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American buyers see positive trends in face-to-face meetings
Meetings Industry Snapshot: Planners Express ‘Cautious Optimism’ IMEX Frankfurt exit poll reveals American buyers see positive trends in face-to-face meetings
A little over half (54%) of meetings industry specialists in the U.S. and Canada have expressed ‘cautious optimism’ about the return of meetings and incentives market, according to a recent poll taken by the IMEX Group following its Frankfurt trade show. A further nine percent said that they are ‘very optimistic.’
The poll was conducted among 200 North American buyers and suppliers in June 2010, following the conclusion of IMEX in Frankfurt, which took place May 25-27, 2010.
The poll results are good news for the U.K. based IMEX Group, which will launch its first annual IMEX America exhibition, October 11-13, 2011, in Las Vegas, at the Sands Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel.
Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group comments, “We recently declared an increase in the hosted buyer program for IMEX America – we now expect in excess of 2000 buyers – because our partners and intermediaries have a renewed confidence in future growth. This represents an increase of more than 30 percent on our initial launch figure. Our survey findings are also in line with other recent global and US industry reports which suggests that this new found confidence is not just about mood but about real business volumes.”
The poll also revealed that Canadian planners are even more optimistic. While one in five (21%) U.S. planners doubt the meetings market is in recovery, Canadian buyers are generally convinced that already it is ‘business as usual,’ suggesting that the sector has rebounded faster because their economy and financial systems were hit less severely. As one planner explained, “Our financial system was never really in too much trouble. No banks closed, and there were few or no foreclosure increases. Business demands changed slightly but did not necessarily decline.” Another shared the opinion, “In Canada we are quickly moving out of the economic downturn…our GDP is up 6.1% already. Fortunately, perception may no longer be an issue.”
In contrast, U.S. respondents acknowledge the possibility of continuing business volatility and that recovery may only be slow. However, their confidence is underpinned by a sense that there is pent up demand for travel. Said one organizer, “We are starting to experience a resurgence in incentive programs from our customers. Qualification levels are stronger and forecasts for 2011 are stronger than 2010.” Another commented, “We are seeing an increase in the number of programs for 2010 over 2009, so that is a positive. There are encouraging small gains as well as the better reception we are receiving to our offers.”
Survey participants confirm also that their meetings and incentives tend to be short-notice, travel less far, remain value-conscious, and are simpler and more ROI-focused than those held prior to the downturn. Some argue that the formula of ‘more for less’ – frugality and less frivolity – could prove to be the new reality for many years ahead.
IMEX survey reveals buyers opinions on social media, blogs and Smartphones
For the first time this year, IMEX in Frankfurt surveyed over 1,000 hosted buyers immediately after the show for their views on social media, industry blogs and Smartphone usage.
The survey quizzed buyers on their use of social media, both as a professional meetings and event management tool and as a networking channel. 625 respondents answered the social media questions and confirmed their preference for LinkedIn as an online networking site. LinkedIn was used by 64 per cent of respondents, and Facebook by 60 per cent of buyers. Twitter is currently used by 27 per cent and YouTube by 23 per cent.
46 per cent of respondents also confirmed an increase in the use of social media for networking over the past 6 months, although 32 per cent felt it had remained about the same. At the same time, 44 per cent of respondents agreed that ‘there are too many social media and networking sites to keep up to date with.’ Surprisingly given the proliferation of blogs within the wider business world, and increasingly within the international meetings industry, 83 per cent of respondents still do not regularly follow an industry blog.
Also in line with wider business trends, Blackberry is currently the Smartphone of choice in the global meetings industry, with 57 per cent of respondents saying they use one. Of these, 47 per cent are using Blackberries as opposed to 31 per cent using Apple iPhones and 24 per cent using Nokia devices.
In November 2009 an IMEX Global Insights Poll of 45 senior international meetings industry professionals revealed a certain degree of frustration with social media. That poll showed that 22 per cent agreed with the statement: ‘my company wants to use every social media channel – but with no extra resource to support the added work.’ At that time a similar number – 22 per cent – used social media in a limited way for professional and networking purposes, preferring to use it just for personal communication.
However, the findings of the 2010 IMEX Post-Show survey suggest that the uptake of social media for professional and corporate use has now accelerated significantly. They also show that YouTube especially is making its mark as a credible and viable channel for corporate marketing and communications within the international meetings industry.
