The 2025 UFI Operations & Services Award topic was “Revolutionising the F&B Experience in Exhibitions: Sustainable, Engaging, and Adaptive Solutions”, with the objective of celebrating innovative F&B initiatives that set new standards for sustainability, enhance the visitor experience, and adapt seamlessly to the ever-changing needs of events. It aimed to showcase how food and beverage services can contribute to the overall success of conferences and exhibitions while promoting sustainable practices across the value chain.
Laura Purdy, General Manager, Exhibition Place, welcomes the award: “Exhibition Place is incredibly proud to receive the 2025 UFI Ops & Services Award for our sustainable food and beverage program.
Exhibition Place, home to the LEED Gold Certified Enercare Centre, is deeply committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact and was an early adopter in signing the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge. The Exhibition Place NZCE Roadmap includes a commitment to sustainable food sourcing and eliminating food waste.
Exhibition Place together with our F&B partner, OVG Hospitality, have created an innovative sustainable food and beverage program that supports our commitment to Net Zero Carbon while crafting fresh, creative, high-quality menus with an emphasis on authentic regional flavours that are infused with locally sourced ingredients. Food and beverage plays a crucial role in the success of every event, and together we are revolutionizing the F&B experience for attendees while we lay the path to Net Zero Carbon.”
Stefan Eckert, Senior Vice President Services at Koelnmesse GmbH and Chair of the UFI Operations & Services Working Group, commented, “Exhibition Place impressed the jury with a truly systematic and integrated concept that puts sustainability, customer experience, and operational excellence at the heart of their F&B strategy. From rooftop gardens and creative reuse of food to strong stakeholder collaboration and impactful donations, they’ve set a new benchmark for how exhibitions can become more responsible and attractive meeting places.”
The jury also acknowledged three other finalists ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi – Capital Catering+ (UAE), Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (Thailand), and RAI Amsterdam (Netherlands).
The UFI Operations & Services Award is one of UFI’s annual Award categories, recognising and rewarding successful results-oriented initiatives in the exhibition industry.
These awards celebrate excellence in areas ranging from human resources and digital innovation to marketing and sustainable development.
The 2025 UFI Award winners will be officially celebrated and will present their projects at the 92nd UFI Global Congress, which will take place from 19-22 November 2025 in Hong Kong SAR.
Tags: Stefan Eckert, Koelnmesse GmbH UFI Operations, Laura Purdy, Exhibition Place