UFI European Conference 2024 - Event Directors Summit

Attendance Criteria

Who can participate?

Event Directors, Portfolio Directors, Group Exhibition Directors, Project Directors, Vice-Presidents etc. If you are directly responsible for organizing exhibitions, then you are eligible! Managers from venue operators and service providers are not eligible.

What to expect

A Great Moderator and Engaging Activities

The summit will be led by Oscar Cerezales, Global Executive Vice President of MCI.

The format will be a mixture of traditional workshop with experiential / outdoor activities, carefully curated to give the participants a relaxed and inspiring setting to network and learn.

The Community

Exhibition organizers from across Europe

The first Event Directors Summit in 2023 welcomed delegates from across Europe and the Middle-East from organizations including BolognaFiere, Clarion Events, CloserStill Media, Comexposium, dmg Events, Easyfairs, Feria Valencia, Grupa MTP, Hamburg Messe, Italian Exhibition Group, Informa Markets, Jaarbeurs, Koelnmesse, Leipziger Messe, MCH Group, Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Frankfurt, Messe Munich, Messukeskus Helsinki, Montgomery Events, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Rota SA and RX.

Programme

Monday 10 June

19:30-20:30

Icebreaker

The Icebreaker is an optional activity, not part of the official programme, but please come to the Holiday Inn bar to meet the UFI team and your fellow delegates and have a drink with us.

Tuesday 11 June

8:20 am

Meeting point: Holiday Inn/Messe Zurich

The Event Directors Summit is a one-day programme that will feature an interactive workshop curated by Oscar Cerezales, and a VIP private tour of the world famous Art Basel exhibition.

Delegates need to meet up at 8:20 am at the Holiday Inn by Messe Zurich for the start, and the UFI/MCH teams will take care of the rest!

8:30 - 10:00

We will travel by train and tram to Basel, with some surprise along the way.

10:30-12:30

Workshop #1

Oscar will curate a high engagement, case driven workshop. Delegates will leave with frameworks they can apply in their organisations right away. We will focus on two main dimensions to improve shows

#1 EXPAND your horizons!

Explore cross-industry success stories while creating powerful analogies for your day-to-day business in areas such as audience building, top vs bottom line growth, profitability, revenue diversification and switching costs. It is going to be refreshing and fun!

12:30-14:00

VIP tour of Art Basel

14:55-16:00

Workshop # 2

Oscar will curate a high engagement, case driven workshop. Delegates will leave with frameworks they can apply in their organisations right away. We will focus on two main dimensions to improve shows

#2 - The EXPERIENCE

Craft unforgettable exhibitions with lasting impact. Discuss and develop elements like adult learning strategies, neuromarketing, technology, formats, engagement tactics, and psychographics. We will also assess some of the best current exhibitions globally in terms of attendee/exhibitor experience."

18:00 Arrive back in Zurich

19:30-22:30 European Conference - Welcome Reception at Restaurant Zum Frischen Max.

I really enjoyed my participation at the UFI Event Directors Summit 2023 for several reasons. First the opportunity to interact with my peers from different organisations and countries, benefit from their expertise and share visions about our business. Second the opportunity to learn from experts who can help us gain methodology and think out of the box. And last, it was such an enjoyable time, dynamic formats, great people and perfect organization.
Anne-Manuèle Hébert Portfolio Director, RX France

UFI’s Event Directors Summit has proven to be super-efficient both in terms of insights and networking. I had the opportunity to learn about innovative approaches, bond with my peers and discover the beautiful city of Maastricht. A perfect balance between work and entertainment. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to participating again in the future.
Audrey Ashworth Event Director - SIAL Paris, Comexposium

The UFI Event Directors Summit offered a remarkable atmosphere and valuable networking opportunities. A must-attend for anyone in the industry.
Philipp Eisenmann Exhibition Director - IFAT, Messe Munich

Attending last year’s Event Director Summit was excellent! The well-curated program revealed event industry trends and best practices. The second-day sessions in particular created a stimulating and excellent opportunity to network and share ideas with industry leaders and colleagues. The organisers paid meticulous attention to detail, creating a successful and enriching summit. Looking forward to future issues!
Syed Ali Akbar Exhibition Director, Messe Frankfurt Middle East

I presented at the inaugural Event Director Summit in 2023 and found the whole event eye opening. I don’t get to mix with peers outside of the UK really, so to be able to share best practice and swap ideas was incredibly valuable. I would recommend Exhibition Directors, Group Exhibition Directors and Portfolio Directors attend if they can as it will offer you insights from across the continent.
Laura Shapiro Portfolio Director, CloserStill Media

I would highly recommend attending this event whereby you will meet like-minded people from the event’s industry from all around the world, as it serves as a platform to share success stories, stay connected with peers and get inspired with new ideas.
Muhammed Kazi Vice-President, dmg events

What is the Event Directors Summit?

