Nov 2021

Page 1

Media Partner From India

Nov 2021 Vol 10 Issue 04 Voice of Asia’s Exhibition & Convention Industry

FIELD OF

DREAMS “India is one of the fastest growing exhibition markets within the NürnbergMesse group. Our growth has been consistent and our offerings are versatile.”

SATYENDRA MEHRA Group Director Member of the Management Board NürnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd.

plus:

WHAT’S TRENDING ON-SITE AS THE PHYSICAL EXHIBITIONS RESUME

GUEST COLUMN Messages by Kai Ha endorf & Monica Lee-müller

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS MICHAEL DEHN Messe Frankfurt South Africa BRAD MAYNE Interna onal Associa on of Venue Managers RUPA NAIK World Trade Center Mumbai RISHABH C. KOTHARI Fragrances & Flavours Associa on of India




Dear Readers, Our November issue is punctuated with stories of on-site exhibitions happening in India and around the world, along with exclusive interviews, insights and current trends in the industry. Exhibition Showcase has been on the forefront at projecting the industry to a wider audience through our various outreach platforms like print, web, newsletters, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube. You can follow us on our social media handles to gain maximum insights through the convenience of your smart phone. We also make several insightful videos for our YouTube channel and you will enjoy watching our episodes. Do like and subscribe so that you never miss an update! I was myself there at various show sites this month. I was really impressed to see the turnout of serious visitors at the recently held shows in Mumbai, New Delhi and Gr. Noida. After much time and efforts, the Mumbai Government allowed some part of Bombay Exhibition Centre to resume with exhibitions and this came as a huge respite for the industry in that region.

&

PSU BUZZ

The Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) is also returning with its agship IEIA Open Seminar this December. The event will be a good opportunity to meet key industry players on one platform. I am delighted to share that Exhibition Showcase is the ofcial media partner of this event and we are coming out with a IEIA Open Seminar special edition on this occasion. Besides normal circulation, the copies will be available to all Open Seminar delegates. I invite you to support this special edition by placing your brand presence in this special issue. On another note, as the world begins its preparations to counter the newly found Omicron variant, we know yet too little about the consequences and implications that this might have on our industry. While the World Health Organization recently said the variant poses a “very high” global risk that could have “severe consequences” given that some of its mutations may sidestep immune protection, on another hand, the South African doctor who rst raised the alarm over the new strain, has shared that the associated symptoms seen so far have been “extremely mild.” We keep our ngers crossed for better times ahead! As you turn over the pages, we have tried to highlight various leading personalities in the global industry by sharing their thoughts on re-opening while also projecting their respective journey to the zenith. I hope that you will appreciate our continued efforts and do share your feedback with me at raghav@exhibitionshowcase.com Happy reading!


In this issue: 19

16

24-28

55-56

Pg. 24-42 Interviews 24-28

In Conversation With Satyendra Mehra, Group Director & Member of the Management Board, NürnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd.

29-33

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Rupa Naik, Executive Director, World Trade Center Mumbai, Promoted By MVIRDC

34-36

Exhibition Showcase Talks To Michael Dehn, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt South Africa

40-42

In Conversation With Brad Mayne, President and CEO, International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) and the IAVM Foundation

Pg. 43-44 Insights Pg. 06-07

Pg. 08-09

World Map

43 44

Note From UFI Headquarters Message From Monica Lee-müller, President, UFI,

Industry In Pictures From The World Of Social Media

Pg. 45-46 Sustainability Pg. 10

Quick Bytes

10

Singapore Opens It’s Borders For India

Pg. 12-22

News Buzz

12

Textiles Committee Secretary Shri Ajit Chavan inaugurates Techtextil India in Mumbai

15-16

The 14th Edition Of CPhI & P-MEC India Expo Witnessed An Impressive Opening In Delhi-NCR

18

ProWine Mumbai Successfully Concluded Its 1st Edition With Appreciation From The Wine & Spirit Community In India

21

“ITPO Deserves Appreciation For Projecting Resilence Of Indian Economy AT IITF2021” Says Shri Naqvi Presenting Awards For Excellence In Display

22

IndiAirport In Noida - A Joint Project Of GATE, IFWexpo Heidelberg And The Indian Radeecal Communications

43

Global Events Industry Presented “Net Zero Carbon Events” Pledge At COP26

Pg. 50

Association News

Pg. 51

Report

Pg. 53

People

Pg. 54-58 Global News


Africa Las Vegas Las Vegas has welcomed the reopening of the US’s borders to fully vaccinated international travellers. L a s Ve g a s w e l c o m e d 5 . 7 m international visitors in 2019, resulting in US$4.8bn in direct economic impact. Prior to the pandemic, Las Vegas welcomed non-stop ights from 31 cities in 12 different countries. As international travel returns, Las Vegas welcomes back many of the city’s major conventions: IMEX America, 911 November; the DEMA Show, 16-19 November; and CES, 5-8 January.

Europe The new Covid variant, dubbed Omicron and originally detected in South Africa, poses a "high to very high" risk to Europe, the EU health agency has warned. Apart from South Africa, Omicron has been detected in Israel in a person coming from Malawi as well as in Botswana, Hong Kong and EU member Belgium. Nations are looking to ban ights to slow the spread of Omicron variant.

Cape Town based Vuka Group, the new brand name for Clarion Events Africa following a MBO, has announced the signing of two collaborative deals with Smarter Mobility Africa and Kinetic Events.Vuka Group CEO David Ashdown said the deals were part of a collaborative approach to assist the industry fully recover from the global pandemic. Smarter Mobility Africa launched its rst event in 2019 with the South African National Depar tment of Transpor t and Gauteng Provincial Departments for Roads and Transport as key strategic government partners.


Singapore Messe München, organiser of the world’s leading event for the transport logistics and air cargo sector, has announced Singapore as the destination for transport logistic and air cargo in Southeast Asia. MMI Asia and the Singapore Tourism Board inked a Memorandum of Understanding on 15 November to organise transport logistic and air cargo for multiple biennial editions in Singapore. The Southeast Asian edition of transport logistic and air cargo will take place in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 13-15 September 2023.

Dubai

Australasia

The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has hosted more than two hundred thousand visitors in about a month signifying successful promotion of India as an investment destination, the commerce ministry said. India is participating at the six-month Expo 2020 Dubai running from October 1, 2021 to March 2022. The India Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai started on October 1 to showcase a resurgent India’s march to becoming a $5 trillion economy in the post-covid world. The Pavilion which is a technology marvel captures the vibrant Indian culture and its past but also the capabilities and opportunities that it presents as a global economic hub to the domestic as well as the foreign investors.

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) announced a newly constituted board of directors, following their annual general meeting, 28 September. The key ofce bearers are as follows: Ÿ

Nicole Walker, Arinex - president

Ÿ

Helen Mantellato, ICC Sydney - vice president

Ÿ

Paul Elliot, Harry the hirer - treasurer

Ÿ

Elissa Duke, MCEC – secretary


Industry In Pictures From

The #ICCAWorld team is looking forward to mee ng you at IBTM World Barcelona on 30 November - 2 December Mark your calendar for these two events coming up Associa on Welcome is at 10h00 CET at ICCA Booth F80, Associa on Buyer Networking Drinks Recep on in conjunc on with ICCA Members Networking Recep on will take place at 17h00 CET at the Hosted Buyers Lounge.

Support for the development of and fight against climate change is one of the cornerstones of IndoGerman rela ons. Germany made new commitments more than EUR 1.2 billion (approx. INR 10025 crore). Together both the countries will work towards achieving cleaner energy, more sustainable ci es & be er protec on of natural resources.

Excellent recap of IMEX's America #imex2021 “Over 3,300 buyers were here this week, the vast majority of them hosted buyers, and we had over 2,200 exhibi ng companies represen ng 200plus countries,” said Ray Bloom , chairman and founder of IMEX Group.

Ptak Warsaw Expo has announced the acquisi on of the rights to organize three renowned trade fairs: EuroGastro, WorldHotel and TT Warsaw.

Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister along with JS Shri. Amit Mehta of Heavy Industries, Govt. of India with industry leaders from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and ACMA India. He enlightened the auto industry on the benefits of PLI Schemes for Auto Industry while answering their queries.

Hear est congratula ons to the en re team of #PilzIndia who are celebra ng their #10thAnniversary! #Pilz stands for #safety, and are leaders in safe #automa ontechnology Sanjay Kulkarni it was wonderful to see the ethos on which #pilz is built and func ons!

Dr V K Saraswat, Member - NITI Aayog visited ARAI. He visited various labs at ARAI, and also witnessed the M15 engine with all the necessary evalua on instrumenta on in the engine lab.

Dr. Aman Puri, Consulate General of India and Deputy Commissioner General for India at Expo 2020 Dubai, delivered the pledge on Global Solidarity at the screening of 'Son Rise', a groundbreaking documentary, at #Expo2020Dubai.

Among the trade visitors were also numerous media professionals - 355 from 25 na ons. The press team sends a big THANK YOU to everyone who was there! The video impressively shows why the visit to Düsseldorf was definitely worthwhile. #MEDICA2021

08 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


The World Of Social Media

I'm delighted to share that Noida Interna onal Airport signed an MoU with the Ministry of Civil Avia on for the provision of reserved services, including defence, customs, immigra on, plant and animal quaran ne, health, meteorological and security services. A big "thank you" to MoCA for their support and guidance.

One of India’s oldest and largest associa ons represen ng the interests of the domes c garment industry, CMAI (Clothing Manufacturers Associa on of India) has launched one of its most important and significant new ini a ves – the CMAI ARBITRATION CELL.

Leaders from the industry joined bp to discuss the future of transporta on at the ADIPEC 2021 Leadership Roundtable session. A robust regulatory framework is needed to incen vise technological innova on for the mobility ecosystem. Without it, it will be difficult to achieve the scale needed to drive down the cost of clean energy.

The Abu Dhabi Interna onal Petroleum Exhibi on & Conference (ADIPEC) is the world’s most influen al mee ng place for the world oil & Gas industry. mediaPro Interna onal LLC are delighted to be called upon once again by dmg events to deliver complete turnkey solu on for their technical & strategic conferences & to provide AV solu ons across the en re exhibi on.

India witnessed the biggest Pharma gathering on 24-26 November at IEML in Greater Noida. The event had 550+ exhibitors and 27000 visitors across the 3 days. The event was also complimented with a series of content focused conferences through Pharma Connect, CEO Round Table and Women in Pharma. And to top it all there was the India Pharma Awards to recognise the efforts by the industry.

UFI’s award scheme focuses on sharing best prac ces & highligh ng innova ve solu ons developed & applied throughout the pandemic. Deadline for submissions is March 21, 2022.

Informa Markets in India, a B2B exhibi ons organiser, launched the 5th edi on of RenewX, a two-day Renewable Energy trade expo, at the Hitex Interna onal Exhibi on Centre.

The 1st edi on of ProWine Mumbai concluded with stupendous success. We look forward to having the industry to a much bigger show in 2022.

#uficongress in Ro erdam last week - here are the UFI colleagues who were on site to make it happen, together with the colleagues who stayed in Paris, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. I am humbled and honoured to be part of this team.

09 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Quick Bytes

November 2021 Singapore Opens It’s Borders For India

In a recent announcement, Singapore will finally be reopening its doors for fully vaccinated travellers from India starting November 29 through a “vaccinated travel lane” (VTL). Travellers under VTL are not subject to stay-home notice (SHN) on arrival. Instead, they need to produce a negative pre-departure test taken within two days prior to departure and undergo an onarrival PCR test, says the island nation’s health ministry. In its tweet shared by Singapore mission in India it read, “Following discussions between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore will be launching a VTL for fullyvaccinated travellers from India with valid entry approvals starting November 29, pending resumption of commercial passenger flights.” While Indonesia is also included in this announcement along with India, the programme is expected to be extended to visitors from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from early next month. Currently, there are 13 countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany, under Singapore’s vaccinated travel lane (VTL) programme. Noticably, Since November 12, India had started recognising vaccination certificates issued by Singapore implying that fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore entering India will just need to self monitor for 14 days upon arrival.

Annual General Meeting Of IATA 2022 to Be Held In Shanghai

IMEX America 2021: Turning Point For The Regeneration Of The Global Meetings And Events Industry After a busy week defined by an overwhelming feeling of “it’s good to be back”, IMEX Chairman Ray Bloom, and CEO, Carina Bauer were joined on the podium at the IMEX America closing press conference by Steve Hill, CEO and President of the LVCVA; Paul VanDeventer, President and CEO of MPI and Stephanie Glanzer, Chief Sales Officer & Senior Vice President at MGM Resorts International. Ray marked the 10th edition of IMEX America with his traditional recap of business statistics from the week, “Over 3,300 buyers were here this week, the vast majority of them hosted buyers. We also had over 2,200 exhibiting companies representing 200-plus countries. Appointments were around 50,000 and feedback shows they produced strong business for exhibitors. Also notable was the quality of business and RFPs coming from walk-up appointments by attendee buyers.“ Carina expanded upon the business demand demonstrated during the week. “It’s been heart-warming and joyful to hear so many come-back stories.

10 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced at the 77th Annual General Meeting of IATA being held in Boston, USA that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. During the AGM, a decision was made in addition to the announcement of host city of the next Annual General Meeting. IATA officially announced that Chinese is to formally become a language of International Air Transport Association. As the only newly added language, Chinese joins English, French, Spanish and Arabic, bringing the number of languages for the body to five. "We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th Annual General Meeting of IATA. China is a dynamic aviation market, with the domestic market among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. IATA represents about 290 airlines in over 130 countries and regions. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IATA, held in June every year, is the world's largest and preeminent gathering of airline leaders. It attracts 800-1000 participants each time.

DOMOTEX Cancelled In January 2022 “We have been fighting for DOMOTEX together with the exhibiting companies until the very end, and have been in daily communication with the industry for months,” says Sonia WedellCastellano, Global Director DOMOTEX, Deutsche Messe AG. “DOMOTEX is particularly affected by the impact of the Corona pandemic, as the vast majority of DOMOTEX exhibitors and attendees come from abroad. However, given the current pandemic situation, international business travel is not expected to recover in the short term,” adds WedellCastellano. Just over a month ago, the organizers wanted to stage DOMOTEX in the southern part of the Hannover exhibition grounds in a compact format as a ReStart event in three halls, thus giving the industry a chance to meet physically after almost two years of pandemic. Wedell-Castellano: “What was considered a realistic and promising Re-Start scenario a month ago, and was also well received by the market, has proven to be no longer feasible in recent days.” The organizers are looking into a DOMOTEX date later in the 2022 calendar year.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE



News Buzz

November 2021

Textiles Committee Secretary Shri Ajit Chavan inaugurates Techtextil India in Mumbai ringing the technical textile industry together after a twoyear span, Techtextil India 2021 opened in Mumbai and was inaugurated by key industry and government figures. The trade fair aims to showcase the future potential of technical textiles backed by a series of knowledge sessions, live product demos and B2B networking opportunities.

