans pertaining to Ayodhya. The conference was addressed by M Q Syed, founder of EXHICON Group, Padma Mishra , Group Director EXHICON, Gajanan Shirke , founder of Strategic Hospitality & Syed Abbas, Founder of Omatra Hotels. EXHICON will lead the consor um with hospitality brands Strategic Hospitality, Mumbai 24 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

and Omatra Hotels Group, Bengaluru, to develop & operate hotels in Ayodhya and neighbouring districts on Management Contract, Long Term Lease & Joint Venture for Greenfield projects.

The Consor um also plans to develop a full service conven on hotel by 2023. As per the recent study carried out by consor um, the major challenges in the Ayodhya micro market is the quality product and efficient team; also service has been a major challenge being limited supply available. The consor um also announced to start training centers for upcoming hospitality needs of the Ayodhya market.

“We are looking to create a presence and ini ate with first hotel with global standards in Ayodhya, then gradually moving further in Indian Market including er one and er two ci es ” informed M Q Syed.

Padm Mishra while speaking on the

occasion informed “EXHICON’s consor um partners Strategic Hospitality, a well known hospitality consul ng & Opera on Company & Omatra Hotels, a young hotel chain and hotel operator with presence in several ci es in India makes this consor um a fit for for the growing needs of Hospitality sector of Ayodhya”. Gajanand Shirke , founder of Strategic Hospitality is also a well known hospitality consultant and author of more than 30 books on Hospitality management , many of them best sellers.

Shirke shared various interes ng findings on Ayodhya’s Hospitality sector major challenges in Ayodhya being Hospitality Educa on Training and SOP’s / Professional Management and Opera ons specially for MICE Sector (Mee ngs, Incen ves, Conferences and Events) sectors. Shirke also shared consor um’s plan of ac on to address the challenges.

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November 2020

PRINTPACK INDIA 2021 POSTPONED – NEW DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED also expected to par cipate or visit the Exhibi on. However, keeping in view the impact of Corona virus Worldwide and specifically in India, safety and healthcare of Exhibitors & Business Visitors, prevailing market condi ons, travel restric ons etc.,

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he Governing Council of Indian Prin ng Packaging & Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Associa on (IPAMA) has passed a Resolu on for postponing the upcoming PRINTPACK INDIA 2021 Exhibi on which was earlier slated to be held at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida from February 03-08, 2021. Since the opening of the booking, 285 companies had reserved space for par cipa on by remi ng the requisite charges.

They had also been given Priority Numbers. The prepara on wasin full swing ll February 2020. Even during the peak period of Corona between March and September 2020, 22

companies had booked space. The tremendous response for an cipa on in PRINTPACK INDIA 2021 Exhibi on from the trade and the industry shows its indispensable popularity. In the mean me, IPAMA had iden fied various service providers for execu on of the works rela ng to the Exhibi on. IPAMA had also executed partnership agreements with various Associa ons / Federa ons etc.

Associated with Prin ng and Packaging Industry for promo on of the event. Foreign agencies were also engaged for promo on of the Show in different countries. The Members of Asia Print and Global Print were

IPAMA had conducted a detailed Survey. On receipt of the survey reports, it was noted that 85% of the companies had suggested postponement of PRINTPACK INDIA 2021. Accordingly, the subject ma er was placed before the Governing Council of the Associa on for considera on.

A er due delibera ons and keeping in view all the pros & cons as also in consulta on with the concerned stake holders, the Council had decided that the 15th edi on of PRINTPACK INDIA Exhibi on and the concurrent INDIA SIGN & LED EXPO event, be postponed and be organised, preferably during a safer period. The exact dates will be finalised and conveyed to the concerned, in due course of me.

Survey report – Based on Par cipants: Q) On a scale of 1 – 5 (1 being not important and 5 being very important), how important is PRINTPACK INDIA for the Industry.?

Ra ng

No. of Companies

Excellent/Very Important

4 7 20 80 191

Total

302

Poor/Not Important Average Good Very Good

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November 2020

Poor 1%

Average 2%

Good 7%

Very Good 27% Excellent 63%

Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Q) Your sugges ons regarding dates for 15th PRINTPACK INDIA?

Sugges ons

Companies

Other

195 48 36 23

Total Responses

302

Be er to postpone it Comfortable with the same dates i.e. 3 – 8 Feb 2021 Be er to cancel the present edi on

Be er to cancel the present edi on 12%

Comfortable with the same dates i.e.

3 – 8 Feb 2021 16%

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Other 8%

Be er to postpone it to Sep 21/Oct 21 64%

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November 2020

Survey Report based on Business Visitors: Q) Will you be a ending forthcoming PRINTPACK INDIA?

Sugges ons

No. of Companies

Yes

167

No

9

Maybe

43

Total Responses

219

Maybe 20% No 4%

Yes 76%

Q) On a scale of 1 – 5 (1 – Not important to visit, 2 – Average, 3 – Good, 4 – Very Good, 5 – Most important to visit), your views about PRINTPACK INDIA ?

Ra ng

No. of Companies

Poor/Not Important

6

Average

5

Good

28

Very Good

49

Excellent/Very Important

131 Total Responses

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219

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November 2020

Poor 3%

Average 2%

Good 13%

Very Good 22%

Excellent 60%

Q) As a Business Visitor, why do you choose PRINTPACK INDIA?

Sugges ons Good Business Prospects Live demonstra ons of machines in most of the stands Display of quality machines/products Display of different brands of same product by different companies under one roof Compe ve prices of products Other

13%

22%

No. of Companies 22% 23% 17% 25% 13% 0%

Good Business Prospects Live demonstra ons of machines in most of the stands

25%

Display of quality machines/products

23%

Display of different brands of same product by different companies under one roof Compe

ve prices of products

17%

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November 2020

FICCI ANNOUNCES ANNUAL EXPO 2020 Ÿ

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lot has changed around us globally. The pandemic has impacted every sphere of human ac vity and most of us are s ll naviga ng through the challenges of the new normal. A lot to learn, and look forward to, with renewed spirit and passion. As the world presses the reset bu on, we at FICCI are all set to play our part in bringing the businesses back to normal.

Star ng from 11th December 2020 and extending for a period of one year, FICCI will be organising Annual Expo 2020 (FAE 2020), a one-of-itskind virtual event in the country focused on manufacturing and services sectors. An engaging and progressive pla orm where buyers and sellers from across the globe connect, interact, and grow to their fullest poten al. This unique event operates with the objec ve of eleva ng Indian business sector while envisioning new prospects and accelera ng businesses.

The sprawling virtual Exhibi on Centre plays host to exhibitors from across the globe, giving them a produc ve landscape to showcase their products and capabili es, project their achievements, and 29 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

engage in discussions to advance their business prospects. While the well-appointed booths allow virtual handshakes through video and chat, the B2B mee ng rooms transform business rela onships. The state-ofart auditorium is fully equipped to host large-format webinars and conferences, thus providing a worldclass environment for global business.

FICCI Annual Expo will be organized in conjunc on with the FICCI Annual General Mee ng, a flagship event and one of the most eagerly awaited congrega ons involving representa ves from the Government, Industry, Bureaucracy, Academics and Research, addressing a high-powered audience of policymakers, corporates, media, among others. The theme for this year would be “Inspired India.”

Key highlights: Ÿ A high-profile event with par cipa on from the who’s who of the Indian industry, government and representa ves from Indian and interna onal chambers and associa ons. Ÿ Visitors can access exhibitors round-the-clock across all 365 days.

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Visitors can choose from a host of online op ons to find the products or services they are interested in. They can do a keyword search, sector-wise search, sort, and filter op ons to search an exhibitor of choice according to their geographical area.

The visitors can send mee ng requests and fix their mee ngs with the exhibitors as per their convenience.

Products and services across 50+ sectors to be showcased in structured Exhibi on Halls segregated as per sectors.

Sectoral webinars will be organized invi ng delegates from across the globe.

The event will be promoted extensively across India and the globe through regional chambers and sectoral associa ons which are FICCI members and through Indian Missions all over the world.

Important Ini a ves and key schemes of GoI at display during FICCI Annual Expo 2020 commencing December 11, 2020 1. Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 2. Make in India 3. Swachh Bharat Mission 4. ‘Vocal for Local’ 5. Digital India Mission 6. UDAY 7. Skill India Mission 8. Boos ng the Engine of GrowthRailways Focus –Infrastructure, electrifica on, and freight corridors

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9. RCS UDAN Infrastructure – Smart Ci es Missions Ÿ One district one product

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Cover Story

November 2020

“

Perhaps the most challenging days are behind us with progress on Covid19 vaccine research spurring hopes for a faster recovery. This has given immense condence to the exhibition industry which expects a signicantly better 2021.”

Anbu Varathan President, UFI Director General & CEO, IMTMA & BIEC

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Cover Story

November 2020

IN A SPECiAL iNTERViEW WiTH EXHiBiTiON SHOWCASE, ANBU OPENS UP ABOUT HiS PLANS AND SHARES HiS PERSPECTiVES ON THE FUTURE OF OUR iNDUSTRY. EXCERPTS; ES. You are the first Indian to be elected as UFI President.

How it feels to be at this posi on? What would be your todo list in order of priority?

Anbu. It's really an honour and a privilege to lead a global associa on like UFI and I am elated to have the opportunity to serve my colleagues from all around the world. I'm thankful to UFI's board of directors and members of UFI and the execu ve commi ee for placing their trust in me to serve as their president. UFI is a magnificent organisa on that brings together those who build, maintain and support the world's market places trade show organisers, venue owners and operators, service providers, and na onal as well as interna onal associa ons of our industry. I look forward to represen ng them loyally during my tenure. the foremost priori es is to encourage businesses “ Among to remain resilient and make them immune to future con ngencies and this can be achieved with purpose driven leadership. With the growing merger of physical and digital manufacturing worlds, technology, especially digital technology will be a key facilitator and exhibi on industries need to leverage this sharply. UFI will con nue to enhance its role as an organisa on which provides professional and technical inputs to member organisa ons and governments in various countries. It will also further its research in analysing the global exhibi on industry closely and con nue to track and address challenges that industries face at a broader level.