The Event Directors Summit is a one-day programme that gathers Exhibition and Portfolio Directors from the organizer community. This programme is part of a larger event, the UFI European Conference, and delegates will attend BOTH the Event Directors Summit AND the European Conference.

The format of the Event Directors Summit is a mixture of traditional workshops with experiential and outdoor activities, carefully curated to give the participants a relaxed and inspiring setting to network and learn.

This year, the summit will feature an interactive workshop curated by Oscar Cerezales, Global Executive Vice President of MCI, and a VIP private tour of the world-famous Art Basel exhibition.

Who can attend the Event Directors Summit?

To be eligible to attend the Event Directors Summit, your position must be responsible for organizing exhibitions (Event Director, Exhibition Director, Portfolio Director, Group Exhibition Director, Project Director, Vice-President, or similar).

This summit is limited to event, exhibition, portfolio directors from the organizer community. Managers of venue operators and service providers are not eligible.

What is the cost of attending the Event Directors Summit?

The Event Directors Summit is included in the cost of a ticket to the UFI European Conference (which will begin immediately after the conclusion of the summit).

Check registration fees: UFI European Conference 2024 - Registration Fee

How can I register to attend the Event Directors Summit?

To attend the Event Directors Summit you need to:

Check if you fulfill the “Event Directors Summit Attendance Criteria” (detailed in question 2).
Register for the UFI European Conference here. Once in the registration form, tick the box that says that you are interested in attending the Events Director Summit.
You will receive a confirmation email.
Pay the fee for the UFI European Conference. For more details, click here.

What is the Event Directors Summit agenda?

Monday, 10 June, 19:30–20:30

ICEBREAKER gathering (optional).

The Icebreaker is an optional activity, not part of the official programme, but please come to the Holiday Inn bar to meet the UFI team, your fellow delegates, and have a drink with us.

Meeting point: Holiday Inn bar (opposite Messe Zurich)

Tuesday, 11 June, 8:20–18:00

Meeting point: Holiday Inn / Messe Zurich, punctually at 8:20 am

(don’t be late as the group will depart for Basel and you will need to catch up on your own).

8:30–10:30: We will travel by train and tram to Basel, with some surprises along the way.
10:30–12:30: Workshop #1 and lunch
12:30–15:00 VIP tour of Art Basel
14:55–16:00 Workshop # 2
18:00 Arrive back in Zurich. End of the Event Directors Summit.

Tuesday 11 June 11: European Conference

Welcome Reception starts at 19:30 at Restaurant Zum Frischen Max

You can find more details on the practical information page: https://www.ufieurope.org/en/practical-information.

Can I attend the Event Directors Summit only without participating afterwards in the European Conference?

To attend the Event Directors Summit, you have already registered and bought a ticket to the UFI European Conference. The Event Directors Summit is designed to take place before the main UFI event, so delegates (who will mostly be new to the UFI community) will be able to network and get to know their smaller group of peers of event directors, before joining the larger group for the main event.

They will benefit from both events: the smaller, targeted intensive workshop and the larger European Conference, with its 2 days of learning and networking.

This year, we expect around 300 senior industry professionals from across Europe and beyond in Zurich: see the delegate list here.

I will be arriving later on Tuesday 11 June. Can I still join the Event Directors Summit if it has already started?

The Event Directors Summit delegates will leave by VIP bus at 8:20 am on Tuesday. So if you are late for the bus, you can take the next train to Basel from Zurich (approx. 1.5 hours). Then you can catch up with delegates and join the programme wherever we are.

Main contact person: Please contact Nick on +447876565552 to let him know where you are and he will guide you to the group.

If that is not possible, then we invite you to join us directly at 19:30 for the European Conference Welcome Reception.

When I submitted my registration for the European Conference, I did not register to attend the Event Directors Summit, but now I want to go. Can I still register?

Yes, please send us an email at eds@ufi.org so we can advise you. If you fulfill the eligible criteria and we still have room available, we will be glad to register you.

I have not received the email confirming my attendance at the Event Directors Summit, and I'm not sure if I'm well registered.

Please send us an email at eds@ufi.org so we can advise you.

Where do I get my badge to attend the Event Directors Summit?

We will give you your badge for the Event Directors Summit (and the European Conference) when you board the bus at 8:20 am on Tuesday, 11 June.

For more information visit the practical information page.

Where can I see the list of participants that are attending the Event Directors Summit?

You can check the Event Directors Summit participants list at the bottom of this page.

You can see the European Conference delegates here.

Does the Event Directors Summit have a specific webpage or event mobile app?

