The Confex Group officially unveiled “the new face” for its autumn show in September, previously known as National Venue Show, at International Confex 2008 – although rather than a makeover, it sounds more like a new event.

Now called Event UK, Duncan Reid, Confex Group event director, revealed that the show will feature additional content, including expansion of the regional villages, introduction of tasting areas for food and drink, extended social networking opportunities, a chill out lounge, VIP lounge and team-building and training workshops to “add more exhibitor value”.

“The Confex Group is committed to enhancing the visitor experience at all its shows, and following the success of the re-brand of International Confex, the group decided to give its sister show the same treatment,” said Reid. “We wanted to extend the show to the entire UK events, meeting and conference market, so had to modernise and upgrade the show by revising the name, content and structure to appeal to a wider market. We also wanted the new show to have a fresh, young, energetic, quality business feel which is reflected in the changes.”

Reid was also keen to point out that Event UK would not simply be a regional version of Confex, pointing out that its scope will be broader than meetings and conferences, embracing all kinds of live events, including experiential. Education, a growing focus for Confex, will also be high on the agenda.

Event UK will take place over two days from 16-17 September to create, according to Reid, “an exciting and lively atmosphere with a constant high visitor flow, while also cutting exhibitors’ expenses and their time out of the office”.

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