B

Reconnecting the technical textile value chain for the very first-time postlockdown, Techtexil India 2021 was held in Mumbai. The aim of show organiser Messe Frankfurt India through the new edition is to promote industry unification and support business recovery across the value chain of technical textiles. Addressing the industry at the inauguration, Shri Ajit Chavan, Secretary - Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India shared: “The government of India’s policies are completely catered towards the growth of technical textiles. We have a target of INR 2 Lakh Crore in the country and the Indian industry is geared up to achieve that market potential. As a country, we have a great

12 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

lot of scope in agrotech and medtech, while we have always been at the forefront of packtech, geotech and other high-technoloCommenting on the policies, he added: “The PLI scheme will be a major fillip in manufacturing of technical textiles and the textile parks will provide integrated linkages with the technical textile value chain.” Elaborating on Germany’s participation at the fair, Chavan also said: “Techtexil India is a great platform for bringing the technical textile stakeholders together. Despite the pandemic related difficulties, I am happy to see Germany participating in this important fair and I am sure that they will find good business and collaborations between Indian entrepreneurs and German industries.”gy areas.” Weavetech Engineers, Lenzing Fibers India Pvt Ltd, Khosla Profile Pvt Ltd, Lucky International, Meera Industries Ltd, Park Non-Woven Pvt Ltd, Sarex Chemicals, Alok Masterbatches Pvt Ltd, SICAM and Suntech Geotextile Pvt Ltd are some of the leading Indian companies participating in the 2021 fair. One of the key highlights of Techtextil India is the special showcase of German technology at an exclusive German pavilion, featuring some of the top technical textile manufacturers from the country, such as Autefa Solution Germany GmbH, DILO Systems GmbH, Emtec Electronic GmbH, Georg Sahm GmbH & Co, Karl Mayer

Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Merz Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Oerlikon Barmag Zweigniederlassung der Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. Being a part of the first post-pandemic edition, Mrs Marja Einig, Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General Mumbai, shared: “Messe Frankfurt India has made it happen! This the first time after the pandemic that we are hosting a German pavillion in India. And there is a fantastic display of specialised machinery for various technical textile products which ranges from alternative energy, to masks, to textiles, to sports shoes. It is incredible what we can achieve with a wellequipped production line and that is one of the focal points of Techtextil India and for the German companies participating here.” On the domestic front, the nodal agency for investment promotion and facilitation for the Government of Tamil Nadu – Guidance are showcasing their prowess in technical textiles along with some of the major industry players from the state, including Cyber Textiles India Pvt Ltd, Jayashree Spun Bond, Lenzing Ag India, Liester Technologies, Loyal Textile Mills Ltd, Milltex Engineers Pvt Ltd, Superfil Products Pvt Ltd, Uster Technologies (India) Pvt Ltd. Referring to the potential of the domestic technical textile industry, Mr Amit Agarwal, Chairman, Indian Technical Textiles Association (ITTA) said: “We are at an inflection point where our connsumption, manufacturing and export potential is huge. The growth of technical textiles will happen as the per-capita income increases and therefore, all the application areas of technical textiles in India have an equal potential to grow. I personally forsee that 10 to 15 per cent of compounded annual growth year-onyear is possible in India.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

Informa Markets In India Announces Return Of South India’s Largest Trade Expo In The RE space – 5th Edition Of RenewX he two-day Renewable Energy trade expo slated on November 19 and 20, 2021 at the Hitex, Hyderabad will provide an Industry platform to the renewable energy buyers and sellers enabling them to connect and collaborate for generating business opportunities. One of the leading shows in South India, RenewX will witness a congregation of South India’s green economy community to discuss industry trends, challenges and market insights.

T

With the return in its physical avatar, RenewX has been received with great enthusiasm in the most electrified state of the country. While Telangana is a partner state, the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited will be the Nodal Agency at the show. This year, for the first time, the expo will be witnessing the presence of UK joining as the ‘Partner Country’. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets India said, “India’s renewable energy sector is the most attractive renewable energy market in the world. As of July 2021, India had 96.96 GW of renewable energy and represents 25.2% of the overall installed power capacity. Due to India’s geographical positioning and topography, solar power has a significant potential in the country offering a

13 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

competitive advantage over other countries. Moreover, India is now embracing the idea of AgriPV as solar and the farming industries are beginning to see potential in the combined usage of land for food production and energy generation. The Government of India has also announced various initiatives and has undertaken various large-scale sustainable power projects to promote green energy heavily setting an ambitious target to generate 450 GW of RE by 2030. With Government’s support to the sector and improved economics, this sector is becoming more attractive for the investors.” He added, “We are excited to bounce back with the 5th edition of RenewX 2021 this year in an in-person format, which has been an excellent platform for the renewable energy Industry experts down South. It gives various opportunities for the buyers and sellers to showcase their products and to discuss business opportunities. Witnessing such a positive response and support from the industry in our ReStart 2.0, we look forward to take RenewX to newer heights with this edition and in the coming years.

RenewX once again is geared to share relevant insights gained in the domestic and global renewables market through its 2 days of power packed conference with the theme ‘South India Energy Conclave’. The live conference agenda will reflect on a vast array of new Innovations and Technologies. The conference will comprise panel discussions and presentations on topics such as, Self- Reliant India, E – Highways, AgriPV, Solar PV, Bioenergy and more. Some of the key sessions include – ‘Living with Pandemic – How leaders are making successful changes in ecosystem’, ‘Shaping the Future: Technology Updates & Innovations along with successful case studies’, ‘India’s energy transition – unique challenges and opportunities’, ‘EHighways are Economic and Green only when powered by RE’, ‘Upcoming E-Highways in southern at Annuity Hybrid E-Mobility’, ‘Indigenous Solar PV Manufacturing : Self Reliant India’, ‘Business Opportunities for AgriPV in India’, ‘The Potential of Biogas between Dream and Reality’, ‘An approach towards Methane Emission Reduction’, among others.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE



News Buzz

November 2021

The 14th Edition Of CPhI & P-MEC India Expo Witnessed An Impressive Opening In Delhi-NCR South Asia's biggest Pharma event by Informa Markets in India that maps opportunities & builds partnership for India's rebounding Pharma market nforma Markets in India the leading B2B event’s organiser that creates platforms for businesses to trade, innovate, and grow, inaugurated the 14th edition of South Asia’s biggest Pharma event, CPhI & PMEC India expo scheduled today at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi – NCR. The three-day (24th – 26th November 2021) expo that began today is set to witness over 534 exhibitors from 16 countries and over 20,000 visitors.

I

The marquee expo was inaugurated by Guests of Honours - Mr. Ravi Uday Bhaskar, Director General Pharmexcil, Mr. Narendra Bhooshan, IAS, CEO of Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, Ms. Jennifer Kay, First Secretary and Trade Commissioner High Commission of Canada, Mr. AVPS Chakravarthy, Ambassador World Packaging Organization and Board Member of Pharmexcil, Mr. Amit Raj Sinha, Managing Director, Sigachi, Mr Arjun Deshpande, Founder and CEO, Generic Aadhaar, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director Informa Markets in India and Mr. Rahul Deshpande, Group Director Informa Markets in India. With a focus on building new business partnerships and announcements, the three-day expo promises to deliver and discuss new trends in the industry to grow the economy. Keeping up with their annual promise, the event is hosting an exciting line-up of conferences by addressing the challenges and focusing on future opportunities of the Pharmaceutical industry in India while adapting and

15 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

thriving in this ever-changing industry. This year too, the expo is supported by participants from various Pharmaceutical Companies (generic finished products), API Producers, Distributors, Pharmaceutical Companies (innovator finished products), Intermediates Manufacturers, Engineering and Contract Manufacturers, Ingredients Distributors / Buyers, Consultancies, and Packaging Materials companies. The expo is well received by the industry and associations such as - Pharmexcil, CIPI, IDMA, ASPA, IPA, IPEC, and KDPMA. The expo which is a part of the India Pharma Week, culminated with some interesting sessions on Day 1 under The Pharma Connect Conference that addressed ‘Policy Trigger and National Commitment to nurturing resilient pharma value chain’, ‘Leverage digitalization to enhance existing Pharmaceutical manufacturing plants’, ‘Understanding the Criticality of Catalyst Development through Case Studies’ and ‘Global pharma opportunity and

expanding Indian footprint’. The CEO Roundtable which was a closed-door strategic gathering of CEOs of leading Pharma and Biopharma companies, deep dived into thoughtprovoking discussions on pharma developments in India which was chaired by K. G. Ananthakrishnan, Director General – OPPI and cochaired by Sriram Shrinivasan, Consulting CHS Leader, EY India. The Roundtable witnessed the presence of leaders such as Anandram Narasimhan, Managing Director, Merck Specialities Pvt.Ltd; Suresh Patatthil, General Manager, Abbvie India; B.R. Sikri, Co-Chairman, Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE); Dr. Viranchi Shah, Director, Saga Laboratories; Mr. Franck Toussaint, Executive Director & Co-founder BSMA Europe; Sanjit Singh Lamba, CEO, Valence to name a few. Speaking at the inauguration of the 14th edition of CPhI & P-MEC India Expo, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

said, “The past 13 editions of the CPhI & P-MEC India expo have paved the way for advancement in the Pharma space. It is always a pleasure for us to provide a forum to the industry leaders to present their contributions to the industry and at the same time, witness those of their peers. The overwhelming response from the exhibitors and the discussions at the conference will provide great insight into the industry. The aim is to capture new market trends, innovate, adapt and seek newer opportunities, in this dynamic global market. On this note, we look forward to a great show, and we wish all our guests a safe and productive experience at the India Pharma Week”.The India Pharma Awards (IPA) & Networking Night: A part of the Recognition & Networking stream of the IPW, the 8th edition of the India Pharma Awards will bring together industry champions,

management, excellence in marketing communications, excellence in CSR , excellence in response to Covid 19 among many others.

stalwarts, visionaries and organizations from the pharma universe. The India Pharma Awards is one of the most transparent & process driven awards. It is conducted professionally as well as methodically to draw out the best in the industry. This is done with a neutral Jury Panel representing various segments of the industry in a two-round process of sifting through the nominations. This year, the IPA received 159 nominations with categories such as excellence in R&D, excellence in Brand/Product

The expo is amply supported by its AllSecure & Travel Safety Guidelines – a safety standard initiative by Informa for its exhibitors, attendees, visitors, speakers or sponsors, customers who will be coming to the event. This is introduced to conduct physical trade exhibitions amidst the new normal and has a detailed set of enhanced measures. AllSecure provides attendees the reassurance and confidence that they are participating in a safe and controlled environment. These international protocols are based on the broad principles of Physical Distancing, Protect & Detect, Cleanliness & Hygiene and detailed Communications on these principles.

15 years of ACETECH - Marks Resumption Of Exhibitions In Mumbai CETECH is a series of Asia’s leading architecture, building materials, design and decor exhibitions, recognised as India’s premier portfolio of events for bringing major international and domestic players from the building and interiors industry. The latest edition of ACETECH was held in Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai from 18 to 21 November 2021.

A

With over 200 participants and almost 500 + brands – ACETECH Mumbai is all good news for the Mumbai exhibition industry that has been waiting since very long for physical shows to resume in Bombay Exhibition Centre. ACETECH will complete its 15 years in 2021 and aims to grow 300% in the next three years. Noticably, Gandhi brothers

16 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

have bought their company back from Hyve and now are the 100% owners of ABEC. Talking to Exhibition Showcase, Manish Gandhi, Director, ABEC said, “highlight for this edition would be that it’s a fresh start all over again. After a successful edition in Bengaluru last month, ABEC managed to procure Hall 1 of Nesco with great difficulty and with huge investment of time and effort – a net show of 10000 sqmt comes as a pleasant surprise for the industry and great boost for the construction sector and MICE alike! Ranveer Singh – the top rated celebrity is the face of the show for next

3 years and is also slated to visit the Delhi – ACETECH this December.”

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

India's Leading International Exhibition For Food & Beverage Technology Opens Physically On 2 December In New Delhi he food and beverage technology companies and buyers are excited to restart the growth journey with the 15th edition of ANUTEC – International FoodTec India and its co-located exhibitions. The industry has undergone radical changes within the past two years, and its dynamics have entirely changed. To address this, the advancements in producing food and beverage that conform to consumer demands are already available, and ANUTEC International FoodTec India is providing a platform to entire F&B producers to explore the available innovations.

T

Having the four exhibitions co-located makes it the most comprehensive event that caters to the needs starting from processing all the way to packaging and final delivery using advanced logistics services. Furthermore, the event will feature on-site seminars on Supply Chain, Packaging, and Food Processing conducted by renowned institutions such as Logistic Insider, Indian Flexible Packaging & Folding Carton Manufacturers Association, and All India Food Processors' Association. Also, the topnotch F&B producers have already confirmed their visit to the exhibition. "Over 200 companies from more than 15 countries will be demonstrating their products and services Milind Dixit, MD, physically during Koelnmesse YA Tradefair three days of Pvt Ltd. the event, and we expect more than 6,000 focused buyers to attend the event with the aim of upgrading their food and beverage

17 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

production processes. We are maintaining a hygienic and safe environment for these professionals so that they can network comfortably" says Milind Dixit, Managing Director - Koelnmesse YA Tradefair Pvt Ltd. “As a result of our global expertise in the F&B sector, we were able to organise the exhibitions after a gap. Year after year, these trade fairs have created value for the F&B technology providers and their buyers across India and neighbouring countries. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in person," added Annkathrin Rasch - Global Brand Manager, FoodTec, Koelnmesse GmbH.

Koelnmesse also stages further food technology trade fairs with different sectorspecific areas of focus and content in key markets across the world, including India, Italy and Colombia. These global activities enable Koelnmesse to offer its customers bespoke events and leading regional trade fairs in a variety of markets, thus creating the foundation for sustainable international business. Koelnmesse is also ideally positioned in the field of food and beverages with its leading international trade fairs Anuga and ISM and its global network of satellite events. Upcoming trade fairs: Ÿ

ProSweets Cologne, Cologne, Germany, 30.01.-02.02.2022

Ÿ

IIDE – India International Dairy Expo, Mumbai, India, 13.04.15.04.2022

Ÿ

ANUFOOD China FoodTec Zone, Shenzhen, China, 20.04.-22.04.2022

Ÿ

Anuga FoodTec, Cologne, Germany, 26.04.-29.04.2022

Koelnmesse - industry trade fairs for the food technology sector: Koelnmesse is an international leader in organising trade fairs in the field of food and beverage processing. Anuga FoodTec and ProSweets Cologne are established, world-leading trade fairs, hosted in Cologne/Germany. In addition to the events at its Cologne headquarters,

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

ProWine Mumbai Successfully Concluded Its 1st Edition With Appreciation From The Wine & Spirit Community In India roWine Mumbai launched its first edition at the prestigious The St Regis Mumbai with much gusto and enthusiasm from the wine and spirits industry from 17 to 18 November. ProWine Mumbai is a part of the globally iconic ProWein World and is jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf India and All Things Nice.

P

The event rightly kick-started with champagne popping and an inaugural ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by dignitaries from the US Consulate, the Consulate General of France, Australian High Commission, South African Consulate, Trade Centre of Argentina, Republic of Mauritius, corporate heads and the industry associations with media partners. As the first in-person trade fair for the wine and spirits sector in India since the start of the COVID pandemic, ProWine Mumbai was well received and featured over 200 brands from 70 companies across 13 countries with 2,017 attendees.

digitally throughout the day. In the Spirits Pavilion, visitors were able to taste and meet producers of gin, vodka, single malts, rum, tequila, craft beverages and beer. The highlight for visitors at the Spirits Pavilion seemed to be the innovative cocktails that imbibed fresh ideas and were artistically curated. Also on display were bar and glassware products and premium drinking water brands.

Over two days, the 3 exhibition halls were buzzing with tastings and good camaraderie as the industry caught up with each other and facilitated business meetings. Visitors at ProWine Mumbai ranged from large hoteliers, prominent restaurateurs and bar owners, importers, distributors and retailers, sommeliers, chefs and food and beverage teams. ProWine Mumbai succeeded in putting together a platform not just for business meetings but also for people in the trade to be introduced to new products that are now available in the Indian market. On showcase was an array of wines well represented by brands from India and many countries across the world. The French Pavilion led by Business France, innovatively provided access to visitors to speak to the wine producers in France

Mr. Thomas Schlitt, Managing Director Messe Düsseldorf, India states: “It fills me with joy and gratitude to see this Thomas Schlitt, MD, amazingrecognition Messe Düsseldorf, India from the industry stakeholders in India for the 1st ProWine Mumbai event. Going from being a ProWein Educational Campaign to a first-ever fullfledged comprehensive trade fair for the Wine & Spirits industry is the reflection of developing the market for the future growth of the industry in India. I am glad that at the maiden edition most major players from India and representation of 7 leading wine

18 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

producing countries were represented. With this successful premiere we have laid the foundation for ProWine Mumbai to be the ideal platform to Meet – Network – Taste and connect the market as an annual meeting place. Cheers!!” “We are thrilled to have put in place the very first business platform for the wine and spirits industry. We are overwhelmed by the fantastic response, we believe ProWine Mumbai will elevate the future of the wine and spirits industry in India and we hope you enjoy all that ProWine Mumbai will offer you in the coming years”, says Nikhil Agarwal, Founder – All Things Nice and Co-organiser of ProWine Mumbai. “The ProWine Mumbai was a real success and we are really proud to have been part of it with our 13 French producers in the Pavilion.” Ms. Mathilde Bertille, Trade Officer Agribusiness Department, Business France India. “It was wonderful. It gave us the opportunity to introduce ourselves & meet different people in business.” Shruti Gaikwad, representing Consulate of Argentina.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

Media Expo New Delhi 2021 Reunites Ad, Print And Signage Industry For The First-time Post-Lockdown fter a long hiatus on physical exhibitions, Messe Frankfurt India returns with its first-ever in-person exhibition in New Delhi. Held in India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. Media Expo New Delhi 2021 has emerged as a crucial business avenue for the physical advertising fraternity with more than 100 brands under its belt.

