İzmir strengthened its position within the international exhibition industry by hosting the largest regional conference in the 101-year history of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), bringing together nearly 400 industry representatives from 36 countries.

Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ at Fuar İzmir, the UFI European Conference concluded successfully after welcoming exhibition professionals from across Europe and beyond. Described by UFI Regional Director for Europe Nick Dugdale-Moore as “the largest regional conference in UFI’s 101-year history,” the event brought together nearly 400 industry professionals from 36 countries. Throughout the conference, participants took part in sessions focusing on the future of the exhibition industry, business meetings, and networking events, while İzmir welcomed some of the sector’s most influential international representatives.

“A Source of Pride”
İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu expressed her satisfaction at bringing a major UFI event back to İzmir after a 52-year interval. “Throughout its history, İzmir has been a center of trade, cultural exchange, and international gatherings. With more than a century of exhibition experience, our city is also home to the İzmir International Fair, the first exhibition in Türkiye to become a UFI member. Hosting the UFI European Conference in İzmir once again after many years has reaffirmed our city’s strong position within the global exhibition network and its deep-rooted organizational expertise.”

Cumalıoğlu noted that hosting the most highly attended regional conference ever organized by UFI was an additional source of pride. “This remarkable gathering, which brought together exhibition organizers, industry professionals, and decision-makers from around the world, provided a valuable platform for developing a shared vision for the future of the exhibition industry. We believe the international interaction generated throughout the conference will contribute significantly to new collaborations, long-term partnerships, and cross-sector knowledge exchange.”

She also emphasized that the momentum created by the conference would enhance İzmir’s international visibility, generate new opportunities for hosting future events, and strengthen the city’s global industry connections.

“Experiencing the City and Its Culture Contributed to the Conference’s Success”
UFI CEO Chris Skeith stated that participants were highly satisfied with their time in İzmir and noted that the opportunity to experience the city, its culture, and Türkiye played a significant role in the conference’s success. Skeith highlighted that bringing together the global exhibition community in such an environment added unique value to the event.

He noted that for more than a century, UFI has united the global exhibition industry by creating opportunities for professionals to learn from one another, share best practices, build networks, and lay the foundations for future partnerships. According to Skeith, the conference in İzmir made a significant contribution to these goals, enabling participants not only to exchange knowledge but also to establish relationships that could evolve into future collaborations. He emphasized that the experiences gained and connections formed in İzmir would provide long-term benefits for participants and their organizations.
Skeith concluded by thanking everyone involved in organizing the conference and expressed his hope of returning to İzmir in the future, describing it as a privilege to host such a gathering in Türkiye.

“The Largest Regional Conference in UFI’s 101-Year History”
UFI Regional Director for Europe Nick Dugdale-Moore recalled his first visit to İzmir last year and said he immediately sensed that the city would provide the setting for a special event. “This week, we welcomed more than 400 delegates to İzmir. It became the largest regional conference in UFI’s 101-year history.”
Dugdale-Moore noted that İzmir left a strong impression on participants, who were particularly impressed by the city’s unique combination of historical heritage and modern urban life. He added that İzmir’s hospitality and the overall experience offered by the city made a significant contribution to the conference’s success, with delegates from many countries leaving with highly positive impressions.

İZFAŞ and Fuar İzmir Receive High Praise
Commenting on the organization of the event, Dugdale-Moore praised the quality of services provided by İZFAŞ and the meticulous attention paid to operational details. He also noted that Fuar İzmir received widespread acclaim from international participants, who were impressed by the venue’s architecture, functionality, and facilities. According to Dugdale-Moore, exhibition venue managers and operators from across Europe had the opportunity to closely examine Fuar İzmir and concluded that it possesses the qualities of one of the leading exhibition facilities not only in Europe but in the world.

An Opportunity to Discover İzmir
The UFI European Conference concluded as a landmark event that brought together leading figures of the international exhibition industry while further strengthening İzmir’s position within the global exhibition ecosystem. Through conference sessions, business meetings, technical visits, and social programs, participants from around the world not only discussed the future of the exhibition industry but also had the opportunity to experience İzmir’s history, culture, and way of life.
Through visits to sites including Ephesus, the Agora of Smyrna, Urla, Çeşme, Kemeraltı, and the Historic Elevator, delegates experienced the city firsthand. As participants returned home with new business connections and collaboration opportunities, the conference also made a significant contribution to enhancing İzmir’s visibility within the international exhibition community.

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