FOR INDUSTRY PEOPLEDiscover all you need under one roof for any business event. We have 9 different sized spaces that all interlink with different themes and styles and are fully equipped to host everything from a meeting for 2 people to a banquet of 7,000. Wood GreenAlexandra Palace RailW3 or Shuttle BusSat Nav - N22 7AYDiscover your Ally Pally.For enquiries please email enquiries@alexandrapalace.comcall 020 8365 4323 or visit www.alexandrapalace.comDiscover us onALXP-5XXX industry_people_ad_219x72_02.indd 119/04/2012 09:53INTERNATIONAL NEwswww.exhibitionnews.co.uk 15INDUSTRY BUCKS ECONOMIC WOESA new study from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) claims the global exhibition market is bucking economic pressures.Despite a sluggish macro economy, CEIR's Index Report, an Analysis of the 2011 Exhibition Industry and Future Outlook, claimed the overall exhibition industry posted growth of 2.7 per cent, outpacing real GDP growth by one percentage point in 2011.Each exhibition metric saw positive growth. Net Square Feet (NSF) grew 2.7 per cent, exhibitors were up 2.3 per cent, attendees increased 3.4 per cent, and real revenues rose by 2.3 per cent.CEIR also reported varied growth across the sectors focused on by organisers. The fastest growing were business process-related exhibitions, including machinery and finished business outputs (11.2 per cent), followed WORLDfOOD ExpO OvERCOMES STRIKEVisitor numbers for the latest Alimentaria show have risen despite one less event day and a general strike in Spain.Attendance rose by 1.4 per cent to 142,000 visitors, even with the general strike on 29 March, and only four show days. Crucially, following an extended campaign to increase the show's international credentials, international attendance reached 40,000 visitors, 29 per cent of the total and 11 per cent more than the 2010 edition. Significant participation came from Asia, with strong attendance from Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore and India.Alimentaria chairman Josep-Lluís Bonet said the event is "dealing with the crisis positively and is highly important, economically, to the present and future of the country".A spokesperson claimed the food and drink industry in Spain is bettered only by the tourism industry in terms of contributions to national GDP (7.6 per cent), producing more than ?80.7bn (£66.34bn) and increasing exports by 11 per cent in 2011, according to data from the Spanish Food Industry Food and Drink Federation (FIAB).Alimentaria is held at Fira de Barcelona and organised by Alimentaria Exhibitions, a joint venture between Fira de Barcelona and Reed Exhibitions.Josep Antoni Valls, director of Alimentaria and deputy MD of Alimentaria Exhibitions, stressed the food industry is "a cornerstone of the economy and progress and is fully committed to health, sustainability, employment, the economy, social cohesion, culture, innovation, the countryside and Spanish brands".Alimentaria Exhibitions recently reached an agreement with French show Equip'Hotel, an event for the café, hotel and restaurant business.EUROPEsDCC hEaD qUashEs REtiREmEnt RUmOURThe head of san Diego Convention Centre Corp has officially denied that she plans to retire, after a letter seemingly indicating her intention to leave was sent to the board.Carol wallace, who says her letter was misconstrued, sought to clarify her position in a formal statement, according to the U-T San Diego newspaper.wallace's letter was sent to Nikki Clay, chairwoman of the convention centre's board in April. In it, she reportedly said she planned to bring the "termination" of her contract to the board.amERiCasitE bUys anOthER UkRainE ORganisERITE Group has acquired Kiev-based exhibition organiser BeautexCo from BCI R&R for an undisclosed sum. Beautex runs two annual trade exhibitions for the professional beauty trade and cosmetic and aesthetic medicine industry in the Ukraine. Intercharm and Beautyexpo are forecast to generate revenues of ?2.4m (£1.97m) in the year to 30 september. ITE Group said Beautex had nil gross assets on acquisition but was expected to enhance its earnings in the 2012 financial year."The addition of these two exhibitions to ITE's Ukrainian business will complement our existing activities in Kiev," said ITE Group CEO Russell Taylor.EUROPEby communication and information technology (8.1 per cent), government (7 per cent), and transportation (5.7 per cent). But building, construction, home and repair dropped by 5.3 per cent, and sporting goods, travel and amusement by 0.8 per cent."I am excited by the 2011 overall results and even more so by the future outlook," said CEIR chairman Chris Brown. "The definitive results from our economists confirm their predictions from last year, and the three-year forecast is very encouraging."