Says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, “As a truly international show with a good cross-section of buyers from across Europe, the USA plus the ‘BRICs’ countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China, it is interesting to observe the rapid growth of marketing channels such as YouTube and realise quite how far it has come as a credible, global communications channel that’s open to all. Further into the future, once more African countries move from 2G to 3G technology, for example, and mobile penetration really accelerates, this could create yet another step change. Current trends suggest that mobile payment systems, environmental monitoring and even intelligent sensors embedded into mobiles are all just around the corner and these will have huge implications for the meetings and events industry.
“The growth of social media in different world markets creates both enormous pressures and provides international businesses such as ours with fantastic opportunities. The discipline for all of us is to pay careful attention to where the value truly lies for each of our different audiences and never to assume that a ‘one size solution fits all.”
Some of these issues have already been raised and are being explored by UK research company, Fast Future Research through its ongoing Convention 2020 research study. IMEX is one of the study’s founding sponsors and encourages all meetings industry professionals to share their views and get involved in Phase 2 workshops. For more information – http://convention2020.meetingsreview.com/
Launch of the World’s First Portal for Meeting Apps
Vancouver, Canada and London, UK (August, 2010) – Invenia (www.inveniainc.com), in collaboration with the IMEX Group, is pleased to announce the launch of the world’s first portal for Meeting Apps – www.MeetingApps.com. MeetingApps.com is a new website designed to enable planners to quickly locate iPhone and iPad apps related to the meetings and events industry. The creator of MeetingApps.com, Kirsten Strand, BSc, CITE, CMM, CEO of Invenia (www.inveniainc.com), believes that the new smart phone technology will revolutionize the meetings industry. “By utilizing specific apps, meeting planners will be able to access vital information and tools right at their fingertips. Knowledge is power, and with GPS enabled applications, anything is possible.” The MeetingApps.com technology team was led by Joseph Lo and Jane Huynh,Vancouver-based interactive experts. Together with their technical team, hundreds of event and meeting apps have been identified and categorized, making the “app search” an easy process.
Invenia has joined forces with the IMEX Group – producer of worldwide exhibitions for incentive travel, meetings and events. IMEX’s chairman, Ray Bloom said, “With the advent of smart phone technology, as well as the pace at which such technology changes, we have no doubt that the MeetingApps portal will provide a unique service for meetings industry buyers and suppliers. The IMEX Group is totally committed to driving innovation and professional development through the use of new technologies which we believe will greatly enhance events and meetings in the coming years.” IMEX will be introducing planners to ways to save time and money through the promotion of www.MeetingApps.com at their new exhibition – IMEX America, which will be held in Las Vegas in October 2011.
In addition to IMEX, MeetingApps.com has been made possible by a number of founding sponsors, including Travel Alberta, AVW Telav, Kuoni Destination Management, the Toronto Congress Centre and Encore Web Studios.
To find the ideal app for your personal travel experience or next meeting or event, visit
www.MeetingApps.com.
IMEX America announces media partnership with Northstar
IMEX America has entered into a partnership agreement with Northstar Meetings Group that sees the publishing group become the new Las Vegas show’s Major Media Partner.
IMEX America is set to launch at the Sands Expo at the Venetian/ Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, October 11 – 13 2011 and will offer the US meetings, events and incentive travel industry a unique model of trade show based on a large-scale, high quality hosted buyer program unlike any other. In excess of 2000 hosted buyers will attend the show and will make thousands of appointments with exhibitors of their own choosing. Unlike many other shows, all appointments take place on the booth and buyers and exhibitors have complete control over their own appointments as well as benefiting from direct pre-show online communication with each other.
Northstar Meetings Group will be the exclusive publisher of the official IMEX America Show Daily papers and the official IMEX America show catalog. The project will be managed by Northstar’s award-winning Custom Media team which has many years’ experience in producing high-quality custom print and digital media products for domestic U.S. and international partners.
The deal means that IMEX America and exhibitors at the new trade show will benefit from extensive publicity opportunities in each of the groups four main titles: Successful Meetings, Meeting News, Meetings & Conventions and Incentive magazine; as well as major joint marketing campaigns. Together they represent a potential audience of over 200,000 meeting professionals across the U.S.
