The UFI Global Exhibition Report offers valuable insights for event planners aiming to stay ahead of industry trends and capitalise on upcoming opportunities. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/MVProductions (AI generated)
The 34th UFI Global Exhibition Barometer report, published in February 2025, reveals positive projections for the global exhibition industry.
Globally, the exhibition industry is set for a 16% revenue increase in 2024, followed by an 18% boost in 2025. This consistent upward trajectory highlights the sector’s resilience and growing demand for events.
The level of operations in 2H2024 has picked up for six companies out of 10 worldwide (and even seven out of 10 in North America, but only five out of 10 in Asia-Pacific) compared to the year before.
While global revenue growth remains strong, the barometer highlights regional disparities. Markets like Argentina (+49%), Mexico (+24%) and Brazil (+23%) are seeing more than 20% increases in revenue for 2024. In contrast, some established markets like Germany and China are facing slight declines.
Notably, markets such as India (+40%), the UAE (+18%), and Brazil (+18%) report higher-than-average growth rates in space rental and operating profits.
Moreover, nearly half of the companies (46%) in the exhibition industry plan to expand their workforce in the coming months, signalling the need for talent acquisition. The hiring focus aligns with a broader industry expansion, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the UK reporting the highest staff growth intentions.
As the industry grows, it faces several challenges. Global economic developments (20%), geopolitical instability (15%) and sustainability/climate concerns (15%) are top issues.
Meanwhile, AI is increasingly shaping the exhibition industry. The UFI report reveals that 92% of companies are already using AI, with a majority of businesses stating that they are already using this technology in “Sales, Marketing and Customer relations” functions, showing an unprecedented speed of adoption.