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ES. We understand that you are assuming this role at a me when the global industry is facing turmoil. What is your way of looking at the situa on? How would you guide the industry and what message would you like to give the industry?

Anbu. The year has been an unprecedented one for businesses across the world in recent human memory.

Covid-19 outbreak forced industries to realign their business goals but we now have a glimmer of hope with the progress made in vaccine research. Encouragingly business communi es have taken the setbacks in their stride and treading on with their everyday ac vi es.

It is important for stakeholders to keep their confidence levels high, keep close watch on current developments, work more closely with government agencies on one side 31 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

and explore safe ways to restart and conduct exhibi ons.

There's a need to chalk out an ac on plan on vaccine, travel, economic revival, which will lead to a be er ecosystem. All in all, the exhibi on industry must maintain its pa ence levels, stay strong and show resilience in face of adversi es besides following a purpose driven leadership to sail through in tough mes.

ES. Where do you see the Indian exhibi on industry heading from here and what would be its stature at the global level five years from now?

Anbu. Indian exhibi on industry has been seeing a growth rate of 8-10% annually. The pandemic impacted around 80% of its business but B2B exhibi ons are set to begin soon with the Government of India giving clearance.

Exhibi ons in India have been evolving through use of technologies and innova ons and this will con nue in the coming years. India's economy is expected to reach around $5 in the next few years with manufacturing sector's share being $1 trillion which bodes well for the exhibi on industry. As economy picks up many industry sectors would grow robustly and exhibi on industry could expect a double digit growth in the coming decade.

ES. Please share with us your insights and perspec ves on how the pandemic will change the dynamics of the exhibi on industry globally?

Anbu. The onset of the pandemic has brought sweeping changes in several areas which perhaps were long overdue. Technology and innova ons will play a larger role in exhibi ons both in the pre-event and post-event stages resul ng in be er B2B dynamics and performance.

Exhibi on organisers will switch to deploying a more

V. Anbu, Mary Larkin and Craig Newman

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November 2020 that will be conducted henceforth. Pre-event registra ons will be a mandatory prac ce to prevent over-crowding, health screening at venues will become a part of the process of organizing any event. New ways of serving food and beverages will be explored. We are more likely to see more focused business visitors at exhibi on instead of large crowds. Digital events will also become a new norm as an add-on to the regular shows for exhibitors and visitors to connect with each other on a common pla orm.

ES. Please share with us how IMTMA supported the Indian machine tool industry during these tough mes?

Anbu. Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Associa on (IMTMA) by leveraging technology remained connected with machine tool industry stakeholders on the digital pla orm. The associa on conducted several webinars to help stakeholders to look for opportuni es and strategies to innovate, reorient market strategies, equip workforce with emerging technologies and emerge as strong contenders once exhibi ons begin. IMTMA conducted around 140 paid online training programmes which were a ended by around 1800 par cipants. The associa on also hosted 60 free webinars which were a ended by around 8300 par cipants.

diversified workforce in terms of skills, move towards more customer-centric strategies and place bigger emphasis on digital services and hybrid events.

ES. How do you see the challenges and opportuni es amid Covid-19? What are the lessons learnt from this pandemic?

Anbu. Perhaps the most challenging days are behind us with progress on Covid-19 vaccine research spurring hopes for a faster recovery. This has given immense confidence to the exhibi on industry which expects a significantly be er 2021. The pandemic outbreak has presented stakeholders an opportunity to connect with each other through technology, prepare themselves for future con ngencies and organise shows in a structured manner and well-defined process. Momentarily however we need to sustain lives and livelihoods and for this we need to stay focused in what we are doing.

ES. What are your upcoming plans in regards to your flagship show - IMTEX? Anbu. Moving with the market's changing dynamics and the need to connect and collaborate in today's manufacturing industry, IMTMA will be organizing 'IMTEX Connect 2021' – on digital pla orm, from 21 - 27 January 2021 as stakeholders will not be keen for face-to-face entry. 'IMTEX Connect' will enable businesses to connect and collaborate with customers and open up new opportuni es in a digital environment. IMTMA will therea er organise 'IMTEX 2021 & Tooltech 2021' from 17 - 23 June 2021 at Bangalore Interna onal Exhibi on Centre in Bengaluru.

ES. What is your forecast in terms of the trends that will shape the world of trade fairs? How will exhibi ons look like in the new normal?

Anbu. I see technology occupying a large space in shows

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ES. The Government has allowed B2B exhibi ons to func on again. What will be the roadmap ahead, 2021 and beyond Anbu. Although the Indian government has given the green signal for B2B exhibi ons to restart, exhibitors would need some threshold me to par cipate in an exhibi on. We believe that this will gather more stream post April 2021, and by the end of 2021, we may see shows in full swing. As industry sectors do well, we may see good growth for exhibi on industry in the coming decade.

ES. Please share with us your professional journey? What milestones came your way to the zenith which you count as the major landmarks in your professional journey?

Anbu. I always wanted to be an engineer and was blessed with an opportunity to graduate in metallurgical engineering from one of the pres gious academic ins tu ons in India, Indian Ins tute of Science (IISc). My interest was in manufacturing when IT and smart manufacturing were making inroads.

associa on fields during different phases of my career. All of them were instrumental in shaping me to what I am today. The first major success for me in IMTMA was when IMTEX moved from Delhi and Bombay, where it used to be held earlier, to Bangalore for the first me in 2007. It was a new chapter for IMTMA and all of us in the industry. There were many challenges for hos ng such a mega show in a new city. The key aspect was we were building a brand new interna onal quality venue, BIEC and IMTEX 2007 was the first show at the venue. Bangalore wasn't prepared to host a show like IMTEX and we had to undertake a variety of new ini a ves including finding the right staff, orien ng new service providers both for managing the show as well as the venue and then preparing all exhibitors, visitors and other stakeholders to open a new chapter of a long journey in Bangalore.

However, we made the right decision and this marked a beginning for Bangalore to become a major city in India to host interna onal quality shows and ge ng established firmly on the global exhibi ons industry map. When we look at 2020, IMTEX has evolved into a great ecosystem benefi ng Indian and interna onal exhibitors, visitors, R&D and academic ins tu ons, students and government agencies. I am glad to see that the exhibi on is se ng a benchmark and becoming an example for all the stakeholders in the sub-con nent. This has been a great collec ve effort and this also convinced me that if one has courage, convic on and confidence then one can accomplish one's vision and excel in what the person wants to achieve.

“

I began my career with steelmaking industry and quickly moved on to industry associa on ac vi es. Major part of my early career was centred on industry promo on, technology and IPR and enhancing industry compe veness. Naturally as part of these assignments I was drawn into events and exhibi ons in due course.

”

I had the good fortune to work with several industry stalwarts and senior professionals from the exhibi on industry as well as industry 33 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

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November 2020

IN CONVERSATiON WiTH KARTHiK RAMDAS, DiRECTOR, SALES & MARKETiNG, JW MARRiOTT, AEROCiTY, NEW DELHi The graph has been steadily increasing since the me we were officially allowed to reopen in the last week of August this year. Presently, as we speak, we already have decent groups and catering leads under discussion for the next year. In all likelihood, we expect to recover 40% of our lost business in Q1.

ES. How has the pandemic or Covid-19 affected the hospitality industry and your hotel?

Karthik. The ongoing pandemic has in a way, acted as a speed breaker across segments but has also given everybody an opportunity to think differently. Post March un l August, it was purely a survival mode and it con nues to be there even today, but now we do see business picking up which is expected to pick up momentum further in coming days.

ES. Had your venue been a quaran ne centre in the past few months? If yes, please elaborate.

Karthik. As a hotel, we did par cipate ac vely keeping in mind the Vande Bharat Mission to help our ci zens come back to their home country for their stay. We were never a part of hospitalisa on or any isola on program.

ES. How do you see the Government announcing the reopening of B2B exhibi ons?

Karthik. We are very hopeful as business needs to come back to its normal cycle at the earliest. The Government has cau ously formed norms and given relaxa ons. Presently, there has been a lot of flexibility put in place and I am sure that in the next couple of weeks, more will follow.

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ES. Please throw light on the safety measures you have adopted to cope up with Covid-19?

Karthik. As a hotel, we have ensured that there is absolutely no compromise when it comes to safety and hygiene. Under Marrio 's Commitment to Clean, we have aligned the hotel services and opera ons as per the current need of contact-less stay, safe travel and dining with care.

With more than 200+ new Standard Opera ng Procedures, we have iden fied around 145 touchpoints across the hotel that come in direct & indirect contact of our guests and associates. And, we have streamlined our processes around those supervised by our in-house Hygiene Manager. This is an indispensable endeavour towards welcoming the guests back and ensuring associates' safety while delivering 'The JW Treatment'.

ES. Did you Have to hire some compliance officer at your place, to look a er the safety measures adopted by you?

Karthik. Keeping in mind the ongoing scenario, we have a taken a very conscious decision to have a Hygiene Manager dedicatedly on board to audit Hygiene and Sani sa on prac ces of the hotel. There are proper checks with technology interven on conducted all across the hotel which is further ve ed by ICMR labs.

ES. You hosted the two-day ICPB CIC Conclave recently.

What were the measures you ensured then?