A

Starting the three-day spree of sourcing and business networking, the trade fair was inaugurated by: Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Mr Sunil Jain, President, Delhi Printers Association (DPA) Mr Kamal Chopra, President, World Printing Communication Forum (WPCF) Mr Vinod Vittoba, Director, Association for PRINT Technologies ( formerly NPES) Mr Shailesh Mehta, Managing Director, Mehta Cad Cam Mr Madhu Sudan Dadu, Chairman, Colorjet Mr Vitesh K Sharma, Country Manager large format Business, India Market- HP Inc.

Mr Rajiv Kalra, Director, Satyam Acrylic Plastics Pvt. Ltd. Ÿ Mr Winston Pereira, General Manager, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd Ÿ

Commenting on the anticipated return of Media Expo, Mr Vinod Vittoba, Director, Association for PRINT Technologies (formerly NPES), shared: “Attending a physical event after a gap of almost 3 years is like a breath of fresh air. Media Expo New Delhi brought back the most essential element of our lives which is – human connect. It has given the industry a fertile platform to talk, bond, discuss, strategize and feel reality once again; which was severely missed. More than anything, it gives hope that very soon, exciting things are coming our way.” Furthermore, Mr Kamal Chopra, President, World Printing Communication Forum (WPCF), spoke about the resilience of the print ad industry: “Times are changing and along with it the print technology is evolving. Even in past, printing industry has survived many drastic phases and it will definitely survive the current phase and continue to grow along with digitisation.” Commenting on the restart of the face-toface exhibitions along with Media Expo

19 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Raj Manek, ED & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd

New Delhi, Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said: “Extremely delighted to be a part of a physical exhibition after such a long time. The return of face-to-face exhibitions is quite a major event as it not only signifies the revival of the exhibition industry, but also plays a huge role in supply chain development of local businesses and contributes to the overall economic growth of India. Through Media Expo New Delhi 2021, Messe Frankfurt India aims to deliver strong value to the advertising segment by providing a perfect avenue for product sourcing, networking and knowledge sharing.” Leading manufacturers in OOH media, including: Arrow Digital, Colorjet, HP India, Mehta Cad Cam, Mimaki, Monotech, Rextone, Orafol, Silicon Infotech and Timex Bond among others have put their latest product developments on display for the event. Top innovations from the showfloors Media Expo New Delhi 2021 showcases a wide variety of products and cuttingedge technology in OOH advertising, including: Launch of new 4th Generation HP Latex Printers by HP India Ÿ UV curing technology ensures immediate drying, saving up to 90% of the production time Ÿ Canon Colorado Series powered by UVgel technology, and EFI Pro 16h LED UV Hybrid Printer by Arrow Digital Ÿ

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

November 2021

ATOMIC and CYCLONE series of LED curable inks for wide format applications by Kao DURAWALL a digitally printable wall media by Duracoat serves as an alternative for hand painted bills on masonry walls is water activated and made from locally available raw materials i-Jet by True Colors Solutions & Technologies India Pvt Ltd is an advanced solvent printer with Japanese technology and intelligent print head control system Polyfix Combo Kit and Polyfix Nonwhitening Instant Glue by Benson Polymers Ltd Launch of high-quality Skycut

Cutting Plotters by Skycut, used for precise cutting of stickers, labels, vinyl, etc One of the leading exhibitors at Media Expo New Delhi 2021, Mr Vitesh Sharma, Country Manager, Large Format Production Business, HP India, shared: “There could not have been a better platform than Media Expo to display our newly launched 4th generation latex printers, for the first time in India. It is really exciting to have our first-physical interaction with our industry partners, customers and ‘who’s who’ of the industry after a long time.”

buzzing show floors, the trade fair has become a centre-place for business networking and invaluable exchanges with industry peers and professionals converging from all across the country for the first-time after the pandemic induced lockdown. Marking the return of Messe Frankfurt India’s physical exhibitions, Media Expo New Delhi 2021 is equipped to provide a safe and secure platform for product sourcing and B2B engagements, which it will continue to deliver throughout its two outstanding days.

Apart from the innovations on its

TAAI Shares Inputs On Promoting Rail Tourism With Government Through PPP Model n a meeting with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has shared its inputs with the government on giving impetus to rail tourism in India. Attending the meeting virtually on behalf of the association, Bettaiah Lokesh, Honorary Secretary General, TAAI and Anoop Kanuga, Chairman – Tourism Services Council, Managing Committee Member shared inputs on how rail tourism products can be better promoted in the country with the help and support of travel trade. This was the second meeting after first such meeting was attended by President, Jyoti Mayal earlier.

Ÿ

I

Second meeting on the same day was chaired by the Union Railways minister at the Rail Bhawan in New Delhi where all travel and tourism associations were invited. Among various suggestions, TAAI gave emphasis on travel agents and tour operators working very closely with government to promote rail

20 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Ÿ

products and how they should be mandatorily commissionable to them. “This is a potentially fantastic railtourism product. This should certainly create an initial impetus for private capital to participate in public services to create incredible stories around Indian Tourism,” the association mentioned. A detailed costs structure of train operations to enable a pro- forma P&L, cash flow & NPV analysis. Ÿ If the fixed costs instead of being paid quarterly can have a mortgage period and be paid two years into the concession. Ÿ If the lease can be given an NOC to be provided as a collateral to take bank funding against the concession.

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

The possibility of passing on depreciation benefits of coach retrofitting to the concessionaire to enable a more financially attractive model. If there would be service level agreements on train timings and maintenance uptime between railways and the concessionaire and whether those can made linked to reduced fixed costs in case of their non-compliance. Since for Railways it is a new marginal product without incremental capital costs, can a much lower fixed cost and marginal cost structure be explored for this concession to enable promoting the product The guidance of making this product mandatorily commissionable to travel agents & tour operators in India. Possibility of creating a sub- brand Incredible Indian Tourism Trains to provide overall branding support to the concessionaires.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

“ITPO Deserves Appreciation For Projecting Resilence Of Indian Economy AT IITF2021” Says Shri Naqvi Presenting Awards For Excellence In Display omplimenting the India Trade Promotion Organisation(ITPO) for holding a very successful edition of the 40th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF), Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Hon'ble Minister for Minority Affairs, Government of India pointed out that IITF 2021 has remained highly successful with enhanced number of participants despite all challenges and time constraints and the organizers deserve all appreciation. He said that the event has generated brisk business in the fair including 'Hunar Haat' wherein around 300 participants with around 1000 artisans and craftsmen took part from different regions where there were a wide range of awesome handicraft and handloom products on display. The event reflected India's intrinsic strength of 'Swadesi', he added. He was speaking at the Award Presentation Ceremony of IITF, concluded at Hall No.5, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, today.

C

Present on the occasion were Shri L. C. Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO, and Shri Vibhu Nayar, Executive Director, ITPO, participants from India and abroad and media persons . Announcing the theme of next IITF “VOCAL FOR LOCAL, LOCAL TO GO GLOBAL”, Shri L.C. Goyal hoped that the next edition of the event would be the largest ever after completion of the remaining IECC project of the Pragati Maidan. He informed that the as per preliminary reports and estimation, the fair has generated an economic

21 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

activity of Rs.1000 crore which is an indication of economy fast returning to normal in the post pandemic situation. Shri Goyal expressed his happiness over the participation response and enthusiasm of the visitors who were also eager to see the New Exhibition Complex at Pragati Maidan. He also appreciated the co-operation of People of Delhi & NCR and from other parts of the country to follow the Covid-19 protocols. He hoped that the next edition of the IITF would be organized with a record participation. Complimenting all the Award winners in different categories, Shri Goyal appreciated participants and visitors for their continued faith in IITF format. He also appreciated Delhi Police, Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro and other law enforcement agencies for making the event incident free. The Awards for Excellence in Display were presented by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in different categories. Significantly, Bihar honoured with the Gold Medals as the Partner State as well as in the State/UT Category, while both of the Focus States, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand were also awarded the Gold Medal, in the State/UT Categories.

Assam was conferred the Silver Medal, Kerala the Bronze medals while Madhya Pradesh was given with the special appreciation. Coir Board won the Gold Medal, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (Hunar Haat) bagged the Silver while the Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were honored with the Bronze Medals. The Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Ministry of Cooperation were commended with special appreciation in the Ministries & Deptt./PSU & PSB and Commodity Boards. In the Foreign Sector, the Gold Medal was conferred to Syed Junaid Alam W.L.L (Bahrain), Bangladesh High Commission won the Silver, Tillo Hediyelik Esya Sanayi (Turkey) received the Bronze while, Silver Palace (Iran) was honored with special appreciation. In the Private Sector, Shri Shyam Tilpatti Udyog, Flora Appliances Pvt. Ltd., Wooden Art received the Gold, Shri Vibhu Nayar, Silver and Bronze IAS, Executive Director, ITPO Medals respectively, R.D.M Care (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Pansari Industries were commended with the special appreciations. In his 'Vote of Thanks”, Shri Vibhu Nayar, Executive Director, ITPO also commended the 'Team ITPO' as well as all supporting agencies for putting their best foot forward on logistics, business generation, participation, security and access control measures and visitorship.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


News Buzz

November 2021

IndiAirport In Noida - A Joint Project Of GATE, IFWexpo Heidelberg And The Indian Radeecal Communications

ndian aviation industry is booming. The government plans to privatize up to 35 airports and build 100 more by 2024. The Indian Airport Authority announced investments in the billions. Reason enough for GATE to strengthen its presence and commitment on the Asian subcontinent in the interest of its member companies. The inclusion of IndiAirport in the German government's foreign trade fair program fits in with this. On the Indian side, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the patron of the fair. The marketing concept is aimed specifically at Indian airport authorities and the growing number of private operating companies.

I

In order to make contact with decisionmakers around the world, international airport trade shows are a fixed date in GATE's calendar. The association also focuses in particular on the growing markets in Asia and Africa. "It wasn't

22 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

just yesterday that we set our sights on India as an important market. After all, civil aviation is one of the country's fastest growing industries," comments Jens Reinhard, managing director of GATE. According to current studies, India is expected to become the third largest market in the industry by 2024. In the next ten years, the country is even expected to overtake China and the USA. „We are delighted to have the opportunity to rebuild our presence and commitment on the ground," Reinhard summarizes. Now that funding has been approved by the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), planning has begun for the first IndiAirport, which will be held at the India Expo Centre Mart in Noida from November 22 to 24, 2022. “We are expecting a total of 3,000 visitors and 100 exhibitors," reports Stefan Kresse, Managing Director of IFWexpo Heidelberg GmbH, which is responsible for

organizing IndiAirport. He further announces that there will be a German Day with a panel discussion where the German industry can get in direct contact with the Indian airport authorities. "We are sure that the new show will be a great success with our partners from Germany" says Sanyal Desai, CEO Radeecal Communications and organizer of the new fair. Numerous members of GATE have already expressed their interest in participating. "We are pleased to be able to present ourselves together with GATE at the first IndiAirport. In addition to the size of the Indian market, the speed of development and appetite for innovation is also of particular importance. Both the regulators and the airports as core customers are extremely progressive and ambitious in their thinking. "Harald Jentsch, Head of Airports & Baggage Screening + Head of Air Cargo Screening at Smith Detection.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE



Cover Interview

November 2021

I would say the show team and operations team are two sides of the same coin. They cannot survive without each other. Show team sells a dream and operations team turns that dream into reality. SATYENDRA MEHRA Group Director Member of the Management Board NürnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd. 24 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Cover Interview

November 2021

Our upcoming plans are centred around sustainable growth and progress In conversation with Satyendra Mehra, Group Director & Member of the Management Board, NürnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd.

“India is one of the fastest growing exhibition markets within the NürnbergMesse group. Our growth has been consistent and our offerings are versatile. There are many new areas where we see a huge potential and our current portfolio also offers tremendous scope for growth. In an exhibition, customer service, experience, timely delivery and completion of tasks are of utmost importance and critical. It’s a value chain. Each and every step, process and procedure needs to be adhered.” ES. What were the past experiences, achievements, or lessons that shaped your journey as a successful leader in this industry? Satyendra Mehra. My journey in the exhibition industry has been quite adventurous, exciting and full of great learnings. Never imagined that I would end up in this industry, coming from an airline and customer service-oriented industry, which is where I started my career. I am a firm believer that one should not miss any opportunity to learn alongside colleagues and fellow professionals, which in itself is an enriching experience. Equally important is to learn from failures and take the necessary corrective measures to move ahead. Over the years’ challenges, experiences and opportunities have enabled me to transform from a hard-core operations specialist to an industry specialist now holding a key management position and portfolio. There have been mentors, colleagues, friends, and well-wishers on this journey who have played a huge role in my growth, for which I am extremely grateful. ES. In this period of change, Artificial intelligence has started to become an integral part of our industry. Do you think with these new tools comes a greater opportunity to reach and engage with new audiences that are larger than ever before? Satyendra Mehra. Absolutely. I believe that, Artificial intelligence (AI) has been an integral

25 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

part of our business and industry for a long time. We have been using it in one form or another, depending on the objectives. The key to our business and also to effective adoption and application of AI is data. The definition of AI has varied over the last decade to being just number crunching to an inference tool to now a human interface and life influencing force. AI is changing the way the world works. AI is being used across several sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and even retail, and the Exhibition sector is no different. AI can personalise recommendations for event attendees and exhibitors on a large scale, furthermore AI can be a powerful tool in for marketing, by optimising ads and campaigns automatically to ensure that the most impactful messages are being sent. I would say AI acts as an influencer and manoeuvres one’s decision making process to the desired and expected outcome. With technology constantly evolving at a staggering pace, incorporating advanced technologies in the events and exhibition industry has taken the customer experience to a significant level. Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality are also holding great potential in engaging the customers at an immersive level. We need use these digital tools to our advantage and to complement them with our existing offerings to provide an enhanced experience and outcome for our clients and their customers. Such tools help and support us in focussed marketing campaigns and engagement, and very importantly develop and explore untapped territories and customers.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Cover Interview

November 2021

ES. Tech is now an enabler for the event industry. Can you share with us your thoughts on how and what to embrace in this domain? Satyendra Mehra. One has to embrace change and accept digital transformation, for good. There is this saying “One size doesn’t fit all”. Hence the solutions will depend on your expectations and requirements. It’s situational and need based. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. Apart from standardised digital solutions which most us are using at the moment, we need to have customised solutions too. This also depends on level of investment, along with in-house capability and expertise in handling and managing them. ES. With 17 shows spread across different Industry verticals., today the offerings of NürnbergMesse India are varied and versatile. What are your upcoming plans for the Indian market?

results. It was encouraging to witness the positive vibes, excitement and enthusiasm on the show floor. Our “Hygiene Concept” ensured that participants felt secure and safe at the event, while at the same time enjoying the benefits of face to face networking. ES. What is your advice for budding or emerging leaders? Satyendra Mehra. Embrace change and Innovate. Always keep pushing to explore and exploit the best available within ourselves Ÿ Challenge and keep questioning till you are satisfied with the outcome Ÿ Patience: Inventions and innovations were discovered after number of failures and repeated attempts Ÿ Resilience: Whenever there is major problem, take a step back. Focus on finding and exploring workable solutions and options Ÿ

Satyendra Mehra. India is one of the fastest growing exhibition markets within the NürnbergMesse group and like you rightly said, our growth has been consistent and our offerings versatile. Our upcoming plans are centred around sustainable growth and progress. There are many new areas where we see a huge potential and our current portfolio also offers tremendous scope for growth. ES. NMI organised its 1st physical show post covid BIOFACH INDIA just recently. Please share with us the experience and feedback received from the participants. Satyendra Mehra. “Re-Experience Live” was our mantra. Our focus and emphasis to deliver our goals of “We Care” and “Partnership beyond Business” yielded great

26 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Cover Interview

November 2021

Invest in Training and Skill Development Encourage team effort and bonding by having human centric approach Ÿ Adopt a collaborative style of working, giving due emphasis to diversity and inclusion Ÿ Ÿ

ES. What are the key challenges surrounding our industry? In your opinion, what does the future hold for the Indian exhibition industry? Satyendra Mehra. In the current situation, I believe following points need to be addressed which will help us to overcome challenges faced by all of us: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Instilling confidence and promoting the nostalgic value of Trade Fairs. Importance of face-to-face networking Realigning of Strategy Redesigning of Marketing Communication Focus on Content Addressing the changing needs of the customers Bundling and delivery of existing conventional offerings along with latest digital innovations Providing continuous and yearlong engagement Reassurance on safe, secure and hygiene parameters Providing ROI to the customers Very importantly to invest in staff and training

The future of the exhibition industry in India is promising along with a steady growth. India is an important market and one of prime exhibition destinations globally. In the coming days, we will be witnessing more strategic alliances, collaborations, partnerships, investments, new launches, geocloning of existing brands and more International organisers establishing their base here. ES. As you oversee event operations too, what aspects do you feel are the most critical while organizing a show and also the ones that present most unique challenges?

