UFI Global Barometer provides updates on the “bounce-back” of the exhibition industry

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest edition of its flagship Global Exhibition Barometer research, which takes the pulse of the industry.

The results highlight the quickening pace of the industry’s recovery in 2022, after the continuing impact of COVID-19 throughout 2021. The sector is bouncing back quickly, and revenues for the first half of 2023 are expected to reach 87% of comparable 2019 levels (noting that 2019 has been the industry’s record year to date).

In terms of operations, around six in ten companies are reporting “normal activity” – up from just three in ten, six months ago. By the end of the year, seven in ten companies expect to be operating at normal levels, while only around 5% of companies still expect to have “no activity” from September 2022.

When asked what elements are most crucial to supporting the “bounce-back” of exhibitions, six in ten companies selected “Lifting of current travel restrictions” and “Readiness of exhibiting companies and visitors to participate again”. The two next most influential drivers are “Financial incentive packages (leading to reduced costs for the exhibitors)” and “Lifting of current public policies that apply locally to exhibitions”, mentioned by four in ten and three in ten companies respectively.

In terms of 2022 operating profits, 25% of companies globally are expecting either a loss or a reduction of more than 50%, compared to 2019 levels. Overall, 73% of companies received no public financial support during the pandemic, and for the majority of those that did, financial public aid represented less than 10% of their overall costs.

Read the full report below.

“The bounce-back of exhibitions around the world has entered its next phase, and pre-COVID levels will be within reach as early as next year in some markets,” says Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director and CEO at UFI. “As the industry manages this amazing recovery, it is also dealing with significant staffing challenges, and is working to apply key learning from the pandemic around the digitisation of events and services into its business model.”

Size and scope

This latest edition of UFI’s bi-annual industry survey was concluded in June 2022 and includes data from 366 companies in 57 countries and regions. The study also includes outlooks and analysis for 23 focus countries and regions – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US – as well as five additional aggregated regional zones.

Find out more at UFI’s website.