Karthik. The measures we ensured for the two-day conference by ICPB are: Ÿ The Buffet was set in the 'Buffet per plate' concept 35 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Ÿ

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ

where the food of your choice is plated and served in person.

Social Distancing signage was as on the other days, placed across the hotel and this is maintained as per the government guidelines.

AarogyaSetu app was as always checked on the guests' phone at the hotel's entrance.

Temperature check with thermal scanning temperature gun was done at the hotel's entrance as usual.

Guests are always advised to always put on face masks in the hotel.

Electrosta c Spraying: We are u lising enhanced technologies, including electrosta c sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants, to support our already rigorous cleanliness protocols.

Cleaning and sani sa on are performed as per welldefined Standard Opera ng Procedures at frequent intervals diligently.

ES. How do you ensure social distancing?

Karthik. Social Distancing signage is placed across the hotel and this is maintained as per the Govt's instruc ons, for example, Gloves and Face Masks are a part of our associates' uniform. Ÿ For our associates' safety, they go through temperature checks, checking of AarogyaSetu app and they wash & sani se their hands every 20 minutes.

ES. Have you adopted some contactless/touchless methods for the guests?

Karthik. Mobile check-in and key, service requests, and

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November 2020

room service orders are delivered right to the guest's room door via the Marrio Bonvoy™ mobile app. To ensure complete adherence to safety and hygiene, we have placed QR codes across all the essen al areas in the hotel. It's a very simple process where in the guest just has to scan the code via hand phone camera and will immediately come across all the informa on be it menu, facili es etc.

ES. What are your upcoming plans?

Karthik. The keen focus is on long stays and office requirements. The team at the hotel has been aggressively working with domes c clients which will remain as our key focus moving forward and may extend depending upon business needs. We have also been looking at increasing our crew base which helps increase the occupancy addi on to the Rev par.

ES. Do you see any changes in the number of guests/events coming during the months of January-February and now in the months of October-November this year? If yes, how?

Karthik. The graph has been steadily increasing since the me we officially were allowed to reopen in the last week of August this year. Presently, as we speak, we already have decent groups and catering leads under discussion for the next year. In all likelihood, we expect to recover 40% of our lost business in Q1.

ES. How do you see 2021 in terms of business?

Karthik. 2021 will definitely be be er when compared to 2020 as half this year, everything was shut. Now with every passing day, the client is also ge ng more agile and open to get out of respec ve virtual world to get in to the real world with live interac on. There has to be a change and the present cannot be permanent but yes, in all this, what will benefit in moving forward is, in case of any large gathering, there will be a likelyhood of live and virtual (hybrid) both coming together giving more advantage to the event management company/ planner and the hotel when it comes to business.

“Given the present situa

on and the pace, we see the hotel averaging an occupancy of 50-55% YTD in 2021 which will gradually move up in 2022. In all certainty, business will look at achieving 2019 post Q4 of 2022.

“

ES. What is your hotel doing to remain ahead of the curve in these me?

Karthik. Business is tough out there and all the hotels are trying to put in their best to get the maximum. We have ensured not to compromise in any ways when it comes to hygiene and sani sa on. Business is important but not at the cost of safety. Post check out, all the guest rooms are kept vacant for 24 hours before offering it to any other guest. Likewise, all the sani sa on measures are properly med and documented for the ease of tracking.

ES. Are you giving concessions to some event organisers or the guests?

Karthik. There are not any specific rates that are being offered basis the volumes and me of each week/ month.

In the past, we used to sell our Banquets on the minimum revenue basis which has now been reduced and in some cases, we look at per person's budget.

ES. What do you think about interna onal visitors? How long will it take to resume business from them?

Karthik. Interna onal travel yes, will take me and assumingly, is not expected to resume before Q2 next year depending upon the advisory and other travel-related norms.

ES. Has your hotel arranged some digital studio at your place so that virtual events can take place?

Karthik. We do make arrangements as per the requirement of the event that we are hos ng since we have event management company partners who bring in the best of technology and set-ups. The prime events hosted were from the Automobile industry like the launches of KIA, Hyundai, Mahindra etc.

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November 2020

EXHiBiTiON SHOWCASE TALKS TO CHANDRiKA BEHL, MANAGiNG DiRECTOR, EXHiBiTiONS INDiA GROUP pandemic?

Chandrika. With the encouraging news that we’ve been hearing in the last few weeks about the efficacy of vaccines, and how soon they may come to market, I’m hopeful that there is an end in sight in the not so distant future. Of course, we are all taking steps to move towards a ‘new normal,’ while ensuring that trade shows around the world and in India can resume in a safe and produc ve manner.

ES. Please tell us about yourself and your organisa on.

Chandrika. Established in 1987, the Exhibi ons India Group is a leading trade promo on organisa on that acts as an interface between government, industry, media, academia, etc. The group creates opportuni es for trade promo on, networking, encouraging investments, promo ng joint ventures and technology transfers through the pla orm of interna onal exhibi ons and conferences.

EIG has organised over 100 interna onal trade shows since incep on, including some of the largest and longest running exhibi ons in the country.

ES. Please share with us about your professional journey in this industry.

Chandrika. What started as a short s nt turned into a full me and all-consuming career in the exhibi ons industry!

I have worked on various aspects of the business from founding and crea ng Krackerjack Karnival, which grew into India’s largest children and family event to leading our agency business Comnet Exhibi ons into amongst the world’s largest private sales agencies. Of course, our domes c shows remain our number one priority. The main focus is to evolve and grow our business and to always provide significant value to all our stakeholders.

ES. Please share your outlook on the present scenario of 37 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

ES. How covid-19 has affected your business?

Chandrika. Like everyone in the industry, Covid-19 has brought our business to a grinding halt since March this year. That being said, it’s given everyone in the industry the me to focus on their core strengths, as well as develop new revenue streams. In our case, we have been working with all our stakeholders and exhibitors to ensure that we are able to reschedule our expos in as seamless a manner as possible, while also developing new revenue streams in the digital domain.

ES. What according to you are learnings from this pandemic?

Chandrika. The importance of being agile as an organisa on and responding quickly to new challenges.

While digital communica on has been our collec ve lifeline this year, this me has also demonstrated the sheer importance of personal face-to-face interac on.

ES. How are you preparing to func on in the new normal?

Chandrika. We’re looking forward to 2021 with cau ous op mism. As an organisa on, this crisis has given us an even stronger sense of direc on, drive and meaning. We are proud of how everyone is in the company has rallied together through this crisis.

ES. According to you, what would be the trends of the industry in 2021?

Chandrika. Unfortunately our industry will take longer than most to recover. But I do feel confident that 2021 will allow us to work towards recovery. It’s heartening to know from all our exhibitors/stakeholders how much they s ll value physical exhibi ons and miss the energy and interac on of events. Of course, digital will con nue to play a part in all business strategies going forward.

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ES. What is your take on virtual events?

Chandrika. I don’t think virtual events will ever be able to replace live, physical events, but they do bring their own value towards providing a significant pla orm to connect exhibitors and buyers and allow leads to be generated.

Going forward, they will provide a good addi on to a physical show by allowing a more comprehensive par cipa on for both buyers and exhibitors.

ES. You have a ended 87th UFI Global Congress virtually, please share your comments and feedback.

Chandrika. While I certainly missed the fun and camaraderie of the events in Bangkok and Johannesburg, it was good to see all the familiar faces and hear everyone’s thoughts on the challenges facing the industry.

ES. What are your upcoming plans?

Chandrika. We are grateful that the Government of India has now allowed B2B trade fairs to resume. The 28th

Convergence India (CI) & 6th Smart Ci es India (SCI) expos are scheduled for 24-26 March 2021 at Praga Maidan, New Delhi. Convergence India has been at the forefront of India’s digital revolu on since 1992, while the Smart Ci es India expo is a reflec on of India’s emerging moderniza on.

The combina on of both expos will deliver an event that focuses on the next stage of sustainable growth for India.

Moreover, we believe that March 2021 would be the perfect me to demonstrate such a show of strength, showcasing India’s poten al in 2021 and the years ahead.

The combined expo of CI & SCI, in March 2021, will deliver India’s largest technology event on all aspects vital to na on building. India is preparing itself to demonstrate that ‘We are open for business,’ and we believe that the Convergence India & Smart Ci es expos are the perfect pla orm with which to do so.

Mr. Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibi ons India Group, was honoured with Life me Achievement Award for his outstanding contribu on to the exhibi ons industry during the IEIA Open Seminar in 2017.. Mr. Behl has over five decades of experience working with Indian companies, mul na onals, government and associa ons, and had received the Award for conceptualising and crea ng exhibi ons and trade fairs that helped in na on building, and for being an inspira on to future genera ons. Mr. Kai Ha endorf, MD & CEO, UFI, Paris, presented the award to Mr. Behl.

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ABOUT EI GROUP EIG has organised over 100 interna onal trade shows since incep on, including the crea on of some of the largest exhibi ons in the country. Their current por olio of expos comprises of the Convergence India (incl. Internet of Things India, Mobile India, EmbeddedTech India, Fintech India & Gamethon) and Smart Ci es India (incl. Buildings India, Clean India, Solar India, Transport India, Water India) series of expos, as well as the annual Chartered Ins tute of Logis cs & Transport (CILT) India expo. Some other exhibi ons organised by EIG are the first-ever Global Economic Zones Expo & Conven on 2019; and the first-ever Indo-Russian Friendship Celebra on (IRFC) 2020, in collabora on with the Russian Embassy, India.

Exhibi ons India Group comprises of 7 strategic business units dealing in sales representa on, publishing, travel & hospitality, adver sing, consul ng, conferences, and display design. Economic Zones Expo & Conven on 2019; and the first-ever Indo-Russian Friendship Celebra on (IRFC) 2020, in collabora on with the Russian Embassy, India.