Northstar readers will attend as hosted buyers alongside buyers selected by many other eminent industry organizations such as Maritz Travel, Conference Direct, Experient, HelmsBriscoe, HPN, Starwood, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels, Rezidor, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton and Millenium Hotels.
Innovative app to be launched
The Show Daily newspapers and show catalog will be available in a digital edition which attendees can choose to access and download on their computer work station or laptop. In addition, Northstar will develop an IMEX America “app” that attendees and exhibitors can download for free for their smartphone or iPad. This app will allow attendees and exhibitors to access the show catalog exhibitor information, agendas, schedules or Show Daily news direct from their smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, Palm) or iPad reader.
“We are excited about the major media partnership with IMEX America”, says Bernie Schraer, Vice-President and Group Publisher of the Northstar Meetings Group. “Our extensive database of meeting professionals across the U.S. and expertise in publishing quality editorial products for the American meetings industry allows us to help IMEX America get off to a successful launch in the U.S. market”
Says Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group, “This partnership means we can deliver exceptional value and media exposure to our exhibitors. For example, Meetings News Daily goes out to over 100,000 meeting planners every day, giving exhibitors access to a powerful buying audience. We are delighted to be in partnership with such an accomplished organization and to know that our Daily Paper and Show Catalog are in very safe hands.”
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.
IMEX America launches first Wild Card Americas program
Organisers of IMEX America, the new model trade show for the meetings, events and incentive travel industry in the US, have announced they intend to offer two free ‘Wild Card’ places come the show’s launch on October 11th next year.
As a result, the IMEX Americas Wild Card program is now open to applications from emerging destinations, or new venues in such destinations, that have not previously attended an international trade show within the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. The program gives them the chance to win one of two free exhibition places plus a full marketing support package which utilises IMEX’s extensive knowledge of the global meetings market. To qualify to enter, destinations from North America, South America or the Caribbean must be able to prove they have both the ambition and sufficient infrastructure to support business from the sector.
As Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO explains: “This is a terrific opportunity for destinations or venues that have sound experience, perhaps in the leisure tourism sector, but who want to secure business from the meetings and incentive travel market. We have run a similar program at our Frankfurt show for many years and several winners from the past are now well established in the marketplace as a result. They made excellent use of their prize to launch themselves onto the world stage and used the power of the ‘IMEX effect’ to become a fully fledged supplier to the international meetings and incentive travel market. The Wild Card program will put destinations in front of thousands of high quality US and international buyers in a way that most can only dream of when they are first getting established.”
Winners of each of the Wild Card places will have the chance to exhibit on a dedicated ‘Wild Card’ booth at the Las Vegas show. They will also receive a free support package that includes complimentary accommodation, as well as extensive pre-show marketing advice from a dedicated IMEX America advisor and exposure to the market-place.
The first IMEX America will take place at the Sands Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo, Las Vegas on October 11 – 13 2011. The trade show, which will be organised by the IMEX Group, has a unique model built around a program of 2000 carefully screened hosted buyers. The IMEX hosted buyer model will ensure that 80 per cent of buyers are from the US and 20 per cent from other world markets. To qualify to attend the show as a hosted buyer, each individual must prove they place business both within the US and internationally. IMEX America is also unique thanks to the scale and depth of its industry partnerships which includes Strategic Partner, MPI; plus a broad coalition of industry support including DMAI, Site, PCMA, ASAE, ICCA, ACTE and more.
Destinations or venues from across the United States, South America and the Caribbean are invited to enter the Wild Card program free of charge using an online application form. See http://www.imexamerica.com/wildcardamericas.html for more information.
The closing date for entries is 1 June 2011.
MeetGreen appointed Official Sustainability Consultants to IMEX America
The IMEX Group will continue to build on its strong environmental track record and reputation on green issues when it launches IMEX America in October 2011. To help the new US tradeshow achieve its environmental objectives, the organisers have appointed MeetGreen as the show’s Official Sustainability Consultants.
The first IMEX America will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo 11 – 13 October 2011. In the next year, the IMEX Group and its many partners will work closely with MeetGreen to set green standards for transportation, food and beverage and the venue in particular.
Earlier this year the Las Vegas Sands Corporation unveiled Eco 360, a broad-ranging energy efficiency and environmental initiative. With the recent LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) of the Venetian and the conference center, the combined properties now comprise the largest adjoined LEED-certified building in the world. This, together with the company’s focus on developing vendor partnerships that comply with its green policies makes the Sands Expo the ideal home for IMEX America.
