Exhibition professionals from 19 nations met in Munich on 29 April to determine the winner of the 2009 UFI Operations Award.
The theme of this year’s UFI competition, “Exhibition Logistics during Build-up and Dismantling” drew entries from around the globe.
No exhibition organizer or venue manager is indifferent to the challenges and constraints imposed by the short schedules linked to exhibition logistics during set-up and dismantling periods.
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, encouraged both members and non-members to compete with entries based on quantitative and qualitative criteria aimed at successfully providing value-added services and solutions for exhibitors, service providers and venue managers.
A recent UFI survey revealed that due to the time and financial pressures of exhibition scheduling, the average mid-size event allows 4.7 days for set-up and between 2.3 to 1.7 days for dismantling.
Under these circumstances the search for innovative - but practical - new technology applications and increased cooperation procedures facilitating logistical solutions is a continuing objective for tradeshow organizers and venue managers alike.
The four 2009 finalists selected by the UFI Operations Committee are Fira de Barcelona (Spain), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (China), Messe Düsseldorf GmbH (Germany), and Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH (Germany).
Each finalist was invited to Munich to present his initiative to a critical jury of peers at the UFI Operations Focus Meeting on Logistics during Build-Up and Dismantling.
Participants selected the Messe Dusseldorf programme, via an interactive voting system, based on criteria of creativity and practical applications proven to have a measurable impact on exhibition logistics.
The Grand Award winner was Messe Düsseldorf with an outstanding presentation of its programme which is designed to improve site logistics and system reliability, increase on-site safety and stabilise logistic costs for exhibitors while improving site turn-around times between events. What particularly impressed the jury was the adaptation of off-the-shelf technology to significantly facilitate traffic management.
The system sends an SMS message directly to service provider and delivery drivers advising them when they are permitted to enter the exhibition venue.
Rowena Arzt, UFI Business Development Director and Secretary of the UFI Operations Committee, summed up the selection of Messe Düsseldorf as the winner of the 2009 UFI Operations Award, saying, “As all involved in exhibition management are aware, one of the keys to a speedy and efficient exhibition set-up period is timely, smooth venue access. The adaptation of existing technology by Messe Düsseldorf ’s team created a customized solution to this problem.”
The annual UFI Operations Award, open to UFI Members and non-members, recognizes the creative development of programmes contributing to the cost-effective operation of exhibitions, the number one face-to-face opportunity for achieving business results.
For more information, visit UFI Operations Award
Image: left to right
Andreas Winckler – Chairman of UFI Operations Committee & General and Manager Frankfurt Medien und Service GmbH – Messe Frankfurt GmbH
Werner Arnold - Team Leader Logistics / Department Site Services and Logistics – Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Ian Hume - Director of the Department Site Services and Logistics – Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Rowena Arzt – UFI Director of Business Development and Secretary of the UFI Operations Committee
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