Irene Chan, CEO of AsiaWorld-Expo, highlighted the significance of hosting this year’s edition: “As we celebrate this centenary milestone in partnership with UFI, I am immensely proud of AsiaWorld-Expo’s role as a world-class venue hosting this exceptional congress, which also coincides with our 20th anniversary.” She added that the event reaffirmed Hong Kong’s role as a gateway to global markets and the Greater Bay Area, while offering delegates immersive cultural experiences woven into the programme.
UFI CEO Chris Skeith OBE described the 2025 Congress as a defining moment for the association: “This Congress was a milestone in UFI’s history. As we celebrated 100 years of connecting people globally, we were also looking ahead and building the foundations for the next century of our industry.” He noted the strong engagement and momentum among members throughout the week, emphasising the industry’s shared commitment to shaping the future together.
A future-driven programme
The main stage featured a strong line-up of global leaders exploring the forces transforming the exhibition sector. Dex Hunter-Torricke opened with a keynote on disruption, AI and human-centred innovation. Venue executives from Hong Kong, New York and Bahrain discussed sustainable operations, immersive venue design and destination-led strategies. Service providers showcased advances in AI and carbon-positive solutions, while organisers highlighted personalisation, festivalisation and the rise of year-round communities. On the final day, UFI’s Next Generation Leaders presented emerging perspectives on event formats, signalling the growing influence of new talent in shaping the sector.
Insight Series: Ideas into action
Interactive Insight Series sessions brought together UFI Award winners and Working Groups to examine digital transformation, sustainability, HR, marketing and customer-driven innovation. The sessions showcased practical case studies and collaborative problem-solving, underscoring UFI’s role as a global platform for peer-to-peer learning.
New Bate-Papo Corner
Delegates also participated in informal discussions at the Bate-Papo Corner, a new side-stage format introduced this year. All sessions were recorded and published as UFI Bate-Papo Unplugged podcasts on Spotify, extending reach beyond the physical event.
Honouring industry leaders
During the Congress, UFI President Hugh Jones presented the 2025 UFI Medal of Honour to Chen Xianjin, Michael Duck, Jo-Anne Kelleway and Cliff Wallace, recognising their exceptional contributions to the global exhibition industry and to UFI’s work.
New UFI leadership
UFI welcomed Panittha Buri, Vice Chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group, as its new President for the 2025–26 term. She succeeds Hugh Jones and will join him and incoming President Wolfram Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, in UFI’s Presidential Trio. The Congress also marked the transition of the Treasurer role from Wolfram Diener to David Harrison, CFO of the IMEX Group.
UFI’s Presidential Trio
Centennial celebrations
Celebrations for UFI’s 100th anniversary took place throughout the week, including the UFI-100 Expo Corner with historical highlights and a 1920s-themed Welcome Reception. A major announcement was also unveiled: the launch of UFI’s new website, developed to enhance member value through improved navigation, updated resources and a refreshed visual identity.
Experiencing Hong Kong
Beyond the conference sessions, delegates experienced Hong Kong’s culture and attractions through curated tours, a dinner at the M+ Museum overlooking Victoria Harbour, and an evening at Lan Kwai Fong. The programme demonstrated how the host destination contributes to the impact and memorability of the global gathering.
Looking ahead
The UFI Global Congress remains the largest annual meeting for the exhibition industry, open to more than 50,000 professionals from UFI member companies. Upcoming editions include:
- Manama, Bahrain – 93rd UFI Global Congress, 2-5 November 2026
- Guadalajara, Mexico – host destination for 2027