Satyendra Mehra. In an exhibition, customer service, experience, timely delivery and completion of tasks are of utmost importance and critical. It’s a value chain. Each and every step, process and procedure needs to be adhered. Also, very important is the resource and cost management. Some of the important and critical parameters that need to be considered are Strategy, Planning, Detailing, Risk Assessment, Transparent and effective communication, and Attitude to ensure health and safety coupled with quality service delivery. In spite of planning and detailing so well, most of us have encountered and faced challenges which we never anticipated and hence it is always recommended to have alternate plan, i.e. contingency/back-up plan to address such challenges. From my experience the most unprecedented challenges faced are due to lack of training and motivation, unwillingness to move out of your comfort zone, miscommunication, poor time management, and especially lack of trust. Patience and calmness are two other important factors which always come in handy while managing events, especially those which are mounted on a large scale. ES. The planning for an event starts a year ahead and goes on post the conclusion of the show. How important is the element of operations for the show team? How do you, especially, achieve such excellence in operations? Satyendra Mehra. I would say the show team and operations team are two sides of the same coin. They cannot survive without each other. Show team sells a dream and operations team turns that dream into reality. In our organisation each team involved in delivering a successful show work and walk hand-in-hand. Team work and trusting each other is a critical aspect in this case. The teams discuss, deliberate, agree to disagree for the betterment of the event. Most importantly

27 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Cover Interview

November 2021

both the teams are encouraged to look at our services and offerings from the perspective of the ones who would be finally using it. This allows us to evaluate our processes more closely and ideate towards finding solutions which would benefit all Stakeholders; to integrate a practice of constant feedback from the users and evolve our services during the different stages of project management. Here we would like to express our gratitude and extend our thanks to our service partners. They are our extended family that provide flawless and seamless customer service experience. ES. As you deal with the service providers on a regular basis, how do you feel about the evolving role of venues and suppliers in the new normal and evolving dynamics of relationship between organisers and service partners? Satyendra Mehra. We at NürnbergMesse have a longstanding association, relationship and understanding with our service partners including venues, and we believe it has only evolved and enhanced over a period of time, and will continue to do so. They have been one of the key drivers of the success of our shows and with that, the organisation as a whole. They are our extended arm for services we provide to our exhibitors and visitors. During this time of ‘New Normal’, the emphasis and focus is to create an enhanced secure and safe environment. The future is "Sustainability" and "Digitisation". Skill development and training is equally important. We expect these to

28 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

integrate across various levels and aspects of the industry for better management and an even bUnderstandably, we face multiple challenges together but the best part is that we discuss, deliberate and work out solutions which are feasible and benefit the show, which includes timeline schedule and planning, resource allocation, timely and quality service delivery, customer friendly communication, attending and fulfilling additional requirements/requests from exhibitors and visitors, last minute service execution and contingency support.

Most important aspect what we stress on is educating, training and briefing our service partners before each event with regards to managing expectations, handling and addressing challenges onsite and very crucial “SERVICE with a SMILE!”

Any kind of challenge and issue can be addressed. This is possible and achievable with having a proper plan in place, having deliberations and discussions, clear and transparent communication and most importantly respect, trust and confidence in each other. At the end of the day SUCCESS is all about TEAM WORK! During this time of ‘New Normal’, the emphasis and focus is to create an enhanced secure and safe environment. The future is "Sustainability" and "Digitisation". Skill development and training is equally important. We expect these to integrate across various levels and aspects of the industry for better management and an even better end result.etter end result.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

“My vision for WTC Mumbai is to develop a dynamic trade support ecosystem anchored on the four pillars of trade promo on, trade research, trade educa on and trade facility management. Every year, the Expo Center hosts 65 exhibi ons and several promo onal ac vi es. Recently, we hosted new events such as Astro World, Contemporary Art Fair, BIMSTEC, Sail Exposi on, Kids Karva, DRT Show India, IKPE Toy Fair, Slag Summer Fest, FCB 2019, SX Retail Open House and Indian Handicra Factory. Our conference and mee ng rooms in the Centre recorded excellent occupancy.” RUPA NAIK Execu ve Director, World Trade Center Mumbai, Promoted By MVIRDC 29 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021 Our organization completed 50 years in June 2020. Even though we are a 50 year old organization, we remain young by reinventing our operational model to stay relevant to the changing times. In this era of social distancing and remote working, we thought it appropriate to bring digital transformation in our trade support services. As part of this effort, we launched our new age digital trade, exhibition and networking platform wetrade.org last year to connect local companies to the global market at a minimal cost in a most efficient manner.

ES. Could you provide the readers about your early life and career? What is your vision ahead for WTC Mumbai? Rupa Naik. I started my career in the tourism industry after having graduated in Economics and armed with a Diploma in Travel and Tourism from IATA. My stint in the tourism industry helped me acquaint with the cultures, cuisines and traditions of different countries. Even as I enjoyed my career in travel industry, I nurtured passion for trade promotion and strategic alliances that urged me to explore opportunity in chambers of commerce and trade organizations. Since then, I have spent more than 30 years in trade support institutions beginning with AIMO (All India Manufacturers Organization), AIAI (All India Association of Industries) and presently with MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai. My vision for WTC Mumbai is to develop a dynamic trade support ecosystem anchored on the four pillars of trade promotion, trade research, trade education and trade facility management. It gives me great pleasure to say that this vision fulfills the dream of Bharat Ratna Sir Dr. M Visvesvaraya, who was the inspiration behind the MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai. My vision of a dynamic trade support ecosystem is one which responds to the emerging challenges of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women owned businesses. Today, MSMEs account more than 30% of our GDP and they contribute at least 40% to our exports.

ES. As one of the oldest venues, WTC Mumbai has been built into one of the leading MICE venues in Mumbai. Please tell us other features that set your WTC apart from other venues. Rupa Naik. Our Expo Center is located at one of the oldest business districts in the commercial capital of Mumbai and is an ideal venue for both national and international trade shows, besides consumer fairs. The Expo Center is a worldclass centrally air-conditioned venue spread across 41,000 sq. ft. area and is backed by round the clock support services. It is the most sought after exhibition venue in South Mumbai. As we offer state-of-the-art support and technical services through our panel of contractors for stall design and construction, the venue is also equipped with store rooms, telephone facility, reception area, freight elevator and Cafeteria to cater multi-cuisine food. Apart from Expo Center, we also have 13,735 sq feet garden lawn and other venues with different capacities to host exhibitions and conferences. As a testimony to our superior performance, we won the awards i.e. Fastest Growing Venue in 2017, Corporate Excellence in 2018, Excellence in Services in 2019 and ‘Star in MICE’ Category in 2020 at the Exhibition Excellence Awards organised by Exhibition Showcase. ES. How many regional, national and international conventions, meetings and trade shows, are hosted by the WTC Mumbai? How do you overcome the challenge in initiating and conducting the events?

Through an efficient trade support ecosystem, we can enhance their contribution to the economy to 50%. Secondly, despite constituting 50% of population, women account for hardly 13% of all enterprises in India. By providing an efficient platform to meet the global aspiration of small scale women entrepreneurs, we can create a breed of successful women owned enterprises, who will in turn be a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs.

30 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

Rupa Naik. Every year, the Expo Center hosts 65 Exhibitions and several Promotional activities. Recently, we hosted new events such as Astro World, Contemporary Art Fair, BIMSTEC, Sail Exposition, Kids Karva, DRT Show India, IKPE Toy Fair, Slag Summer Fest, FCB 2019, SX Retail Open House and Indian Handicraft Factory. Our conference and meeting rooms in the Centre recorded excellent occupancy. ES. How does WTC Mumbai make important contributions to the economy in India with its advanced professional capabilities? Rupa Naik. Indian exhibition economy is a multi-billion dollar industry that creates direct and indirect jobs across hospitality, food, housekeeping, booth construction, advertisement, creative design and logistics sectors. Apart from having direct impact on these sectors, the exhibition industry indirectly stimulates economic growth by providing lead generation and sales to the exhibitors. WTC Mumbai is located at a premier location in the southern business district of Mumbai, with proximity to iconic hotel brands, renowned tourism spots and fine dining restaurants.

WTC Mumbai contributes to the exhibition economy of India by holding Textile, Travel & Tourism, Food & Hospitality exhibitions and attracting business leaders, representatives from multilateral organizations, consular corps and other government officials. Few of the well established exhibitions are Fibres & Yarns, SCaT, MCS (Numismatic) and iconic events such as Global Economic Summit and World Trade Expo. The Conference and Exhibitions in these events draw speakers, exhibitors and visitors from across the country.

ES. Technological change is creating historic shifts in industry footprints. Do you think this process will accelerate? How would this technology take shape at your organisation?

31 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Rupa Naik. It is our constant endeavour to reinvent ourself to stay ahead of the technology curve to benefit exhibition organizers and other members of trade and industry. As part of this effort, we launched our new age digital platform wetrade.org last year to connect local exhibitors to the global market. This online platform is developed to offer greater returns on investment with low cost of participation for small and medium enterprises. This online platform offers enhanced online presence with high reach and engagement with targeted visitors and buyers from India and overseas. In FY 2020-21, we organized three online expos, viz. Handloom Expo, Handicraft Expo and Healthcare & Wellness Expo. Collectively, over 500 exhibitors participated in these virtual expos. In the current financial year, we have organized bilateral exhibition with Zambia and are currently organizing such exhibitions with Caribbean countries and Vietnam. In future, we are planning to leverage our digital platform to help domestic sellers to cater to buyers in various other countries as well, and help them to understand various aspects of exports such as quality standards, packaging requirements, country specific trade restrictions etc. Going forward, we firmly believe that hybrid events are a way forward to reach to desired stakeholders effectively by integrating physical events with online participation. ES. How have things changed within the industry during your career? Rupa Naik. In my career, the exhibition industry has witnessed changes across three fronts, viz. privatization, formalization and globalization. A major change that I have witnessed in recent decades is the substantial growth in the venue capacity of India, led by huge investment by private players such as HITEX, Bombay Exhibition Center and Bangalore International Exhibition Center. The second

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

change witnessed in my career is formalization as today 40% of venue providers in the exhibition industry are organized players (according to Indian Exhibition Industry Association). The third major change is the globalization of the Indian exhibition industry. In a year, the Indian exhibition industry provides venue to 745 events, of which 40% are organized by international players. Another remarkable change that I have witnessed in the exhibition industry in the recent period of my career is the increasing consciousness towards environment protection and sustainable development goals.

“WTC Mumbai has adopted best practices in harnessing natural energy and recycling waste through initiatives such as rooftop solar paneling, installation of e-waste bins, composting machine, pet bottle crusher machine, and energy efficient lighting design. These have significantly contributed to sustainable practices. We have upgraded infrastructure facilities of our venues through renovation, rehabilitation and maintenance projects, such as installation of 100 Kwp Grid tied Roof Top Solar Power Plant at The Arcade terrace.” ES. Could you please share with us a brief summary of your session at IMS 2.0? What are some major points that you would like to highlight? Rupa Naik. My session at IMS 2.0 focused on the evolving trend of hybrid events, which combine physical and virtual features to adapt to the changing situation. The outcome of the pandemic and its impact, though negative, have created great opportunities for enhancing virtual showcasing of products and reaching out to larger number of buyers and expanding footprints to exhibitors globally. But the impact of the pandemic is felt more by service providers such as exhibition organisers, venue owners and other service providers required for installing stalls, lighting, designing etc. Going forward, physical events may continue to face pressures like venue availability to adjust to social distancing and other SOPs, extra costs of meeting regulations along with challenges in attracting overseas buyers and visitors. The hybrid events may provide an excellent opportunity to mitigate these challenges while maintaining profitability. Hybrid events can also help serve local as well as international participants, and enhance the geographical reach of the events.

exchanges by virtue of its unique location advantages, and an ideal venue for holding various social and corporate events? Rupa Naik. WTC Mumbai has always believed in exchange of trade delegations as a way to promote international trade, investment, technology transfer and joint ventures. Through our strategic alliance with diplomatic missions of foreign countries and bilateral chambers of commerce, we organized 65 trade-related programs in the normal year of 2019-20. Our association with the network of 320 World Trade Centers across 90 countries also provides a unique advantage in stimulating cross-border economic exchange. Even during the pandemic year of 2020-21, we organized more than 50 webinars with diplomatic corps, other government officials, leaders from multilateral institutions and senior business executives from across the world. WTC Mumbai has signed MoUs with nearly 200 organisations, including chambers of commerce and trade promotion agencies in India and abroad. Besides, our organization also partners with Government of Maharashtra to organize conferences on topics of policy significance such as international trade, women’s economic empowerment and public procurement policy. ES. With the objective of providing major impetus to safety, how have you equipped to ensure safe and secure events? Please name some major events hosted recently by WTC Mumbai. Rupa Naik. Safety and security are the top priorities of our organization’s endeavour to maintain the trust and conviction reposed in us by event organizers and exhibitors. We follow all safety protocols, such as thermal scanning, hand sanitization and social distancing norms, as prescribed by the local Government authorities.

ES. How has WTC Mumbai been instrumental in the promotion of domestic and international economic

32 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

With these safety measures, WTC Mumbai has successfully hosted events such as Elite Clothing Exhibition, Furniture & Furnishing Show, Fashion Jalsa, Numismatic & Philatelic Fair and Fashion Affair recently. ES. Do you have some hybrid element involved in shows at WTC Mumbai? How do you ensure contactless delivery and services at your venue? Rupa Naik. According to the guidelines issued by Government of India and Government of Maharashtra, all the safety & precautionary measures are followed viz: Venue sanitization, Temperature check, prohibiting entry for participants without Masks, installing Hand sanitizer dispensing machines and Maintaining social distancing. We have also introduced pre-registration for visitors to manage the crowd better. ES. What according to you will be the role of venues and the preparations they will need to thrive in the new normal? Rupa Naik. The pandemic is driving changes to the way we interact and socialize with each other as health and safety has become a key concern in the minds of people. Trust is essential get people back to the exhibition venue. The role of venue providers is crucial in securing the confidence of exhibitors and visitors by allaying their safety concerns. Responding to the challenges & seizing the opportunities will be the key defining factor to thrive in this new normal. Venue providers should focus on operational agility and also cost competitiveness to navigate uncertainty. Thus, according to me, considerations for employee and customer

33 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

health and safety are the key effective business recovery. ES. What are your upcoming plans? What major events are in the pipeline? Rupa Naik. WTC Mumbai is committed to promote bilateral trade and investment through our new age digital platform wetrade.org. In the coming months, we are planning to connect Indian MSMEs to buyers in Peru, South Africa and Eswatini by organizing dedicated online exhibitions with these countries. In addition, we are excited to bounce back in an in-person format and have Travel & Tourism, Textiles, Art Fair, Handicrafts and Food & Wine exhibitions, to name a few, lined up in the coming months. All physical exhibitions will be supported by safety guidelines as per the government norms for its organizers, exhibitors, visitors who will be coming to the venue. As a Venue provider, to conduct B2B and B2C exhibitions amidst the new normal, we have a detailed set of enhanced measures. WTC provides organizers and attendees the reassurance and confidence that they are participating in a safe and controlled environment and are based on the broader principles of Physical Distancing & Hygiene. ES. What would be your message to the industry? Rupa Naik. In one year, the COVID pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation process, which would have otherwise taken several years. As the world is constantly evolving technologically and economically, we need to reinvent our operational model to adapt to the changing scenario and also to become cost-effective.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

We are currently planning nine exhibitions in 2022, with Solar Power Africa starting mid of February and followed by Automechanika Johannesburg and Futuroad. We then host the creative industry at Hobby-X, a business sector that has flourished in the last 18 months.