EI GROUP JOURNEY OVER THE YEARS

1987

Proprietary firm registered

2009

Ahmedabad office opened

1988

Agency received from Reed Exhibi ons & Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)

2010

Dubai (UAE) office opened

2011

Tokyo (Japan) office opened

2011

Renewable Energy India expo transferred to UBM

1990

Adver sing and public rela ons department formed

1992

Convergence India expo launched

1993

Broadcast Cable & Satellite expo launched

2012

Conference of Great Lakes and St-Lawrence Governors and Premiers India office opened

1999

Travel division created

2012

Krackerjack Karnival launched

2001

Mumbai office opened

2002

2013 Bengaluru office opened

Trace Interna onal Inc. cer fica on received

2004

California (USA) office opened

2015

OHSAS 18001:2007 cer fica on received for security and safety

2005

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) India office opened

2015

Smart Ci es India expo launched

2006

AutoX (the country’s finest automo ve magazine) launched

2015

Convergence India goes overseas– Convergence Africa World launched in Kenya

2007

Renewable Energy India expo launched

2008

Design and construc on arm created

2015

“Outstanding Company to Promote Indo- US trade”, The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) award received

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November 2020

EXHiBiTiON SHOWCASE TALKS TO ViCKY DALKRANi, HEAD, INTERNATiONAL RELATiONS, TIF-HELEXPO SA down. It goes without saying that our revenue has been severely affected as a Company, however, with the proper administra on and budget handling during the past few years and some recent Government support in terms of salary subs tu on and tax breaks, we managed to survive maintaining 100% of our staff and job posi ons.

ES. How are you preparing to func on in the new normal?

Vicky. In the immediate future we will have to adjust to the “new normal”, by enhancing the digitaliza on of our Company, in terms of staff training, new so ware and probably adjustment of the character of our exhibi ons.

ES. Please tell us about yourself and your organisa on.

Vicky. My name is Vicky Dalkrani and I am from Greece. I am a Cer fied Exhibi on Manager and holder of a Masters Degree in Business Administra on (MBA). I am mul lingual and I have been working in the Exhibi on Industry for twenty years.

ES. Please share with us about your professional journey in this industry.

Vicky. I have been working at TIF-HELEXPO SA for twenty years. I have served in various posi ons during this me, such as Project Manager of field exhibi ons, HR Manager, Head of the Foreign Trade Visitors Department, while I have been the Director of the Business and Exhibi on Research and Development Ins tute as well as Head of the Interna onal Rela ons of TIF-HELEXPO SA since 2013.

ES. Please share your outlook on the present scenario of pandemic? How covid-19 has affected your business?

Vicky. I believe that no one has remained untouched from this pandemic and neither have we as TIF-HELEXPO. The outbreak of Covid-19 has found everyone in our industry unprepared and all of us have been trying to stay alive and overcome this huge obstacle, since the beginning of 2020.

Although Greece hasn't had as many casual es as other countries around the globe, s ll, our Government decided to put the country twice in lock-down, while the Congress and Exhibi on Industry was among the first sectors to be shut

40 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

ES. According to you, what would be the trends of the industry in 2021?

Vicky. It is a fact that the world is rapidly changing and that technology is invading our professional and every-day-life at the speed of light! Although live exhibi ons cannot be subs tuted by any type of on-line event, s ll their hybridiza on shall be the industry's new-normal.

ES. What is your take on virtual events?

Vicky. I do not think that Virtual Events can be as effec ve as live events, and certainly virtual exhibi ons have nothing to do with the live ones. However, hybrid events, in which live and online events will be combined and complemented, are definitely the future of our industry.

ES. You have a ended 87th UFI Global Congress virtually, please share your comments and feedback.

Vicky. Indeed, I have a ended the live part of the UFI Congress, which was by no means virtual. It was an on-line event, where we had the opportunity to talk to our colleagues live, during the networking sessions and also listen to very interes ng speakers. I believe that it was a very successful event, very well organized and totally professional in all of its aspects. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to mee ng my colleagues from all over the world next year in Ro erdam in person!

ES. What are your upcoming plans?

Vicky. Our immediate plans as TIF-HELEXPO include the comple on of the tender for the Construc on of our New Congress and Exhibi on Centre in Thessaloniki. Meanwhile, we shall start preparing ourselves for the new-normal era, by adjus ng to the hybri za on of our exhibi ons and enhancing the IT skills of our staff. We are looking into the future with op mism, keeping our fingers crossed.

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MESSAGE FROM UFI PRESiDENT (OUTGOiNG) MARY LARKiN – NOVEMBER 2020

I

t is hard to believe that a year has passed since I accepted the role of President of UFI during the 2019 Congress in Bangkok. And what a year it has been! As I write my final column as President, I marvel at how the industry has come together in a me of crisis and is ensuring that we will come out of this pandemic stronger and be er than before.

As we entered a new decade, we had no idea what was going to hit our industry. During the CEO Summit in Rome in February, the discussion around COVID 19 was only beginning and we were quickly challenged in a way that was to test our resiliency, solidarity and our ability to pivot to find ways to keep in contact with our customers, suppliers and colleagues.

The past eight months have taught us the importance of advocacy and how we need to show the impact our events have on the many industries we serve, for small companies to be able to grow their businesses and the economic impact events have on ci es, hospitality and the employment of the venues that host our events. And we have done all of that and more! At the beginning of my Presidency, I laid out the ini a ves I felt needed to have focus during my term. For a while, they took a backseat while working on COVID related ma ers, but I wanted to make sure I was not was ng the opportunity to drive those ini a ves forward. Diversity in Leadership and 41 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Sustainability were my focus for as President, and I am thrilled to say that we did have impact! More women have stood for elec on to the Board of Directors of UFI than ever before, we have gone from a Board with only 7 women to a Board with 16 women or now 28%! There is an energy driving change and quite frankly, moderniza on.

UFI is the global industry leader in sustainability work for our industry.

The Sustainability Working Group is one of the most engaged teams at UFI and they delivered on their plan to focus on “Waste Management in the Exhibi on’s Industry”. They have iden fied best prac ces in waste management from across the globe through the 2020 awards compe on on “Best Waste Management” and established the baseline for future ac on, again making sure we are be er than before!

So, as we come to the end of the most challenging year in our industry’s history, I am hopeful for our industry to be “Be er Than

Before”. We should not be sa sfied with a new normal but work collec vely to create an industry that is be er than we could have ever imagined. I would like to congratulate Anbu Varathan on his upcoming Presidency, to welcome Monica Lee-Müller to the Trio, and to thank Craig Newman for all his hard work as part of the Trio and as Outgoing President.

Finally, I want to thank every one of the UFI staff and team members for their unrelen ng hard work throughout this challenging year. Led

by Kai and Sonia, they have shown true resiliency, guidance and leadership in this me of crisis ensuring that UFI will be even be er than before!

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November 2020

UFI’S FiRST DiGiTAL GLOBAL CONGRESS DRAWS BiGGEST AUDiENCE TO DATE UFI’s first digital Global Congress draws biggest audience to date Most ambi ous Congress programme ever, with 16 hours of live broadcast from Paris, London, Bogotá and Dubai. More than 1,200 connec ons forged through the pla orm. regions and me zones in mind. And we’ve managed to create experiences that everyone can engage with, despite being limited to screens.”

T

his year’s digital event has been the largest in UFI’s history, exceeding the record number of a endees at the 2019 Global Congress in Bangkok, Thailand and the 2016 Global Congress in Shanghai, China. Around 700 UFI members from more than 50 countries and regions a ended the 87th UFI Global Congress, which took place online from 16 to 19 November. Three registra on packages were available, making this the most accessible UFI Global Congress ever for our global community. Par cipants enjoyed connec ng screen-to-screen, as faceto-face mee ngs have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Built around prime regional me slots for Asia/Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Americas, the programme enabled par cipants to connect and follow the event from their own me zone, 42 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

and to review other sessions ondemand. In parallel, par cipants used – and are s ll using – the pla orm to network and meet with peers around the world, at whatever me works best for them.

Over 1,200 connec ons and 160 mee ngs were registered directly on the pla orm – and there have been numerous other direct digital connec ons. All Global Congress sessions will remain available ondemand un l 4 December 2020.

Kai Ha endorf, Managing Director and CEO at UFI, says: “With face-to-face not an op on this year, we’ve re-wri en the textbook for the UFI Congress. We’ve had to be agile; we’ve had to adapt; we’ve had to be fearless and bold. We’ve completely re-built the way we deliver the event globally, keeping all

“The number one piece of feedback from par cipants is that they miss seeing each other face-to-face and having the opportunity for spontaneous chats and encounters.

At the same me, many used the chat func onality and networking sessions to state how great it was to have the opportunity for everyone to connect. People especially praised the fact that we delivered the sessions and the networking opportuni es with their specific business hours in mind – that we managed to deliver a truly global event op mised for all regions,” he adds.

Timely content – globally delivered for a global industry 58 speakers were “on stage”, as 16 hours of live sessions were presented

by UFI’s quartet of regional managers, broadcas ng live from Hong Kong, Dubai, London and Bogotá. Wherever possible, the team delivered live chats and sessions, facilita ng real- me dialogue and feedback from par cipants around the world.

The four Global Congress keynotes covered the new reality for the global economy, for geo-poli cs, for human health and for the connected industries of travel, hospitality and business events, forming a consistent

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November 2020 Despite the digital format, the Global Congress included a mul tude of networking opportuni es and special moments. The highlight was a performance by violinist Andrew Bernardi, who played a short concert from one of the vast and currently empty exhibi on halls at ExCel London, accompanied by a quintet of musicians.

