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IMEX 2010 post-show survey – buyers prove their spending power
More than 1000 hosted buyers responded to the IMEX 2010 post-show survey and results show that the award-winning trade show continues to deliver on its promise of high quality exhibitors, outstanding networking and education and, above all, abundant business opportunities.
With the majority of buyers (79 per cent) spending over 12 hours on the show floor and nearly a quarter over 16 hours; meetings at IMEX continued to generate the highest possible levels of business between buyers and exhibitors. Survey results showed that hosted buyers placed orders of USD 450 million with exhibitors during the exhibition and expect to place over USD 2.2 billion of business with IMEX exhibitors in the coming 12 months – an increase of over 20 per cent on last year’s estimates. 40 per cent of IMEX hosted buyers confirmed in a separate survey that they have budgets in excess of USD 1 million per year. Over one quarter of respondents said that up to 40 per cent of their meetings at the show were with new companies they had not previously done business with.
IMEX’s unique suite of online tools has proven to have a significant impact on the value of the show for both exhibitors and buyers, with 87 per cent of buyers rating the online diary in particular as ‘extremely or very useful’ and 73 per cent of exhibitors agreeing that the website tools significantly or somewhat improved their business performance at the exhibition. This resulted in a total of 57,000 business appointments made between buyers and exhibitors before and during IMEX in Frankfurt. The number of diary messages exchanged before and during IMEX also increased by 9 per cent to over 12,000.
Important for business
96 per cent of respondents rated the show as ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’ for their business. 82 per cent attended to keep up to date with industry developments and to see ‘what’s new’, whilst 66 per cent visited the Frankfurt trade show specifically to meet new suppliers. The need to find inspiration and new ideas for the workplace was also a priority for 62 per cent.
When asked which market trends or services caught their attention, a number of first-time and regular visitors picked out new technology innovations, the online delivery of educational content, a focus on CSR and green meetings, plus innovative incentive and event solutions which ‘touch the senses’ or focus on the art and culture of a destination. The sheer variety of exhibitors and destinations at IMEX 2010 also caught buyers’ attention, with one buyer commenting: “After decades in the business, I became acquainted with destinations I had barely heard about before.”
Finally, as debate about the role and proliferation of virtual events compared to the value of live events continues to dominate industry thinking, respondents were asked which factors figure in the choice of exhibitions they visit annually. For 52 per cent it is the overall reputation of the show, whereas 74 per cent are sensitive to the quality of companies exhibiting. 48 per cent still regard the quantity of exhibitors as important, whereas 51 per cent consider the global nature of the show their most important decision-making factor.
Fraport Traffic Figures – May 2010: Impressive Growth in Passenger and Airfreight Traffic at Frankfurt – Busiest Airfreight Month in FRA’s History
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, June 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — With the growth trend stabilizing, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) registered new record levels for both passengers and airfreight in May 2010. FRA welcomed some 4,761,086 passengers and handled more than 200,000 metric tons of airfreight. The previous busiest May was in 2008, when the Fraport Group served 4,742,024 passengers at its FRA home base.
Passenger figures jumped a noticeable 7.1 percent in May 2010 compared to May 2009, when 4.4 million passengers used FRA. Surging by 39.7 percent year-on-year, airfreight tonnage at Frankfurt Airport reached 204,332 metric tons – making May 2010 the busiest airfreight month in Frankfurt Airport’s history.
Commenting on the latest traffic results, Fraport AG executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte said: “The extremely satisfying May 2010 figures confirm the positive trend in passenger development and again impressively underpin Frankfurt Airport’s strength, particularly in the intercontinental aviation sector. The high growth rates in airfreight tonnage result especially from Asia’s dynamic economic activity and from airfreight’s special forte of making available at short notice the capacities required by industry and trade.”
Schulte further explained that May 2010 also marked a new record for maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) in absolute terms, with 2.49 million metric tons handled. Aircraft movements improved by 2.5 percent year-on-year to 41,694 takeoffs and landings. This improvement includes a conspicuous eight percent rise in intercontinental flights, underscoring FRA’s outstanding role as an international air transportation hub.
Statistics for the year to date (January to May) give a misleading impression of the underlying pattern of growth, due to a series of extraordinary adverse effects on the air transportation industry. In the first five months of 2010, passenger traffic increased by only 0.1 percent year-on-year. Activity was depressed because of the harsh winter weather, the pilot strike and, particularly, the unprecedented almost total shutdown of flight operations during the volcanic ash cloud. However, the airfreight boom continued nearly unaffected by the flight freeze. Growth amounted to 32.7 percent in May 2010.
On the Group level, the factors curbing growth were offset by Fraport’s global diversification. The Fraport Group’s five majority-owned airports welcomed approximately 8.3 million passengers in May 2010, 14.2 percent more than in May 2009. Cargo throughput (airfreight and airmail tonnage) jumped 39.2 percent to a total of 230,064 metric tons. Aircraft movements at Frankfurt (FRA), Antalya (AYT), Lima (LIM), Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) rose 9.9 percent to 70,432 takeoffs and landings. Antalya and Lima again turned out to be the growth drivers. Turkey’s Antalya Airport registered 29.6 percent passenger growth in May 2010, while Peru’s Lima Airport welcomed 19.5 percent more passengers. Aircraft movements climbed 30.2 percent at AYT and 16.2 percent at LIM.
Frankfurt Airport’s Traffic Figures – May 2010
May Change (2) Jan. - May Change (2)
2010 May 10/ 2010 Jan. - May
May 09 10/09
Passengers (1) 4,761,086 7.1 % 19,643,164 0.1 %
Airfreight (1) 204,332 39.7 % 895,022 32.7 %
in metric tons
Airmail 6,186 -5.5 % 30,877 -5.7 %
in metric tons
Aircraft Movements 41,694 2.5 % 182,598 -2.8 %
(3)
MTOWs 2,493,531 5.3 % 10,920,820 0.0 %
in metric tons
Punctuality
share of punctual
arrivals
and departures in
percent 69.7 68.0
(1) Total traffic (arrivals + departures + transit)
(2) Change over previous year
(3) Excluding military flights
Fraport Group - Traffic Figures for May 2010
Airports Passengers([1]) Change Cargo in
metric tons
absolute in % abs. (+
airmail)
Frankfurt 4,760,662 7.1 207,522
(FRA)
Antalya 2,482,722 29.6 n.a.
(AYT) (2)
Burgas (BOJ) 87,544 9.1 594
Lima (LIM) (3) 839,040 19.5 21,943
Varna (VAR) 81,912 -3.3 6
Fraport
Group 8,251,880 14.2 230,064
Table Continued
Airports Change Aircraft Movements Change
in % absolute in %
Frankfurt (FRA) 38.0 41,694 2.5
Antalya (AYT) (2) n.a. 16,658 30.2
Burgas (BOJ) 53.1 1,006 8.2
Lima (LIM) (3) 51.1 9,971 16.2
Varna (VAR) -4.9 1,103 0.4
Fraport Group 39.2 70,432 9.9
(1) Passengers (commercial traffic: arrivals + departures + transit)
(2) Adjusted for 2009 base-year value.
(3) Figures provided by LIM
IMEX triumph bodes well for strong year ahead
Frankfurt 27 May 2010 – IMEX 2010 came to a close at Messe Frankfurt yesterday, May 27th, with IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, announcing that the award-winning show has once again set new records for hosted buyer numbers and countries represented.
“The past couple of years have challenged our industry on many fronts, not least economically, but I am delighted that both buyers and exhibitors have voted with their feet and turned up in greater numbers than ever to do business at IMEX this year,” said Bloom.
A record number of well over 3800 hosted buyers from more than 60 markets attended this year’s show, among a visitor total of nearly 9000. The mood amongst buyers and exhibitors was also positive and optimistic, with many reporting increases in levels of business and appointment numbers. A typical example was Nik Racic, Director of the Croatian Convention and Incentive Bureau who said on day two of IMEX: “We have 25 exhibitors on the Croatian stand and they are so far reporting 10 – 12 % more business than last year”.
