Informa Markets Event Code of Conduct

Having a great event experienceInforma Markets

We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. Whether you are attending, speaking, exhibiting, sponsoring or working with or for us, our focus is on creating an environment and experience that everyone can participate in and benefit from.

Safety, respect and consideration are integral to this. While issues are rare, we want to be clear about the standards and expectations in place at our events, wherever they are held, because actions can impact others, and everyone has a role to play in getting it right.

This Code of Conduct explains our expectations. Anyone at the event who behaves in an unacceptable way will be asked – and expected – to stop doing so immediately, and we can also cancel your access and remove you from the event.

Comfort & Safety at Live Events

  • Never act in a way that puts your own or other participants’ health, safety or security at risk.
  • Review local and national health guidance before attending and follow any requirements.
  • If you have a fever or other symptoms that may put others at risk of becoming ill, we encourage you not to attend. Contact the event team to discuss other ways to take part.
  • Follow all health, safety and security processes, including emergency procedures and access protocols such as any age limits. Do not assist others to circumvent these.
  • Do not alter or obscure any safety signage, obstruct any exits, or misuse or move any equipment provided for everyone’s safety and protection.
  • Help us by reporting any unsafe behaviour, security risks or hazards immediately.

A Respectful Environment

We have zero tolerance towards any verbal or physical threats, violence, abuse or harassment at any live, on-demand or official auxiliary events or on our digital platforms and community sites. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes:

  • Discrimination, including but not limited to race, sex, age, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability and marital status.
  • Offensive language and gestures, whether it is verbal harassment or abuse, sexually explicit language or gestures, profanity, obscenity or racial, religious or ethnic slurs.
  • The use, display or distribution of inappropriate or offensive materials, and any content that is intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning, including the inappropriate use of nudity or sexual images in public spaces.
  • Sexual harassment, including inappropriate physical contact and unwelcome sexual attention whether verbal, physical or otherwise, in person or online.
  • Stalking, or behaviour that causes apprehension to others including following, photography, and recording.
  • Threats, or intimidating and threatening behaviour, whether verbal, physical or written, including menacing gestures.
  • Physical harassment, or threats and acts of violence, including pushing, shoving and the use of any physical force.
  • Possession or display of any weapon or other item used to threaten or intimidate.
  • Deliberately damaging the venue or other people’s property.
  • Assembling for the purpose of disturbing the peace or committing an offence.

Participation & Engagement

We want everyone to be able to participate and fully engage in our events in comfort. Disrupting all or part of any live or on-demand event, whether physically or verbally, in a sustained or deliberate way, goes against this.

  • Do not deliberately prevent others from attending or participating in any portion of the event.
  • Do not heckle or catcall, or interrupt others in a sustained or disruptive way, whether verbally, with music or other noise or behaviour.
  • Never act in a way that endangers others or prevents them from acting safely.

Acting Sustainably

Sustainability features are an important part of delivering a great all-round experience. At live events, please:

  • Consider any local guidance on sustainable travel and use of reusable drinking or food containers.
  • Make use of any recycling and sustainable waste disposal points provided.

Responsible Consumption

  • Anyone found to be under the influence of any substance, whether lawful or otherwise, and acting in a way that negatively impacts others may be removed from the event.
  • Follow the rules of the venue and event organizer in relation to consuming alcohol, smoking, vaping and using tobacco products. Only consume these products where and when permitted.
  • If you are handling or demonstrating machinery or equipment that has a higher risk of impacting the health or safety of others, you must not consume any substance, lawfully or otherwise, that might impair your behaviour or judgment or impact the correct and safe performance of that activity.

Event Attire

  • Dress appropriately for a live event and in cases where you will be visible to others at an on-demand event.
  • Avoid clothing that may offend other participants or the local culture, including images, patterns or slogans.

Respect & Consideration Online

The expectations in this Code of Conduct also apply to our digital platforms and community sites. Content, posts and comments shared and created must not contain:

  • Accusatory, negative or destructive comments about other participants or the event.
  • Knowingly false or misleading comments or claims about products or companies.

Reporting Concerns

We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses any behaviour that goes against this Code of Conduct, or has any other concerns, to report it to their event team so that we can investigate promptly and take any action required.

For contact details for your particular event, please see the event’s website or contact the event team or site moderator directly. Details will also be included in event materials on registration or booking.

You may also contact our confidential whistleblowing line, Speak Up. Visit www.informa.com/speak-up

Applying this Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct applies to Informa Markets events (both live and on-demand), official auxiliary events, community sites, social media channels and digital platforms. Participants include attendees, sponsors, media, speakers, exhibitors, contractors, suppliers, moderators, volunteers, and colleagues, both live and virtual.

Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in unacceptable behaviour or otherwise breaches this Code of Conduct, the event organisers, their representatives and/or security may take action, such as:

  • expulsion from the event without warning or refund;
  • disqualification from participating in future events, including being barred from attending, speaking, exhibiting or sponsoring, and from engagement across our community event sites, social media channels and digital platforms;
  • reporting any unlawful behaviour to the appropriate local or national authorities;
  • any other action permitted under the terms and conditions.

We reserve the right to assess whether someone has complied with this Code of Conduct and decide what the appropriate actions are, based on the relevant terms and conditions. This Code of Conduct may be revised by us at any time and is non-negotiable.

This Code of Conduct is without prejudice to our rights in any relevant terms and conditions, all of which are expressly reserved.