IFES LATAM Ambassador Annelize Hochmann and IFES President Jörg Zeissig proudly represented our federation at the UBRAFE Experience Expo from 8–10 December, strengthening IFES’ visibility and deepening engagement across the LATAM region.
The visit began with a warm welcome at a celebration dinner hosted by our IFES member, Fulstandig, joined by Director Mariane Ewbank. The evening also created new opportunities for growth: conversations led to requests for membership information, and IFES is already supporting them as they secure the necessary recommendations.
At the start of the Expo, Annelize and Jörg met Paulo Octavio and Vanessa Gomes from UBRAFE, both of whom will attend EuroShop in 2026. They also reconnected with Grupo de Eventos, a former IFES member whose CEO Rafael de Paiva welcomed them at the company’s stand.
A key highlight of the mission was the in-depth tour of Expo Center Norte, hosted by Commercial Director Claudia Coelho with support from Mariane Ewbank. The venue’s sustainability programme is remarkable in both scale and ambition: an advanced water treatment system recycles all facility water—including the fully recycled, blue-tinted water used in restrooms—while its food and waste recycling centre transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. These practical circular processes impressed both IFES representatives, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Also pictured during the visit is Bruna Colber, Operations Manager.
The exchange with Expo Center Norte offered valuable insights into best practice sustainability infrastructure within the region.
Across the exhibition floor, Annelize and Jörg visited several stands and follow-up discussions are already planned.
The visit concluded with Jörg’s conference presentation, moderated by Daniel Costa, alongside speakers from Informa Group and a representative from Fiera Milano. The session centred on sustainability and generated strong engagement from attendees.
This productive and energising visit reflects the strength of IFES’ global ambassador network and the growing momentum of sustainable innovation across the LATAM exhibition industry.