Buyers from emerging markets were particularly evident at IMEX, demonstrating a new wave of buying power and interest that many exhibitors were pleased to see. Buyers from Brazil, Russia, India and China attended in larger numbers, with groups from Asia and the US also noticeably bigger than last year. Changes to hosted buyer itineraries for 2010 ensured that more of them stayed at the show for three full days and spent longer periods on the show floor with exhibitors. However, Bloom explained that IMEX will still continue to focus on developing European markets to maximise reach to buyers in the UK and on the continent in addition to the long haul markets.
“We can see the results of these increases in our online appointment numbers. Individual and group appointments rose by 14% this year, which represents a total of 57,000 business appointments made between buyers and exhibitors before and during the show. The number of diary messages exchanged before and during IMEX increased by 9% to over 12,000.”
“Figures are one thing but we all know that quality is what matters most to IMEX visitors and exhibitors. I am delighted, for example, that we are seeing an increasing numbers of smaller companies, destinations, agencies, CVBs and the like investing in IMEX because they know full well the show will raise their profile and help them punch well above their weight. They are ambitious for their share of the market and we are pleased to help them achieve it,” stated Bloom.
He added: “It is also an excellent sign for the whole industry that many more hotel groups and cruise companies exhibited here this year. It is encouraging that many have come through the downturn and that they are feeling more optimistic about business in the year ahead.”
Tuesday’s IMEX Politicians Forum saw 28 politicians from Sweden, Greece, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Panama, Poland, Denmark, Scotland and Australia, amongst others, spend a day debating how the industry can work better with its political representatives for each group’s mutual benefit.
“The meetings industry must continue to present itself consistently, and communicate with one voice – and that voice must powerfully articulate its economic strengths and the long-term benefits the sector provides at both regional and national levels,” said Bloom.
He also talked about the launch of the first ever IMEX Challenge set to take place in Poland this September.
“Thank you to everyone who came to our press conference about the IMEX Challenge Poland this week. Your goodwill and support is key to the success of this, our first ever CSR project. As always it is a case of IMEX living out its most important values and putting them into practical action. Come September, 24 people from across the industry will be toiling hard over several days to transform the garden and grounds of a foster home near Warsaw. We plan to run an IMEX Challenge every two years with the express intention of leaving behind a lasting legacy such as an educational or maintenance endowment, in addition to the work the group will carry out on the spot,” explained Bloom.
The IMEX education programme also proved extremely successful this year. It was the biggest programme delivered to date, with 82 separate sessions, most of which were packed out. The majority take place outside of show hours so as not to cut across core business.
“It is clear that people arrive at IMEX with a determination to get the most out of each day and that our education programme has now become a considerable asset and an important part of the value that IMEX delivers,” said Bloom. The new CSR Drop-In Power Sessions had been especially well-received he remarked.
He also described excellent levels of interest and support for the launch of IMEX America and the positive response to the partnerships announced during the show, particularly the support of Maritz Travel. Bloom also explained how the IMEX model will be developed in Las Vegas and be unique in the US market. Further initiatives will be launched over the coming months.
He concluded by announcing that over the next two years IMEX will be embarking on a comprehensive website development plan. “Our website has become the living heartbeat of the show: the engine that drives communication, information and, most importantly, exhibitor appointments. We will be introducing a series of features designed to make it an even more powerful and user-friendly tool for year-round business, as well as stepping up and enriching our social media content,” stated Bloom.
Bloom summed up: “As usual at IMEX there’s no such thing as a quiet time and no such measure as good enough. We will always strive to develop the show further and to ensure our buyers and exhibitors all benefit from our efforts to push back the boundaries of what, where and how a trade show can deliver better value and more business for them.”
IMEX Politicians Forum forges ahead
Frankfurt, 26 May 2010 – 29 politicians together with 65 meetings industry leaders and keynote speakers met yesterday to analyse and debate the full economic value of the global meetings industry at the annual IMEX Politicians Forum.
The Forum’s influence and reputation has grown measurably over the past few years. The result is that political representatives travelled from as far afield as Sweden, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Canada, Korea, Croatia, Poland, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, France and Australia to discuss the key issues shaping the industry’s future and its power to generate true economic return at a local level. For the first time the Forum also included the CEOs of several Convention and Visitor Bureaus who attended with a view to increasing their lobbying efforts and inviting their local politicians next year.
The day’s programme began with a welcome by Michael Hirst OBE, Chairman of the Business Visits & Events Partnership and Director and Treasurer of The Tourism Alliance UK. In his capacity as Director of International Development for the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), Rod Cameron then presented a case study on how to leverage “Meetings and Conventions as strategic tools for economic development.” Further opening remarks were made by Leigh Harry, President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) and President of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Olivier Lepine, Chairman of the Convention Division of European Cities Marketing (ECM) and Edgar Hirt, President of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC).
As Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman explained to the group: “Each year the Forum provides a unique and powerful opportunity for two highly influential groups of people to meet in private and debate those issues that are presenting the biggest challenges or opportunities in their respective worlds. It is always fascinating and informative. More importantly this kind of dialogue is vital to the future of the industry. If we do not continue to make the time and effort to understand each others’ objectives, demands and even language, we do the global meetings industry and its political representatives a huge disservice.
“We all bore witness to the forceful rearguard action that the US meetings industry had to take last year. That provided a sobering reminder to us all that political dialogue and engagement is absolutely essential if the industry is not to be misunderstood or even unintentionally misrepresented,” says Bloom.
Olympic experience
The day’s speakers included Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord and Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee, who shared his insight and experience of “How an Olympic event enriches a destination.” Later in the day, Australian MP, Bruce Baird, spoke passionately about the ongoing advocacy work being delivered by one of Australia’s most influential lobby groups. Mayor of Le Touquet, Daniel Fasquelle also shared his experience of working with a recently formed French lobby group – France Terre de Tourisme.
Samuel Koo, President and CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organisation described the lessons learned recently when Seoul set out to establish strong and successful relationships between the city’s meetings industry and its officials and politicians. He commented, “The delegates were very attentive with lots of relevant questions which helped to increase understanding of the complexities of the meetings industry, especially the distinction between it and tourism.”
Daisy Jarva of the Tallinn City Council (Estonia), said: “The Forum is a fantastic idea as I have for many years been pushing for improving the understanding of the meetings industry to the community as a whole. As far as Tallinn is concerned, leisure and business tourism represents nearly 15% of our GDP. Put simply – the taxes from this sector alone pay for all the teachers’ salaries in Tallinn.”
Mayor of Ville de Quebec, Regis Labeame, added “The important message here is that venues and politicians must work together. It seems obvious to me as it is more common in North America where local level politicians are really aware of the importance of conventions. They care about them.”
Throughout the day Forum delegates also heard individual case studies and insights from Australia, Denmark, France and Quebec.
The IMEX Politicians Forum is co-organised each year by ECM (European Cities Marketing) and AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres) and held under the auspices of JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council).
Countdown to IMEX Challenge in Poland – 24 volunteers all signed up and ready to ‘give back’
Frankfurt, 26 May 2010 – IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer, welcomed press, sponsors, volunteers and other guests to a press conference at IMEX yesterday as part of the countdown towards the first ever IMEX Challenge.
The concept of the IMEX Challenge was announced by IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, at the end of last year’s show. The project is an important new part of the IMEX New Vision programme. As a bi-annual event designed to give back to a local community and leave behind a lasting legacy for the future, the IMEX Challenge demonstrates the Group’s ongoing practical commitment to issues of corporate social responsibility.
Other speakers at the press conference included Jon Bradshaw, Business Development Director, IMEX; Krzysztof Celuch, Manager, Convention Bureau of Poland, PTO; Maciek Ogieniewski, Managing Director, Meetings Designers; Magdalena Hołowińska, Marketing Specialist in Warsaw Convention Bureau and Mr Wojciech Liszka, Director of Sales for Radisson Blu in Krakow.