Playing pieces from Bri sh composer Edward Elgar on his 1696 Amici Stradivari, Andrew Bernardi and the other musicians le delegates with a powerful reminder of the energy created when people come together – be it for business, or for music.

view of the future ahead of us all in the coming 24 months. Panels with global and regional industry leaders shared unique insights into the exhibi on industry’s response and trends, from advocacy to the growth of hybrid events.

New UFI research presented As usual, Global Congress par cipants were the first to be updated on new, original UFI research findings, as a comprehensive analysis and overview of the exhibi on industry’s ac vi es in La n America was presented. This research represents the first in-depth overview of the region that is aligned with metrics from other regions around the world. Delegates also heard very encouraging new findings from the UFI/Explori Global Recovery Trends report, which showed that exhibitors and visitors globally are eager to return to face-to-face pla orms.

Keynote speaker Ambassador

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Wolfgang Ischinger, who organises the annual Munich Security Conference, echoed these findings, sta ng: “Leaders will have an incen ve to meet again physically.

You can have any number of personal mee ngs at the margins of the mee ng. You can’t replace these personal physical mee ngs. It is not so easy to build a personal rela onship on a laptop.”

Meanwhile, keynote speaker, Gloria Guevara Manzo, who is President and CEO at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), reiterated the call for ac on to convince the authori es to priori se travel and business events as a cri cal element of economic recovery: “We need to learn from the past. We can’t wait for a vaccine to be widely spread around the world; we need to be able to resume interna onal travel before.”

Maintaining special moments and experiences

Welcome to the 2020/21 UFI President Anbu Varathan, Director General and CEO at the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Associa on (IMTMA) and Bangalore Interna onal Exhibi on Centre (BIEC) formally assumes office as the UFI President for the year to come.

He says: “I am extremely happy and honoured to address the global exhibi on community, as I assume the UFI Presidency. We are all living in extraordinary mes with the COVID-19 pandemic having a profound and las ng impact on human life, the global economy and, in par cular, our exhibi on industry and all related industries.

We need to delve deep and look for opportuni es and strategies to innovate, to enhance technological capabili es, to reorient market strategies, to equip workforce with emerging technologies and to reemerge as a strong force once again.”

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THE 59TH INTERNATiONAL CONGRESS AND CONVENTiON ASSOCiATiON (ICCA) CONGRESS HELD SUCCESSFULLY

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ith a record a endance, the ICCA family demonstrated a victory of the power of community and connec vity, with the official Congress days, 1-3 November in Kaohsiung and the other global hubs packing in valuable content and networking to add to the extended six-week congress programme of knowledge sharing under the 59th Congress banner.

ICCA President James Rees stated: “It has been a privilege to work with the Kaohsiung City Government and we thank all the Host City Stakeholders for their commitment to rise to the challenge presented by the global pandemic and to re-imagine the ICCA Congress and build a hybrid event that will act as a “live” case study for the en re events industry and ul mately will deliver a framework for the future of our associa on that will be enshrined in the Kaohsiung Protocol – a tangible, documented framework that will be the true legacy of this year’s event – and that will resonate with members for years to come.”

ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath, thanked all ini a ves for their great efforts despite facing challenging mes as 44 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

well as their dedica on and commitment towards ICCA: “The Best Marke ng award is very special for the ICCA community. Every des na on makes great efforts in showcasing their achievements. Considering how important it is for the ICCA members, we decided to recognise the community leadership within our industry in these challenging mes. It is amazing to see the dedica on and commitment of ICCA members and how swi ly they engaged in the society.

This year we received a record number of entries and it clearly showcases the long-term vision of our industry.” ICCA invited all types of ini a ves that provide crea ve answers to the current challenges to apply to be recognised. Five of the ini a ves were found not only to have showcased a great amount of crea vity, innova on, and local outreach, but also leadership in transforma on with their unparalleled community engagement and extraordinary collabora ons.

They were: KINTEX, South Korea: Created a comprehensive and innova ve framework for re-opening a venue during the pandemic, which has subsequently been adopted in different parts of the world as the go to standard. Ÿ Kuala Lumpur Conven on Centre: Ÿ

Iden fied a deficiency in their local supply chain, namely insufficient knowledge among the PCO community of the scope of work and services required by interna onal planners. They formed a unique partnership with the Malaysia Conven on & Exhibi on Bureau (MyCEB) and the Interna onal Associa on of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) to launch the IAPCO online pla orm providing globally accredited training to Malaysian Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs). Ÿ Seoul Tourism Organiza on: Created a series of prac cal ini a ves and supports to underpin their campaign ‘Stand Strong Together’ and totally revitalized the local the MICE community. Ÿ The Indian Hotels Company Limited: Provided emergency accommoda on and meals for frontline health and police personnel who were on duty trea ng Covid-19 pa ents during the na onwide lockdown. In addi on to supplying 20,000 food boxes daily for those migrant workers who were comba ng unemployment. Ÿ VISITFLANDERS Conven on Bureau: Rebalanced their longterm vision for business events with the immediate need to create measures to support the industry. Taking Covid-19 as an opportunity to innovate, they created a new set of services and tools for their industry supply partners and associa on customers.

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ASiA PACiFiC’S FiRST iNTERNATiONAL TRAVEL TRADESHOW TRAVELREViVE OPENS iN SiNGAPORE

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ravelRevive, powered by ITB Asia and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), opened at the Sands Expo & Conven on Centre.

Leading the way with rigorous protocols and innova ve solu ons for the end-to-end visitor journey, TravelRevive is the first pilot tradeshow to trial the newly developed ‘hybrid event’ tradeshow prototype for safe business events, safe i neraries, and digital enablers in Singapore. This is part of a publicprivate collabora on under the Emerging Stronger Taskforce (EST)’s[1] Singapore Together Alliance for Ac on (AfA) on Enabling Safe and Innova ve Visitor Experiences.

TravelRevive is the first interna onal travel tradeshow to take place physically in Asia Pacific during COVID-19, with both local and foreign a endees and exhibitors. A total of close to 1,000 local and interna onal a endees will come together on-site over the next two days to exchange ideas, bridge knowledge gaps, and reimagine the future of travel.

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Alongside TravelRevive, STB, Interna onal Associa on of Exhibi ons and Events (IAEE), and the Singapore Associa on of Conven on & exhibi on Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) will also coorganise the IAEE Asia Hybrid Forum and SMFX x MICE Connect Forum on 26 November 2020.

These events are specially curated, with panel discussions, masterclasses and updates on the Industry Resilience Roadmap, a joint ini a ve between STB, ESG and SACEOS. A ended by local stakeholders as well as ASEAN and global MICE associa ons, both events are pla orms for ideas and knowledge exchange to reimagine the future of MICE events. Besides live sessions, TravelRevive features on-demand components that are accessible to delegates joining via the ITB Community in Asia online pla orm too. Enhanced safety measures for all Various measures have been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of a endees at TravelRevive, including: Safe management measures for

every stage of an event a endee’s journey (pre- to post-event).

Crowd density control and cohor ng of a endees. 18sqm booths complemented with 9sqm mee ng pods that are equipped with protec ve plexi-glass to facilitate safe one-to-one mee ngs between exhibitors and buyers. The use of TraceTogether to facilitate contact tracing for interna onal visitors. The launch of an online diary mobile app to safely arrange one-to-one mee ngs between exhibitors and buyers. To prepare Singapore for the phased resump on of leisure travel, STB has also been working closely with industry stakeholders to establish a framework to guide tourism businesses, including travel agents, in developing safe i neraries.

Safe i neraries have been specially curated for all delegates to offer them an assurance of safety, and cater experiences that are authen c, bespoke and personalised. These include virtual tours with hands-on ac vi es that delegates can par cipate in from their hotel rooms, private museum site visits,

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and even a guided site visit to a Kelong (an offshore wooden pla orm used primarily for fish farming).

Changi Airport Group (CAG), under the auspices of the AfA on Enabling Safe and Innova ve Visitor Experiences, has also developed a working prototype called the Safe Travel Concierge (STC). This is an online tool to help travellers manage their visits by customising a travel checklist of pre-entry requirements to fulfil before entering Singapore[3], from the SafeTravel Pass applica on to the swab tests conducted at the airport. The STC will also help guests remain in their cohorts at all mes, including when a ending ac vi es as part of their safe i neraries a er TravelRevive.

The AfA on Enabling Safe and Innova ve Visitor Experiences will study the findings and data from TravelRevive to refine the safe management measures and best prac ces for MICE events and leisure travel progressively. Speaking at the

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opening of TravelRevive, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry (Singapore) said, “Amidst the disrup ons inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore government is commi ed to working with our industry partners to reinforce the resilience of the MICE sector and doing more to catalyse the revival of our tourism industry in a safe manner. We will support the industry in reimagining the en re visitor experience to emerge stronger and solidify our posi on as a global and regional business hub.”

Ms Kwee Wei Lin, Co-Lead of the EST AfA on Enabling Safe and Innova ve Visitor Experiences, Head of Hotels (Singapore), Pon ac Land Group, President, Singapore Hotel Associa on – “We are thrilled that TravelRevive has come to life a er months of hard work and close collabora on between the public and private sectors. We hope it will lay a sustainable founda on for the future of business events, and pave the way

for a safe and seamless end-to-end experience for visitors to Singapore.”

Ms Katrina Leung, Managing Director, Messe Berlin (Singapore) – organiser of ITB Asia – commented: “TravelRevive is a major stepping stone for our industry’s recovery, while se ng a bold new benchmark for hybrid events. Together with STB, we look forward to growing the MICE industry and for fying Singapore’s posi on as a key hub for events and corporate travel.”

