June 5: What is Global Exhibition Day GED?
In 2015, the World Association of the Exhibition Industry UFI launched Global Exhibition Day. In 2018, 85 countries already supported the exhibition day.
The aim of Global Exhibition Day GED, the largest promotional campaign for the exhibition and event industry, is to raise the profile of the industry through national exhibition associations and exhibition companies around the world: Trade fairs are an efficient marketing tool and an important driver of economic growth in cities, regions and countries. The GED stood for 4 million messages linked to #Hashtag on social networks in 2018. On Twitter, the number of followers increased by 50 percent. On YouTube, a total of 4500 films were launched. AUMA, the German trade fair industry association, is also supporting Global Exhibitions Day 2019, and will present the latest data on the importance of the industry and the status quo of sustainability in the German trade fair industry.
The economic importance of the trade show industry is little anchored in the public consciousness. Except perhaps in Germany and Asia, where the state and local authorities sometimes provide broad support for trade fair venues. Global Exhibition Day raises public awareness of this fact.
Messe Frankfurt, for example, is responsible for 3.6 billion euros in economic effects and 33,260 jobs in Germany; half of the economic effects occur in Frankfurt itself.
Messe Düsseldorf: Worldwide, exhibitors, trade fair visitors, event and congress participants spend 1.99 billion euros; in total, this sum generates sales of 2.74 billion euros in Germany. 23,564 jobs are secured nationwide by trade fairs in Düsseldorf, of which more than half, exactly 12,856, are in Düsseldorf.
The MCH Group is responsible for CHF 1.9 billion in direct sales of hall rental, stand construction and hospitality services. They lead to additional sales in a long chain of supplier relationships, so-called indirect effects. The direct and indirect economic effects of the MCH Group total CHF 3.931 billion.
Global Exhibition Day is open to anyone who wants to contribute to the visibility of the international exhibition industry. According to UFI, GED activities point to the global economic impact of the exhibition and event industry and its contribution to resource conservation. But that, an industry that protects the environment, is not the exhibition industry.
It would be better if the UFI narrowed its scope and focused: on a Global Sustainable Exhibition Day GSED. Focusing would have more impact. This year's Global Exhibition Day will take place on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
