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Tuesday, November 18
09:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Greater Bay Area Local Tours
Networking
Exclusive Tours for UFI Congress Participants
This is a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic Greater Bay Area, one of Asia’s most vibrant and fast-evolving regions, just ahead of the official start of the 92nd UFI Global Congress in Hong Kong.
🌟Macao MICE Environment Experience Tour, duration: 9:00 - 22:00
🌟Zhuhai Business & Culture Discovery Tour, duration: 9:30 - 22:00
How to book a tour?
⚠️ Confirm Your Spot by 30 September
As places are limited (first-come, first-served), early registration is strongly encouraged.
Participation criteria: companies that are organisers and venues only.
04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Board of Directors Meeting (by invitation only)
Board of Directors
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Board of Directors Dinner (by invitation only)
Networking
Wednesday, November 19
09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
UFI Chapter Meetings (UFI Members only)
UFI Chapter Meeting
- Europe Chapter Meeting
- MEA Chapter Meeting
- Asia-Pacific Chapter Meeting
- North America Chapter Meeting
- Central & South America Chapter Meeting
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Associations Committee Meeting (by invitation only)
Associations Committee
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Speed Networking – extended and enhanced
Networking
Turbo-charge your networking!
Join us for a one-hour Speed Networking session and have up to 10 meetings, designed to spark meaningful conversations and open new doors.
Powered by Expoplatform, for this session you do not need to register in advance, you just show up on the day to register and check-in.
Please bring your own device and make sure you can access the email inbox you used for registration to participate fully.
12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Light Lunch
Networking
01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
General Assembly
General Assembly
03:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Xchange Session - Visitrans
Xchange Session
Step into the Xchange Theatre for fast-paced sessions on the latest industry trends and innovations. These sponsor-driven talks will present real case studies, bold ideas and lessons learned from across the global events landscape.
03:15 PM - 03:30 PM
Xchange Session - Singapore Expo
Xchange Session
03:30 PM - 03:45 PM
Xchange Session - Memento
Xchange Session
03:45 PM - 04:00 PM
Break
Networking
04:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Xchange Session - Eventx
Xchange Session
04:15 PM - 04:30 PM
Xchange Session - Aluvision
Xchange Session
04:30 PM - 04:45 PM
Xchange Session - Swapcard
Xchange Session
07:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Welcome Reception - Step Back in Time! Celebrate 100 Years of UFI in 1920s Style!
Networking
Join us at AsiaWorld-Expo for an unforgettable Welcome Reception as we kick off the UFI Congress with a dazzling celebration of UFI’s 100-year journey. Inspired by the glamour and spirit of the exciting Twenties, the evening will transport you to a world of jazz, elegance, and energy, a fitting tribute to the decade in which UFI was born.
Enjoy a night of live entertainment, signature food and drinks reflecting both 1920s charm and Hong Kong flair, and a chance to connect with peers from around the globe in a spectacular setting. This centennial celebration is not to be missed!
Thursday, November 20
06:30 AM - 07:45 AM
UFI Sports Club
Networking
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Networking Refreshments
Networking
09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Opening of the 92nd UFI Global Congress
Session
09:30 AM - 10:20 AM
Building Community in the Age of Global Transformation
Keynote
The next decade will be the most transformative in human history. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and societies navigate unprecedented change, we face a striking paradox: we're more connected than ever, yet starved for deep relationships and meaningful encounters.
In this keynote, Dex Hunter-Torricke, one of the global tech industry's leading thinkers on AI explores how the events industry is uniquely positioned to become the catalyst for navigating this great transition. The solutions to tomorrow's challenges will emerge from bringing people together in surprising ways that forge meaningful new connections needed to unlock breakthrough thinking. From immersive technologies to radical new formats, and the embrace of cutting-edge strategic thinking calibrated to a unique moment in human history, Dex reveals how events can create the conditions where collective intelligence flourishes and humanity's shared challenges finally meet their match.
