IFES is the International Federation of Exhibition and Event services. The federation has been acitve since 1984. IFES helps its members to better serve their clients who exhibit internationally. In an industry of constant change and development geographically, IFES provides professionals with a network dedicated to helping them face new challenges and acquire new business.
IFES focuses on representing the International Exhibition & Event Service industry and addressing its specific issues and development needs through our unique Global nework of National Associations and Individual company members.
The IFES Education Committee, which Cam will be responsible for, is dedicated to create educational enhancement for two distinct groups:
- IFES Members who wish to effectively maximize their value and business opportunities when serving their local customers outside of their country, and international clients exhibiting or attending events in their home-regional market
- International tradeshow exhibitors, higher learning institutions, and other event suppliers/organizations who may wish to learn and/or connect with local exhibit suppliers, and to better understand effective tradeshow marketing in regions outside of their native country/region.
Cam Stevens responded to his election onto this international board by stating " this is a great honour and responsibility to have been elected to the IFES Board, and to be able to reach out Internationally with likeminded companies from around the world who want to partner together. Companies who want to learn more about the global exhibition market and/or bringing our clients to new destinations. Individuals who want to learn more about the industry from a global perspective. As chair of this committee I hope to make the world smaller for IFES members and their customers by bringing information and value to them not from me, but through me. I hope to develop an information resource that gives back to its members much more than it asks. We have a lot of initiatives on the table and a strong committee, and although it will take time to prioritize and organize what we will tackle first, I am very excited about the years ahead serving on this fine board."
The IFES AGM was held in Delhi, India May 31 - June 1, where over 120 individuals from over 50 countries took part in a 2 day conference to network, take part in educational sessions, and learn about the huge potential of India's emerging exhibition market. There was considerable emphasis on the the implementation of environmentally responsible practices, thus ensuring less waste, and more environmentally friendly exhibitions in the future. Speakers such as Tom Bowman, Travis Stanton, Sanjay Kapur, and many others gave presentations on relevant, top-of-mind topics on our industry. "India sees an average of 250 major tradehsows and exhibitions each year. The Indian Market, since opening up to foreign investors, has seen many international exhibition organizers making significant acquisitions in the country", said Rajnikant Kedia, IFES 2014 Annual Meeting Committee Chair. "The focal point of the 2014 World Summit was to offer a firsthand experience of the Indian Exhibition Industry. It attempts to identify and explain the working dynamics of the Indian market: the challenges and opportunities." (quote from Exhibit City News).