The IMEX Challenge in Poland will involve a group of 24 volunteer participants from the global meetings industry in landscaping the gardens and creating a much-needed play area for a foster home near Warsaw. The chosen foster family is currently responsible for the well-being of seven children, all under 12 years old. The home is operated by charity, Our Home, which is the largest non-governmental organisation in Poland. It was established in 1991 and has become the most important body dealing with the problems of orphaned and neglected children in the country.
Guests heard how the Challenge will also aim to create funding for the ongoing upkeep of the garden and play area as well as support for the long-term educational development and care of the children who live with the foster family.
Volunteers will work on the Challenge for three full days. Each participant has had to cover their full travel costs to Warsaw, although basic accommodation and food will be provided on site.
The volunteers who will be transforming the foster home and garden in September include: Cosimo Bruzzese, Director of Sales for Briggs Inc; Michael Gordon, Associate VP, Business Development, eventAcuity; Kevin Edmunds, Regional Director of Sales, West Coast Palace Resorts; Olga Navarro, Marketing & Sales Manager, ITB DMC; Miguel Assis, Director of Sales & Marketing, TLC – Events in Portugal; Dr Isabel Kuhl, Editor, Events Magazine; Aoife Delaney, Business Development Manager UK & Ireland, Ovation Global DMC; Freddy Muller, Director -Charter & Incentives, Silversea Cruises; Natasha Tome, Head of Marketing, Dubai Convention Bureau. Two IMEX staff have also been chosen to join and support the volunteer team – Faye Bennett, Sales Manager and Rachel Munro, Marketing Executive. Jon Bradshaw, IMEX Business Development Director, will lead the group of volunteers.
The Convention Bureau of Poland which is part of the Polish Tourist Organisation; Meeting Designers; Our Home; the Warsaw Convention Bureau and Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow are all supporting the inaugural IMEX Challenge through sponsorship.
Further information: http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexchallenge.html
Convention 2020 Launches Pathfinder Report at IMEX 2010 and Lays out Six Critical Strategic Imperatives
Clear positioning, future focused boards, strategic innovation, leveraging data, business model experimentation and top talent now critical to shaping the industry’s future.
At IMEX 10 in Frankfurt yeterday, Fast Future Research launched a ‘Pathfinder Report’ on the key strategic challenges and choices facing the industry over the next decade. The Pathfinder Report provides a glimpse of the content of the full phase 1 report to be released in July 2010 as part of the groundbreaking Convention 2020 study on the future of meetings, venues and destinations.
The founding sponsors for the study are ICCA – The International Congress and Convention Association, IMEX the leading industry trade show and Fast Future Research. The platinum sponsors for the study are The Queen Elizabeth II (QEIICC) Conference Centre London, Visit London, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Qatar National Convention Centre, Seoul Tourism Organisation, Athens Convention Bureau, Congrex and BestCities Global Alliance (Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Melbourne, San Juan, Singapore and Vancouver). Kenes are the first gold sponsor. The Technology partners are Meetings:Review and TrendWiki.
The report draws on a wide range of expert interviews and workshops, desk research, an online survey and a project wiki to identify drivers of change and emerging strategic challenges. The research identifies case studies highlighting both the incremental and transformational changes already being undertaken by different players across the industry, and highlights the need for greater clarity and consistency of strategic thought and action. A number of strategic imperatives are identified including the need to:
• Choose a clear strategic position whether it be strategic innovator, fast follower or low cost no frills provider and then ensure every action and decision is consistent with that strategy e.g. being brave enough to say ‘no’ to business that doesn’t fit your capabilities
• Develop the board into an outward looking and future focused entity that is helping to shape and challenge longer term strategy
• Acknowledge that to compete effectively with the expensively marketed alternatives on offer to our customers ranging from video conferencing to advertising, we have to outthink the competition rather than trying to outspend them
• Develop a clear set of strategies to manage our technology, exploit the data generated through our events and create ‘reusable knowledge’ that is of lasting value long after the event
• Demonstrate a willingness to experiment with business models and create new revenue streams to anticipate and address future client demands for greater financial innovation and risk sharing from their event partners
• Develop and recruit top level talent that can truly understand how client’s business strategies are evolving and develop equally strategic and innovative responses.
Carina Bauer CEO of IMEX said “The report lays out a clear roadmap of critical decisions and choices that will help ‘future proof’ businesses across the sector. The strategic issues highlighted identify key factors industry players must address to ensure they can compete effectively in the decade ahead. We need to become as good at strategic thinking as we are at operational delivery.”
Martin Sirk CEO of ICCA said “Laid out like this, the research makes very clear the sheer scale of the challenges and opportunities that confront us. The message is simple, we can continue to tackle all these issues individually or make life easier for ourselves by learning how to think and act strategically. We have to develop the capacity to anticipate the ‘inevitable surprises’ coming our way.”
Rohit Talwar the project director and CEO of Fast Future said “Many in the industry have tended to focus more on operational delivery, short term results and responding to issues as they arise rather than thinking about the shape of future challenges. This makes it very susceptible to external events. The learning from other sectors and businesses that performed better in the downturn and recovered faster is that they devote time and effort to understanding the drivers of change and develop strategies which anticipate those changes.”
The full report is to be published in July 2010. It will examine critical factors that have shaped the industry over the last decade, examine current issues on the agenda, describe key global drivers of change shaping the external world and customer behaviours, and highlight emerging industry and external trends that could impact the sector. It concludes with a roadmap of key strategic challenges and choices facing business leaders and decision makers in the sector.
The Pathfinder Report will be available for download from 10.00 (GMT) on Tuesday May 25th 2010 from www.convention-2020.com where delegates can and also share their views on the future of the industry via the project TrendWiki and sign up to receive regular project updates.
Association executives debate shape of the sector’s future at Association Day
Frankfurt, 25 May 2010 – The buying power, size and resilience of the global association meeting market was demonstrated yesterday when almost 300 association meeting planners gathered for the eighth IMEX Association Day at the Messe Frankfurt Congress Centre.
IMEX Association Day is a unique annual event for association meeting planners which focuses exclusively on professional education and round-table debates with each session tailored specifically to address the professional concerns of association executives. Sessions run concurrently during the day to allow delegates to achieve maximum return from their time. Association buyers regularly account for approximately 12 per cent of IMEX’s hosted buyers each year. As such, they deliver huge buying power and influence to the show.
The Day is organised annually by IMEX and ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) with input and co-operation from many of the meetings industry’s leading global associations including AIPC, ASAE, ESAE, PCMA, IAPCO, IAEE and DMAI*.
This year’s programme concentrated on the issues of strategic planning, long-term future trends and how best to manage online content. It also included German language sessions on ‘Management Excellence’ which were devised by the German Convention Bureau working with association management company, MCI Group.
The “strategic global planning” sessions were moderated by Greta Kotler, Chief Knowledge and Strategy Officer at ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) with contributions from speakers Chip Deale, Head of Global Society Relations at the CFA Institute (Global Association of Investment Professionals); Helga Severyns, Senior Director of the UITP (International Association of Public Transport) and Luc Hendricx, Director of IDF (Congresses and Governance for the International Diabetes Federation). These sessions examined how best to expand influence and drive up membership numbers whilst increasing loyalty. In a second session, CEO of ICCA, Martin Sirk, examined the different factors at play when deciding where to hold an international congress, using ICCA’s recently updated framework as a discussion document. A discussion about the value and purpose of online content also proved popular with delegates. Pol Van De Perre, Association Director of MCI Brussels outlined the importance of providing valuable online content for event delegates as well as how to leverage such content for revenue generation.
The Day’s educational programme ended with the ever popular round-table sessions, organised by MCI, which give delegates the opportunity to discuss issues of their choice with their peers. This followed an exclusive snapshot of first results from the new Convention 2020 research study, whose co-founding sponsors are ICCA and IMEX. Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future Research, outlined how changing business models, technology and funding patterns are likely to transform the way in which associations plan and deliver large scale events and conferences in the next 10 years. (Further findings from this global study are being made available at different seminars throughout IMEX 2010).