MICHAEL DEHN Managing Director Messe Frankfurt South Africa ES. You have more than two decades of trade show experience, please share with us your past experiences and achievements that shaped your journey as a successful leader in this industry? Michael Dehn. My first encounter with trade exhibitions was as a student reporter for our school magazine ‘WILD’. Equipped with my press accreditation, I would visit trade shows in Frankfurt and write about them. When the time came closer to think about career choices, I looked into mechanical engineering and industrial design but at the back of my mind, I was always fascinated with trade exhibitions as a window to the world. Once the decision had been made to join the exhibition sector, the second decision I made fairly quickly was that I wanted to see the world. Fortunately, I found people within Messe Frankfurt who gave me the opportunity to move around in my early years due to which I ended up in Dubai by pure chance. As a global hub for businesses, Dubai proved to be the perfect counterbalance to my German education as it taught me to take risks and identify and convert opportunities. India, on the other hand, taught me the right combination of structure and flexibility. These are two completely different markets and experiences and the people I met there shaped my overall learning experience.

34 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

ES. Messe Frankfurt South Africa organizes many large-scale events such as Automechanika Johannesburg, Futuroad Expo, AERO South Africa, etc. How many trade shows are you planning for the year 2022, given that the epidemiological situation will be favourable? Michael Dehn. We are currently planning nine exhibitions in 2022, with Solar Power Africa starting mid of February and followed by Automechanika Johannesburg and Futuroad. We then host the creative industry at Hobby-X, a business sector that has flourished in the last 18 months. After that we run AERO South Africa in cooperation with Messe Friedrichshafen through our new JV fairnamic. Then, in the South African winter, we run the Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Boatica in Cape Town and All Fashion Sourcing later in the year. Our last event will be an exciting new launch: Economic Zones Africa Expo (EZAE), a trade show for governments and investors. ES. Since the start of the pandemic, we have developed and implemented a wide range of hybrid and digital formats. What, in your opinion, could be the advantages of this type of event in the future and how Messe Frankfurt South Africa would implement such format in its shows? Michael Dehn. We have so far seen many variations of

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

formats that range from pure networking platforms to product catalogues to full simulations of exhibitions. The appetite of customers for the most comprehensive virtual solutions has been quite low, and many of the functionalities remain almost entirely unused. I would be very selective in the functionalities and focus on three core aspects: The relationship aspect between buyer and seller (networking) Ÿ The supply side (seller presents product) Ÿ The demand side (buyer defines needs) Ÿ

I came to realise that it depends very much on the industry as well as on the event format: some industries are much more used to digital platforms than others. Some formats lend themselves much better to a digital platform. The more conference/content driven events can be organised either virtually or as a hybrid event. In the medical field this is now very much accepted. The more product-driven exhibitions do not do that well online and the moment they can be back in full swing, they will probably return to mostly physical encounters.

my colleagues in India, but also our various partners and stakeholders proved to be supportive and engaging. As an emerging market, the business environment in India is extremely competitive and you always have to stay one step ahead in order to grow. But even in a price-sensitive market like this: once you are able to demonstrate reliable performance over and over again, your customers thank you with their loyalty. It was rewarding to see this and I am taking many precious memories and experiences from India to Africa. The role of General Manager as I see it, is being in-charge of building momentum for the exhibitions and the entire psychology around of it. You get the flywheel moving and ensure that it keeps moving at a good speed. My prediction for our industry in India is that exhibitions will be back, rather sooner than later, and while customers appreciate the tough times we as an industry were going through, they expect bigger and better performance going forward due to the growing importance and reliance on face-to-face

ES. Overall, what is your view of the future of the major trade fairs in Africa? Michael Dehn. It would be presumptuous of me to even try to answer this question at this early stage. However, I would like to add, that South Africa remains one of the high-priority markets for most businesses. The region is growing and with the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) there are tangible opportunities for investments. Coupled with a growing middle class, a robust consumer market and strong growth prospects makes it a credible destination for major trade fair brands in the years to come. We are right now on our road show across East Africa to promote our Q1 shows and the appetite to source from South Africa is immense.

networking, more so after the pandemic-induced limitations. And at Messe Frankfurt, we are prepared to work hard towards this goal.

ES. Please share your experiences as General Manager of Messe Frankfurt India? What situation do you foresee for the Indian exhibition industry as physical exhibitions have started to resume?

ES. Much like the rest of the world, the exhibitions and events industry has undergone a lot of change in a short period of time. What have been the major changes that you have seen during your time in the industry?

Michael Dehn. I came to India with an open mind, willingness to learn and the hope that I could apply my previous experience to the opportunities and challenges in this market. I instantly felt part of our company and not only

Michael Dehn. I would say that some aspects of our business have changed fast and some aspects are not changing fast enough. I don’t miss the times of paper exhibitor manuals and countless forms by fax. I would certainly wish for more

35 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Michael Dehn and Winston Pereira of Messe Frankfurt present a token of appreciation to jury members of the rst Media Expo Awards

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

seamless user experiences and smarter analytics. There is still a lot more potential when 100% of your audience carry a smart device with many sensors around.

Economic Zones Africa Expo (EZAE), which will take place in Q4/2022. ES. What is your leadership style?

On the other hand, when you look at a floor plan of an exhibition in 1921 – 100 years ago – and you see 9sqm booths, 3m isles etc, that’s when you realise that some things have not changed, have not needed to change. ES. In your opinion, what does the Exhibition industry need to improve and what are some challenges surrounding this sector? Michael Dehn. To me it is one thing: The total and radical focus on convenience and user experience. And while this sounds very straight forward, it is also one of the hardest things to achieve. ES. What are your expectations for your upcoming shows in Africa in terms of performance? How many other projects do you expect to launch in the coming days? Michael Dehn. My expectations for our shows in terms of performance will be to get an answer on the question: “How much have you missed us?” My main mission at this point is to achieve stable growth. We have just launched the

36 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Michael Dehn. I have been given more and more independence over the years and I noticed that it is appreciated when this independence and trust is passed on – of course together with the necessary accountability. I focus on sustainable long-term growth, pricing, user experience and compliance. ES. How do you manage your professional and personal life? We would like to know, what keeps you busy when you are away from work? Michael Dehn. This question comes at the right time: I have never faced a more challenging balancing act between professional and personal life than an international move. We are right in the middle of it, so I can’t tell you yet how I do it. Time will tell. What keeps me busy away from work: we love going out of town with friends for BBQs, hiking, swimming etc. The most relaxing time I spend in my workshop, working on small projects (woodworking, metalworking) or teaching my daughter a new piece on the piano.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

“Fragrance Industry is extremely dynamic and have been innovating, developing, adapting and producing a ever changing palate of consumer preferences and tastes” ES. Could you start by telling us a bit about your role as President at Fragrances & Flavour Association of India? Please highlight your career journey, major hurdles overcome and milestones achieved so far. Rishabh C. Kothari. I have been associated with the Fragrances and Flavours Association of India for more than 2 decades. I first joined the FAFAI Managing Committee in 1999 when I was 24 years old and have been part of the FAFAI Journey ever since including serving as the Regional Secretary for East India as well as editing its prestigious and internationally renowned quarterly publication, the FAFAI Journal. My association with FAFAI has been an extremely enriching one, helping me learn and absorb from events and people, and it is here that I have made friends across ages and geographies around the country and abroad. While I am sure there have been road-bumps in this journey, looking back I cannot think of any major hurdle. Each FAFAI activity or event is filled with joy, satisfaction, camaraderie and learning and each of them have been in their own way a milestone in this journey. However, I can say with pride and some amount of satisfaction that we have done a good amount of work in the position we are in, although the real credit for all that we have been able to achieve so far lies with very many people. It lies with all my predecessors, all the Past Presidents and their Committee members who established a strong foundation for the Association. The credit lies with the unwavering contribution and support that I have received from all my office bearers, all the members of the Managing Committee, members of the FAFAI Secretariat who have behind the scenes supported me in very effort and endeavours. And finally, nothing is ever possible without the support, interest and active participation of all our members, which we are fortunate to have received in abundance, and for which we are ever grateful. So while the President may be what you can call the ‘public face’ of the Association, all the credit and achievement is not of one man alone. When our Managing Committee took over in July 2019, we had several plans and programmes in mind and have ever since made

37 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Rishabh C. Kothari President, Fragrances & Flavours Association of India efforts to work in that direction.

India is a large country and we have our membership spread over in just about every nook and corner of the country. Therefore to facilitate greater member participation, we wanted to take FAFAI Workshops, programmes and events to every part of the country where our members are. We started this programmes in Indore, Kannauj and Kanpur the same year . We had firmed up plans of conducting events in Nagpur, Bengaluru, Cochin, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Ankaleshwar in 2020 but they had to be put on hold because of the pandemic. However the ball has been set rolling and we shall resume whenever the situation becomes conducive. Once the pandemic began, we moved our events online. Since one of our aims has been to facilitate greater member participation and make our programmes and events accessible to our members in every part of the country, the

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021 the per capita consumption of Fragrances and Flavours are likely to see a continued upward momentum and it is for each player to seize the opportunity and benefit from it. ES. Please educate us on Indian Fragrances and Flavours Reference List of Ingredients. Rishabh C. Kothari. In the midst of a global pandemic, people worldwide were getting more and more conscious of the products they consume.

virtual mode made it possible with much greater ease. In lieu of Trade Shows that take place, we also organised a Virtual Bazaar earlier this year. While we were apprehensive about such an event, as Fragrances and Flavours are related to the senses, I am happy to inform you that while our regular biennial Seminar has around 1,500 delegates, registrations for the Virtual Bazaar crossed 4,000! ES. Please run us through more details of your organization, its inception and history. Rishabh C. Kothari. FAFAI was established in 1949 when a small group of people who were extremely passionate about the world of aromas came together to set up an organisation to promote fragrances and flavours in India. In these next 7 decades, FAFAI has grown exponentially both in strength and stature, in India as well as overseas, with more than 850 members covering all aspects of the Fragrances, Flavours, Aroma Chemicals and Natural Essential Oils business. We have members from the entire value chain, from manufacturers, cultivators, distillers, traders, agents and representatives and even scientists. ES. As the Covid-19 pandemic shakes the global economy and disrupts the way we live, work, and conduct business, leaders are scrambling to manage the immediate fallout. As President of FAFAI, what is your vision for the future of the Fragrance Industry in India? Rishabh C. Kothari. Well, Covid has affected all of us in more ways than one can imagine. It has also impacted the way in which we perceive and consume products and the Fragrance and Flavour Industry is a reflection of these changing consumer behaviours and patterns. The Industry has been grappling with challenges related to supply, logistics and pricing of both natural and synthetic raw materials which I feel will continue for some time as industries across the world adapt to the new normal. While there may be temporal blips,

38 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

The Fragrance and Flavour Industry has always been cognizant of consumer preferences and their safety has always been paramount in whatever we do. It was the interests of consumers as well as the need for transparency and clarity that motivated us to publish the Indian Reference List of Ingredients. This is a 1st of its kind compilation of more than 9,000 ingredients which are being widely used and generally considered safe by the Indian Fragrances and Flavours industry. This is a 1st of its kind compilation of more than 9,000 ingredients which are being widely used and generally considered safe by the Indian Fragrances and Flavours industry. This compilation is based on inputs from all the Fragrance and Flavour Manufacturers of India and lists all the ingredients that they use and can be an authoritative guide of all ingredients being used in India. We were also grateful to receive words of praise and encouragement from our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for this publication. ES. How has the second wave of the global pandemic impacted the Fragrance Industry? Rishabh C. Kothari. Like all industries, the pandemic has deeply impacted the Fragrance Industry as well. The continued challenges with respect to logistics, container movement and their costs have had a huge impact on all industries including F&F. Supply chain disruptions have had an adverse impact on both productivity as well as balance sheets and the industry, which is dominated by MSME players, struggles with ever rising costs. ES. What initiatives have you taken to stay relevant in the industry and among consumers during these times? Rishabh C. Kothari. As I mentioned earlier, the Fragrance Industry is extremely dynamic and have been innovating, developing, adapting and producing a ever changing palate of consumer preferences and tastes. For example, post pandemic, there is a much larger demand for natural essential oils as consumers seek solace and comfort in natural remedies and products and the industry has risen to the occasion.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

ES. Considering the unprecedented year, we dive forward to a year of gratitude, healing, and reconnecting – something we all so desperately crave. According to you, what would be the top trends that will be most influential in shaping the fragrance industry in 2021 and beyond? Rishabh C. Kothari. The fragrance Industry is often a bellweather or indicator of the changing consumer mind and the product we produce are a reflection of the changing priorities and preferences of these consumers. As you have mentioned the words gratitude, healing and reconnecting, these are likely to influence or propel the consumer’s mind and decisions. With heightened hygiene consciousness, products that demonstrate care and protection will be preferred and this care is not only related to the self but also the environment and the planet. Hence there shall be a strong preference for not only natural products but ecologically sustainable products and the fragrance industry will mirror these changing times in the fragrance notes we produce or the ingredients we source. ES. Meditation practice was associated with decreases in negative emotion. We have heard that you are also involved in teaching meditation to thousands of people. Tell us more about it. Rishabh C. Kothari. Well, I would not associate Meditation only with the decrease of negative emotions only! As far as I am concerned, I have been involved with a Meditation practice called Heartfulness (www.heartfulness.org), which I have been practicing ever since I was a teenager. It is my conviction that inner peace and balance is a pre-requisite for the achievement of ever greater virtues. Think of it this way, Can one be happy and joyful without peace? Is peace possible without harmony? Is harmony possible without having a contemplative mind? Ÿ Is contemplation possible without a focused mind? Ÿ Can your mind be truly focused without training it through meditation? Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

So whether it is creativity or professional success, a happy family life or a harmonious society, it is we individuals who make the society a whole, and the society is a reflection of what we are as individuals. Since 1945, the Shri Ram Chandra Mission has offered Heartfulness Meditation to interested seekers, free of charge. Heartfulness is based on the ancient system of Raja yoga, which is known thus because meditation regulates the mind, and the mind is said to occupy the kingly position within us. This kingly mind, however, is itself governed by the intentions of the heart. By purifying the heart, we regulate the mind. That is how, through the practices of Heartfulness Meditation, we train

39 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

individuals to make use of their inner capacities and shape their destinies. Originally present in only a few districts of Uttar Pradesh, Heartfulness is now practiced by over 4 million people in 165 countries, and its wide range of selfdevelopment modules have been adopted by thousands of schools, colleges, corporations, non-governmental, and government bodies worldwide. To better connect with today’s aspirants, Heartfulness maintains a familiar online presence and has made its ancient methodology freely available to seekers through a variety of smartphone apps and instructional videos. The activities of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission are supported by a large volunteer base, including over 14,000 certified trainers who are passionate and selfless in their efforts to help individuals learn the art of meditation and spread peace wherever they go. ES. Is there anything else you would like to add as we wrap up? Any message that you would like to share with us? Rishabh C. Kothari. Well, my only message to one and all would be that there is every challenge could also be an opportunity. Whether it is our economy, our geographical integrity, or simply the preservation of human life, the last 18 months have been extremely challenging for our nation. This situation has challenged our resilience as a civilisation and it is in throes of such adversity that opportunity emerges for us. What is important is that we believe in ourselves, we believe in what the future holds for us, and of course endeavour to redeem that pledge, only this time in full measure. Ideas such as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ needs to move beyond mere slogans, beyond narrow personal and commercial considerations, into an article of faith for our countrymen to support one another as India moves towards reclaiming its rightful place in the world and history. As Mahatma Gandhi has said, ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world’ and it is upon each and every one of us to be ‘vocal for local’ in every aspect of our businesses and encourage and support our fellow brethren.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021

“We are all servant leaders working to make the world a stronger and more resilient industry” The IAVM Founda on was ini ally conceived when the Cincinna Task Force in their 1980 report, following “The Who” concert tragedy (1979), made a hear elt request to the Interna onal Associa on of Venue Managers (IAVM) to develop and implement crowd management safety standards so that venues across the na on could learn from this devasta ng tragedy.

fund our advocacy efforts for the industry. Three initiatives that stand out include the creation of the Venue Management School, assisted in funding the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI) for the meetings and exhibitions industry, and our current Diversity & Inclusive Leadership strategic plan and implementation to ensure the venue industry creates equity for all members of our association. ES. What are some of the major initiatives the association is working on now?

