International briefs this month track meeting and venue operations across Asia-Pacific and Europe, with updates on conference scale, facility upgrades, and sustainability programs. UFI drew more than 260 leaders to Bangkok. Venues in Sydney, Cairns, Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur rolled out new content services, reconciliation planning, infrastructure work, and ISO certification. In Europe, organizers posted large attendance and exhibitor targets for London Build and a UK defense summit, while SITE opened May registration in Frankfurt ahead of IMEX.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Thailand
UFI Asia-Pacific Conference Drew 260+ Leaders to QSNCC in Bangkok
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, concluded its 2026 Asia-Pacific Conference in Bangkok on March 5–6, hosted by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. UFI reported more than 260 industry leaders attended. The program covered topics including global trade and supply chains, technology, and client demand shifts. UFI also held meetings for its Associations Committee and Asia-Pacific Chapter during the event. UFI confirmed the 2027 Asia-Pacific Conference will take place in Bali, Indonesia, hosted by the Indonesian Exhibition and Convention Association.
Australia
ICC Sydney Opens Two On-Site Podcast Studios With Recording and Same-Day Edit Support
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) opened two podcast studios inside its convention center and added on-site production support tied to recording, editing, and livestreaming. The venue listed video and audio capture, setup and testing, and same-day edits for use during events or on specified channels. The venue also referenced collaboration support through its communications team to extend distribution.
Cairns Convention Centre Launches Reconciliation Action Plan for 2026–2028
Cairns Convention Centre launched an Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) covering 2026–2028, endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. The plan lists 17 actions and 82 deliverables across relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance. Initiatives include cultural awareness training, procurement steps to increase engagement with First Nations suppliers, and partnerships with First Nations-owned businesses for delegate gifts and tours. The centre also listed development of a First Nations-inspired menu. It also listed landscaping updates using bush medicine plants. The Reconciliation Action Plan was developed in consultation with Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji Elder Professor Henrietta Marrie. An internal working group supports delivery.
China
SNIEC Starts Air Conditioning Upgrades and Renovates 152 Restrooms
Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) said it hosted 127 exhibitions and events in 2025, reporting a 64 percent venue occupancy rate across more than 300,000 square meters. During the Lunar New Year shutdown, the venue began air conditioning upgrades in the West Halls and No. 1 Entrance Lobby and continued refurbishment work across 152 restrooms. SNIEC said the air conditioning project is split into two phases and includes higher-capacity, energy-efficient units plus a redesigned L-shaped air outlet layout in the No. 1 Entrance Lobby. Restroom work includes sewage and ventilation upgrades and added fixtures where feasible, with renovations in the No. 2 Entrance Lobby underway.
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Earns ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Certification
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) achieved ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management certification, positioning itself as Malaysia’s first purpose-built venue to hold the standard. ISO 20121 sets a framework for sustainability management across event planning and delivery, including governance, sourcing, resource use, and waste management. The venue linked the certification to its broader sustainability program and referenced its earlier Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award recognition.
EUROPE
United Kingdom
London Build to Move to Excel London and Co-Locate With elementalLONDON on Nov. 25–26
London Build will relocate to Excel London in 2026 and run November 25–26, co-located with elementalLONDON. Organizers projected more than 25,000 attendees and 650 exhibitors across the combined events. London Build has run at Olympia since 2015. The move follows Nineteen Group’s relocation of Retail Technology Show to Excel in 2025, which organizers said drew 14,000 visitors and 438 exhibitors.
Barbican Business Events Ran 10-Day Barbican Women Program Around International Women’s Day
Barbican Business Events marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a 10-day Barbican Women program that began March 5. The schedule included networking and wellbeing sessions, hands-on workshops, and private views tied to the Barbican’s cultural spaces, including the Art Gallery and Conservatory. Activities listed included a clothing swap and donation drive, a sound bath on the Hall Stage, a collage and scrapbooking workshop, and a boxing session in the Fountain Room led by two female coaches.
British Motor Museum to Host Make UK Defence Summit on Nov. 18–19, 2026
British Motor Museum will host the Make UK Defence Summit on November 18–19, 2026. Organizers projected about 550 delegates and an expanded exhibitor lineup for the two-day program. The summit will include a dedicated exhibition zone and a defense-focused “Meet the Buyer” program that organizers said brokered more than 800 meetings last year. The release also cited a charity dinner that raised £10,000 last year for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
BMA House Lists Summer Party Packages for 60–320 Guests With 23:30 Close
BMA House is selling summer party packages in its Courtyard or Garden for groups of 60 to 320 guests. The package includes three food stalls, four drinks per person served from outdoor bars, soft drinks, and summer games. BMA House listed organizer access from 5:30 p.m. (subject to availability), last drinks at 11:00 p.m., and venue close at 11:30 p.m. The venue also reiterated a zero-waste-to-landfill approach and reported a 69 percent reduction in delegate carbon footprint over four years, with a 2030 carbon neutrality target.
Eastside Rooms Names Operations Manager, Promotes Operations and Conference Leads
Eastside Rooms appointed David Tonks as operations manager and promoted Declan McGrath from operations manager to operations director. The venue also promoted Alina Tautan from conference host to conference team leader and Karys Nelson from conference and events assistant to conference and events supervisor. The changes expand the venue’s operations leadership and increase supervisory coverage across conference delivery.
Germany
SITE Opens Registration for SITE NITE Europe and Young Leaders’ Conference in Frankfurt
SITE opened registration for SITE NITE Europe 2026 and the SITE Young Leaders’ Conference, both scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026, ahead of IMEX Frankfurt. SITE NITE Europe will run at Depot 1899 in Frankfurt and is projected to draw more than 500 incentive travel professionals. The SITE Young Leaders’ Conference will take place earlier the same day at Hotel Nhow and is designed for incentive travel professionals age 35 and under. SITE also marked 20 years of its Young Leaders program.
Austria
Vienna Cites 20M Overnight Stays, Flags 2026 Congress Pipeline and New Venue Inventory
NORTH AMERICA
United States
SITE Ran First Cruise-Based Incentive Summit Americas Aboard Wonder of the Seas
SITE ran Incentive Summit Americas March 13–16 as its first cruise-based event, using Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas on a Miami-to-Bahamas sailing. Programming included hosted buyer-supplier meetings. It also included education sessions. Delegates had destination time at Perfect Day at CocoCay. SITE added a Partner Marketplace format. SITE also scheduled CSR activity in Nassau. SITE named Snowmass, Colorado as the next Incentive Summit Americas destination.
Image caption: Delegates gather at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok during the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2026, held March 5–6.
