UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry has just published the revised version of UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues report. Polska is ranked 16th out of 28 national and regional exhibition markets in the world included in the Report which offer more than 200, 000 sq.m. of indoor exhibition space.
Only venues with a minimum of 5 000 sq.m. of indoor exhibition space regularly used for the organization of trade fair and exhibitions were taken under consideration. UFI identified 1, 207 exhibition venues which meet such requirements. Total indoor space of these venues is 34,8 mln sq.m.
The revised nowadays UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues includes the data provided by Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry based on the results of the survey conducted by PCEI in April 2018. The original version of the UFI Report published in November included slightly different data on Polish venues, collected by UFI through different channels however without first consulting PCEI. Apart from Poland also Bulgaria, Italy and Thailand have now provided UFI with the revised data.
For the purpose of the UFI report „venue” is any public assembly premises with a minimum of 5 000 sq.m. of indoor exhibition space which holds various types of exhibitions, trade fairs and consumer / public shows – on a regular basis, no matter if it is a purpose – built exhibition centre or a sports venue, arena or an amusement center. „Exhibition space” is the amount of gross exhibition space in the venue which is regularly marketed and rented / used for exhibitions, trade fairs or consumer / public shows.
There are 19 exhibition venues in Poland which offer indoor exhibition space of more than 5 000 sq.m. Total indoor exhibition space of these venues is 443,902 sq.m., representing 1,3% of the global market. The exhibition space of venues in Poland available now has inreased by 64% in comparison with 2011 when UFI in cooperation with national industry associations, including Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry, published the previous report on the potential of exhibition venues througout the world.
The unquestioned leader among professional exhibition venues in Poland is Poznań International Fair. The operator offers total indoor exhibition space of 109, 071 sq.m. while the total indoor space of the whole venue is 190, 216 sq.m. PIF is ranked 32nd among the European exhibition venues, and is the only purpose-built Polish exhibition venue with more than 100, 000 sq.m. of indoor exhibition space.
Exhibition space offered by exhibition venues is one of the drivers for the economic development of the exhibition industry and business activity of venues has crucial meaning for the economic development of cities and regions. Such activity determines the development of business entities which are local service providers and business partners of exhibition organizers and exhibition venues (transportation, hotels, catering, cultural, sports, recreation, entertainment services etc.).
The revised UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues is available at:
http://www.ufi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/UFI_World_Map_of_Venues_2017_revJune18.pdf
Source: Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry, June 28, 2018.