Brad Mayne. Due to the pandemic, the association has transitioned into collaborating with other associations in the industry to manage the pandemic’s impact on our industry. We focused on assisting the industry to prepare, respond, recover, and be resilient. IAVM volunteer members and an industry wide COVID-19 task force generated ways to stabilize the industry, work for funding from government sources, as well as protection and managing liability. We collectively coordinated our COVID protocols with show organizers, exhibition companies, contractors, travel, insurance, infectious disease entities and destinations. In addition, IAVM adopted COVID sanitization protocols with International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) accreditation program, not only with the venues but with the whole industry.

Brad Mayne, President and CEO, Interna onal Associa on of Venue Managers (IAVM) and the IAVM Founda on ES. How does IAVM Foundation contribute to the success and vitality of public assembly venues and their communities worldwide? Brad Mayne. International Association of Venue Managers is our Association. The Foundation is separate, yet it exists to fund initiatives for the association. Since 1980, the IAVM Foundation has contributed to the success and vitality of public assembly venues and their communities worldwide through the Association. The Foundation has funded initiatives, offered grants, and funds scholarships for IAVM Events, Schools and Academies. The Foundation also helps

40 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021 the Board of Directors to carry out their vision and goals for our 7,000 members. I have a great staff that serves our members with cutting edge innovation, advanced education, research, and stellar networking opportunities. We have a robust volunteer program where nearly 300 volunteers serve in leadership, multiple committees, and task forces which gives our members the opportunity to lead and learn to further their careers in the industry. I have worked in the events industry since 1969 at the age of 14 as a part time employee, then transitioned to a full-time employee in 1981. I advanced in the organizations I worked for and have been involved in managing convention centers, arenas, stadiums and performing arts theaters. I became a regional manager for Ogden Entertainment with responsibilities for administration of several client venues. I have been involved in the financing, design, construction and opening of three venues. The past twenty-three years of my venue career I held the position of CEO for American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey.

Brad Mayne Our venues re-purposed to fight COVID by becoming hospitals, vaccinations sites, homeless shelters, voting venues, logistics hubs, food banks and served other purposes to serve local communities. As there has been heightened security issues in places where people gather, we have been able to offer live training once again for safety and security. Our current trainings include, but are not limited to, Situational Awareness, De-Escalation Practices, Active Shooter Training, and Trained Crowd Manager certification. We have concentrated our energy on young professionals, women in the industry, and diversity and equity for the association, focusing on everyone having access to all aspects of the venue professional industry. The pandemic showed us that online learning is a reasonable way to educate our members, so we are working to create online programming to serve more of the industry with education and training programs. ES. Please tell us a bit about your role at IAVM? Please highlight your career journey, major hurdles overcome, and milestones achieved so far. Brad Mayne. As President and CEO of IAVM, I report to

41 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

I have hosted several major sporting events including the NCAA Final Four, NBA Championships, NHL Stanley Cup Championships, National Figure Skating Championships, and the XLVIII Super Bowl. As a volunteer member of IAVM since 1987, I’ve achieved my Certified Venue Executive (CVE) in 1992, received the highest award for IAVM named the Charles A. McElravy Award, as well as the Foundation Legacy Award. I chaired the Board of Regents, Arenas Committee, and served on the Certification and Foundation boards. Since becoming CEO of IAVM, we have grown membership by 30%, generated 33% higher revenues, and have stabilized the association during the pandemic when we lost 66% of our revenues. ES. How was the idea of IAVM Foundation conceived and how did it come into action? Please share the details. Brad Mayne. The Foundation was initially conceived when the Cincinnati Task Force in their 1980 report, following “The Who” concert tragedy (1979), made a heartfelt request to the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) to develop and implement crowd management safety standards so that venues across the nation could learn from this devastating tragedy. As a result, the IAVM Foundation was propelled from the drawing board to a focused existence in 1982, and since then, has provided over $3.2 million in funding for professional development and education, research, and best practices development to ensure the safety and advancement of the public assembly venue industry.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Interview

November 2021 ES. What are some of the programmes run by your foundation? How do you relate MegaShelters Resource and Life Safety Council with the current scenario? Are looking forward to creating any such kind of initiatives post the pandemic Covid-19?

ES. What are the challenges being faced by the event/venue Industry today and how can these be eliminated? Brad Mayne. The events industry plays a major factor in the diverse communities we serve. We have flourished in the past but over the past 17 months have learned that we are stronger together. We seem to work in silos as we work together, and it has worked but it can certainly be better. The Events Industry Council is a great resource that brings most of the entities in the industry together to further collaboration with one another. IAVM is proud to be a part of the council and the great work they are accomplishing. The collaboration that has taken place during the pandemic was eye opening that when we gather, research, and understand one another, we find solutions to the many challenges we all face. We found we can work closer together in benefiting all that we are a part of. ES. How can we ensure the perpetual success and growth of the public assembly industry? What are some future initiatives being planned through IAVM Foundation? Brad Mayne. The best way to ensure perpetual success is through knowledge, education and networking with everyone pitching in to further the work of the whole industry. Afterall, we are all servant leaders working to make the world a stronger and more resilient industry.

Brad Mayne. The Mega Shelter Resource Guide was implemented during the pandemic when our venues were re-purposed. We are now adding new sections to the guide by placing new protocols into the guide with what we learned. The Mega Shelter program assists government agencies, when there are disasters that bring forward the need to assist those who have been negatively affected by natural disasters and was put to good use during the pandemic. We created a COVID 19 task force to generate new protocols. The task force is made up of other associations in the event industry, along with epidemiologists and government entities which makes it a strong program to be updated as we face new challenges. With upheaval in the world growing, the Life Safety Council program is a great resource to further our safety and security measures. ES. We would like to know, what keeps you busy when you are away from work? Brad Mayne. As a long time, venue manager, I have faced some pretty big challenges and learned from each challenge. The events industry is a great school in training how to handle major occurrences. Multi-tasking becomes a part of our DNA and if we hire quality and trustworthy staff to assist, they can make or break the ability to be agile and efficient at doing everything well. When I am not working, I am spending time with my wife and our nine grandchildren. I attend and am active in my church and in service to our community. I also love to fish, and my brother and our families take frequent trips to Alaska together for a week of salmon and halibut fishing.

ES. 'Knowledge, technology, and service are the key differentiating factors to create a competitive advantage and ultimately determine success.' Please comment. Brad Mayne. I absolutely agree with the statement. Up until several years ago, the events industry was using technology from other industries to assist us. Today there is a plethora of organizations that are creating technologies to serve our industry. It is important that we embrace the support of technology to become stronger, more efficient, and more communicative in sharing best practices that serve our stake holders.

42 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


November 2021

Insights

Note From UFI Headquarters

Kai Hattendorf MD & CEO, UFI arely in recent years has an UFI Congress theme matched the sense and spirit of an event this well as “Together Again” did this year. We indeed came together again, we discussed together again – laughed together again. We shared experiences and observations, learnings and strategies. We mourned the colleagues we have lost to the pandemic, and we celebrated those who showed leadership and innovation, winning the UFI Awards this year.

R

I said repeatedly during the Congress that my favourite slide to share during our General Assembly was the one listing UFI’s upcoming face-to-face events. We will head into 2022 with a calendar that lists quite a few already with others in planning – taking us to Hamburg, Macao, Poznan, as well as to Singapore and – for the 89th Global Congress, to Muscat, Oman, all of this pending pandemic development still, of course. And for 2023, UFI has selected Las Vegas, USA, as host for the 90th Global Congress. We could not be more excited with this growing line-up of face-to-face events. Just as our industry events bring us

43 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

back together, and drive new ideas, so do other types of events around the world. Arguably, the most important conference / summit of the year took place earlier this month in Glasgow – The Global Climate Summit, COP26. And this time, we showed up as an industry, with the “Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge” Initiative. Because when it comes to battling climate change, we have two roles to play. One is the role we always have: We build and we operate the platforms where everyone comes together. But we also have to make sure that we commit ourselves to the target of carbon zero - to make sure that the greenhouse gas footprints that events create become smaller and smaller and eventually disappears. In Glasgow, we took the stage in front of the world – to share our own obligations as an industry. The events sector is a very wide sector – covering everything from trade shows to wedding planners, from global congress organisers to local suppliers. But we are used to collaborate, and to collaborate well, to make things happen. In the past months, we have brought together a

global, inclusive group of actors from across the events sector. With the support and guidance from the UNFCCC we have worked on our sector’s journey towards carbon neutrality and zero carbon. On November 10, when we launched the initiative officially, we could already announce an impressive list of more than 100 initial signatories – companies that signed the pledge and commit to its targets. And their number has grown steadily since then, and I want to encourage each and every one of you to sign your business up as well. This journey won’t be easy, but we aren’t starting from zero. At UFI, we have been active with work on sustainability for more than 15 years, and we can and will share all we have learnt through the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative. As our new president, Monice Lee-Müller, said to us, accepting her presidency in Rotterdam: “I can’t emphasize enough – if we don’t take meaningful steps now, the future is bleak. Not just for our industry, but for our future generations and our planet. Let’s all get on the road to net zero, together.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Insights

November 2021

Message From Monica Lee-müller, President, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry his is my first column as UFI President and it’s a real honour to have the opportunity to write to you all here.

T

I hope you have enjoyed the UFI Congress ‘Together Again’ – a fitting title for this first physical UFI Congress for two years! The UFI team has overcome all sorts of challenges to make it happen. But of course, this is what our industry is very good at! I was disappointed not to be in Rotterdam with you all, and I hope it won’t be long before we can all travel freely again. First of all, I want to thank two special persons that I would have loved to see face-to-face: Anbu Varathan and Mary Larkin. Anbu’s work over the past year has been inspiring, including the Global Policy Leadership Series that is expanding UFI’s advocacy work. Mary has been an important role model for me, and I love the passion she puts into everything she does. I am privileged to follow such remarkable leaders. The profiles of Mary and Anbu reveal one of UFI’s best features – our incredible diversity! But it hasn’t always been so. Looking back to the first UFI Congress I ever attended was in Hong Kong way back in the year 2000. The official languages then were French and German. There were only a handful of women at the Congress, most of them interpreters. Asia was still an emerging market. Fast forward to today, and look at the

44 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

changes! UFI’s common language is now the global language of business, English. UFI membership now spans some 83 countries and regions, and over 44% of the members are from Asia-Pacific. And women are widely represented in the industry, and in our association. In fact, currently 25% of the Board of Directors in UFI are women. As a global association, we need full participation by talented, committed women, and men from different races, culture and background, to drive our industry forward. I promise to keep building on this solid foundation of diversity. COVID-19 has absorbed much of our attention lately. Still, our single biggest global challenge is not the pandemic but climate change. All of us must be part of the solution. The big picture is this: we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and get emissions to net zero by 2050. It can be done, but not by chanting slogans and producing glossy brochures. We need concrete actions. UFI recently joined with other organisations to create the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative. Part of this involved creating the ‘Net Zero Pledge for the Events Industry’. Everyone here today, everyone in our industry. For our industry, the global pandemic has been incredibly disruptive and economically extremely challenging. This is why UFI is so important. Together, we can connect, collaborate,

influence, and innovate. And UFI makes us far more powerful than we could ever be on our own. Together, we are also gaining a clearer picture of what the future might look like. In the last two years, we have seen a proliferation of virtual and online events as the industry has tapped into technology. But no one wants virtual events to be the new normal. The benefits of face-to-face events are just too important. I believe UFI can and must play its part in shaping this new order of our industry. But to make it happen, we must collaborate on the right projects and ensure they are benefiting the majority in our industry. We are all in this together. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to our UFI Managing Director Kai and the UFI team for the amazing work they have done on behalf of members over the year. And I’d also like to give a very warm welcome to a well-known and respected industry figure Michael Duck into the Trio as he steps into the role of Incoming President. In taking up the position of UFI President, I am following a long line of distinguished forebears. I am humble, but I am also proud of being the first Asian woman in this role. And I am looking forward immensely to new opportunities to serve the industry I love dearly. Thank you.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Sustainability

November 2021

Global Events Industry Presented “Net Zero Carbon Events” Pledge At COP26 Leaders from around the industry shared their commitment and alignment to fight climate change

he global events industry presented a united pledge and roadmap for a net zero carbon future for events. Industry leaders from venues, organisers, suppliers, and associations, were live on stage at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow, to represent and demonstrate the commitment of the events industry community to fight climate change.

T

Events are a tool to drive progress in a sustainable way More than ever, post-pandemic, the fundamental need of societies and communities to come together is clear. Events are a strategic tool used by governments, institutions, and industries to drive developments and implementations in a sustainable way. As an example, COP26 itself is the meeting place on one of the most critical issues of our time, and people from around the world are here to share their thoughts, to find answers, and to get support. Being together face-to-face is the most expedient way to make connections and find solutions, and, as an event brings together an entire community in one location, the need for one-off travel throughout the year is

45 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

with the Paris Agreement’s requirement to reduce global GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 – before the end of 2023

significantly reduced. Events can be held in a sustainable way As the industry responsible for bringing people together, the events sector needs to play its part in fighting climate change. Many organisations in the sector have already adopted strong sustainability strategies and practices and are able to demonstrate significant progress. However, there is more work to be done. Therefore, across the entire sector, the “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge has been launched. This pledge has already been supported by business in all regions around the globe and all facets of the sector. The “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge On the occasion of the official launch of the pledge, there are already 109 businesses from around the world committed to taking action. Signatories commit to: Ÿ

Publish their organisation’s pathway to achieve net zero by 2050, at the latest, with an interim target in line

Ÿ

Collaborate with partners, suppliers and customers to drive change across the value chain

Ÿ

Measure and track Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions according to industry best practice

Ÿ

Report on progress every two years, at a minimum

The pledge presented was developed through a broad industry collaboration hosted by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), a global trade body, with the guidance and support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and with representatives from across the sector. It is the practical starting point for the work that needs to be done in our sector. Session at COP26 demonstrated the support and commitment already seen throughout the industry. The events industry is on its way to a net zero future, and this pledge represents a call for accountability, responsibility, and action for all organisations in the sector.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Sustainability What is Net Zero? Net Zero refers to a balance between man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their removal from the atmosphere. To achieve this balance, GHG emissions must be reduced and the non-avoided ones must be compensated or “neutralized” through the use of long-term carbon capture solutions. What is the Difference Between Net Zero and Carbon Neutral? For carbon neutrality, the non-avoided emissions are compensated through the use of traditional offsets (carbon credits coming from projects that develop renewable energies, efficient transport etc.). Carbon neutrality can be an intermediate step towards net zero. Net Zero and the Events Industry The events industry is a complex network of stakeholders including companies who are directly involved in delivering events, such as venues, event organisers, exhibitors and their suppliers who provide food and beverage, onsite equipment and signage, among other things. In addition, many events include the requirement for visitors and exhibitors to travel to and stay at a

November 2021 location. Addressing the carbon emissions across the whole value chain is complicated and challenging, and many elements of an event (such as transportation and hotel stays) are not directly under the control of those putting on an event. Therefore, quantifying impact and defining responsibilities needs to underpin any ambition for the events industry to become net zero. In addition, many companies from the event industry have already implemented strong strategies to reduce their carbon emissions and it is clear that the solutions often rely on the reality of each local environment and size of organization. This initiative recognises these challenges and through its collaborative nature will seek to drive alignment across the different players so that a common roadmap can be developed.

management and energy conservation to local sourcing and hiring practices. The principles of sustainability are now firmly imbedded within industry practices and client expectations. In November 2021, world leaders met in Glasgow, Scotland at COP26 to present how their countries will achieve the 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 in order to deliver on the Paris Agreement. At this meeting, the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge was launched with over 100 first signatories, setting out the events industry’s commitment to play its role in addressing climate change. The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative aims to bring together a wide range of industry stakeholders to: Ÿ

Net Zero Carbon Events: An industry initiative to address climate change Sustainable development has long been a focus for the events industry. Connected to programmes like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Guidelines (UNSDGs), industry initiatives have addressed everything from waste

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

46 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Jointly communicate our industry’s commitment to tackling climate change and driving towards net zero by 2050 Develop common methodologies for measuring the industry’s direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions Construct an industry-wide roadmap towards net zero by 2050, and emissions reductions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, with support and guidance on key issues Foster collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure alignment and common approaches Establish common mechanisms for reporting progress and sharing best practice The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative is organised by an international task force led by trade associations UFI, AIPC, ICCA and events industry businesses, hosted by JMIC, supported by the UNFCCC. The pledge was developed and signed by companies from across the events industry supply chain showing large-scale commitment and support for this important initiative.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Study

November 2021

CEIR Launches Omnichannel Marketing Insights Series he Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released Report One: Marketing Channel Mix During Pandemic and Outlook Moving Forward for Brand Marketers That Exhibit at B2B Exhibitions from its newest research series, Omnichannel Marketing Insights. This series details omnichannel marketing practices while the pandemic shut down the businessto-business (B2B) exhibition industry in mid-March 2020 and anticipated plans moving forward through 2022.

exhibiting companies that have used the channel pre-COVID-19.

