This week we mark International Labour Day as a tribute to the workforce powering the events industry. It’s Friday - and time to again spotlight the movers and shakers of events with our weekly Snöcap.
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Here are the top stories of this week:
- Informa Group Q1 revenue jumps 7.6%
- UFI MEA Conference concludes successfully in Cairo
- Messe Berlin to be new home for E-Commerce Berlin Expo from 2026
- Middle East meetings industry growth outperforming global trends: IBTM
- Emerald Q1 2025 revenue surges 10.7% yearly to $147.7 Million
- DSV completes acquisition of Schenker to strengthen global transport and logistics
- MODEX and ABC Kids Expo among top winners at Trade Show Executive's Fastest 50 Grand Awards
- Who is hiring?
Informa Group Q1 revenue jumps 7.6%
Informa Group reported a 7.6% increase in underlying revenue for the first quarter of 2025, driven by strong performances in its Live B2B Events and Academic Markets.
The company confirmed solid forward visibility through subscriptions and booked contracts, with £2.5 billion+ in 2025 revenues already secured.
"The Informa Group continues to deliver strong underlying growth in both Live B2B Events and Academic Markets," said Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive.
Key metrics:
- 61% of full year target revenues already committed
- 55 of Top 100 B2B Brands trading in first half
- Strong performance in all regions, particularly in India, Middle East and Africa
- Ascential portfolio integration completed on schedule
Informa reaffirmed its full year guidance of 5%+ revenue growth, targeting £4.1bn with double-digit earnings growth.
UFI MEA Conference concludes successfully in Cairo
The UFI MEA Conference 2025, hosted by the Egypt Expo & Convention Authority (EECA), wrapped up on April 30 at the Cairo International Convention Centre (CICC).
The sold-out event, held from April 28-30, brought together over 150 exhibition industry leaders from more than 15 countries, fostering collaboration and innovation in the Middle East and Africa region.
The conference featured the inaugural Egypt International Expo for Fairs Services (EIEFS), alongside dynamic sessions on sustainability, AI, and emerging market trends. Industry pioneers were honored with the UFI MEA Legacy Trophy, celebrating 100 years of UFI’s global impact.
Attendees networked, exchanged insights, and explored Cairo’s vibrant exhibition ecosystem, reinforcing Egypt’s role as a regional hub for trade and events.
“We thank UFI for entrusting us with this landmark event,” said General Sherif El Mawardy, EECA Chairman. “Cairo has once again proven its capacity to drive industry growth and connectivity.”
Messe Berlin to be new home for E-Commerce Berlin Expo from 2026
Messe Berlin will be the new home for the E-Commerce Berlin Expo starting in 2026, expanding the venue's portfolio of international events.
The expo, which began in 2016, has established itself as a central platform for B2B e-commerce. The 2025 event attracted over 12,000 trade visitors, 150 speakers and nearly 300 service providers from the DACH region and beyond.
"Messe Berlin has always been home to world-class events, and we're proud and extremely excited to welcome E-commerce Berlin Expo to our premises," said Dr. Ralf Kleinhenz, Senior Vice President at Messe Berlin.
Peter Szczepaniak, Co-founder and Managing Director at E-commerce Berlin Expo, described the move as "a statement that we're ready for more: more exhibitors, more visitors, more opportunities, and more innovation."
The partnership aims to leverage Messe Berlin's infrastructure and international appeal to attract more brands and industry experts from Germany and globally.
Middle East meetings industry growth outperforming global trends: IBTM
The Middle East's meeting industry is growing at 5.1%, significantly outpacing the global average of 3.7%, according to the latest IBTM World Trends Middle East report based on data from the International Congress and Convention Association.
The UAE leads the region with 92 international meetings in 2023, with Dubai (49 meetings) and Abu Dhabi (38) emerging as key destinations. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are rapidly gaining ground through infrastructure investments and policy changes.
Key findings:
- 70% of meetings in the region are now face-to-face, with hybrid events representing only 20%
- Inflation driving strategic budget adjustments across the industry
- UAE hosted more international meetings than Qatar (24), Saudi Arabia (17) and Jordan (13) combined
- Major challenges include rising costs and staff shortages, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
The report notes economic diversification efforts across the region, moving from oil dependency toward tourism, finance, technology and renewable energy sectors.
These shifts are creating new opportunities for the meetings industry, with countries investing in specialized venues and support services.
China has become the region's largest trading partner, surpassing both the United States and European Union in commercial importance.
Emerald Q1 2025 revenue surges 10.7% yearly to $147.7 million
Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) reported first quarter revenue of $147.7 million, a 10.7% increase over the same period last year.
Financial highlights:
- Net income: $15.3m, up from $11.0m in Q1 2024
- Adjusted EBITDA: $53.6m, a 31.4% increase
- Organic revenue: $139.2m, up 5.6%
- Cash position: $276.8m with full access to $110m credit facility
The company reaffirmed its 2025 guidance of $450-460m in revenue and $120-125m in adjusted EBITDA.
Emerald CEO Hervé Sedky cited strategic portfolio diversification across high-growth industries for the improved performance.
The company recently received approval to acquire London-based This is Beyond and expanded its share repurchase program to $25m through year-end.
Read the financial announcement
DSV completes €14.3 billion acquisition of Schenker to strengthen global transport and logistics
DSV has completed its acquisition of Schenker from Deutsche Bahn for €14.3bn, creating one of the world's largest transport and logistics companies.
The transaction doubles DSV's size, creating a combined entity with €41.6bn in revenue and 160,000 employees across more than 90 countries.
"We become a world-leading player in global transport and logistics," said DSV Group CEO Jens H. Lund.
"We are looking forward to joining forces with DSV," said Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes. "The dialogue throughout the last months has been very positive."
Schenker will be included in DSV's financial statements from May 1, 2025. The company expects annual synergies of €1.2bn by end-2028.
DSV emphasized its commitment to maintaining service levels during the integration process.
MODEX and ABC Kids Expo among top winners at Trade Show Executive's Fastest 50 Grand Awards
MODEX and ABC Kids Expo were among the standout winners at Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 Grand Awards, which recognized the fastest-growing trade shows of 2024 across multiple metrics.
MODEX, organized by MHI, earned top honors as the fastest-growing non-annual show by percentage of growth in net square feet. ABC Kids Expo, produced by All Baby & Child Corporation, won in two categories—fastest-growing show managed by an association and fastest-growing retail show—while also taking home the prestigious Rock Star Award.
Other major winners included CES®, MINExpo INTERNATIONAL®, and MCON, which were recognized for substantial growth in exhibitor count, attendance, and show floor size.
The awards were announced at the Fastest 50 Awards & Summit.
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:
TM Forum
Events Marketing Manager
Thomas Palm Springs
Director of Sales, Marketing & Events
Foundever
Events Manager - US Marketing
Zendesk
Strategic Events Manager
IFS
Global Events Specialist
Cube Business Media Inc.
Performance Marketing and Automations Strategist
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 .
