The International Association of Trade Fair Organizers (UFI), The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, was founded in Milan in 1925 to promote cooperation between exhibition organizers in order to revitalize the sector at the end of the First World War. Today, the association brings together 673 organizations from 84 countries and on November 4 to 7 it will return to Milan for its annual congress for the first time in over 67 years.
The delegates expected during the three-day conference total approximately 450 organizers, representatives, and service providers operating in a sector that reaches a vast audience; UFI data reports that there are 30 thousand exhibitions worldwide each year involving 2.8 million direct exhibitors and 260 million visitors.
The convention centre MiCo, managed by Fiera Milano Congressi, will host the event and AIM Group takes on the organization. The conference program will include plenary sessions, parallel meetings, meetings of the macro-regional chapters and many networking opportunities, while the gala dinner for delegates and those accompanying them is planned at the Palazzo del Ghiaccio, Milan’s beautiful Art Nouveau ice palace.
For spouses and others accompanying the delegates programs will be provided the best of Milan including cooking courses as well as visits to Silos Armani, the new Museum of Cultures (MUDEC), and the Fondazione Prada. Tours to the historic Alfa Romeo museum in Arese and other itineraries dedicated to exploring Milan’s culture will be offered.