With the launch of its first tradeshow for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry in Frankfurt eight years ago, the IMEX Group set out to establish new standards for environmental best practice in the exhibition industry. As a result this year, IMEX in Frankfurt reduced its total waste output by 30 tonnes compared to 2009 and reduced paper usage by 8 tonnes and cardboard by 7.5 tonnes. The company also sets yearly environmental goals for the recycling and reuse of a wide range of other materials including carpeting and visitor badges.
Says Amy Spatrisano, principal of MeetGreen: “Las Vegas is not usually top of mind when you think of sustainable destinations yet there are great strides being made by Las Vegas venues. We’re looking forward to this tremendous opportunity in working with IMEX America to support their commitment to produce a sustainable trade show by using a progressive approach with Las Vegas venues and vendors to elevate the level of sustainable practices being implemented.”
IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer comments: “IMEX America is going to be a genuinely unique model of trade show. The show will have three core pillars to it that will make it unlike any other trade show in the US: the largest hosted buyer program in North America combined with a unique online appointment system; a focus on high quality professional education supported by our Strategic Partner and major educational providers, MPI, and a dedication to sustainability and innovation. We intend to do our utmost to meet – and set – some very demanding green standards for IMEX America and MeetGreen’s expertise and guidance, as well as their excellent industry partnerships, will play a fundamental role in helping us achieve our objectives.”
MeetGreen works with progressive global organisations to integrate sustainable practices and produce conferences and events that deliver targeted business results. Since the company’s founding in 1994, MeetGreen has pursued its vision to continuously transform the global meetings industry through leadership, innovation, education and performance.
IMEX America’s unique model will ensure that 2,000 hosted buyers from the association, corporate and agency sectors attend the show. 80 per cent of hosted buyers will be from North America and 20 per cent from the rest of the world. All will place business internationally as well as in the US and all will benefit from exclusive access to the IMEX online appointment and diary messaging tools which this year generated over 57,000 group and individual business appointments between buyers and exhibitors at IMEX in Frankfurt.
Exhibitors and buyers can register their interest in IMEX America at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_interest.php
IMEX pushes thought leadership by making latest show seminars and webcasts available online
For meetings industry professionals keen to extend their learning or who missed out on key seminars and workshops during this year’s IMEX, the show’s organisers have made 53 presentations available for free download on the IMEX website (www.imex-frankfurt.com/seminarpresentations10.html), including all the German language seminars, which were organised by IMEX founding partners, the German Convention Bureau (GCB).
For the first time a selection of six IMEX presentations were also recorded by webcast service company, Multiwebcasts. The company specialises in transforming regular webcasts into content-rich online educational activities. Available webcasts include: “A clear pond has no fish – Is transparency the enemy of profit” – by Roslyn McLeod, Managing Director, arinex pty ltd and Philippe Fournier Vice President of IAPCO and Managing Director of MCI, Paris; “The impact and implications of the Iceland volcano eruption”, by Martin Sirk CEO of ICCA; and “Emerging Destinations – How to establish and build a CVB.” This DMAI presentation was extremely popular and attracted a standing room only audience of over 100 people during the show.
A Women’s Forum session entitled “Develop your personal branding” and presented by Mary Power, Executive Director of the Human Resource Certification Institute is also available as a webcast. In addition, Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future Research, can be seen presenting the first phase findings of groundbreaking new research study, Convention 2020 – The Future of Meetings, Venues and Destinations. For those interested in extending their cross cultural education, a presentation by Michael Gates, Managing Director of Richard Lewis Communications, IMEX’s Cross Cultural Partner, can also be viewed as a webcast – “Getting competitive advantage from culture in the meetings market”.
Each of the webcasts is quick and simple to view and does not require any special technology other than Adobe Flash Player.
For the second year running IMEX hosted buyers and visitors could save any of the more than 200 seminars and exhbitor events into their online show diaries, enabling them to plan their time better and make the most of the show’s extensive educational programme. All IMEX education sessions are provided free of charge and with no need to book.
Drop-in 30 minute ‘Power’ sessions on the IMEX Corporate Responsibility Centre also proved a major success at this year’s show. Managed by the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), the Centre aims to give both exhibitors and visitors the chance to increase their awareness and knowledge of environmental and social responsibility.
