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The Event Directors Summit is a one-day summit which is strictly limited to 50 Event / Exhibition / Portfolio Directors from 
the organizer community. The summit is free to attend for any Event/Exhibition Directors who have registered to attend the UFI European Conference.

When?

It will be held on Tuesday 11th June ahead of the UFI European Conference, so this exclusive group can meet, network and learn together, before the start of the main Conference.
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. 
The summit is free to attend for any Event/Exhibition Directors who have registered to attend the UFI European Conference which will begin immediately after the conclusion of the summit.

Succesully launched in Maastricht last year – here are some testimonials from the 2023 Event Directors Summit

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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).

To attend the Event Directors Summit you need to:

  1. Check if you fulfill the “Event Directors Summit Attendance Criteria” (detailed in question 2).
  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.
  3. You will receive a confirmation email.
  4. Pay the fee for the UFI European Conference. For more details, click here.

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 

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

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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

You can see the European Conference delegates here. 

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.
Find all the practical information about the Event Directors Summit and the UFI European Conference here. 

For specific questions about the Event Directors Summit, please contact eds@ufi.org.
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List of Participants

First Name Surname Job Position Company Name Country/Region
LumiaAnkkuriMarketing and Communications DirectorMessukeskus Helsinki, Expo And Convention CentreFinland
VassilisBarkasEvent DirectorROTA SA.GreeceLinkedIn
AgneseBarniInternational Business Developer ManagerFiera Milano SpaItaly
NaomiBartonPortfolio DirectorClarion EventsUnited KingdomLinkedIn
VictorBerthonChief Development & Digital OfficerSommet de L'ElevageFranceLinkedIn
MarcoCarnielloChief Business OfficerItalian Exhibition Group S.p.A.ItalyLinkedIn
MarcoCecchiniBusiness Development ManagerItalian Exhibition Group S.p.A.ItalyLinkedIn
PhilippaChristerPortfolio DirectorMontgomery GroupUnited Kingdom
RobertDachProject Manager Fairs and ExhibitionsMch Messe SchweizSwitzerland
BenoitDelaloyInternational ManagerSommet de L'ElevageFranceLinkedIn
SophieDudicourt SeguyExecutive Director - Strategy and Project DevelopmentIndex Conference & Exhibition Org LlcUnited Arab EmiratesLinkedIn
RobertaDuduteHead of the exhibition organization departmentLithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre - LITEXPOLithuaniaLinkedIn
ClaudiaDöttingerExecutive Vice PresidentMesse Stuttgart GmbhGermany
FrancescoGiliChief Operating OfficerIES International Eyewear Solutions s.r.l. UnipersonaleItalyLinkedIn
BeatriceGravierED - EquipHotelRx FranceFrance
Jean-PhilippeGuillonRX France Event DirectorRx FranceFrance
Jan PhilippHartmannDirectorKoelnmesse GmbhGermany
DenizKasapogluSenior Project ManagerMesse Düsseldorf GmbhGermany
GeorgeKostoglouProject ManagerROTA SA.GreeceLinkedIn
DanielleMeester - WassinkDirector Domain Women & Baby EventsRai AmsterdamNetherlandsLinkedIn
CarinaMontagutFeria Valencia Events DirectorFeria ValenciaSpainLinkedIn
FlaviaMorelliGroup Exhibition ManagerItalian Exhibition Group S.p.A.ItalyLinkedIn
TanjaPasilaGrowth director, business leadMessukeskus Helsinki, Expo And Convention CentreFinlandLinkedIn
FrancescaPuglisiInstitutional relations and communication managerBolognaFiere S.p.a.Italy
MariellaRiedelProject DirectorLeipziger Messe GmbHGermanyLinkedIn
LorenzSchiblerDirector Own EventsMCH Exhibition & EventsSwitzerland
OdiriUmusuEvent DirectorDmg EventsUnited Kingdom
GiovannaVoltoliniExhibition ManagerRiva del Garda Fierecongressi S.p.A.Italy
J. BerndVossDirector spoga horseKoelnmesse GmbhGermany
DavidWestbrookeEvent DirectorClarion Events LtdUnited KingdomLinkedIn
JonnieWicksCommercial DirectorDmg EventsUnited KingdomLinkedIn
AndreasZuegeGeneral ManagerHannover Fairs International GmbH, Italian branchItalyLinkedIn