Detailed results for several key national markets indicate a general positive outlook on all issues for 2014 and 2015 for both the USA and China, with a small slowdown in turnover increase anticipated in China for 2015. Significant differences appear in Europe, with turnover increases expected in 2015 varying from 2 companies out of 3 in Turkey or Italy to 1 in 2 in Germany and only 1 in 10 in Russia.
Results of UFI’s 14th Global Barometer survey indicate positive perspectives for 2015. The situation appears rather solid with a majority of companies from all regions declaring an increase of their turnover since at least 2011. However, less than one company out of two declares an increase of annual profit of more than 10% for 2014 and only 41% of respondents consider that the economic crisis is now over.
Detailed results for several key national markets indicate a general positive outlook on all issues for 2014 and 2015 for both the USA and China, with a small slowdown in turnover increase anticipated in China for 2015. Significant differences appear in Europe, with turnover increases expected in 2015 varying from 2 companies out of 3 in Turkey or Italy to 1 in 2 in Germany and only 1 in 10 in Russia.
The most important business issues remain related to the general economic situation with the state of the national/regional economy and global economic uncertainty consistently selected as among the three most important business issues for the last four years together with local competition and internal management challenges. Environmental challenges (customer expectations, regulations, etc.) appear as the next most important issue.
Most companies are planning new business developments. 76% are planning new activities in either the classic range of exhibition activities (venue/organizer/services) or in live or virtual events (or both) and 51% plan to expand exhibition operations to new countries.
Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director, concludes: “In a globally fragile economic environment, the exhibition industry continues to demonstrate a fairly good performance, except in some countries with specific current issues. UFI encourages all surveyed companies to keep providing their input in order to maintain this important tool for the industry and its stakeholders”.
The 14th Global Barometer survey, conducted in December 2014, was answered by 203 companies from 55 countries. The next UFI Global Barometer Survey will be conducted in June 2015.
UFI Global Exhibition Barometer January 2015
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
