What does Global Exhibitions Day really mean?

On June 8 the exhibition industry will stop to recognize Global Exhibitions Day(#GED16) around the world. But it’s not just holding up a logo and declaring your support for our vibrant industry…it means much, much more.

The exhibitions industry brings businesses together and according to AMR International is worth over US$30 billion annually. UFI reports our industry as holding approximately 31,000 Exhibitions per year where 4,4 million exhibiting companies welcomed over 260 million visitors.

But it means even more than just numbers and dollars; it is the place where we as human beings come together to meet & discuss business face-to-face. Our present-day digital world sees us playing in a virtual space where we skim through pages of news and network with hundreds of contacts daily. These sometimes, superficial interactions with strangers render us as voyeurs.

So what will this look like when our reality really becomes virtual?

I’m betting on millions of years of evolution that has rooted into our DNA the need for human contact. The need to shake hands, the need to meet face-to-face, the need to stimulate all our senses.

We should be screaming from the rooftops to our politicians, business leaders & communities with a single, shared, cohesive voice that the exhibitions industry is invested in the way people interact.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a tech-head through & through, I love the convenience my digital life is affording me. Technology is providing our industry with tools that allow us to enhance the attendee experience. But I don’t want to see virtual platforms replacing it.

As a board member of Exhibitions & Events Association of Australia (EEAA), I am proud to say that our association will be geographically in a time zone to be the first to celebrate Global Exhibitions Day. We are planning to hold our most important annual gatherings, the AGM and Leaders Forum, on 8-9 June to co-incide with #GED16. All EEAA members are invited to join us to discuss the issues that will help drive the future success of our industry.

“We will be coming together for the Annual General Meeting of our Member community and also holding our popular summit with the most senior industry leaders and stakeholders – we will be part of the global effort to spread the message about our impact on trade, investment and the economy”, said Joyce DiMascio, EEAA Chief Executive.

As a passionate supporter of #GED 2016, I’m calling on all businesses to promote the power of exhibitions as not only a driver of economic development, trade & export, employment & knowledge sharing but most importantly as our basic human need to reach out and touch what matters.