Snöcap May 9, 2025
Snöball correspondent
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It's been an eventful week - the 2025 papal conclave has concluded while the US-UK have signed a significant trade agreement.
But what's happening in the events industry? Let's take a look with our latest Snöcap, where we touch the peaks in exhibitions and association news every week.
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Here are the top stories of this week:
- IFEMA Madrid reports record year as revenue jumps 30% to €230.2 million in 2024
- Hyve acquires Manifest to mark entry into supply chain and logistics
- AEO Conference 2025 to be held at Manchester Central in September
- UK Events Industry Struggling With Visa Issues Post-Brexit: The Business of Events
- CloserStill Media launches new event for in-house finance professionals
- US event travelers need to show REAL IDs now - 5 things trade show organizers need to know
- Informa Markets, Tahaluf among nominees for Middle East Event Awards
- Who is hiring?
IFEMA Madrid reports record year as revenue jumps 30% to €230.2 million in 2024
IFEMA Madrid has reported record-breaking revenues of €230.2m in 2024, marking a 30% increase compared to the previous year, according to figures approved by the institution's Governing Board.
Key financial results:
- Net profit: €18.6m (up 166% from 2023)
- EBITDA: €48m (up 76%)
- Investment in technology: €13.4m
The trade fair business drove growth, accounting for 70% of total revenue. Major fairs including FITUR, FRUIT ATTRACTION and CONSTRUCTION WEEK showed strong performance.
IFEMA Madrid expanded internationally in 2024, launching FRUIT ATTRACTION SÃO PAULO in Brazil while maintaining operations in Chile, Colombia and Portugal.
Operational highlights:
- Total events: 740 (up 23.89% from 2023)
- Visitor attendance: 4.06m (up 6.8%)
- Participating companies: 34,468 (up 6.8%)
- International congresses: 16 events with 83,000 attendees
Hyve acquires Manifest to mark entry into supply chain and logistics
Hyve has acquired Manifest, a supply chain and logistics event, marking its entry into the logistics sector.
Founded in 2022 by event entrepreneur Jay Weintraub, Manifest brings together supply chain executives, logistics providers, innovators and investors annually in Las Vegas.
"Manifest is exactly the type of event we get excited about," said Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve. "Its customers love it, it draws a community of world class businesses and leaders, and it actively shapes the future of its sector."
The acquisition follows Hyve's previous moves into the healthtech and martech sectors with the acquisitions of HLTH and POSSIBLE last year.
Weintraub, who will remain with the company, called Hyve "the right home for Manifest."
"There's a joy and a magic about bringing people together," Weintraub said. "In Hyve, we have found a partner which shares that same fundamental approach."
Hyve plans to scale Manifest by optimizing event operations, enhancing sales and marketing, and potentially expanding the model to Europe.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
AEO Conference 2025 to be held at Manchester Central in September
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Conference will take place at Manchester Central in September, gathering over 250 senior industry professionals to explore "Quantum leap: Events in the transformation era."
Easyfairs UK & Global CEO Alison Willis will chair the conference and become AEO chair in September. Willis brings 25 years of industry experience to the role.
The program will cover leadership, international growth, AI, revenue strategies and attendee experience design.
"This event gives our community the space to step back, share ideas and explore what's next," said AEO Chief Executive Anna Golden.
Sessions include panels on resilience, AI applications in event planning, and discussions on revenue strategies.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is sponsoring the conference, which will feature networking sessions and the AEO run club.
UK Events Industry Struggling With Visa Issues Post-Brexit: The Business of Events
The UK events industry faces mounting obstacles operating across Europe due to post-Brexit visa requirements, a white paper by The Business of Events has revealed.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement lacks provisions for events professionals, creating a fragmented regulatory landscape across 27 EU states with increased costs and compliance risks.
"The absence of a dedicated visa category for event professionals is stifling our industry," said Mike Fletcher, Director at The Business of Events. "UK organizations are losing contracts and EU clients are turning away due to uncertainty and cost."
The paper recommends creating an events-specific visa exemption, developing country-specific guidance, and establishing centralized support services.
Fletcher confirmed discussions with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events are underway to protect the sector's global standing.
CloserStill Media launches new event for in-house finance professionals
CloserStill Media has announced Finance Forum 2025, a new event for in-house finance professionals, set for October 7 at Old Billingsgate in London.
The event will bring together senior finance leaders to address strategic insights and trends. The program covers Financial Leadership, Resilience, Commercial Strategy and Digital Transformation, offering 8 CPD hours.
Participants will network with organizations including QA Training and Pangeanic, with a keynote speaker to be announced this summer.
"Today's CFOs and FDs are business partners, transformation leaders and strategic drivers," said Ollie Hughes, Founder of Finance Forum and Senior Portfolio Director at CloserStill Media.
US event travelers need to show REAL IDs now - 5 things trade show organizers need to know
Trade show attendees must now present REAL ID-compliant identification or passports when traveling to domestic events, as enforcement begins May 7.
The TSA will no longer accept non-compliant state IDs at security checkpoints for all domestic air travelers 18 and older, including PreCheck members.
Five key points trade show organizers need to know:
- IDENTIFICATION: Travelers must present either a REAL ID (marked with a star) or alternatives like passports to board domestic flights.
- DISRUPTIONS: Passengers without compliant ID may face delays or denial at checkpoints.
- COMPLIANCE: Currently 81% of travelers present acceptable identification.
- IMPLEMENTATION: The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, has seen multiple delays since its initial 2008 target.
- SECURITY: The requirement aims to counter fraud by making IDs harder to forge.
"Secretary Noem and the Trump administration are enforcing the 2005 REAL ID Act as directed by Congress," said Adam Stahl, TSA Senior Official.
Informa Markets, Tahaluf among nominees for Middle East Event Awards
Informa Markets and Tahaluf were announced among the nominees for the Middle East Event Awards 2025, which will be held next month at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
The annual awards recognize achievements in the events industry across the region. Informa Markets received a nomination for WHX Dubai 2025, while Tahaluf was nominated for Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2024.
Other nominees include Abu Dhabi Sports Council for ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2024, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Ethara for NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024, and LINKVIVA and Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for Liwa International Festival 2025.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 19 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
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
Commercial Marketing Executive
HLTH Inc.
Business Development Manager
Hubspot
Manager, Content Programming, Global Events
Manager, Global Events Marketing
Informa Festivals
Hosted Buyer Recruitment Manager, Money 20/20
Canva
Global Head of Business Marketing
Global Head of Advertising and Creative Operations
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 .