Mr Andrew Phua, Execu ve Director, Exhibi ons & Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We are proud to break new ground together with Messe Berlin by pilo ng Asia-Pacific’s first interna onal travel tradeshow since the start of COVID-19. As the Global-Asia node for business, Singapore is reimagining the future of business events with rigorous protocols and crea ve solu ons, while suppor ng our MICE industry as we pivot, adapt and transform.”

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IAEE TRANSiTiONS THE LIVE EVENT TO ViRTUAL EXPO! EXPO! iN 2020

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he Interna onal Associa on of Exhibi ons and Events® (IAEE) announces that due to the enhanced nega ve reali es of COVID-19 around the world, the inperson por on of this year’s Expo!

Expo! IAEE’s Annual Mee ng and Exhibi on slated for 8-10 December in Louisville, KY will not take place.

IAEE will refocus its efforts on the virtual Expo! Expo! with many of the same show elements presented in an engaging virtual format.

“I’m proud of the IAEE staff’s work toward planning for the IAEE Expo!

Expo! scheduled in Louisville, Kentucky, next month,” said IAEE Chairperson of the Board, Bob McLean CPA, CAE, CEM. “Our board, staff and members were excited to take part in this annual, in-person event. However, in light of current health and safety concerns, the board has unanimously decided to transi on this face-to-face event to a wholly virtual experience. With this decision, the board and staff have recommi ed our efforts to deliver the same high-quality event you have 47 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

come to expect from IAEE.” The virtual Expo! Expo! will feature a robust buyer experience with mul ple ways to network with other a endees and exhibitors through chats and messaging func onality; a Buyer Resource Center housing important content spanning 60+ product/service categories through case studies, product demos, and research papers; and an exhibitor marketplace to conduct business for 2021 and beyond.

Relevant and mely content for planning future events will be presented through five educa on tracks on Virtual Event Produc on; Wellness & Personal Development; Young Professionals; an Execu ve Experience; and Safely Reopening Exhibi ons & Events. Sixty-five sessions will be pre-recorded followed by live Q&A discussions, including the IAEE Asia Forum.

Addi onally, specialty content including seven BUZZ sessions, and a

general session with Risha Grant who focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion, will be featured over three days along with elements from the in-person show including a Tech Theatre presen ng tech use cases and new product pitches and industry icon interviews through News and Views theatre.

Key face-to-face ac vi es will be transformed into virtual ac va ons for Summit Club, Chapter Leaders, new comer orienta ons and more.

“While our core mission is to bring buyers and sellers together face-toface, we are u lizing the Swapcard pla orm to deliver valuable content to plan future events while also providing an engaging marketplace to meet and make plans for 2021 and beyond,” added IAEE President and CEO, David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA.

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UNWTO BRINGS TOURISM SECTOR TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

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he World Tourism Organiza on (UNWTO) has once again brought leaders from across the sector together for high-level talks aimed at strengthening coopera on between the public and private sectors. The 42nd Plenary Session of the United Na ons specialized agency’s Affiliate Members focused both on immediate priori es for tourism’s vital restart and on the longer-term task of ensuring the sector con nues to be a key pillar of sustainable development.

The event provided a unique, highlevel pla orm to allow Members to share their best prac ces and proposals for recovery. With the theme “Recovering Tourism.

Rebuilding Trust. Reinforcing Partnerships,” the Session echoed the wider priori es of UNWTO, above all restoring confidence in interna onal travel and promo ng collabora on at every level.

Par cipants were encouraged to make use of the new Affiliate Members Virtual Corner, launched to coincide with the Plenary Session.

United behind the UNWTO Programme of Work The Plenary Session focused on laying the founda ons for UNWTO’s Programme of Work for 2021. This roadmap includes con nuing to 48 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

make tourism a key pillar of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and further enhancing sustainability and inclusivity across the whole of the sector.

UNWTO’s Affiliate Members, who include businesses, academia and civil society actors, will play an important role in the United Na ons specialized agency’s work in the challenging months ahead.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The engaged par cipa on of every part of our sector will be needed to restart tourism and drive recovery. From the start of this crisis, tourism has led the way in adap ng to the new reality and pu ng public health concerns first. Now, tourism needs the support of governments and interna onal organiza ons to grow back and grow back stronger and more resilient, benefi ng many millions of people and businesses worldwide.”

Making good on UNWTO’s pledge to lead by example, this hybrid mee ng again demonstrated that interna onal travel is safe and that tourism is proac vely adap ng to the new post-COVID reality. In all, more than 200 delegates took part in the Plenary Session, either in-person or virtually, with the diversity of tourism on full display.

Celebra ng tourism at its best Against the backdrop of Plenary Session, the UNWTO Affiliate Members Dis nc on Awards show how tourism is living up to its status as the ul mate people-first sector.

The event celebrates those stakeholders who that best

embodied the spirit of solidarity and determina on that underlined the sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. IFEMA, was recognized for its response to the crisis, in par cular for allowing its exhibi on spaces to be repurposed for healthcare. At the same me, CNN was recognized for its inspira onal communica on campaigns, including its work bringing the UNWTO #TravelTomorrow campaign to a global audience of millions.

Other Affiliate Members recognized at the 2020 Awards include Chameleon Strategies for its work in Asia, and both Facility Concept and the Africa Tourism Partners Company for advancing UNWTO’s work in Africa. The Xcaret Group was recognized for its work restar ng a rac ons and theme parks, while IATA was commended for its work in support of the global air transport sector. Alongside these, CaixaBank was recognized for its support for tourism businesses of all sizes, with the Ayuntamiento de Madrid leading by example in fostering public-private partnerships for response and recovery.

The ceremony also highlights tourism’s wider contribu on and the role Affiliate Members are playing in advancing this. EGEDA was recognized for its work promo ng the Sustainable Development Goals, the Seoul Tourism Organiza on, was commended for its work promo ng tourism as a tool for peace and reconcilia on, while the Royal Commission for Al Ula was singled out for its promo on of inclusive community development through tourism.

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ASiAN FEDERATiON OF EXHiBiTiON AND CONVENTiON ASSOCiATiONS (AFECA) ELECTS iTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2020-2022 past Board Member at AFECA for the last 6 six years, I have valued the many friendships, experiences and the opportunity AFECA has given me, to spend me with a purpose and much learning along the way. I am humbled to be able to serve AFECA as the elected President (2020-2022).

My hear elt thanks extend to the Board for their trust bestowed upon me.”

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He added: “To be serving a large organisa on such as AFECA is not an easy task. My predecessor Mr. Walter Yeh (Immediate Past President) together with his Board members has achieved immense accomplishments, but I am determined to demonstrate ini a ves to maintain the good results.”

With near 3 decade-long in the MICE sector, Dato’ Lim brings rich industry experience to the leadership of AFECA. In an opening address to the new Board, he commented, “As a

Dato’ Lim was elected for a twoyear term of office together with AFECA’s new Board at the 15th AFECA Annual General Mee ng held virtual for the first me on 17 November. He takes over from Immediate Past President Mr. Walter Yeh, ex-President of Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan Exhibi on and Conference Associa on (TECA).

he Asian Federa on of Exhibi on and Conven on Associa ons (AFECA), a world federa on represen ng the exhibi on & conven on industry in Asia, has elected Dato’ Vincent Lim of Malaysian Associa on of Conven on and Exhibi on Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), as its new President.

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“It is my great honor to have taken the role as the President for the past 3 terms, and I am delighted to pass over the reins to the new Board. I look forward to the new leadership and vision to bring AFECA and Asia MICE to the next level, especially during the hard me of COVID-19. I believe the whole AFECA family will be suppor ng you wholeheartedly.

Let’s make AFECA the truly Asian MICE pla orm together!” said Mr Yeh, congratula ng the new President. The new AFECA Board Members for 2020-2022 comprises the following: About Asian Federa on of Exhibi on and Conven on Associa ons (AFECA) AFECA is one of the four global conference and exhibi on umbrella bodies, alongside UFI, IAEE and ICCA. Star ng with six founding member organiza ons in 2005, AFECA has grown to over 150 memberorganiza ons from 17 countries / regions across the en re Asia-Pacific region in just a decade. Par cipa ng countries / regions include Australia, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. AFECA is the only interna onal umbrella associa on in Asia and serves 37 na onal MICE associa ons including the Singapore Associa on of Conven on and Exhibi on Organizers and Suppliers (SACEOS), the Indian Exhibi on Industry Associa on (IEIA), the Indonesian Congress and

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Conven on Associa on (INCCA), the Malaysian Associa on of Conven on and Exhibi on Organizers and Suppliers (MACEOS). Inc. (PACEOS), Taiwan Conven on and Exhibi on Associa on (TCEA), Taiwan Exhibi on & Conven on Associa on (TECA), Japan Exhibi on Associa on (JEXA), Japan Management Associa on (JMA), Nippon Display Federa on (NDF), Shanghai Conven on & Exhibi on Industries Associa on (SCEIA), Thailand Exhibi on Associa on (TEA) as well

as others, which together cover more than 11,000 MICE companies.

Over the years, AFECA has organized various events such as: AFECA AEC (ASEAN Economic Coopera on) + Expo 2015 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Ÿ AFECA Asian MICE Awards, an annual regional event to celebrate and acknowledge excellence in the exhibi on industry. This is also to recognize the contribu ons of AFECA members in the exhibi on

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and conven on industry in the global marketplace; Ÿ AFECA MICE Forum, where MICE leaders from Asia, US and Europe share trends, industry updates and latest technologies in the industry are discussed; Ÿ AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge, a yearly compe on among universi es in Asia where students of MICE and tourism present business plans on promo ng their countries or key ci es, as major des na ons.