Speaking about their reaction to the Association Day programme, Jeffrey Thomson, President and CEO of the Institute of Management Accountants (USA) said: “As a professional organiser, I thought everything was incredibly well organised and planned – especially as I was looking for answers to three issues. The first being globalisation. The second managing growth and, finally, learning more about innovation.”
Mr Kare Drager, President of The International Emergency Management Society from Norway, which has members in 40 countries, commented: “I have learned a great deal and been able to share problems and gain solutions. IMEX allows me to find excellent partners worldwide.”
Association Day delegates then joined more than 500 IMEX exhibitors for a networking and cocktail reception at the Westin Grand Hotel. This reception has become the unofficial opening event of IMEX and provides an opportunity for suppliers to meet and do business with important association buyers they might not normally meet.
Countdown to business starts today – IMEX 2010 opens with intent
Frankfurt, 25 May 2010 – IMEX opens its doors today to an anticipated 3800 hosted buyers from across Europe and long-haul markets including North America, Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, India, the Middle East and Asia plus many thousands of trade visitors from around the world. All will have the opportunity to meet and do business with 3500 different exhibitors from over 150 countries over the next three days.
Now in its eighth year, the award-winning trade show for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry has developed its hosted buyer programme over the last 12 months with the result that more hosted buyers will stay for three full days. According to IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, “This means that buyers will be spending even more time on the show floor, meeting exhibitors and doing business which, after all, is the number one objective for everyone here this week. We are also delighted to welcome 45 brand new hosted buyer groups to the show this year, including a marked increase of buyers from the emerging markets of China, India and Brazil.”
As well as welcoming 38 brand new stands to the exhibition; another 62 established exhibitors have increased their stand sizes since last year including eight hotel groups.
Demand from Asian exhibitors has also been particularly strong with Sri Lanka, Seoul, India, Korea, China, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan all set to make an impact with larger stands.
Several cruise companies are among the new exhibitors including Transocean and Business on Cruise. Madrid and Poznan – a previous IMEX Wild Card winner – are taking their own stands for the first time. Also new from the private sector are Meeting Point International, Showcare, DMC4EU, Green Globe Tourism, Kenes Group and Business Travel Group.
Expanded education
The IMEX New Vision programme continues to set ever higher standards for the variety, quality and scope of its English and German seminars. This year a total of 82 seminars, presentations and workshops are on offer. The Professional Development and Innovation Pavilion, sponsored by the Convention Industry Council provides an excellent platform for drop-in sessions on the show floor. Highlights include a session based on New York Times’ best-selling book – “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything” and first phase findings from Convention 2020, a new piece of global market research that examines how the international meetings and conventions market will change in the next 10 years.
Last year IMEX launched Meetings Under the Microscope to help meeting planners look beyond the logistics of meetings and events planning. This programme has now been expanded with case studies and education sessions. Highlights include “Getting into the mood to meet: Meetings Mindset” by Jon Bradshaw, founder of Equinox Motivation and IMEX Business Development Director, and “Return on Expectations – Lessons from Einstein”, which will be presented by Jeremy Cassell and Tom Bird, of Performance Improvement Consultancy RTP.
Short ‘power’ sessions on the Corporate Responsibility Centre, which is ‘powered by GMIC’ (Green Meeting Industry Council) are also new. These are designed to meet increased demand for green education and will offer case studies from previous award winners and guidance on ‘how to go green’. Also new this year are ‘energiser’ sessions offering daily rejuvenation through guided mediation, yoga and breathing exercises.
Importance of political pressure
The IMEX Politicians Forum welcomes keynote speakers Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord and Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee; the Honorary Bruce Baird, MP, Australia and Samuel Koo, President and CEO of Seoul Tourism Organisation. 29 politicians from Sweden, Poland, Croatia, Denmark, Serbia and France among others will be attending the Forum which takes place at The Westin Hotel, today. The Politicians Forum has become one of IMEX’s most influential New Vision initiatives, as evidenced by the number of destinations that have benefited from new funding or support as a result of bringing their politician to the show to increase their understanding of the market.
20 corporate buyers will also be attending the IMEX Meetings for Success forum tomorrow. Launched last year, Meetings for Success aims to support corporate buyers in their efforts to communicate the true value of meetings and events to stakeholders and board members.
This week’s Future Leaders Forum (FLF) is one of 14 such forums taking place around the globe in partnership with MPI this year, which now includes internships and an International University Challenge competition. 110 students will attend a full day of Forum activities on Thursday 27th May.
The IMEX Wild Card scheme continues to attract exciting new destinations eager to launch onto the global market. This year IMEX welcomes three winners: Morzine in France; Uganda and the Hof Conference and Cultural Center from Iceland. Each will be exhibiting on the dedicated Wild Card Pavilion.
New Green Team
IMEX continues its commitment to waste reduction with the launch of a new ‘Green Team’ ribbon scheme which incentivises exhibitors to reduce waste on their stands. In addition, the IMEX Green Awards publicly acknowledge those planners and suppliers who plan and procure with environmental protection in mind. A total of 14 Awards, including the IMEX Academy, IMEX Green and JMIC Unity Awards, will be made at the show’s annual Gala Dinner tomorrow night (Wednesday 26th May).
Talking about the impact of IMEX this year, Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, explains, “Two important events took place to mark the unofficial opening of the show yesterday. For the first time Site Nite Europe was held in Frankfurt and more than 100 buyers met with hundreds of industry professionals for a reception supporting the work of the Site International Foundation. Another 800 professionals gathered for the Association Evening networking reception. Association Day itself attracted almost 300 buyers from the global association market. It is clear that the power of IMEX now extends far beyond the show floor during show hours. Business is done, contacts are made and partnerships are built during the many dozens of other programmes and events held across the city during the week. IMEX now commands a huge industry presence. It has never been more comprehensive or more necessary for business.”
Countdown to IMEX 2010 sees rise in new exhibitors
A strong run-up to the opening of IMEX 2010 on May 25th has seen a significant number of new exhibitors deciding to take space at the Frankfurt trade show plus an upturn in stand increases from existing exhibitors.
62 exhibitors have increased the size of their stands compared to 2009 and a total of 29 new stands with hundreds of new exhibitors will be present. In addition 45 new hosted buyer groups have been confirmed since last year which puts the show on target to exceed their 2009 hosted buyer figures of 3,779. All buyers are also guaranteed to stay longer at the show this year thanks to a combination of new travel arrangements and new fam trips both before and after the show.
As IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, comments: “Now that the first quarter of the year is nearly complete we have seen a fresh surge of interest. We often speak about the importance of sentiment in this industry, but now more than ever we are beginning to see real optimism returning – and the marketing and promotional behaviour from exhibitors to prove it. There has been a marked change in demand during this first quarter and it is not confined to a couple of regions or market sectors. It’s across the board.”
Among the exhibitors to have increased their stand space in the past two months are Mallorca, Moscow, Serbia, Las Vegas, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Panama, Japan, India, Lebanon and Taiwan. From the private sector, Kuoni, Sales & Promotion, GL Events and TUI will also be increasing their stand sizes.
New exhibitors in the same period include several cruise companies, namely Transocean and Business on Cruise. Returning after a short break are Norwegian Cruise Line and Sea Dream Yacht Club.
Several new exhibitors from the private sector will also be present: Business Travel Group; Eventusta; Kenes Group; Meet Adria DMC and ATY.
Other companies returning to the show are the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, Transcielos from Peru and 2003 Wild Card Winner, Poznan (Poland) who will now exhibit at IMEX for the first time on their own stand – a result of their growth and success in the global meetings industry since winning the IMEX Wild Card Scheme seven years ago.
Hotel groups will also be represented in larger numbers than ever at IMEX 2010. The Great Hotels Organisation makes a return to IMEX, having last exhibited in 2004. Vienna International will be at the show for the first time, whilst Virgin Edition return having last exhibited in 2008. This is in addition to 12 hotel groups that have already increased space or are new to the show.