Along with benchmarks on the marketing channel mix used during the pandemic, it assesses the extent by which participants will return to B2B exhibitions, and whether needs and preferences will shift in any way. Report One summarizes overall findings from the exhibitor perspective. Results indicate the outlook for the B2B exhibition industry is strong among

“This report speaks to the importance of face-to-face marketing to brand marketers and buyers who attend,” added CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM. “Digital and other channels have helped exhibiting companies and attendees meet their needs during the pandemic, though study results point to their limitations. For companies that exhibit, face-to-face marketing is an essential part of their marketing mix. They are looking forward to getting back to business in person.”

T

“This report is a must-have for organizers looking for benchmarks and insights to help position their in-person B2B exhibitions for 2022,” said CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, IPC. “Exhibitors are intent on returning to exhibiting. The high value in using the channel to help achieve their high-priority marketing and sales objectives is the catalyst driving their return to events.”

The 26-page report provides benchmarks and insights on the following: Marketing channels used by exhibitors compared to what attendees relied upon during the pandemic Ÿ Current high-priority marketing and sales objectives of exhibiting company organizations Ÿ Effectiveness of channels used during the pandemic in helping achieve marketing and sales objectives Ÿ Marketing budget outlook for 2021 and 2021 Ÿ

47 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Ÿ

B2B exhibition channel overall image/perceptions

1. Net Promoter Score (NPS) 2. Unique values of exhibiting not furnished by other marketing channels 3. Importance of face-to-face interactions at exhibitions at purchase process stages Ÿ

B2B exhibition activity

1. Volume of exhibitions and typical booth sizes from 2019 through 2022 2. Booth staff in 2019, plans for 2021/2022 3. Commentary on reasons for participation levels Ÿ

Among those exhibiting in 2021 through 2022

1. Value of exhibiting to help achieve high-priority marketing and sales objectives 2. Planned use of in-person representation at international B2B exhibitions if COVID-19 persists 3. Exhibitor interest in integrating digital options into event lifecycle in next two years Report One: Marketing Channel Mix During Pandemic and Outlook Moving Forward for Brand Marketers That Exhibit at B2B Exhibitions is the first of a series of reports that CEIR is publishing based on survey research done with attendees and exhibitors. The complete Omnichannel Marketing Insights series will include: Report One: Marketing Channel Mix During Pandemic and Outlook Moving Forward for Brand Marketers That Exhibit at B2B Exhibitions Ÿ Report Two: Business Information Channel Mix During Pandemic and Outlook Moving Forward for Business Professionals That Attend B2B Exhibitions Ÿ

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Study Report Three: Mining for Expanding and Deepening Engagement Opportunities Among Those Shifting to Using Other Channels Ÿ Report Four: Who to Target for Attendee Acquisition Ÿ Report Five: Who to Target for Exhibit Sales Ÿ Report Six: Attendee Generational Differences in Channel Preferences Ÿ

Methodology CEIR’s Research Council

November 2021 commissioned this study. To generate attendee and exhibitor samples, CEIR identified top-ranked U.S.-based exhibitions, those with at least 45,000 net square feet (NSF) of paid space or larger from its CEIR database, with a goal of recruiting at least one exhibition per CEIR industry sector. The end result was the recruitment of 20 B2B exhibitions, which gave CEIR permission to poll their attendees and exhibitors from the 2019 edition of their events. For the exhibitor sample, a list was also purchased from Exhibitracs’ top 250 U.S. trade show

list for 2019 events. Online surveys were fielded from July to early August 2021 generating samples of 1,799 attendee surveys and 316 exhibitor surveys. The response rate for each audience is one percent. To project results to attendees and exhibitors in general, results of each sample have been weighted to the distribution of number of attendees and number of exhibiting companies in 2019, as defined by the 2021 CEIR Index.

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022: New Entry Regulation he restarting of attendance trade fairs after the coronarelated break has been a success and preparations for FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022, which will be held in Berlin from the 9th to 11th of February, are forging ahead. As exhibitors from more than 80 countries will be present in the 25 halls, FRUIT LOGISTICA will once again represent the entire global value chain of the fruit and vegetable industry.

T

Due to the current regulation situation, only fully vaccinated or recovered participants will be allowed to enter the events until further notice. This specifically means that all of the participants must provide digital proof of their vaccination or recovered status to be able to enter the Berlin trade fair exhibition area. Vaccinated people are those who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in the EU. Currently approved vaccines are Moderna (Spikevax), BionTech/Pfizer (Comirnaty), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). Vaccination certificates from outside

48 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

the EU must first be converted into a digital EU vaccination certificate. Current official regulations do not allow guests who have been vaccinated with another vaccine, such as Sputnik or Sinovac to participate. Approval for both of these vaccines was applied for in spring 2021, so the regulations might yet be changed. The conditions for entering Germany will also be eased for trade fair exhibitors and visitors. AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry has presented an excellent overview. Kai Mangelberger, the director of FRUIT LOGISTICA said: “The decision regarding the entry regulation now provides clarity for all of the participants so that they can make further preparations for the trade fair. The aforementioned entry restrictions also open up the opportunity for a normal trade fair experience inside the exhibition halls. As things stand at

present, the current regulations will enable the event to be held without any further restrictions being placed on exhibitors and visitors. Events at the stands will be possible once again and there will also be more stand construction options. The core component of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 will be personal meetings within the international fruit trade industry at the event. The new regulations will make this event safer and more intensive at the same time“. Entry to the exhibition will only be possible with personalised tickets purchased in advance and online via the FRUIT LOGISTICA ticket shop. The ticket shop is expected to open at the end of November. It will not be possible to purchase tickets or register at the event.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Study

November 2021

Aventri Partners With CLEAR to Bolster Health Screenings At Large Events vent management software (EMS) leader Aventri has announced a partnership with CLEAR, the secure identity company, to help attendees return safely to live events. The partnership will join Aventri's event registration and mobile app solutions with CLEAR's Health Pass to help strengthen and enhance health screenings at large-scale events.

E

CLEAR's Health Pass is a mobile experience on the CLEAR app, which securely connects a person's verified identity to COVID-19-related insights – like test results and proof of vaccination – to reduce public health risk and get people back to what they love. Health Pass has been used by more than 130 organizations across the country to create safer environments, including corporate offices, teams across all professional sports leagues, major venues, and travel destinations like Hawaii. Seamless Access for COVID-19 Health Pass lets attendees digitally

49 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

convey their COVID vaccination and testing status to show they are at low risk of transmitting the virus before congregating inside a venue. The solution's automated, multi-layer system makes health screenings fast, easy and contactless. Organizers can customize access requirements – like verified vaccination records, test results, and health surveys – to fit CDC guidelines as well as state, local, and company requirements. Aventri customers will find CLEAR's Health Pass cost-efficient and simple to implement. Venues do not need to invest in more equipment or infrastructure. Training requirements are minimal, too. Organizers can quickly demo the solution and show staff what to look for during screenings. Health Pass is easy for attendees, too. They: Download the app for free and enroll Ÿ Verify their identity with a selfie Ÿ Upload or link relevant medical Ÿ

information, such as proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 tests Ÿ Once results are accepted, receive a QR code verifying they are safe to enter the venue Onsite staff use Aventri's check-in solution to scan the Health Pass QR code and confirm eventgoers are vaccinated and free of COVID-19 symptoms. Each health screening takes seconds. Verified attendees hold their phones up to a scanner and breeze into the venue. Health Pass uses a colorcoded screen to show whether an attendee passes or fails the screening based on event requirements. It does not share other health information. This offering is part of the Aventri's suite of onsite COVID-safety solutions. Other contactless tools on the EMS platform include digital badges to enable safe, speedy check-in and access to sessions; onsite payments; contact info exchange; lead capture at exhibitor booths; and access control for physical distancing throughout an event.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Associa on News

November 2021

FIEO Felicitates Exporters of Northern India I

n order to encourage the exporters and have an intrinsic growth FIEO instituted the Regional Awards which is given at the state level to exporters who have excelled in their respective fields and states. The states of Northern India play a significant role in India’s Total exports and FIEO felicitated the top performers in various categories from this region at the Northern Region Export Excellence Awards on November 13, 2021 at Jalandhar. The Awards were given by Shri Som Parkash, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry; Shri Suvidh Shah, Jt DGFT; Shri Khalid Khan, Vice President, Shri S C Ralhan, Past President and Shri Ashwani Kumar, Regional Chairman (Northern Region), FIEO.

Shri Khalid Khan, Vice President FIEO in his address congratulated all the Award winners and mentioned that by their excellent performances they have become role models for the entire exporting fraternity. Indian exports have done exceptionally well in the first 7 months of the current fiscal touching a

50 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

new high of US$ 233 billion. Such a performance is all the more remarkable as it has come at a time when many States had local lockdown and huge challenges were witnessed in logistics. This has all been possible with the professional approach of exporters and support the Government has extended from time to time to the exporting community. Going by the current trend, we are confident to achieve the target of USD 400 billion with exemplary performers amongst us. Shri Ashwani Kumar, Regional Chairman (Northern Region), FIEO in his welcome address thanked Shri Som Parkash, Hon’ble Commerce & Minister. He informed that the Export Excellence Award is awarded to member exporters for achieving outstanding performance in export of goods and services and to organizations helping exporters in achieving higher growth in all the Northern region states, such as Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, J&K, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. He said that we are on our course to

&

PSU BUZZ

achieve the target of US$ 400 Billion in goods exports this fiscal and now working for reaching the milestone of US$ 1 Trillion merchandise exports by 2026-27. Shri Som Parkash, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry said that India has been able to maintain momentum even in the midst of a stressed up global macro environment. India's GDP growth rate in 2021 is projected at 12.55%. India is in 5th position out of 193 economies. India is among six economies that will experience a double-digit growth rate in 2021. India's merchandise exports in October 2021 were USD 35.47 billion, an increase of 42.33% over USD 24.92 billion in October 2020 and an increase of 35.21% over USD 26.23 billion in October 2019. India's merchandise exports in April-October 2021 were USD 232.58 billion, an increase of 54.51% over USD 150.53 billion in April-October 2020 and an increase of 25.45% over USD 185.4 billion in April-October 2019. Government is continuously engaged in strengthening Indian industry through “ease of doing business” for improving the business environment and attracting foreign investments. He informed about the recently launched PM Gati ShaktiNational Master Plan for Multi-modal connectivity which is a digital platform to bring 16 ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects. He further informed that the Multi-modal Connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services for one mode of transport to another. It will facilitate the last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people. This will further reduce the logistics cost of Indian products and make them more competitive.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Report

November 2021

New Globex Projections – The Global Exhibition Market To Return To Pre-COVID Size By 2023 he 13th edition of Globex – the global exhibition organising market: assessment and outlook to 2023 – has been released by strategy consultancy, AMR International. It details the devastating impact of COVID-19 on 2020/21 and provides market projections to 2023. Globex 2021 editor Carole Boletti said, “The impact of the COVID crisis has exceeded most expectations, therefore the outlook beyond 2021 remains uncertain to some degree. For 2021, we forecast the market to be valued at $14.8b, still 49% lower than 2019. Looking ahead, AMR forecasts that by 2023, the global exhibition market should rebound to 96% of its 2019

T

generally smaller and with increased scrutiny around ROI Ÿ There is significant variation between the recovery of different exhibition markets. The least negatively impacted market is China, whereas the largest declines will come in Southeast Asia Globex highlights – recovery projections to 2023

size.” Globex highlights: COVID impact assessment on 2021 The primary driver of revenue loss in 2021 is continued reduced volume sales. In many major markets, COVID-led restrictions have prohibited F2F exhibitions from taking place in H1 2021, culminating in a decline in NSM volumes by 50-80% compared to 2019 Ÿ Weakened NSM pricing has also driven revenue loss. Across all markets, AMR anticipates minimal price hikes in 2021 with organisers offering incentives to exhibitors to attend post-COVID shows which are Ÿ

51 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Each country will respond to the pandemic differently. Globex anticipates that China will fully recover by 2022 and exceed its 2019 size by 2023 Ÿ The US market is expected to achieve full recovery by 2023 due to its low exposure to international participants and relatively early resumption of in-person events Ÿ Other markets such as France, India and Mexico are forecast to remain slightly below their 2019 size by 2023 Ÿ The trend towards more digital services provided by exhibition organisers will persist and serve to complement and extend physical exhibitions. Globex believes that digital revenue will grow strongly at Ÿ

28% CAGR between 2020 and 2023 Ms Boletti added, “While the COVID crisis has severely disrupted the exhibition industry, it is at the same time benefitting from some organisers' refreshed perspective on their markets and accelerated digital developments. However, we are yet to witness major breakthroughs. “Forward-looking organisers are investing in the enhanced role of digital in their strategies and are embarking on substantial digital transformation. Others are still planning to rely solely on traditional events and revenue streams in the medium term. As we had forecast a couple years ago, we are seeing the start of a bifurcation of the industry.” Globex 2021, plus separate regional reports can be purchased online. The 20 markets featured in Globex are: US, China, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Russia, Hong Kong, Turkey, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Macau and the Philippines.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Partnership

November 2021

Leading Additive Manufacturing Trade and Media Organizations Unite, Launch of Formnext USA Chicago in Spring 2025 additive manufacturing event in Europe, and we are extremely excited to be partnering with them to bring these world-class events to the U.S.,” says Douglas Woods, President of AMT. The official launch of the Formnext USA Chicago trade show will be 8 – 10 April 2025 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill, USA.

esago Messe Frankfurt the

organizers of Formnext and M Messe Frankfurt North America has announced a strategic partnership with AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and Gardner Business Media. The new show creates one event in the United States dedicated to all aspects of industrial additive manufacturing. Since 2015, Formnext has grown to become the premier additive manufacturing trade show in the world, nearly quadrupling exhibitor and visitor numbers in just five years. In its drive to improve, grow and explore opportunities in the global marketplace, Mesago Messe Frankfurt has announced that it has found the ideal partners in Gardner Business Media Inc (GBM) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, to launch the Formnext USA Chicago event which will be held 8 – 10 April 2025 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill, USA. Prompted by the continued and accelerated adoption of additive manufacturing by both new and established manufacturers in the United States, Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT and GBM will debut a series of events with the Formnext brand to build their presence in the U.S. The initial showing of Formnext in the USA market will be at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which runs 12 – 17 September 2022 in Chicago at McCormick Place, the premiere business trade show venue in North America. Glynn Fletcher, President of EOS North America shared that “EOS has been engaged with both Formnext and

52 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

AMT for many years. The combined strengths of these two organizations brings exceptional value to the Additive Manufacturing industry and stimulates further peer-to-peer engagement.” The AM4U Area presented by Formnext will launch in the IMTS 2022 additive manufacturing pavilion. The AM4U Area is a multi-use area on the show floor where industry experts present on topics such as seminars for the adoption of industrial AM, as well as, entrepreneurship and business models for start-ups and young enterprises. In 2023, the AM4U Area presented by Formnext will be colocated with the Additive Manufacturing Conference in Austin, Texas. Launching in 2024, Formnext Forum Austin starts as a brand-new event of Formnext in Germany. This event features a range of topical seminars and exhibition areas and covers a variety of additive manufacturing and next generation intelligent industrial production solutions. The forum will provide attending exhibitors, speakers and attendees relevant industry knowledge and offer ample business and networking opportunities. Austin as a “birthplace” of modern 3D printing and an actual hotspot of the industry is an ideal location for the forum in 2024. “Formnext is clearly the premier

The trade show will build upon Formnext's world-class legacy and showcase industrial 3D printing equipment, postprocessing solutions, software, service providers, materials and more. This event promises to be a unique collaboration between Mesago Messe Frankfurt, GBM and AMT that utilizes each partner's varied area of expertise for maximum impact and exposure. The group also invites other organizations to participate in the Chicago event, as the goal is to build a coalition of leaders with broad appeal to the additive and manufacturing communities. AMT, a leading advocate for the growth and expansion of manufacturing technology, brings to the partnership a century's worth of experience producing IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the largest manufacturing technology event in the Americas. The association's members represent not only the leading technology suppliers in North America, but a growing and prominent community of additive manufacturers. Formnext 2021 was held 16 - 19 November in Frankfurt and once again welcomed the global additive manufacturing community and the unveiling of their exciting plans for the Formnext event series in the U.S. market, building to Formnext USA Chicago 2025.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


November 2021

Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel to become co-heads of Messe München in mid-2022. As of July 1, 2022, both executives will oversee the business operations of Messe München as sole and equal Managing Directors. At this point Klaus Dittrich, the current Chairman of the Board of Management, will leave the company as planned. Reinhard Pfeiffer has been a member of the Board of Management of Messe München since 2008 and has served as Deputy CEO since 2014. Stefan Rummel has held a managerial position at Messe München since 2010 and became a member of the Board of Management of Messe München in 2015. Both executives already oversee an extensive share of Messe München’s portfolio.