TCEB’S RESPECT FOR LOCAL IDENTiTiES BRiNGS TBEX ASiA 2021 TO PHUKET

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hailand Conven on & Exhibi on Bureau (TCEB) strategy to put into spotlight the different quali es of each MICE city has resulted in the bureau winning bid for Phuket to host TBEX Asia 2021 when some 600 travel bloggers, content creators and social media influencers around the globe will gather at this Andaman paradise to experience its local and cultural iden es. TCEB President, Mr. Chiruit 50 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said TCEB has developed a strategy for Phuket to create a new brand iden ty for MICE by highligh ng the island's cultural heritage, tradi onal trades and indigenous way of life.

This is a part of TCEB's policy to enhance and strengthen the a rac veness of MICE Ci es across the country by collabora ng with all local authori es to develop strategies

that are deeply rooted in the DNA of each des na on.

Thailand's current MICE Ci es include Phuket, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Bangkok, Pa aya, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima. The bureau has recently set up four new regional offices to oversee MICE development in the north, northeast, central and southern regions. As for Phuket, the southern regional office has planned to develop MICE products and ac vi es related to local culture and local communi es so that the island can create new experiences for MICE travelers with the beauty of the Andaman Sea and the diversity of culture.

“Winning bid for Phuket to host TBEX Asia from October 20-22, 2021 is, thus, responsive to our strategy and is in me for the island des na on to unveil its new brand iden ty for MICE as around 600 travel bloggers, content creators, and social media influencers are expected to a end the event”.

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KLCC’S EDUCATiONAL PARTNERSHiP WiNS ICCA BEST MARKETiNG AWARD 2020

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he Kuala Lumpur Conven on Centre (the Centre), in recogni on of its Leadership in Transforma on, was named one of the five winners of Special Edi on ICCA Best Marke ng Award 2020, at the closing of 59th Interna onal Congress and Conven on Associa on (ICCA) Congress, held virtually from 1-3 November 2020.

The Centre was rewarded for its “Extraordinary Collabora on” which entailed a tri-par te collabora on it ini ated and formalised with Malaysia Conven on & Exhibi on Bureau (MyCEB) and Interna onal Associa on of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), which was aimed to address a deficient in the provision of professional congress organisers (PCO) in Malaysia to service interna onal congresses and conferences.

The partnership provides an accessible and affordable solu on to advance professional standards and skills to address this gap through the IAPCO webEDGE online educa on pla orm. The partnership also provides globally accredited learning 51 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

solu on enabling Malaysian industry professionals to further enhance their skills set and to elevate the standards of knowledge and exper se of Malaysian PCOs to match the industry’s interna onal requirements and demands.

The Centre’s General Manager, Alan Pryor shared, “We are absolutely thrilled to be honoured with this award from ICCA and, on behalf of our partners at MyCEB and IAPCO, we would like to thank ICCA and the esteemed judging panel for recognising our collabora ve efforts.

We would also like to congratulate all the other winners, Visit Flanders, Seoul Conven on Bureau, KINTEX Conven on Centre and The Indian Hotels Company Limited on their successful engaging and heartmoving ini a ves.”

Developing and transforming the na onal business events industry through professional development and educa onal exchange programmes has always been one of the Centre’s key areas of business focus. This winning collabora ve partnership, which was launched in

May 2020 is the latest of the Centre’s ini a ves in this regard. Director of Global Business Development and Marke ng, Angeline van den Broecke stated that, “The award is a reflec on of the team’s commitment and determina on to keep resilient, innova ve and to maintain posi vity while ensuring we con nue to elevate our market presence and standards of excellence. This win will further s mulate and mo vate us to con nue inves ng and focusing our efforts in developing Malaysia’s business events supply chain to enhance its des na on proposi on and strengthen its posi on globally.”

Pryor concluded, “We applaud ICCA’s ini a ve to bring forward and share these great inspiring stories from leaders of our industry. It is much needed to boost our morale during this very challenging mes and to see how our industry friends all over the world have persevered, maintained resilience and posi vity so our industry will recover and con nue to make a meaningful social and economic impact throughout the world.”

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CPHI & P-MEC CHiNA 2020 ADAPTS TO CUSTOMER NEEDS WiTH HYBRiD PHARMA EVENT

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PhI & P-MEC China returns as a hybrid event in Shanghai (16-18 December, 2020), with a physical exhibi on running alongside Virtual Expo Connect (18 November – 18 December, 2020) for interna onal audiences unable to a end. The physical exhibi on will be held at the SNIEC (Shanghai New Interna onal Expo Center), with some 3,000 exhibitors present across three days, alongside exhibitor talks and conferences.

Crucially, this year’s exhibi on will support interna onal a endees with a dedicated month-long digital pla orm, Virtual Expo Connect.

Reac ng to customer needs, CPhI & P-MEC China introduced a new hybrid model so that pharma execu ves (unable to visit Shanghai) can con nue to meet and do business in the country – which plays such an integral role in global supply chains. In fact, China is the world’s biggest ingredients producer, supplying 80% of chemicals used in European drug manufacturing and 70% of APIs to Indian manufactures – which in turn makes 40% of global generics. “China based companies are absolutely vital in the pharma supply chain. It is therefore essen al 52 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

interna onal pharma is able to meet with partners here to support the delivery of medicines globally. For interna onal a endees to connect with China-based suppliers, we created a special digital pla orm.

Virtual Expo Connect provides access to thousands of poten al suppliers over a one-month long period of engagement, allowing pharma to source connec ons to support manufacturing needs. To sustain global growth, it is crucial that overseas professionals can meet with companies from the world’s largest pharma ingredients market,” commented Laura Murina – Brand Manager CPhI & P-MEC China, Informa Markets.

The onsite and digital exhibitors will span the full supply chain in China – from ingredients and machinery to contract services, biologics, finished dosage and packaging. Virtual Expo Connect will have a number of digital features at the disposal of online a endees. For example, the Digital Showroom will showcase products and services from the event’s exhibitors, with a endees able to search for suppliers and request video mee ngs. Business

development will be further facilitated by the online matchmaking service, which uses precise targe ng to source the most appropriate partners. The virtual expo also provides hosted buyer video mee ngs, a customised oneto-one digital mee ng service tailored to individual purchasing requirements.

Addi onally, to stay informed on the latest challenges and opportuni es, the exhibitor talks will feature indepth interviews with senior management from across leading pharmaceu cal companies in China.

Further industry expert insights will also be provided by the conference webcasts, which are available to livestream and on-demand.

Finally, for a fully immersive experience of CPhI & P-MEC China, virtual a endees will have the chance to tour the show floor via both a 360o virtual reality view of the show floor and livestreamed virtual guided tours. Murina added “Following the success of the recent CPhI: Fes val of Pharma, we realised the importance for interna onal audiences of combining the benefits of Virtual Expo Connect.

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November 2020

TRADE BUYERS EAGERLY RETURN TO HKCEC PHYSiCAL TRADE FAiRS GAVE HONG KONG’S EXHiBiTiON ACTiViTiES STRONG REBOOT

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ollowing a series of well a ended physical trade and consumer exhibi ons in October, another four trade fairs were held successfully at the Hong Kong Conven on and Exhibi on Centre (HKCEC) during 11 - 13 November 2020.

They were Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong X Gourmet Asia 2020, Natural & Organic Asia 2020, Build4Asia 2020, and Retail Asia Conference and Expo 2020 organised by Informa Markets, a rac ng hundreds of exhibitors, and thousands of local trade buyers from food & hospitality, health & wellness, retail and innova ve building technology sectors.

Hong Kong Conven on and Exhibi on Centre (Management) Limited (HML) has worked closely 53 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

with the organiser, Informa Markets, to reschedule the four exhibi ons impacted by the pandemic and to implement stringent and effec ve preven ve measures to enable faceto-face networking and deal-making opportuni es for par cipants.

Ms Monica Lee-Müller, HML's Managing Director, is excited about the long-awaited reboot of trade fairs at the HKCEC, “We highly appreciate organisers' support and confidence in the HML team to open the many trade fairs at the HKCEC even without the par cipa on of overseas exhibitors and buyers under the travel restric on. HML is commi ed to provide our world class services, to create and recreate events, being flexible in scheduling and offering event organisers and a endees a

safe, hygienic and comfortable environment to make connec on and conduct business. We are excited to see the launch of the bilateral Air Travel Bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong on 22 November, and we hope it will soon be extended to cover Mainland China and other countries to restart the Hong Kong exhibi on industry.

Some 25 exhibi ons and other corporate events and banquets have been confirmed at the HKCEC from October to December 2020. With the Hong Kong Government's Conven on and Exhibi on Industry Subsidy Scheme, which has just been extended un l end of 2021, more exhibi ons and interna onal conferences are expected in the coming months.

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SA EXHiBiTiONS AND EVENTS INDUSTRY TO UNiTE iN SUPPORT OF THE RESTART EXPO being generated. About thirty exhibitors will take part represen ng the industry and industry suppliers.

“The industry feels that it has been neglected; by showcasing what is possible and enabling a be er understanding of what we do and how our industry operates, will also bring an acknowledgment of what the industry's value is to stakeholders,” says Corin.

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he exhibi ons and events industry has united in support of the Restart Expo, an event that will showcase how exhibi ons and events can be hosted safely with all the required COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place.

The Restart Expo is taking place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 25-26 November. In addi on to the exhibitor stands, there will be a seminar theatre, a mee ng area and a business lounge on the exhibi on floor. The Restart Expo has the endorsement of the Associa on of African Exhibi on Organisers (AAXO), the SA Events Council and its members, UFI – the Global Associa on of the Exhibi on Industry and exhibi on industry suppliers.

“We are delighted to confirm that the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Mmamoloko KubayiNgubane, has accepted an invita on to a end the Expo,” says Gary Corin, Managing Director of Specialised Exhibi ons, a division of the Montgomery Group. ““The objec ve of the Restart Expo is to create 54 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

confidence that an event of this nature can safely take place and that the protocols can be applied to and rolled out across exhibi ons, conferences and events.