Says Ray Bloom, “This growth in demand from the hotel sector is important. Competition among hotel groups is always strong but now we are seeing some big brands returning to the marketplace and making their presence felt. The profile they receive at IMEX has always been unparalleled and we know that the impressive business volumes that many hotel groups achieve year on year in Frankfurt acts as a powerful incentive for others to exhibit too. We are also delighted to see a growth in the cruise lines exhibiting and a particular increase in space from Asian destinations this year.”
Fraport Traffic Figures – March 2010: Frankfurt Airport’s Traffic Figures Rising Since the Beginning of the Year – FRA’s Monthly Cargo Tonnage Exceeds 200,000 Metric Tons for the First Time – Fraport Group Achieves Double-Digit Increase in Passenger Traffic
FRANKFURT, April 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — FRA/rap-th> Frankfurt Airport (FRA), owned and managed by Fraport AG, closed the first quarter of 2010 with a 3.9 percent increase in passenger figures. From January through March 2010, the FRA intercontinental air transportation hub served well over 11.3 million passengers. In March 2010, FRA registered a total of 4.4 million passengers – an 8.3 percent increase year-on-year.
In the airfreight segment FRA recorded 33.5 percent growth for the first three months of the year. In March 2010, cargo throughput rose by 37.4 percent year-on-year and exceeded the 200,000 metric ton mark for the first time in FRA’s history. The new monthly record of 203,308 metric tons represents an increase of about 11,400 metric tons compared to the previous peak month of November 2007. On Sunday, March 14, 2010, FRA achieved a new daily record, when some 8,511 metric tons of airfreight were handled. This figure exceeds by 34 metric tons the previous daily handling record achieved on September 17, 2006.
In the first quarter of 2010, aircraft movements at FRA remained level with the previous year and cumulative maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year. In March 2010, aircraft movements increased by some 3.0 percent to well over 40,000 takeoffs and landings. Cumulative MTOWs climbed by 4.6 percent to approximately 2.4 million metric tons in March 2010.
“The very high cargo volumes seen in recent months, including the new record highs, are certainly a good indicator for the continuing recovery of the global economy, which should be reflected by further increasing cargo figures,” stated Fraport executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte. Optimistic about the future, Schulte added: “Passenger traffic also has shown distinct growth since the beginning of the year, despite strike-related flight cancellations and difficult weather conditions. It is crucial that this development will achieve sustained stability. This will further stimulate traffic development.”
The Fraport Group’s five majority-owned airports (Frankfurt, Antalya, Lima, Burgas and Varna) received a total of 15.7 million passengers (up 7.7 percent) in the January-to-March 2010 period. In March 2010, the Group welcomed some 6 million passengers, up 12.4 percent year-on-year.
Cargo throughput (airfreight and airmail tonnage) at these airports rose by 30.8 percent in the first quarter of 2010 to approximately 590,000 metric tons, while aircraft movements climbed by 4.2 percent to more than 150,000 takeoffs and landings. Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey saw the strongest growth, with passenger traffic surging by 33.2 percent in the first three months of the year. Passenger figures at Bulgaria’s Burgas Airport (up 12.2 percent) and Peru’s Lima Airport (up 10.5 percent) also rose substantially.
Lessons from a virtual world – IMEX interviews Cisco
A one-hour head to head webinar with Angie Smith, Cisco’s Global Sales Experience Manager, who was responsible for organising the company’s first ever entirely online Global Sales Experience for 20,000 people in 2009 has revealed some valuable and candid lessons for other meetings and events industry professionals.
Smith’s interview debunks some of the myths about the costs of running large-scale virtual events and how they compare to face-to-face. She also explains that, although the company’s communications goals for the event were fully met, other goals for recognition and motivation fell short. In feedback, Cisco sales teams made it clear that looking their peers and directors in the eye and receiving recognition and applause in front of a live audience is fundamental to feeling rewarded and appreciated, no matter how exciting other elements can be.
The webinar, which was broadcast live using Cisco’s Webex and LiveStream technology, shows Smith in conversation with David Kliman, President of the Kliman Group, as part of the IMEX Meetings for Success programme.
The interview reveals:-
- How much participants must be consulted about virtual event content in order to feel engaged
- The true scale of the technology challenge, even when you’re a leading technology company
- How Board level buy-in is critical to success and credibility
- That it’s vital to understand what you are measuring and why, and how to make sure data tells a ‘valuable’ story that’s relevant to the business
The webinar is available to view free of charge at http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/webinar.html
The next IMEX takes place 25th – 27th May 2010 at Messe Frankfurt.
IMEX 2010 signals global growth and strong business outlook
- Year on year rise in number of international hosted buyers
- Strong turn out from hotel groups
- Personal and professional development expands
- New hourly drop-in workshops meet continuing ‘need for green’
The eighth IMEX will open on May 25th at Messe Frankfurt with its largest ever hosted buyer programme in place and buyer, exhibitor and trade visitor targets all on course for year-on-year growth.
“We have spent the last 12 months concentrating on developing new partnerships with intermediaries who can deliver more high quality buyers from the most important and resilient long-haul markets,” explains IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom. “What is more, we have made sure that a large proportion of these buyers will be staying for three full days and also spending longer on the show floor meeting and doing business with exhibitors.”
45 new hosted buyer groups have been confirmed for IMEX 2010; with many of these new buyers coming through key global hotel groups who have expanded the regions from which they are delivering clients. These include Marriott International, Mandarin Oriental, Kempinski, Hilton, Starwood, the Ritz, Rocco Forte, Concorde, Sol Melia and Leading Hotels of the World.
A total of 50 exhibitors have already increased their stand space compared to 2009. From Europe, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Czech Tourism Authority, Romania, Serbia, Iceland, Meet Sicily and Figur Tourism will all have a larger presence at the show. Continued strength among Asian exhibitors is also demonstrated by increased space for Seoul, Korea, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia and Japan. From the Middle East, Qatar and Discovery Jordan will be taking bigger stands, whilst further growth in the Latin American market has prompted Argentina and Uruguay to increase their stand space. Other larger exhibitors include St Petersburg Express, China, DMC South Africa and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Among the hotel groups, Rezidor, Ritz Carlton, Steigenberger, Möevenpick, Fairmont/Swissotel Raffles, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Rixos Hotels have also increased the size of their stands.
Hotels also account for a number of brand new exhibitors to IMEX 2010. These include Scandic Hotels, Albert Management and Warwick Hotel International who are making a welcome return. Visitors will also see Columbia, Meeting Point International, Showcare, DMC4EU, Business on Cruise and Green Globe Tourism exhibiting for the first time. Abercrombie & Kent return to IMEX with their biggest stand ever.
Spain has once again increased its presence at IMEX. This now makes it second only to the GCB Germany stand in terms of size. Spanish exhibitors now account for 800 square metres, which includes separate stands for Valencia and Madrid for the first time this year.
In addition three suppliers brand new to the meetings industry will each be celebrating winning a free place on the Wild Card Pavilion. This year’s winners are: Uganda; Morzine in France and the Hof Conference Center in Iceland.
The US Pavilion will once again be an extremely diverse and business-centred section of the show. Anchorage, Arizona, Chicago, Texas, the Eastern Seaboard and New York City will all be present. Las Vegas also plans to bring up to 16 partner exhibitors to Frankfurt.
Also new this year will be the offer of discounted airfares from Qantas. Qantas operates 28 flights a week from London Heathrow via the Far East into seven gateway cities across Australia and will be making the discount fares available to all approved IMEX participants.
Association Day – results revealed
This year’s IMEX Association Day will be held at the Messe Frankfurt Congress Center. This important annual event allows association buyers and planners to participate in a tailor-made education and networking programme. Concurrent and themed sessions for 2010 include: Strategic Global Planning for Associations; How to Decide where to Hold International Congresses and Leveraging Conference Content Online. The day’s educational programme will also include ‘Convention 2020 Research – A Snapshot of The Future of Association Meetings.’ Following the educational element, suppliers from recognised association partners of IMEX will be invited to network with Association Day guests. This evening drinks reception frequently draws up to 700 people and has become the unofficial start of the show, taking place as it does the night before opening.
