Expo Centre looks at getting its shows audited

Holds talks with BPA Worldwide; Eyes ‘UFI Approved’ tag for its events

Sharjah, 6 May 2014 - Aiming to bring total transparency in its operations and acquire the prestigious ‘UFI approved’ tag for its events, Expo Centre Sharjah is looking to get its various trade and consumer fairs audited by BPA Worldwide, the largest media-auditing organization in the world.

The BPA audit process generally involves pre-event review of systems, on-site inspection, post-event confirmations of attendance, examination of accounting records and other auditing procedures.
 
The audit was top on the agenda when Mr. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, held talks with Mr. Glenn Hansen, President & CEO - BPA Worldwide, at Expo Centre premises recently.
 
“Very few events have the ‘UFI approved’ tag in the UAE and the region. A UFI approved tag means that the show has the stamp of quality, thus providing both exhibitors and visitors alike with the assurance of making a sound decision to participate or attend. The audit will help us to bring in more exhibitors from both existing & newer markets and attract more visitors to our shows, besides positioning ourselves perfectly to benefit from mega events like World Expo 2020,” said Mr. Midfa.
 
Expo Centre Sharjah organises and hosts more than 20 trade and consumer fairs through the year, with some of the popular ones including the biannual MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show, SteelFab, Ramadan & Eid Fair, Halal Middle East, Green Middle East, Prefect Wedding Show, Middle East Motor Tuning Show, biennial International Automobile Show, International Education Show & biennial Plastivision Arabia, among others.
 
“Event audits by BPA usually assess an exhibition/event’s verified attendance and demographics that are taken directly from registration information. The audit report is a powerful sales tool for show organizer sales/marketing teams helping exhibitors and sponsors to validate participation investment to their management. The audit process also provides organizers a qualitative check of pre and at-show data gathering and verification methods,” said Mr. Midfa, explaining the process and benefits of the audit.
 
An exhibition audited and then approved by UFI provides exhibitors and visitors alike with the assurance that they will benefit from a professionally planned and managed concept. The UFI Approved logo, label of quality, is used to identify a ‘UFI approved’ event.
 
UFI is the global association of the exhibition industry with 640 member organisations in 227 cities in 83 countries on six continents. UFI has bestowed its quality label upon over 906 trade fairs and exhibitions organised by its members.
 
Expo Centre Sharjah is the current host of the UFI Middle East/Africa regional office.