03 May 2024 
 
27 January 2017

Trade fair quality accreditation system expanded

The world's most sought after seal of quality for exhibitions, the "UFI Approved Event" certification, is growing its reach. UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry announced that it will expand its events accreditation scheme.

Photo: Boris Wettig / pixelio.dePhoto: Boris Wettig / pixelio.de
Worldwide, UFI’s quality label is granted to more than 900 exhibitions.
From 2017, quality exhibitions and events that focus on national audiences will also be able to apply for, and receive, UFI’s unique recognition, opening up the industry’s gold standard to audited national quality shows. Until today, UFI approval was reserved for exhibitions that meet the highest global standards, provide officially audited statistics, and serve an international market. Under the new system, organisers can apply for either UFI Approved Event status or UFI Approved International Event status, depending on their proportion of international visitors and exhibitors.

UFI’s founding members were keen to set a bar for good quality events that were worth the time and expense for both exhibitor and visitor to be present at. The mutual recognition of quality events has been at the heart of UFI activity ever since its foundation in 1925. The key to quality is the willingness of organisers to have their exhibitions and events audited. Every organiser who is a UFI member is running at least one UFI Approved Event. With, and through its unique network of close to 60 national and international association members, UFI is collaborating with many national recognition and auditing schemes. This sets the UFI seal apart from many other "certifications".

Granted to more than 900 exhibitions worldwide

Presently, UFI’s quality label is granted to more than 900 exhibitions worldwide. "Organisers around the globe tell us about the huge impact of using the 'UFI Approved Event' logo.
People not only recognise but trust it, so are more likely to travel to the exhibition and take part either as an exhibitor or as a visitor. I’m really pleased we can now open up this opportunity to more markets, but maintain the high standard," said Dr Andreas Gruchow, UFI President.

Global demand

"We were getting more and more requests for UFI Approval from some great exhibitions and events whose audiences aren’t necessarily international. At the same time, exhibitors were asking us for data and reassurance about those very same local and national events," says Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director of UFI. "Our solution is to relaunch the UFI Approved Event scheme with two labels, one for international events, and one for national events, both of equally high quality," says Hattendorf.
"As the global association for the exhibition industry, UFI is constantly evolving the ways and means we can support the industry by highlighting quality and excellence in the industry – it’s part of our founding vision", concludes Hattendorf.

260 million visitors

UFI research shows that 260 million visitors and 4.4 million exhibitors attend events globally each year. In response, the UFI Approved Event and UFI Approved International Event schemes aim to help these visitors and exhibitors to choose the best possible exhibition experience, wherever they are in the world. In certain countries, it suffices to just have the UFI Approved Event label to obtain licences to produce shows. In other countries, subsidies are accorded to exhibitions that are UFI Approved, as a clear means of promoting quality in the national exhibition market.

Strict assessment for quality control

For both labels, the strict accreditation criteria remain unchanged. All UFI approved exhibitions must have run for at least two editions or more. Materials must be provided in English, and the venue must meet high standards and have effective Health and Safety procedures in place. After each event, organisers must provide independently audited data on key details such as total exhibition space, and the number of exhibitors and visitors. To display the UFI Approved International Event logo, exhibitions must show either that at least 10per cent of exhibitors are foreign, or that at least 5per cent of visitors (or visits) are from abroad. After successful initial application, exhibitions must undergo regular assessments by UFI’s global network of accredited auditors to maintain their "UFI Approved Event" status.

http://www.ufi.org

 

More news about "UFI":


5 September 2019

New UFI report on the Trade Fair Industry in Asia

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released the 15th edition of the Trade Fair Industry in Asia annual report, covering 17 locales including Greater China and Southeast Asian markets, Australia, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. (more…)


2 May 2019

UFI European Conference on 14-15 May in Birmingham

With the theme “The Organisers’ Future”, the 2019 UFI European Conference will focus on what’s in store for organisers in Europe and beyond. The conference will cover global opportunities from a European perspective as well as focusing on the US and China/Russia (OBOR). (more…)


1 March 2019

UFI Global Barometer predicts growth worldwide

UFI, the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest edition of its flagship “Global Exhibition Industry Barometer research”, taking the pulse of the industry, and reporting global and regional trends as well as a total of 19 market profiles, including – for the first time – Japan. (more…)


1 February 2019

New staff for a stronger UFI team in Paris

To effectively serve its members, UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has decided to expand its team at the Paris headquarters. Malgorzata Kozlowska will join as Event and Project Coordinator, while Frankie Edwards will take on the role of Marketing and Communications Coordinator. (more…)


30 November 2018

2019 UFI Awards in five categories

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is launching the 2019 UFI Awards. Organisers, venue operators, and service providers are all encouraged to take part and share their best practice cases for five separate categories: HR Management, Digital Innovation, Marketing, Operations & Services, and Sustainable Development. (more…)


31 October 2018

New UFI partnership with Ferias & Congresos in Argentina

With the aim of promoting and informing others about the exhibition industry in Latin America, UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has signed a new media partnership agreement with Ferias & Congresos, the leading exhibitions and events media distributor based in Argentina. (more…)


1 October 2018

UFI Latin American Conference launched in Mexico City

UFI’s inaugural Latin American Conference took place on 18-19 September at the World Trade Center, Mexico City. The event was the perfect opportunity for participants to discuss common strategies for different realities in Latin America. 14 speakers from around the Americas shared their insights and experiences with the audience. (more…)


3 September 2018

Stockholmsmässan wins UFI Operations & Services Award

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has named Stockholmsmässan as winner of the UFI Operations & Services Award 2018, for their “Roboplotter” project – a robotised floor-marker system, transforming physically demanding labour into an easy task, managed by an operator. (more…)


3 September 2018

2020 UFI Global Congress to take place in Oman

The 2020 UFI Global Congress will be held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, and will be hosted by the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry announced. "We are delighted to be returning to the Middle East," UFI President, Corrado Peraboni said. (more…)


2 July 2018

UFI Congress: focus on industry’s complex future

The 2018 UFI Global Congress - the most international annual gathering in the exhibition industry, will cover the theme "The Dynamics of Transition – Our Industry’s Complex Future". The event will take place from 31 October to 3 November 2018 in St. Petersburg (Russia) and will be hosted by Expoforum Russia. (more…)

 

FAIR NAVIGATOR
24/09/2024 - 27/09/2024 in Berlin
InnoTrans
International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, Innovative Components - Vehicles - Systems
05/02/2025 - 07/02/2025 in Berlin
Fruit Logistica
Exhibition for fresh fruit and vegetable marketing
MORE EVENTS

NEWSLETTER
Stay up-to-date: Subscribe to our exclusive newsletter and keep an eye on international trade fair business - free of charge, once per month.
Your email address:
 
© 2018 by Connex AG