We encourage all levels of government to a end as well as suppliers involved in exhibi ons and events, past exhibitors and a endees, associa ons and media.”

“With online registra on, wearing a face covering, hand sani ser sta ons, social distancing and temperature checks at a designated entrance in place, going to an exhibi on and event will be as safe as any place you go, such as grocery shopping. In fact, you could feel safer; such will be the very strict adherence to all protocols required. The industry is so well regulated, even before the global pandemic, and the organisers and venues involved are more than capable of pu ng together a public event that falls within the World Health Organisa on and local government COVID-19 regula ons.”

The Restart Expo is a non-commercial event where every contractor is par cipa ng without any revenue

Projeni Pather, Chairperson of AAXO, also feels that exhibi ons and events have, unfortunately, been overlooked. “We have been bundled into the same category as mass gatherings; the Restart Expo is a strategic effort to unbundle this myth and show government officials that exhibi ons and events are organised gatherings. The Events Safety Guidelines, formulated at the beginning of lockdown, has considered the health and safety protocols from the Department of Health, the World Health Organisa on, and many interna onal event organisa ons. Besides the new Guidelines, our industry is very regulated and safety is a prerequisite to any event plan. The Restart Expo allows stakeholders to see how the safety protocols unfold at the live exhibi on.”

“AAXO is delighted to work alongside our members, Specialised Exhibi ons, and the Johannesburg Expo Centre to deliver the Restart Expo. AAXO is proudly affiliated with the SA Events Council, which collaborates with 14 event associa ons; the SA Events Council is 100% in support of this ini a ve.

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November 2020

PCIM ASiA 2020 CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY AS ASiA’S LEADiNG POWER ELECTRONiCS FAiR

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CIM Asia was successfully held from 16 – 18 November at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibi on and Conven on Center.

The show welcomed a total of 69 exhibitors who presented the latest trends, developments and product innova ons for all applica ons of power electronics on an exhibi on area of 7,000 square metres.

This year’s fair saw the par cipa on of well-known domes c and interna onal companies such as Mitsubishi Electric, Semikron, Fuji Electric, Infineon, Beijing Sunking, Bronze, CRRC, Hangzhou Firstack, Heraeus, Keysight, Shanghai Eagtop, Toshiba and Wuxi CRE New Energy.

What’s more, the Korean Pavilion debuted at the fair and featured a number of South Korea’s premier semiconductor companies, including Busan Techno Park Founda on, JMJ, PowerCubeSemi, SemiPowerEx and SIGETRONICS. Each of these companies’ presence at PCIM Asia underlined the fair’s posi on as one of the most significant trade pla orms for power electronics in China. Fair’s excep onal quality 55 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

draws acclaim from par cipants Exhibitors were highly sa sfied with the excellent quality of a endees and the plen ful networking opportuni es that were offered, no ng that the fair was an ideal pla orm to grow their businesses.

Many of them also used their visit to PCIM Asia to learn more about the current market condi ons and forward-looking trends and technologies in power electronics through the exhibi on and conference.

On the other hand, the fair a racted 4,348 trade visitors, with many praising the fair for offering them opportuni es to source from a wide range of quality suppliers and gather the latest market intelligence. For instance, the fair once again featured an array of thema c zones such as the E-mobility Zone, Poster Session Area (as part of the Conference), Newcomer Pavilion and University Zone, covering the complete spectrum of power electronics, from power semiconductor components and modules, electrical devices, passive components and thermal management to tes ng and

measurement.

Fringe programme events guide the industry into the future Alongside the exhibi on ran the highly reputable PCIM Asia Conference, where world-class academics and industry specialists presented the latest breakthroughs and market trends that are shaping the future of power electronics. The theme behind this year’s conference was E-Mobility and Infrastructure, which delved into the unlimited possibili es of power electronics in the applica on of electric mobility.

Both speakers and a endees greatly admired the vibrant atmosphere and top-notch programme of the conference, which encouraged industry dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Other highlights of the fair included the E-mobility Forum, the Power Electronics Energy Storage Industry Forum and the Power Electronics Applica on Forum. Par cipants were impressed by the depth of the events and diversity of the topics up for discussion.

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November 2020

WHY DiSCOUNTiNG CAN KiLL AN EVENT

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iscoun ng is a commercial model that we are all familiar with. From end-of-season retail sales, two-for-one offers, through to early bird booking incen ves. In the events industry, discoun ng is a model used by some organisers, whether this be offering incen ves for increased spend or rates held for those clients who book onsite for the subsequent event edi on. Without very careful considera on, discoun ng can have long las ng impact to an event’s success, and not just limited to the financials.

Why Are Discounts Offered?

Discounts are offered with the aim of securing revenues which can represent itself in number of ways in the context of events. Onsite rebooking is something that many event organisers offer.

Those clients who book onsite for a future edi on of an event benefit from securing a prime loca on, and o en, a financial incen ve, normally in the form of a price freeze. This allows organiser to confirm revenue at the beginning of an event cycle.

56 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Up-selling is something that many organisers will pursue with the aim of securing increased spend from confirmed and prospec ve clients.

Some mes, discounts are offered to clients based on an increase in spend, which if secured helps driveup the organisers revenues. On occasions, when sales are behind a required threshold, discounts are offered with the aim of s mula ng sales. This offers prospec ve clients a reduced rate and may provide the organiser with revenues quicker than otherwise expected.

Do Discounts Actually Work?

The important ques on to be asked is ‘what is the goal by offering a discount’. If it is purely about increasing revenues, then yes revenues will increase on an isolated basis. However, offering discounts, broadly or targeted, can decrease revenues overall.

Understanding the ‘pros and cons’ of offering discounts is excep onally important. Looking at the broader picture will help determine if offering a discount is the right approach. The need to offer a discount, in the case

of events, o en is for a number of reasons; the rate card price is set at the wrong price, compe tors sell at a lower rate, the prospec ve client does not have the budget, targets may be unrealis c or clients do not understand the true benefits of the event.

Add Value Instead of Discoun ng People like to get deals and feel special, but that does not mean you have to reduce the price. Instead, add addi onal opportuni es, perhaps increased marke ng benefits, in return for signing up for an event early or increased their spend. However, always understand the cost implica ons, and wherever possible avoid addi onal cost. A li le surprisingly goes a long way, and you will not succumb to the long-term implica ons of discoun ng.

Too Much Emphasis on Price By offering discounts, your primary focus is on price rather than the event and its benefits. If the only compe ve advantage you have is price, your event is in trouble. Pricematching has become commonplace, so you need to rely on delivering

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November 2020

successful events that provides tangible results for par cipa ng businesses.

gaining a bad reputa on… remember… your event is as good as the last one.

Price Wars Offering discounts can result in price wars with your compe tors, and bigger companies nearly always win these wars because they have enough financial backing to s ck it out the longest. For smaller event organisers, this is a fight you do not want to enter. Any business that approaches discoun ng to offer a compe ve advantage over a compe tor must account for the long-term consequences and ques on the strength of their event if they rely on selling at a lower market rate.

Crea ng the Wrong Impression When an event organiser offers a discount to their prospec ve par cipants, they are taking a big risk of devaluing their event. Customers can get the impression that the event being sold is not worth paying the full price for. It also sets a precedent in the customer’s mind that your pricing isn’t firm.

Nega ve Impact on Quality Offering a discount can lead to an event organiser having less budget to deliver the event. This can lead to a decreased quality of the event and the end-results. The lower the quality, the greater the chances of your event losing its credibility and

Impac ng the Bo om Line Discounts can very quickly impact an event’s margins which in turn will impact the bo om-line. Se ng predefined goals such as yield targets from selling stand space will help set minimum thresholds, in the case where it is deemed that discoun ng is necessary. Remember, the quality of an event can be impeded if the budget is not sufficient.

Do Discounts Have a Place in Event Organising?

If you are considering offering a

discount, take the me to ask yourself why you want to.

Specifically, ask yourself whether it is the easy way out and if the price objec on perhaps not the real objec on. As with every rule, there are excep ons.

Occasionally, discounts can make sense. Just make sure you have considered what discoun ng could mean to your event, both in the short and the long-term. Once you begin discoun ng it can prove excep onally hard to move away from and a small innocent discount can have a long-las ng ripple effect.

Ar cle Wri en By: Ashley Roberts

TRANSPORT LOGiSTiC 2021 TO BE HELD iN MUNiCH FROM MAY 4 - 7

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rom May 4 to 7, 2021, the logis cs world will meet at transport logis c in Munich to establish, maintain and expand contacts. Messe München GmbH is currently in intensive prepara ons with the authori es, exhibitors and service providers to ensure that the trade fair is held in accordance with all regula ons next year.

The Advisory Board of Messe München also firmly believes that the leading trade fair will be the first major industry mee ng in Germany since the outbreak of the global corona pandemic.

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Last year Messe München succeeded in further expanding its worldwide posi on and logis cs por olio. With the acquisi on of air cargo Africa, air cargo India and air cargo Forum Miami, three further important and successful events enrich the global transport logis cs cluster.

Due to the current corona pandemic, most of this year's trade fairs and congresses had to be cancelled or converted into digital formats. This also affected the events of the transport logis c cluster of Messe München. Meanwhile, planning for the 2021 trade fair year is in full

swing. “This year, logis cs has once again underlined its importance for supplying the economy and the popula on. However, local presence and personal contact are s ll important.

Over the years, transport logis c has developed into an important ins tu on for establishing business rela ons between interna onal companies,” says Axel Plaß, President of the German Freight Forwarding and Logis cs Associa on (DSLV) and member of the Advisory Board of Messe München.

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