Exhibition industry professionals from 40 nations gathered in Bilbao, Spain, to share information and ideas on timely marketing topics at this annual event organized by UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Hosted by the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC) from June 18 -20, the 2007 UFI event theme, “Thinking Outside of the Box,” challenged the marketing professionals to actively participate in direct industry issue votes, matchmaking sessions and “Ask the Expert” discussions.

Speakers at this year’s seminar presented a broad range of topics:

• Prospering in America: The Art Basel Success Story; by: Peter Denger, Head of Corporate Development, Messe Schweiz, Basel, Switzerland



• “Ask the Expert” How to export shows abroad? by: Steve Monnington, Managing Director, Mayfield Media Strategies Ltd, London



• The power of Individual Appointments and Hosted Buyer Programmes by: Ray Bloom, Chairman, Regent Exhibitions Ltd, Hove, UK



• “Hard Talk” Key issues and challenges facing the exhibition industry Interview of Andrew Morris, Member of the Board, Business Design Centre Ltd., London By Hakan Gershagen



• Exhibition Industry issues: Relations between industry associations and exhibition players by: Klaus Stockmann, Commercial Director, VDMA Mining Equipment, Frankfurt



• E-marketing: From Handy Tool to Event Marketing Heaven by: Matthew Finlay, CEO, Rising Media Ltd, Munich
  Cross cultural management by: Denise Austin-Guillon, International Management Consultant and Coach, Paris



• Team Building and Motivation by: Simon Naudi, Managing Director, Answers Training International Ltd, UK



• “Ask the Expert” Successful Customer Loyalty Programmes in Trade Exhibitions by: Eric Preat, Vice President Product Development, easyFairs, Brussels, Belgium



• How to add value to your exhibitions through services? (Panel Discussion) Jime Essink, CEO, VNU Exhibitions Europe, Utrecht; Maria Martinez, Organization, Human Resources & Systems Director, IFEMA, Madrid; Tomas Moravec, Director of Commercial Group, Brno Trade Fairs, Brno; Michael Watton, Sales Director, The NEC, Birmingham



• “Debate” between two opposite opinions on the question: The Internet Era: Friend or Foe for the
  exhibition media? Opinion “Internet is Friend”: Chris Hughes, Managing Director, Brand Events, London; Opinion “Internet is Foe”: Douglas Ducate, President, CEIR, Dallas, USA



• Best Practice Conference Management Applied to the Exhibition Business Model by: Max Hare, Managing Director, International Business Communications, Germany

During the Seminar, UFI awarded the 2007 Marketing Award to Reed MIDEM for their programme on the topic “Best Events Supporting Exhibitions.”

Vincent Gerard, UFI Managing Director commented, “This was truly an outstanding event. We had
180 active participants from 40 countries sharing their ideas and knowledge. This type ofinternational UFI seminar is “continuing education” for our exhibition industry professionals at its best!”