Politicians Forum and Future Leaders Forum 2010
Industry leaders and politicians attending this year’s IMEX Politicians Forum will hear the views of panellists including Mr Hein Verbruggen, President of SportAccord and Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee and the Honorary Bruce Baird, MP, Australia. Both have extensive experience of the impact a major sporting event can have on a destination and its long-term legacy and will share their insights with delegates.
As Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman explains, “With each passing year the importance and influence of this Forum becomes more obvious and more direct. We now have a host of examples of destinations acquiring more funding for new infrastructure and marketing efforts in particular as a direct result of their political representatives attending the Forum, meeting like-minded politicians and understanding the wider benefits of hosting large-scale meetings and conventions in their home regions. This is extremely gratifying and precisely why we continue to pour a great deal of effort into this Forum. I am delighted to announce the Politicians Forum is already expanding into other countries through a variety of new IMEX alliances and I will announce further details after the show.”
2010 will also see a total of 13 separate IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forums taking place at various events and in diverse destinations around the world including Serbia, Iceland, South America, the Middle East, Italy, Thailand, Poland and Shanghai together with Frankfurt and the US. The Forum’s mission is to help inform and unite the next generation of industry leaders to give them valuable insight into the industry and position them to lead it in the future. The global programme now includes internships, an International University Challenge competition and a global mentoring network.
Topical German language seminars
IMEX 2010 will present a choice of 17 German language seminars. The sessions will each address an important issue currently facing the industry in Germany. Topics will include ‘Change management in associations’ and ‘Association Sponsorships’. Detailed discussions about the growing role of corporate social responsibility will be covered in ‘CSR meets live communication’ and ‘Green meetings – change or necessity?’ Marketing and media issues will be addressed in two seminars – ‘Trends in the German media’ and ‘The challenges of online direct marketing’. Other seminars will look at current technology, logistical and liability issues. The programme has been devised by the German Convention Bureau.
Simple new green measures
IMEX has also taken the market’s appetite for environmental education and green suppliers into account by developing a new green education and awareness programme. New drop-in workshops will take place every hour on the Corporate Responsibility Stand (powered by the Green Meeting Industry Council). These will offer live case studies from previous IMEX Green Award winners plus insight into the many green meeting industry standards that now exist, including the GRI Report Initiative, Green Globe Certification, ISO and APEX. Other topics will also be addressed.
Exhibitors will also be able to apply for a new Green Ribbon scheme this year. If their exhibition stands meet a number of criteria relating to reduced waste output, energy usage and the use of sustainable materials, all staff will be able to wear an IMEX 2010 ‘Green Team’ ribbon.
Explains Dale Hudson, Head of Project Development, IMEX Group, “We hope that the new green ribbons will give those exhibitors who’ve made special environmental efforts for 2010 more visibility and make them easier for buyers to spot. They are intended to be a good talking point and we know that buyers want quick and simple ways to see that those companies they are doing business with are environmentally aware.”
Giving education a new edge
Other seminars and presentations at IMEX will include Women’s Forum sessions on ‘How to develop your personal branding’ plus a Cross-Cultural seminar on ‘Getting a competitive edge from culture’ by Richard Lewis Communications. A team from the COP15 taskforce will also look at ‘How to implement extremely sustainable events that transform a destination’ and share the lessons learned from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Teachings from New York Times Bestselling book ‘Influencer’ will also be presented. A number of industry associations will also be delivering seminars including CIC’s ‘In alphabet soup’ and DMAI’s ‘How to establish and build a CVB.’
The Professional Development and Innovation Pavilion is again expected to be extremely popular. Sponsored by CIC (Convention Industry Council) it will also host IMEX’s new Meetings Under the Microscope education programme. Launched last year, this scheme aims to help meeting planners keep up to date with the latest ideas and advice on how to improve meeting content delivery and information retention. One of this year’s speakers will be Graphic Facilitator, Andrew Parks of Cognitive Media who will demonstrate the power and purpose of live illustration as an ‘edutainment’ tool for meetings.
First phase of global research results made public
Earlier this year IMEX joined forces with ICCA and Fast Future to fund and support an important new piece of global research. The ‘Convention 2020′ Strategic Foresight Study will look in detail at the conventions industry in 10 years’ time. The study is being conducted by a large team from research and trends company, Fast Future. Its CEO, Rohit Talwar, will present six different seminars, each detailing the study’s first phase findings. His presentations will include ‘Meeting the technology timeline’, ‘The Meeting Experience’ plus an interactive workshop looking at the potential long-term impact of the study’s results on the design of venues and their services.
Also new this year is a partnership with i-Meet, the industry’s largest online social network. This will enable IMEX hosted buyers to network with each other and share ideas in a private online environment both before and after the exhibition. IMEX will create a “community within the community” at i-Meet, and offer various ways for attendees to join.
Summing up the benefits of IMEX 2010, IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, says: “IMEX continues to advance, invest and innovate. This year will be no exception. In fact, with industry sentiment both realistic and robust, we must continue to deliver on all fronts. That means high quality buyers; high numbers of genuine business appointments; satisfied exhibitors; targeted, relevant and interesting professional education and, not least, the chance to meet old colleagues and peers face to face as well as developing new contacts. Never has IMEX been more comprehensive, or more necessary for business.”
Airport Charges at FRA: Fraport and Airlines Reach Agreement
FRANKFURT, Germany, February 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Fraport AG and airline representatives have agreed on the development of airport charges at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) during the years 2012 to 2015. A corresponding agreement was signed today by representatives of Fraport AG, the airlines and airline associations.
Cisco to reveal ‘virtual secrets’ of first online Global Sales Experience in IMEX webinar
Meetings industry professionals keen to learn about the challenges involved in staging virtual events will be able to hear the inside track on Cisco’s landmark 2009 Global Sales Experience come March.
As part of the IMEX Meetings for Success webinar series, Cisco’s Global Sales Experience Manager, Angie Smith, will talk in detail about the entirely virtual event which included over 200 content sessions an alternate reality game and various mini games. More than 19,000 employees attended the annual Global Sales Experience over four days in September 2009. They participated from 89 countries spanning 24 time zones and also gathered in 600 Cisco conference rooms worldwide. The planning lead-time for the global event was just 20 weeks.
Says Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, “We are delighted that Angie will be sharing her insight into this unique event which took place on an extraordinary global scale and represents something of a watershed moment in meetings industry history. So many professionals in the industry are currently struggling with what, when, if and how to blend virtual with face-to-face meetings and events. Clearly this debate remains a hot one but it won’t go away easily and there is a strong desire to learn as much as possible. Virtual meetings demand huge technological support and experience. This will be a great opportunity to lift the lid on a truly pioneering event and to learn some invaluable lessons from a company at the forefront of 21st century technology.”
The webinar will take place on Wednesday 3rd March. Participation is free and further details will be announced shortly. A recorded version of the webinar will also be made available free of charge afterwards.
To register interest in the webinars, email rachel.munro@imexexhibitions.com.
A recorded version of the last Meetings for Success ‘Head to Head’ webinar between Larry Head, Global Head of Events for Diageo and Debbie Donaldson, Global Development Director of leading agency, Grassroots, is available online at http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/webinar.html.
Video case studies of Diageo’s Guinness 250 campaign and the Phones4U ‘Survivor’ campaign, which was organised by Grassroots, are also available to view.
For more information on Meetings for Success: http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/meetingsforsuccess.html
IMEX 2010 – on target for bigger business
Four months out from the opening of the eighth IMEX in Frankfurt organisers, the IMEX Group, have announced that they are on course to deliver more business opportunities than ever when the doors open on 25 May.