Dex Hunter-Torricke
10:20 AM - 10:45 AM
Future-first: How Leading Organisers Are Redesigning the Exhibition Experience
Session
This session will explore how exhibition organisers are responding to changing customer expectations and the pressures to innovate. Panellists will share practical examples of how they are evolving event formats, improving content delivery, enhancing sustainability and using customer insight to shape the future of their shows.
Moderator: Panittha Buri, Vice President, Bhiraj Buri Group
Panittha Buri
Peter Hall
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Networking Break
Networking
11:05 AM - 11:50 AM
Bate-papo Corner: Talks, Ideas, Exchange
Talk
Running alongside the networking break, Bate-Papo (bah-tchee-PA-poo) is an informal space for dynamic, small-group conversations. Inspired by the Portuguese term for “chat,” it empowers attendees to shape the dialogue and learn from each other in an open, participatory setting. Located in the heart of the coffee and networking area, it’s the perfect spot for candid exchanges and sharing insights.
11:45 AM - 12:25 PM
What Our Industry Can Learn From HYROX
Session
In just a few years, HYROX has gone from an idea to a global fitness phenomenon, drawing tens of thousands of athletes to arenas in over 20 countries - many of them first-time participants in an event format blending competition, content and community.
In this session, Gary Wan shares how HYROX has created a scalable, repeatable format that turns spectators into participants, blends competition with community and offers lessons in B2C-style engagement that B2B events can apply.
Gary Wan
12:25 PM - 12:40 PM
Medal of Honour Ceremony: Celebrating the Present And Honouring the Past
Session
12:40 PM - 02:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Networking
02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
Rethinking the Role of Service Providers in Shaping 'What’s Next'
Session
As our industry strives for greater sustainability, efficiency and innovation, the role of service providers is rapidly evolving. This discussion will explore how logistics, general service providers and production partners are moving beyond traditional delivery roles to become strategic contributors & partners to the future of events. The panel will examine how the supply chain is responding to shifting organiser and customer demands, adopting new technologies and helping to reimagine what exhibitions can be.
Geoff Dickinson
Jason Stead
Inès Ginon
02:50 PM - 03:05 PM
UFI Award Winners Ceremony
Session
03:05 PM - 04:00 PM
Networking Break
Networking
03:05 PM - 04:00 PM
Bate-papo Corner: Talks, Ideas, Exchange
Talk
Running alongside the networking break, Bate-Papo (bah-tchee-PA-poo) is an informal space for dynamic, small-group conversations. Inspired by the Portuguese term for “chat,” it empowers attendees to shape the dialogue and learn from each other in an open, participatory setting. Located in the heart of the coffee and networking area, it’s the perfect spot for candid exchanges and sharing insights.
04:15 PM - 05:15 PM
Insight Series – Ideas in Action: Digital Innovation
WorkshopDigital Innovation
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Simone Zaccherini
04:15 PM - 05:15 PM
Insight Series – Ideas in Action: Operations & Services
WorkshopOperations & Services
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Laura Purdy
04:15 PM - 05:15 PM
Insight Series - Ideas in Action: Sustainability
WorkshopSustainable Development
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Vincenzo Cecere
Raymond Rhodes
Edwin Van Der Vennet
05:20 PM - 06:20 PM
Insight Series – Ideas in Action: HR
WorkshopHR
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Thamita Chongswatvorakul
05:20 PM - 06:20 PM
Insight Series – Ideas in Action: Industry Partners
WorkshopIndustry Partners
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Tanya Pinchuk
Nina Sossau
Dirk Urra
05:20 PM - 06:20 PM
Insights Series - Ideas in Action: Marketing
WorkshopMarketing
For these 1-hour sessions we will break into smaller groups and deep dive on various topics: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, Marketing, Operations & Services, HR, and Industry Partners.
Each session will feature a 15-minute presentation from this year’s UFI Award Winner followed by a 30-minute workshop style discussion with attendees on that topic.
Walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and real-world strategies you can apply in your own work right away.
