Global Exhibitions Day celebrates the return of trade fairs as key tools for boosting the economy

2 June 2021 – An efficient and sustainable way of doing business, an industry that offers multiple job opportunities and the fastest way to reconnect with industries are some of the advantages offered by the trade fair sector which, according to data from the Spanish Association of Trade Fairs (AFE), contributes more than 5,000 million euros annually to the Spanish economy.

With the aim of highlighting their value, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) is dedicating this year’s International Trade Fair Day to recognising the important role they play in boosting economies around the world. Indeed, events are key to rebuilding economies at this time, as the COVID-19 pandemic has had significantly damaging and potentially long-lasting effects on almost every business sector.

Trade fairs have traditionally played a role in strengthening and growing economic sectors. More than 32,000 trade fairs are held each year involving around 4.5 million exhibiting companies, attracting more than 303 million visitors globally. And, as face-to-face events continue to be fundamental, this year’s International Trade Fair Day recognises the impact of trade fairs on local economies, both in creating business and connecting people from around the world. It also promotes the message that face-to-face exhibitions are the fastest way to reconnect with the market.

However, the coronavirus crisis has put trade fair and congress tourism around the world in check, and in Spain in particular, the impact has resulted in a drop of more than 80% in turnover, causing around 11.2 billion euros in losses last year. So this year UFI is focused on the idea of connecting, reconnecting and restoring communities and economies, and instilling confidence in the public to participate in professional events that prioritise safety and success in equal measure.

The Belgian multinational Easyfairs Group, which implements 200 events in 14 countries and which, in the 2018-2019 financial year, generated revenues in excess of €171 million, joins the Global Exhibitions Day (GED2021) messages. Oscar Barrando, Divisional Director of Easyfairs Iberia emphasised that “all of us at Easyfairs are looking forward to reopening our doors in November. Our events will be industry meeting points that will play an important role in stimulating business and helping to rebuild the economy in the aftermath of the pandemic. We have learned to stay in touch “online” but, when we do business, there is no substitute for face-to-face.

In the last year Easyfairs has launched a number of alternatives to face-to-face events, with the aim of giving industry professionals the chance to reconnect with the market, learn about new trends, innovations and ideas from leading companies. These include a wide range of online events with more than 120 webinars and digital events organised in the countries where the Group operates. Specifically, in Spain, various webinars have been organised, mainly educational, by companies such as HP, Stratasys, Creaform and Reflex Logistics. Likewise, a series of online events have been launched, such as three Digital Tech Congresses, which have had 20 companies and collaborating entities and more than 2,000 attendees: eMotion Trends, Deciphering e-commerce and Evolution or Revolution: together towards intelligent automation, and on 24 June Composites Madrid, together with Advanced Engineering, is planning to hold a new online event dedicated exclusively to composite materials.

During the toughest months of the pandemic, the Easyfairs group has played an active role in the fight against COVID-19 by making its facilities available to local and national authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. It has made its Flanders Expo, Antwerp Expo, Namur Expo and Nekkerhal sites in Belgium available to host academic examinations. In Sweden, several venues have been set up to help conduct COVID-19 tests.

The last fair held by the Easyfairs group was Batireno in Belgium in October 2020, an event dedicated to construction and renovation. The first fair it will hold after the pandemic will be Trendz 2021, a professional decoration event organised in the Netherlands from 22-24 August.

Easyfairs will resume its activity in Spain next November. Specifically, Empack and Logistics & Automation will take place on 24 and 25 November, while MetalMadrid, Composites Madrid and Robomática will be held on 17 and 18 November. It will be the perfect occasion to share hope and optimism for the future, and to focus efforts on conveying the important role that trade shows play in reconnecting and rebuilding communities and economies.

About Easyfairs

Easyfairs organises events as meeting points for communities to visit the future.

We currently organise 200 face-to-face events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and manage eight exhibition venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-North Brussels, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Malmö and Stockholm).

We are passionate about “making life easier” for our clients and increasing the return on their investment and time through our all-in formulas, advanced technology and customer-centric strategy. Our digital offering also provides these communities with excellent opportunities for effective networking and year-round business. We are in constant contact with our community to create engaging, customised online formats that suit all of our industries’ needs.

The Easyfairs Group employs 600 highly engaged talents, implements the best marketing and technology tools and develops brands with strong appeal to our stakeholders.

In 2018, Easyfairs was named “Entrepreneur of the Year®” in Belgium and was recognised as “Best Managed Company” by Deloitte and “Great Place to Work”. For the third year in a row, in 2021, Deloitte again awarded Easyfairs the status of “Best Managed Company”.

The company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading trade fair organisers.

Visit the future with Easyfairs and find out more at www.easyfairsgroup.com.

MetalMadrid: https://www.metalmadrid.com/es/

Logistics & Automation Madrid: https://www.logisticsmadrid.com/es

Empack Madrid: https://www.empackmadrid.com/