GCB German Convention Bureau elects German winners of Wild Card – Record number of 31 candidates
Asisi Visual Culture GmbH and Initiative Meeting Point Trier can now look forward to exhibiting free of charge at the Germany stand of the GCB German Convention Bureau at IMEX 2010
Frankfurt/Main, 08 December 2009. And the winners of this year’s German Wild Card for IMEX 2010 are?. Asisi Visual Culture GmbH and Initiative Meeting Point Trier. They will enjoy free exhibition space under the umbrella of the GCB German Convention Bureau. The Wild Card is a valuable opportunity for the two companies, who are newcomers in the meetings and conventions industry: At “IMEX – incorporating Meetings made in Germany – the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events” they can present themselves for the first time to a high-calibre international trade audience. IMEX will take place from 25 to 27 May 2010 in hall 8 of Frankfurt Fair.
Lutz P. Vogt, Managing Director of the GCB: “Choosing the winners of the Wild Card for IMEX 2010 was a really difficult decision for us this year. We were happy to have not only a record number of 31 candidates but also that they were of such an excellent quality. This goes to show firstly how attractive it is to exhibit at IMEX under the GCB’s umbrella, and secondly that the German meetings and conventions industry is a dynamic sector with very high standards.”
Wild Card winners must meet certain criteria: Only companies that are based in Germany and focus on events in Germany can enter the competition. In addition, the candidates must be new on the German MICE market or offer a new innovative product for conventions and events, and it must be the first time they are taking part in a trade fair of the meetings industry.
“We are happy to offer the two Wild Card winners the great opportunity to introduce themselves to a large and international trade audience at one of the most important meeting places of the MICE industry,” adds Vogt.
Unusual experiences and strength through collaboration
The portfolio of Berlin-based Asisi Visual Culture GmbH includes two unusual venues: The Panometers in Leipzig and Dresden. The stunningly restored gas holders provide a unique visual experience with the world’s largest 360-degree panoramas designed by architect and artist Yadegar Asisi and serve as a very special setting for receptions, galas and business functions. Yalda Bouzrina, Deputy Managing Director / Head of Marketing and Communication of Asisi Visual Culture GmbH: “We are proud to present the world’s largest 360-degree panoramas as an event concept that is unique world-wide to event planners and decision-makers at IMEX, the leading global fair. We believe that this will serve as our own contribution to making Germany an attractive event market and especially to strengthening the popularity of the cities of Dresden and Leipzig with our illusion spaces.”
Trier – a city that was already recognised by the ancient Romans – was founded over 2000 years ago and is Germany’s oldest city. Roman Trier, consisting of the Amphitheatre, Barbara Baths, Imperial Baths, Constantine Basilica, Porta Nigra, Roman Bridge, Dom St. Peter and Liebfrauenkirche, has UNESCO World Heritage status. Initiative Meeting Point Trier is a newly founded alliance consisting of six partners: Adams event agency, Arena Trier Sports and Event Centre, ERA Congress Centre (ECC), Nells Park Hotel Trier and Park Plaza Hotel Trier as well as Tourist Information Trier/Official Convention Bureau of the city of Trier. In future, the members of the initiative want to pool their resources and know-how in a joint marketing concept for Trier as a meetings destination. Christian Millen, spokesman of Initiative Meeting Point Trier: “We are very happy about this great opportunity to promote Trier at a fair that is so important for the German and international markets thank
s to the Wild Card such a short time after our foundation.”
The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for all customers who are planning events in Germany.
Its 259 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels, Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH and darmstadtium science and convention centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) support the work of the GCB
More innovation and bigger business at IMEX 2010
Now in its eighth year, IMEX 2010, the award-winning international exhibition for the worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel industry will build on the success of last year’s exhibition with an increase in long-haul hosted buyers, more exhibitors and a more diverse professional education programme.
IMEX 2010 has its sights set on continuing its strong growth and business track record, which will be demonstrated by a rise in the number of intermediaries bringing hosted buyers to the Frankfurt show. Over 20 new buyer groups have already been confirmed from the US, Asia Pacific and Middle East delivered by intermediaries including Marriott Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte and Starcite. Participation from US association buyers is also forecast to be particularly strong this year as a result of new intermediaries in this market. Many have also been attracted by the chance to participate in the IMEX Association Day on May 24th, the day before the show opens.
According to last year’s post-show hosted buyer evaluation, a record $375.5 million dollars worth of contracts are estimated to have been agreed during IMEX 2009, with an approximate $1.7 billion added in the nine months following. In response to these increases in business, and especially the rise in individual and group appointments, many exhibitors were quick to book additional space for 2010. As a result Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Mövenpick Hotels, the Spanish Tourist Office, Indian Holiday, the Czech Tourism Authority, Luxembourg and Liberty International are all taking bigger stands. New exhibitors so far confirmed include Scandic Hotels, Warwick Hotels and Madrid, who will be taking their own stand for the first time.
Online improvements
Further improvements have been made to the way that IMEX’s 3,500 exhibitors and nearly 9,000 buyers conduct business via IMEX online and especially on the IMEX Virtual Exhibition pages of the website, making it even easier for buyers to locate exhibitors they are interested in making appointments with. Every year the IMEX website attracts over 70,000 visitors in the final three months leading up to the show and generates around 50,000 appointments made online prior to the exhibition.
In addition, a new partnership with i-Meet – the professional and social network for people who plan meetings and events – will enable IMEX hosted buyers to network with each other and share ideas in a private online environment both before and after the exhibition. IMEX will create a “community within the community” at i-Meet, and offer various ways for its attendees to join.
IMEX’s focus on continually increasing its online efficiency and usability is unique among meetings industry trade shows. Its success and commitment to continuous improvement was recognised earlier this year by UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) when IMEX was one of four shortlisted for the “Best Innovative Web-based Application for Exhibitors” Award 2009.
IMEX 2010 will continue to balance an unparalleled number of business opportunities with an exceptional education programme delivered in both English and German. Sessions will be organised into different tracks such as ‘environmental’, ‘innovation’ and ‘leadership’ to allow visitors to choose seminars and plan their time more easily. Education will cover both professional and personal development themes this year in recognition that many meetings industry professionals are eager to develop transferable skills and also to maximise high quality free learning opportunities outside the office. IMEX workshops and seminars will focus on unlocking the industry’s future and helping individuals understand how to add personal and professional value whilst working in a constantly changing and dynamic sector.
Launch of Meetings & Conventions 2020
A first for IMEX 2010 will be a new initiative focussing on the future of the industry – Meetings & Conventions 2020. IMEX has partnered with ICCA and Fast Future to deliver a new groundbreaking research study looking at the future of live events, venues and meeting destinations. The study will explore the underlying trends and drivers that could shape the industry over the next decade and will drive a series of seminars and workshops at IMEX 2010.
Says Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO: “Launching this new research initiative in 2010 gives us the perfect opportunity to look at least 10 years ahead to 2020 and continue to focus on different aspects of our changing environment. Fast Future CEO Rohit Talwar will use his keynote session at IMEX to present the findings of a report on the ‘Future Meeting Experience’. Delegates at workshops taking place around the exhibition will also be in a unique position to contribute to the third phase of the research to be presented later in the year. We are always pleased to contribute to industry thought-leadership by creating or supporting fresh, relevant initiatives such as these.”
New York Times best-seller workshop
A new seminar based on New York Times Best-selling book, “Influencer”, is also new for 2010. Influencer is a training concept which draws on the skills of hundreds of successful change agents around the world and combines them with five decades of the best social science research. This 1.5 hour session will be delivered by Grahame Robb Associates to give participants a coherent and portable model for changing behavior that can be taken away and applied to any situation. IMEX will also be surveying previous buyers to reveal their biggest workplace challenges so that the workshop’s content can be specifically tailored to the unique requirements of its IMEX participants.
Demand for environmental education at IMEX has also grown significantly over the past five years. For the first time the IMEX Corporate Responsibility Centre will be ‘Powered by GMIC’ (the Green Meetings Industry Council and IMEX’s green partner). Also new will be a series of short, drop-in workshops that will run throughout the day on the stand. They will include case studies from previous award winners and ‘how to go green’ power-sessions with advice about where and how to start, as well as information on more advanced green policies and practices.