Ewa Woch
07:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Congress Dinner
Networking
Join us for an unforgettable evening at M+, Asia’s leading museum of contemporary visual culture, located in the heart of Hong Kong’s vibrant West Kowloon Cultural District. This special gathering celebrates the city’s distinctive urban charm, seamlessly blending art, culture, and creativity.
Delegates will enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring immersive experiences that blend neon art, signature catering with addition of nostalgic refreshments, cross-genre music, and breathtaking panoramic views of the iconic Victoria Harbour.
Notably, this year also marks the 85th anniversary of martial arts legend Bruce Lee’s birth. To commemorate this occasion, AWE has specially invited the Hong Kong Dance Company, the creator of the choreography, to perform for the event. The performance interprets Lee’s martial arts philosophy and spirit through a dynamic fusion of strength and grace, promising to unveil the event with excitement.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to unwind, connect, and experience the true essence of Hong Kong in one extraordinary evening.
Friday, November 21
08:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Networking Refreshments
Networking
09:30 AM - 10:20 AM
How Are Venues Evolving to Meet the Future of Events?
Session
As expectations from organisers, exhibitors and visitors continue to evolve, venues are under pressure to innovate - not just in infrastructure, but in the experience, flexibility and sustainability they offer.
In this session, venue leaders from across the globe will share how they are rethinking the purpose and potential of event spaces. It will focus on how venues are adapting their operations, design, accessibility and services to meet changing organiser and visitor expectations, and how collaboration across the ecosystem is essential to shaping the future.
Moderator: Hugh Jones, CEO, RX
Joyce Ann Leveston
John Sharkey
Hugh Jones
10:20 AM - 11:00 AM
Redefining Exhibition Formats
Session
Exhibition formats have always changed – glacially. Over the last 10 years, we’ve discussed confex models, hybrid models, and many more, and how they change our business model and operations. Now, the debate is on how exhibition organisers widen their business model beyond these traditional extensions of the main show floor.
The NGL class of 2025 will explore new, “out of the box” formats that can inspire a new iteration of event models.
Ilaria Basile
Anida D'Costa
Taher Hakami
Sarah Jung
Diana Maria Salman
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Networking Break
Networking
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Bate-papo Corner: Talks, Ideas, Exchange
Talk
Running alongside the networking break, Bate-Papo (bah-tchee-PA-poo) is an informal space for dynamic, small-group conversations. Inspired by the Portuguese term for “chat,” it empowers attendees to shape the dialogue and learn from each other in an open, participatory setting. Located in the heart of the coffee and networking area, it’s the perfect spot for candid exchanges and sharing insights.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
The Global Economic Outlook
Session
Nick Marro
12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
UFI Presidency Handover
Session
01:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Networking
02:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Host Country Session - Gateway to Growth: Unleashing Opportunities in the Great Bay Area
Session
04:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Congress Closing and Next Host Announcement
Session
06:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tram Party in Hong Kong
Networking
Have You Ever Partied on a Tram? Now’s Your Chance!
Ready to experience Hong Kong like never before? Hop on a *vintage open-top tram* and soak in stunning 360-degree views of the city’s vibrant nightlife and famous landmarks — all while enjoying delicious food and drinks!
Capacity: 60 participants
Saturday, November 22
10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Post-Congress Tours
Networking
To make the most of your time at the congress in Hong Kong, take part in one of the four unique post-congress tours, giving you the chance to explore the rich culture and history of Hong Kong.
How to book a tour?
- If you haven’t registered yet: you can select your preferred tour directly in the event registration form.
- If you’ve already registered: please contact the UFI team at events@ufi.org including your chosen tour and the names of the participants.
- Tour 1 - Hong Kong Heights – The Peak Experience
- Tour 2 - Cultural Canvas – From Past to Present
- Tour 3 - Lantau Escapes – Nature, Heritage & Sea
- Tour 4 - Old Town Central – Heritage Meets Hip
Participants joining the post-congress tours may bring their luggage on the buses.