The Event Directors Summit page is: https://www.ufieurope.org/en/event-directors-summit

The Event Directors Summit does not have a dedicated mobile app. All delegates can download the main UFI Events mobile app for more event information and networking features.

What are the benefits of using the UFI Events mobile app?

We strongly recommend downloading the UFI Events app to:

Access the conference programme and the speakers line up.
Create your own agenda with your chosen sessions.
View the practical information and the social events programme.
Get the event photos live!
Network with your colleagues and peers attending the event through direct messages.

What is the Event Directors Summit dress code?

The dress code for the Event Directors Summit is business casual.

Which are the official hotels?

More information about the official hotels and booking links can be found on the hotel page: https://www.ufieurope.org/en/hotels

What is the cancellation and no-show policy?

All cancellation requests must be made in writing and sent to events@ufi.org.

Cancellations made before or on 12 April 2024 will be fully refunded. For any cancellations as of 13 April 2024, 100% cancellation charges will apply.

Any no-shows will be charged 100%.

If participants register before the event and have not paid the registration fees at the time of the event, they expressly agree to pay the registration fees in full, even in the case of non-attendance.

I paid the registration fee, but now I am unable to attend. Can I nominate someone else to attend in my place?

Yes, you are welcome to nominate someone else to attend in your place. If a non-member replaces a member, an additional fee will be charged to reflect the correct non-member rate to attend. In order to attend the Event Directors Summit, the person who will take your place need to fulfill the attendance criteria to be eligible.

Please advise substitutions via email at events@ufi.org.

First Name	Surname	Job Position	Company Name	Country/Region
Lumia	Ankkuri	Marketing and Communications Director	Messukeskus Helsinki, Expo And Convention Centre	Finland
Vassilis	Barkas	Event Director	ROTA SA.	Greece	LinkedIn
Agnese	Barni	International Business Developer Manager	Fiera Milano Spa	Italy
Naomi	Barton	Portfolio Director	Clarion Events	United Kingdom	LinkedIn
Victor	Berthon	Chief Development & Digital Officer	Sommet de L'Elevage	France	LinkedIn
Marco	Carniello	Chief Business Officer	Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.	Italy	LinkedIn
Marco	Cecchini	Business Development Manager	Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.	Italy	LinkedIn
Philippa	Christer	Portfolio Director	Montgomery Group	United Kingdom
Robert	Dach	Project Manager Fairs and Exhibitions	Mch Messe Schweiz	Switzerland
Benoit	Delaloy	International Manager	Sommet de L'Elevage	France	LinkedIn
Sophie	Dudicourt Seguy	Executive Director - Strategy and Project Development	Index Conference & Exhibition Org Llc	United Arab Emirates	LinkedIn
Roberta	Dudute	Head of the exhibition organization department	Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre - LITEXPO	Lithuania	LinkedIn
Claudia	Döttinger	Executive Vice President	Messe Stuttgart Gmbh	Germany
Francesco	Gili	Chief Operating Officer	IES International Eyewear Solutions s.r.l. Unipersonale	Italy	LinkedIn
Beatrice	Gravier	ED - EquipHotel	Rx France	France
Jean-Philippe	Guillon	RX France Event Director	Rx France	France
Jan Philipp	Hartmann	Director	Koelnmesse Gmbh	Germany
Deniz	Kasapoglu	Senior Project Manager	Messe Düsseldorf Gmbh	Germany
George	Kostoglou	Project Manager	ROTA SA.	Greece	LinkedIn
Danielle	Meester - Wassink	Director Domain Women & Baby Events	Rai Amsterdam	Netherlands	LinkedIn
Carina	Montagut	Feria Valencia Events Director	Feria Valencia	Spain	LinkedIn
Flavia	Morelli	Group Exhibition Manager	Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A.	Italy	LinkedIn
Tanja	Pasila	Growth director, business lead	Messukeskus Helsinki, Expo And Convention Centre	Finland	LinkedIn
Francesca	Puglisi	Institutional relations and communication manager	BolognaFiere S.p.a.	Italy
Mariella	Riedel	Project Director	Leipziger Messe GmbH	Germany	LinkedIn
Lorenz	Schibler	Director Own Events	MCH Exhibition & Events	Switzerland
Odiri	Umusu	Event Director	Dmg Events	United Kingdom
Giovanna	Voltolini	Exhibition Manager	Riva del Garda Fierecongressi S.p.A.	Italy
J. Bernd	Voss	Director spoga horse	Koelnmesse Gmbh	Germany
David	Westbrooke	Event Director	Clarion Events Ltd	United Kingdom	LinkedIn
Jonnie	Wicks	Commercial Director	Dmg Events	United Kingdom	LinkedIn
Andreas	Zuege	General Manager	Hannover Fairs International GmbH, Italian branch	Italy	LinkedIn

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