Commenting on preparations for IMEX 2010 in Frankfurt, IMEX Chairman Ray Bloom, said: “IMEX’s enduring success is founded on always making sure that exhibitors and buyers can do as much business together as possible. The industry returns to IMEX year after year because we deliver maximum return on investment for their money and time. To achieve this, we must provide the right quality of buyers; the right tools and information; all at the right time and in the right environment. I am delighted to confirm that IMEX 2010 will stick to this winning formula, although each year we raise the bar higher to reflect the pace of change in our industry.”
IMEX Association Day takes shape for 2010
Organisers of the IMEX Association Day 2010 in Frankfurt have announced a diverse and topical programme intended to provide association executives with unrivalled educational insight in a day of intensive learning and networking.
Association Day 2010 will take place on Monday 24 May in Frankfurt and is organised by IMEX in partnership with ICCA.
Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO, will lead the line-up of the day’s speakers with an examination of the critical factors involved in deciding where to hold international congresses. The presentation will cover how to make the selection process more efficient, transparent and aligned with strategic objectives.
Chief Knowledge and Strategy Officer of ASAE (American Society of Association Executives), Greta Kotler, CAE, will moderate a panel which includes Chip Deale, Head of Global Society Relations, CFA Institute and Helga Severeyns, Senior Director of UITP (International Association of Public Transport). Together they will review the variety of global planning strategies available to associations and also discuss success practices for boosting membership numbers and revenues. The panel session will also look at how associations can increase their influence and develop and market their services in line with corporate mission and goals.
In addition, Pol Van De Perre, Association Director of MCI Brussels, will offer tips and guidance on how to leverage conference content by using online tools and facilities. His session will explore ways in which data, ideas and even full meeting sessions can be captured, shared, co-created and archived for the maximum long-term benefit of association members.
Tailor-made German workshops
Global business and communications company, MCI Germany, will also be running a concurrent German presentation and the German Convention Bureau (GCB), IMEX’s strategic partner, will run two German language seminars tailored to meet the specific needs of German association delegates on the following day, Tuesday 25 May.
Carina Bauer, IMEX marketing and operations director, explains: “We welcome over 3,500 international suppliers from over 150 different countries to IMEX every year, creating a great opportunity for delegates to discover new destinations, products and services and, of course, do business. Through Association Day we provide a forum for thought leadership specifically for association executives, where the latest industry news and ideas are communicated via a comprehensive programme of presentations and seminars. Delegates also appreciate the opportunity to learn from and network with each other.”
The Association Day evening reception, now a recognised highlight of the international meetings industry calendar, will take place at the Westin Hotel in Frankfurt. It offers the chance for association members to network among a 700-plus guest list of exhibitors, industry suppliers and hosted buyers.
Carina Bauer continued: “We have worked hard to ensure that the delegate experience at Association Day is as productive and enjoyable as possible. Tools such as the IMEX online diary system and messaging service also make meeting up and setting business appointments easy to dovetail with educational sessions.”
Research supports positive sentiment
Recent research into the association market by IMEX and ICCA shows the enduring strength of the sector. Said Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO, “Our latest quantitative results match up to the numerous anecdotal stories we are hearing from our members and from other international association executives. The economic downturn has had an impact, of course, but it has been far less serious than for other market sectors of the meetings industry. The fact that so many associations are experiencing rising delegate numbers and revenue during this period would be remarkable were it not for the case that international associations have been consistently demonstrating this resilience for many, many years.”
Entry to the Association Day and Evening programme is by registration only. Registration is free of charge and available from December 2009 – contact Carina Bauer (carina.bauer@imex-frankfurt.com) for more information. The 2010 programme can be viewed online at www.imex-frankfurt.com.
Germany number one world-wide for Ease of Travel and Standard of Living
Frankfurt / Main, 17 November 2009. For the very first time Germany is among the Top 10 of the Country Brand Index, and number 9 among 102 rated countries.
“An excellent result,” says a happy Lutz P. Vogt, Managing Director of the GCB German Convention Bureau, “which also confirms the performance of the German meetings and conventions industry. Germany ranks top exactly in the categories that are important for meetings and events: number one world-wide in the ‘Ease of Travel’ category plus number one in ‘Standard of Living’ – with a good business climate, high per-capita GDP and cutting-edge infrastructure playing a major role.”
With 16 international and 14 regional airports seamlessly interlinked with a 40,000 kilometres of railway network and 11,000 kilometres of motorways, Germany offers excellent travel connections throughout.
In addition, Germany ranks second in several categories such as ‘Safety’, ‘Environmental Awareness’ and ‘Political Freedom’.
For the fifth time running the US-based FutureBrand company and Weber Shandwick agency have issued the Country Brand Index (CBI), for which they interviewed almost 3,000 frequent travellers from nine countries and over 30 experts on 26 categories. For more details on the study visit www.futurebrand.com
As the Top Country Brand, the USA has made it to number one in 2009 for the first time – ahead of Canada and the 2008 number one Australia. “Germany’s number 9 position naturally means a further motivation boost for our local meeting and convention industry,” says Lutz P. Vogt. “Now we want to help Germany move even further ahead among the Top 10.”
Ranking also confirms the results of this year’s Meeting- & EventBarometer
Fast reachability is the most significant criterion by far for the choice of a meeting and convention destination. Together with hotel capacities and image this is the most important locational factor. This means a great overlap between the total brand value of a country and its importance as a location for meetings and conventions. In this category Germany has been number one in Europe for several years.
These are the central results of the Meeting- & EventBarometer 2009. Published by the Frankfurt-based major institutions German Convention Bureau (GCB), the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) and German National Tourist Board (GNTB), the survey corroborates the results of the Country Brand Index.
The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany.
Its 257 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels and Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH and darmstadtium science and convention centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) support the work of the GCB
The GCB is an interface between organisers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletter, Germany guide, news blog, CO2 Calculator and a lot more.
Further information and press releases about GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. on: www.germany-meetings.com.
IMEX Wild Card invites new destinations to join world stage
Emerging destinations in the international meetings and incentives market can now submit applications to become a Wild Card entrant at IMEX 2010.
Several previous winners have gone on to become exhibitors in their own right and owe much to their start in the global meetings and events market to their first exposure at IMEX.
Winners will receive free exhibition space within the Wild Card Pavilion at the world-leading trade show, which takes place at Messe Frankfurt on 25 – 27 May 2010. Winners also benefit from access to discounted airfares, two complimentary hotel rooms for three nights in Frankfurt plus free tickets to the IMEX Gala Dinner.
Additionally, IMEX will provide marketing support to assist winners in presenting their destination to the audience of international buyers both at the show and as part of the online exhibition on the IMEX website throughout the year.
Carina Bauer, IMEX marketing and operations director, commented: “The Wild Card scheme offers the chance for new destinations to launch into the international meetings and incentives market with a bang! Exhibiting at IMEX provides one of the best opportunities to showcase all that a destination has to offer and meet with the key decision makers in events planning from all around the globe.
For new destinations, this presents an unrivalled chance to begin countless new business relationships that could well lead to a packed events diary for the rest of the year.” To qualify for a winning place, Wild Card entrants need to justify their potential as a brand new meetings and incentive travel destination.
Places are also open to new convention and conference centres, either currently in development or which have been open for less than three years. None of the entrants are permitted to have exhibited at a major meetings or incentive travel trade fair before. They also have to demonstrate that they have the commitment and capacity to handle new business and that their destination has the infrastructure to support the unique demands of the meetings and incentive travel market.
Carina Bauer added: “IMEX will provide winners of the Wild Card with the support and guidance needed to catch the eye and buying power of some of the thousands of visitors who attend the show.
By supporting emerging destinations IMEX continues to invest in the future success of the industry and proof of its value comes from the fact that many past winners have elected to keep coming back to IMEX year after year.”
Winners of the 2009 IMEX Wild Card included the Cook Islands, Novi Sad – Vojvodina, located on the Danube in Serbia, Tianjin Economic – Technological Development Area (TEDA) in China and the Masurian Conference Centre, Zamek Ryn, Poland.
For more information visit: www.imex-frankfurt.com