Paul Black VisitBritain/VisitEngland has announced the appointment of Paul Black as Head of Business Events. Paul is an experienced destination sales and marketing professional having worked with leading tourism organisations and convention bureaus from all over the world. He will be responsible for leading VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s Business Events team as it focuses on winning more international events across the UK, showcasing British destinations and expertise and helping to rebuild the sector. He will do this alongside Government and industry partners.

Jonathan McCallum George P. Johnson (GPJ), the world’s leading event and experience marketing agency, announced the promotion of Jonathan McCallum to Managing Director of the London office. Part of a global network, GPJ has European offices in the UK, Norway, Germany, France and Belgium. McCallum’s proven experience and knowledge of the industry, his deep understanding of the nuances of hybrid event execution and his strategy background position him well to lead GPJ’s expansion. He’ll report directly to GPJ CEO, Chris Meyer.

Billie Jo Poufcas GES has appointed Billie Jo Poufcas as account director. She will lead an account team focused on managing large program healthcare accounts. Poufcas brings more than 15 years of leadership, strategy, and healthcare program management experience to GES. Most recently, she served as account director for 3D Exhibits and Matrex Exhibits.

53 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com


Global News

November 2021

MBB Consulting Partner Group Launches Commercial Audit ccording to Matthias ‘Tesi’ Baur, one of the founding members of the recently formed MBB-Consulting Partner Group, yes it is and now more than ever. Baur said “Our mission is to help event businesses improve their commercial performance by tapping into the extensive international experience of our team who’ve all been there, seen it and done it.” Baur went onto say “It is this unique blend of incisive research capabilities combined with a deep understanding of the practicalities faced by events businesses, that sets us apart and enables us to deliver market leading results.”

A

Reflecting this hands-on approach, the MBB-Consulting Partner Group has announced the launch of its ‘Commercial Audit Service’, a deepdive analysis of an event business’s

current operations with the objective of identifying practical steps to significantly improve their client’s commercial performance. The Group believe their initiative is particularly timely as companies seek to emerge stronger from the disruption caused by the pandemic. Chris Meyer, CEO of Chris Meyer Global and a founding member of the MBB-Consulting Partner Group said, “Before you can decide on your future strategy e.g. portfolio expansion, you must first have a clear understanding of how well your company is performing commercially compared to the industry benchmark.” He went onto say “Any company that doesn’t constantly seek to improve performance across all aspects of its operations, is in danger of not only being caught but also overtaken by its competitors.” Based on a tried and tested methodology, the audit uses a modular approach to deliver a comprehensive analysis of each area of operations e.g. sales and team culture, systems and process integration, financial and price planning etc., which combine to give an holistic assessment of the organisation’s commercial performance. These results can then be referenced and compared to

54 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

international benchmarks and industry best practice. Tony Calanca, Principal of Calanca & Associates LLC and also a founding member of the MBBConsulting Partner Group said, “In our methodology, we carry out a thorough investigation of the client’s internal organisation. We then rate all operations in terms of how critical they are versus how developed they are in reality i.e. are they fit for purpose and operating at the optimal level. A clear and concise report is then provided detailing practical steps on how an organisation can improve its commercial set-up.” Shows serving the same market can grow at highly variable rates and this is predominantly down to the organisers having different business cultures and how effective and well developed the commercial processes are in each company. The fourth founding member of the MBB-Consulting Partner Group, Andrew Furness, strategy and sustainability consultant to the international exhibition community, commented, “Specifically designed with exhibition organisers and venue owners in mind, the modular nature of our Commercial Audit means we can tailor our services to match the priorities of individual clients e.g. it will be equally effective for evaluating the performance of sales teams as it is for carrying out commercial due diligence on a potential acquisition target.” The MBB-Consulting Partner Group provides customers from the events sector with deeper insights and access into effective business management at a corporate, portfolio, divisional or individual show level. MBB’s consultancy arm covers five distinct areas: strategy; business recovery and agility; sales and pricing; M&A and commercial due diligence; and digital transformation.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Global News

November 2021

Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC Returns In Singapore EXPO’s Largest In-Person Trade Event Since COVID-19 he 4th edition of the Industrial Transformation ASIAPACIFIC (ITAP) 2021 will return this year from 22-24 November at the Singapore EXPO. With over 100 exhibitors and eight country and industry pavilions from 50 countries, ITAP 2021 is expected to be the largest in-person trade exhibition in Singapore since the pandemic began. It is also a pilot event that will implement the necessary Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures + Test (VDS+Test) protocols. Guest-ofHonour, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, will deliver an opening address at Singapore EXPO on the first day.

T

He will be joined by German Ambassador to Singapore His Excellency Mr Norbert Riedel and ITAP’s international partner Deutsche Messe’s Chief Executive, Dr. Jochen Köckler. They will be giving their welcome remarks in-person and virtually ‘live’ respectively. About 15,000 attendees both in-person and online are anticipated for the three-day hybrid event. This year’s ITAP also features over 150 content sessions by more than 120 speakers to discuss the latest in manufacturing technologies, key industry developments, strategic regional developments, and regional government initiatives on Industry 4.0 (I4.0). An opportunity to meet industry counterparts face-to-face Visitors to the physical event can expect exhibitions and activities such as the Gateway to I4.0, the I4.0 Experience Zone, watch open mic presentations

55 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

(Industry Connect Live Talks) by the Whole-of-Government (WOG) pavilion, visit over 100 I4.0 physical showcases as well as eight country and industry pavilions. The Gateway to I4.0 powered by TÜV SÜD is a gallery showcase that will provide a hands-on demonstration about the transformative outcomes of practical application before applying it on their own business. The I4.0 Experience Zone, powered by Singapore Polytechnic (SP), is where visitors can enter the Experience Room and observe the vast and diverse possibilities that 5G and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) technologies will bring to Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 through Augmented Reality technology. As part of the zone, visitors will also get to have a live 5G experience with industry use cases and observe live demos of remote field assistance and robotic arms.

The exhibitions are divided into four categories: Additive Manufacturing, featuring Integrated industrial 3D printing solutions Ÿ Digital Factory, featuring Integrated processes and IT solutions Ÿ Industrial Automation, featuring Factory and processes automation and System solutions Ÿ Intralogistics, featuring Smart logistics and supply chain management solutions

Ÿ

Attendees to the physical exhibition will get to meet a diverse variety of exhibitors in the Industry 4.0 ecosystem such as: Ÿ

Allied Vision, offering advanced, customisable digital camera solutions for computer vision and image processing across a broad spectrum of industries.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Global News

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Battery Asia Pte Ltd, a leading industrial battery and charging provider showcasing solutions for cleaner energy in alignment with Singapore Green Plan 2030. Chemtron Pte Ltd, showcasing costeffective metal 3D printing systems that requires no dedicated operator and minimal PPE. Dehn, a leading workplace safety provider offering solutions for Lightning and Surge Protection, and Electrical Safety equipment. Iobeya, focusing on seamless integration and digitalisation of performance management dashboards to aid companies in their I4.0 transformation. Phaos Technology, an advanced optics technology startup based in Singapore developing technologies beyond optical limits and striving to make nanoscopes at a fraction of the cost of expensive microscopes. Servo Dynamics, who are looking to revolutionize warehouse management from a traditional warehouse to an Agile Automated Storage and Retrieval System (aASRS) with AI, IoT and various advanced technologies. SiTA Consortium, the Smart i4.0 Transformation Alliance providing a

56 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

November 2021

solution ecosystem for manufacturing excellence in the smart factory; and Ÿ Temasek Polytechnic, whose students will be showcasing their R & D solutions supporting the advancement of I4.0 in Singapore. A refreshed digital experience for content and partnerships Exhibitors and visitors on the physical show floor will also be able to maximise their participation and engagement with online attendees through the event platform ITAP CONNECTED. The platform provides online attendees with a comprehensive exhibition e-showcase and networking opportunities through AI-powered business matching. They can also look forward to a Digital Sandbox where country partners will share insights, case studies and perspectives on how I4.0 solutions transform businesses, as well as explore potential partnership and collaboration opportunities. Key focus areas include supply chain resilience, workforce development issues, digital transformation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing. The Digital Sandbox will also feature a virtual I4.0 factory walk-through.

Access to industry leaders and experts Attendees on the all-access Conference pass can enjoy over 150 sessions at the Industrial Transformation Forum, Future of Manufacturing Summit, and the Standards Forum. Ÿ

At the Industrial Transformation Forum (ITF), attendees will hear from global business/tech leaders from key industry sectors on I4.0 values and opportunities in the areas of advanced manufacturing, supply chain and sustainability. This is an opportunity to get the perspective of these leaders and how they leveraged on I4.0 to drive changes and strategic initiatives within their organisations. Notable speakers at the ITF include Francisco Betti, Head of the Platform for Shaping the Future of Advanced Manufacturing and Production at the World Economic Forum. The Platform helps global leaders anticipate the impact of I4.0 technologies on manufacturing and value chains. He will be sharing his thoughts on whether the outlook for Advanced Manufacturing in Asia Pacific is on course.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Global News

November 2021

AUMA Calls On German Government To Recognize WHO Vaccines

n view of a recent increase of COVID-19 restrictions, the German trade fair industry is demanding maximum planning reliability for the industry from policymakers at the federal and state level. In addition to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, exhibitors and visitors tested negative must continue to be able to participate in trade fairs. Especially in Germany, which organizes two-thirds of all leading international trade fairs, this approach is crucial. Vaccines such as Sinovac and Sinopharm have not been approved yet in Germany. People vaccinated with these are considered to be unvaccinated in Germany.

I

Ÿ

Jörn Holtmeier, Managing Director of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry AUMA: “The United States show us the way: they recognize almost every vaccine that is available and thus the WHO list. The trade fair industry in Germany is calling on the German Government to also quickly recognize the WHO list of COVID-19 vaccines. The success of many trade fairs in Germany depends on visitors and exhibitors from abroad who are protected by vaccinations, which are not acknowledged in Germany.

57 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Trade fairs for vaccinated participants only would be a disservice to Germany as a trade fair location, which has so far been the world leader due to its internationality.” Trade fairs under strict hygiene concepts have only been possible again in all 16 German states since September. Until then, the industry was forced to come to an almost continuous standstill since March 2020. This has caused an overall economic loss of more than 42 billion euros so far in the trade fair industry itself, but also in the hotel, hospitality and transport industries associated with trade fairs. Until the end of the year, some forty trade fairs are scheduled. For September and October, the trade fairs in Germany have recorded high numbers of international participants. Outstanding were Anuga in Cologne, the trade fair for the international food industry, which listed visitors from roughly 170 countries; Frankfurter Buchmesse, book fair in Frankfurt, with visitors from more than 100 states; The Smarter E in Munich, a trade fair for the energy industry, which counted visitors from over 90 countries. In 2018 and 2019 most of the international visitors

(100,000) and exhibitors (17,000) came from China to Germany. Ÿ

Jörn Holtmeier: “The trade fair industry needs planning reliability and also the admission of tested participants, in order to get steadily through this fall and winter. Even better are regulations, which leave the choice between admitting only vaccinated or also tested participants to the professional organisers. It is vaccinated people, who are visiting trade fairs primarily. Their share is considerably above the average in Germany. What do not need discussions that impede the restart of trade fairs and that unsettle the whole industry. Trade fairs are the meeting point to drive the economic recovery.”

Usually about 350 trade fairs are held in Germany each year generating more than 28 billion euros. The German trade fair industry accounts for over 230,000 jobs. AUMA is the association of the German trade fair industry: nationally and internationally, it represents the interests of 72 members. These include all large and medium-sized trade fair companies in Germany as well as associations representing exhibitors, service companies and visitors.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Global News

November 2021

With 150,000 Trade Visitors, HostMilano And Tuttofood Concluded Successfully etween the two events, more than 150,000 trade visitors: the return in person of HostMilano and Tuttofood, which ended recently at fieramilano in Rho, in conjunction with Meat-Tech, exceeded all expectations.

Milano events to even more strategic foreign areas. Among the first events, the participation of Italian companies in the next editions of FHAHoReCA, an event dedicated to food and hotellerie organised by Informa in Singapore.

“The gamble of going back to meeting in person proved to be a winner – comments Luca Palermo, CEO and general manager of Fiera Milano -. There was a great desire to do business live, as shown by the meetings of the more than 150,000 visitors with more than 2,700 companies. Together with the new agreements signed by Fiera Milano, this liveliness reinforces the supply chain approach that the Italian agri-food and hospitality ecosystem needs to present itself abroad in an organic way”.

“The collaboration between Fiera Milano and Informa Markets – continues Palermo – starts from the food & hospitality sectors, where we are international leaders, and then continues in other sectors. We are certain that this alliance can represent a further opportunity for internationalisation to be offered to companies participating in trade fairs. Our ambition remains unchanged: we want to strengthen ourselves as a European hub capable of hosting congresses and events with a global reach. This is why we are increasingly focused on activating partnerships with major international players”.

B

Crowded aisles and lively exchanges at the stands consolidate fieramilano’s growing role as a European exhibition

hub and internationalisation driver for Italian companies of all sizes. A continuous and organic strategy, as demonstrated by the constant increase in international buyers, also in collaboration with ICE Agency. In terms of agreements, the new partnership with Filiera Italia and Coldiretti will promote Made in Italy agri-food products around the world in innovative ways, with the aim of doubling the value of exports. The recent agreement with Informa Market, on the other hand, one of the world leaders in the trade fair sector with over 450 events in its portfolio, will bring the companies taking part in Fiera

Europe’s Leading Exhibition And Congress For Legal And Compliance Topics To Move From Frankfurt To Nuremberg he LEGAL REVOLUTION Expo & Congress, Europe’s leading and fastest-growing exhibition and congress for legal and compliance topics, will be held for the first time in Nuremberg in May 2022. Part of the new cooperation between NürnbergMesse and the event organiser LEGAL (R)EVOLUTION GmbH is a future annual event in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre with the goal of growing it further and establishing it permanently as an exhibition brand in Nuremberg.

T

Since 2017, the exhibition has been organised in Frankfurt by LEGAL (R)EVOLUTION GmbH. Dr Jochen

58 | www.exhibi onshowcase.com

Brandhoff, Founder and Managing Director of LEGAL (RE)VOLUTION, commented about the new partnership: “In NürnbergMesse, we have found the ideal partner in Bavaria, given its extensive know-how in developing young trade fairs into leading exhibitions. Besides, Nuremberg is located exactly between the two legal hot spots of Frankfurt and Munich, which have the most lawyers in Germany: That too is a real added benefit!” Dr Roland Fleck, CEO of NürnbergMesse Group, is likewise delighted with this latest addition: “The growth of LEGAL (R)EVOLUTION is impressive. In just a few years, it has developed into the

leading event for legal and compliance topics in Europe. Together, we want to tap the full potential in every stage of the legal services value chain!” The LEGAL REVOLUTION Expo & Congress combines a trade fair for services and IT solutions in every stage of the value chain of legal and compliance services with a top-level congress for legal and compliance tech and digital economy law. In only three years, LEGAL REVOLUTION has become the largest exhibition and congress for legal departments, compliance departments, and commercial law firms in continental Europe.

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Media Pla orm For MICE


Dec 2021 Vol 10 Issue 05 Voice of Asia’s Exhibition & Convention Industry

Proud media partner

Reserve Your Space Now Highlight Your Brand Amongst The

Who’s Who Of The Industry



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.