FESPA has been named ‘Organiser Team of the Year’ at the prestigious AEO Excellence Awards, recognising its strong contribution to the global events industry and its continued success in delivering world-class exhibitions for the print and related sectors.
The award, presented by the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), highlights the strength of FESPA’s global team, its collaborative culture across regions, and the organisation’s ability to deliver commercially successful, high-impact events while advancing sustainability and community support initiatives.
Recognition for Global Events Growth and Industry Impact
In its award submission, FESPA highlighted strong performance across its international exhibition portfolio, including growth in visitor numbers, exhibitor satisfaction, and engagement levels. The organisation also demonstrated high levels of attendance from decision-makers and strong commercial outcomes for exhibitors participating in its events.
FESPA’s global exhibitions continue to serve as important business platforms for the print and visual communications sectors, offering opportunities for networking, product launches, market insights, and knowledge sharing.
Profit for Purpose Model Supports Global Print Community
A key differentiator for FESPA is its Profit for Purpose model, through which it reinvests 100% of event profits back into the global print community through its international association network.
This purpose-led approach enables FESPA to support educational programmes, industry development, and local member communities while strengthening the long-term growth of the print sector worldwide.
In addition to its exhibitions, FESPA runs the FESPA Foundation, which repurposes excess materials printed at exhibitions into educational resources for schools and communities in need.
Since its launch in 2025, the Foundation has supported schools in South Africa and Brazil through donations of printed resources, funding, and infrastructure improvements, directly benefiting more than 1,000 students.
Sustainability Efforts Gain Momentum
FESPA has also made significant progress in sustainable event management. The organisation recently obtained ISO 20121:2024 certification for Sustainable Event Management, building on its earlier ISO 20121:2012 certification in 2025.
According to FESPA, it also achieved year-on-year reductions in CO₂e emissions between its 2024 and 2025 exhibitions, underlining its commitment to reducing environmental impact while setting an example for the wider events industry.
Supporting Knowledge Sharing Across the Print Sector
Beyond exhibitions, FESPA continues to facilitate knowledge-sharing and professional development across its global network. The organisation runs insight-led conference programmes alongside its major exhibitions, helping attendees understand changing market demands, emerging trends, business opportunities, and technology developments.
Its global association network also hosts educational events and conferences throughout the year, supporting regional communities and strengthening collaboration across the international print industry.
CEO Highlights Team Effort and Purpose-Driven Mission
Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, said the award reflects the passion, dedication, and resilience of the organisation’s global team, which consistently works to deliver exceptional events for the print sector and related industries.
He added that FESPA’s purpose-led approach is rooted in its mission to “Connect, Inspire and Support” the global print community, while also ensuring its events create commercial value for exhibitors and lasting social impact through initiatives such as the FESPA Foundation.
The award marks another milestone for FESPA as it continues to strengthen its position as a leading global organiser in the print, signage, and visual communications industry.