Snöcap May 16, 2025
Snöball correspondent
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It's Friday and time to read our latest Snöcap, where we cover the biggest stories in exhibitions and association every week.
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Here's what made the waves this week:
- ECA lauds House legislation to strengthen events industry
- MIA and Manchester Central join APPG as corporate members
- Terrapinn names Asghar Maqsood as new Group Digital and AI Director
- Hyve Group strengthens global supply chain portfolio with Breakbulk Asia launch
- IEG Q1 2025 revenue jumps 15.7% y-o-y to €102.8 million
- Exhibition industry gears up as Global Exhibitions Day 2025 approaches
- Who is hiring?
ECA lauds House legislation to strengthen events industry
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) has praised legislation from two House committees aimed at strengthening the events industry through tax policies and workforce development programs.
As part of Congressional budget reconciliation, the committees advanced bills that:
- Maintain existing tax treatments while creating new pathways for workforce development
- Preserve tax treatment of business profits, investments and association events
- Transform Section 529 savings programs to cover licenses and certifications
- Expand Pell Grants to include high-quality short-term skilled workforce training
"The House has taken big steps toward ensuring our industry's ability to drive economic growth, support jobs, and empower small businesses," said Tommy Goodwin, ECA executive vice president.
Industry leaders will highlight these issues during ECA Legislative Action Day on May 29.
MIA and Machester Central join APPG as corporate members
The Meetings Industry Association and Manchester Central have joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events as its latest corporate members.
The organizations join seven other corporate members supporting the group, which represents the events sector in Westminster.
"It's a privilege to contribute to the wider conversation around the future of our industry," said Shonali Devereaux, MIA chief executive.
Lori Hoinkes, Manchester Central chief executive, called the forum "integral to maintaining dialogue between industry leaders and Parliament."
An APPG spokesperson encouraged other organizations to support its work.
The APPG, chaired by Telford MP Shaun Davies, now has 43 members, including 34 parliamentarians and nine corporate members.
Terrapinn names Asghar Maqsood as new Group Digital and AI Director
Terrapinn has appointed Asghar Maqsood as its new group digital and AI director.
Maqsood will lead the global exhibition organizer's digital transformation initiatives.
His previous roles include managing director at Punnoo Ltd, head of product at Informa and head of product management at Mott MacDonald.
The appointment reflects the growing importance of AI in the events industry, with more companies expected to create similar positions.
Hyve Group strengthens global supply chain portfolio with Breakbulk Asia launch
Hyve Group has announced plans to launch Breakbulk Asia in Singapore in 2026, expanding its global supply chain event portfolio to a fourth continent.
The new event joins Hyve's established Breakbulk series operating in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Officials made the announcement during Breakbulk Europe.
"Launching Breakbulk Asia is a stride forward in delivering Hyve's growth ambitions," said Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve Group. The expansion represents a key component of the company's GO27 strategy for business growth through 2027.
Singapore was selected for its position as a maritime and logistics center with access to growing markets across Asia. The region is experiencing increased investment in energy projects including wind, hydrogen and nuclear facilities.
The inaugural Breakbulk Asia is scheduled for Nov. 18-19, 2026, at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
IEG Q1 2025 revenue jumps 15.7% y-o-y to €102.8 million
Italian Exhibition Group reported first quarter 2025 revenue of €102.8m, up 15.7% from last year, driven by trade fairs, acquisitions and international expansion.
Key figures:
- Revenue: €102.8m, up 15.7%
- Trade fair operations: €75m
- Profit before tax: €32.1m
- Net profit: €21.5m (lower due to 33% tax rate, up from 19.7%)
- Adjusted EBIT: €33.3m
- EBITDA: €38.2m
Growth came from flagship events SIGEP and Vicenzaoro, plus new international shows including "Riyadh Muscle" in Saudi Arabia. The conference segment nearly doubled its revenue from Q1 2024.
IEG acquired 51% of event design firm Immaginazione S.r.l. and a majority stake in Brazil's DG Eventos, which operates the Fenagra agribusiness fair.
Exhibition industry gears up as Global Exhibitions Day 2025 approaches
The exhibition industry is preparing for the 10th Global Exhibitions Day on June 4, focusing on the theme "Exhibitions Unleash Potential" to demonstrate the sector's economic and social impact.
The annual event, held on the first Wednesday of June, aims to showcase how exhibitions empower individuals, organizations and communities through in-person interactions.
This year's campaign focuses on four key areas:
- How exhibitions drive innovation in industries
- How exhibitions develop talent for individuals
- How exhibitions power economic growth for communities
- How exhibitions help companies build brands and generate revenue
"Exhibitions serve as powerful platforms that unlock potential across multiple sectors and communities," said UFI President Hugh Jones. "This day is an opportunity to celebrate the people and partnerships that drive progress."
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, which manages the event, has released a toolkit with resources for participation. Suggested activities include:
- Hosting local GED 2025 events or campaigns
- Engaging government officials to recognize the industry
- Personalizing the toolkit with unique visuals
- Partnering with local media to raise awareness
- Using social media with the hashtag #GED2025
More than 70 national and international industry associations support the initiative.
Who is hiring?
This section highlights the latest job positions in the events and associations industry. Here are some new roles that have opened up:
Informa Markets
Head of Marketing
RX Global
Product Marketing Manager
Clarion Events Inc. - North America
Tradeshow Event Brand Marketing Manager
dmg events
Senior Marketing Manager
Hyve Group
Director of Marketing, Shoptalk US
Visa
Senior Event Manager (Contract)
Interested in learning how peer-to-peer marketing can boost your event registrations and audience engagement? Book a chat to know how Snöball can help .