Speaking about a growing demand for green meetings information and education, Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group said, “Although IMEX has been promoting environmental education and awareness through a number of initiatives, such as our Green Awards, for several years; this year there was an increased desire to both find out more and actually do more in terms of green meetings and specific environmental targets. Our Power sessions were the perfect solution – half-hour bites of information from experts who understand how daunting it can be to even make a start in this area.”
A total of 10 CSR Power Session presentations are available for download or reference on the IMEX website.
As a result of its own environmental and waste reduction objectives, IMEX 2010 reduced waste output by 30 tonnes compared to 2009. Paper waste was reduced by 8 tonnes and cardboard waste by 7.5 tonnes. Both measures were helped by the new IMEX Green Ribbon Scheme which incentivised exhibitors to minimise paper usage during the show as well as encouraging them to ship unused print materials back home afterwards.
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 celebrates some of the industry’s finest at its annual Awards ceremony
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – IMEX played host to the international meetings industry’s most admired professionals from all over the world last night at its annual Gala Dinner at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper. The evening culminated in a long night of dancing and celebration for more than 650 guests but not before IMEX Directors, Chairman Ray Bloom and Managing Director, Paul Flackett, had paid tribute to several individuals whose contributions to the meetings industry have ensured its continued growth and success.
Four Academy Award heroes
A series of IMEX Academy Awards was also presented to individuals from four global regions. Each award celebrated and acknowledged an ‘unsung hero’ working in the meetings, incentive travel or events sector.
This year’s Asia-Pacific Academy Award was presented to Suprabha Moleeratanond, Director Conventions, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) in recognition of her leading its international marketing team and representing the Bureau on many related industry associations. Using her previous experience of working for Thai Airways International, Paul Flackett explained how Suprabha helped to engineer the inception of the Convention Plus programme at Star Alliance together with Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines System.
The 2010 IMEX Academy Award for The Americas was presented to Greg Ortale. Quoting from a glowing reference received from his wife of 42 years, Mitzi, Paul described Greg’s long and successful career in the conventions industry that began in 1972 at the Des Moines Convention Bureau in Iowa, USA. Here, Paul noted, Greg worked on the Beer Can Collectors of America and the National Carousel Roundtable. What followed was a varied and successful career punctuated throughout by Greg’s second passion (the first being his wife and family) – golf.
As winner of the Academy Award for Europe, Nic Račić was recognised for his pivotal role in developing the tourism industry of Croatia. Choosing not to pursue a professional tennis career (having won the title of junior champion of Yugoslavia), Nic began working in the industry as an advisor to the Tourism Association in Zagreb in 1978, later becoming General Secretary of the Yugoslavian Congress Office and then Advisor to the Ministry of Tourism in the first government of the Republic of Croatia. In 2001, Nic was appointed as Director of the Croatian Congress and Incentive Office.
The final Academy Award – for Africa and The Middle East – was made to Yousef Husseiny. As a talented young artist Yousef was tutored by renowned Jordanian artists Mohanna al-Dorra, Rafik Laham and Azeez Amoura. Yousef joined the Royal Jordanian’s design department and was responsible for creating its posters, brochures and stands before he eventually took to organising its exhibitions, both regionally and globally. This part of his career lasted for 23 years, but for the last 11 years Yousef has been responsible for designing Jordan’s stands at international exhibitions and fairs, which Paul highlighted, are always extremely well received.
JMIC Unity Award
One of the night’s first awards – the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) Unity Award – was presented to Christian Mutschlechner, Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau. Christian’s outstanding work in the meetings industry includes leading from the top for over 20 years as Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau, one of the five departments of the Vienna Tourist Office. Christian is a well-known figure in the industry having served as ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) President for 4 years and his award was loudly applauded by Gala Dinner guests.
Site Master Motivator
New this year, the Site Master Motivator Award was presented to Laurie Sprouse, CITE, CMP, DMCP, President of Ultimate Ventures, a DMC Network Company, by the CEO of Site, Brenda Anderson. This new award has been introduced to recognise a member of the industry who has shown the highest standard of excellence in creating or executing motivational events.
Brenda Anderson told Gala Dinner guests: “For the past 17 years Laurie has owned and operated a destination management company employing 14 people. A few years ago that very business was threatened by pending tax legislation that would have put their company, and many others out of business. So what did they do? With absolutely no experience in working with the government or lobbying, Laurie rallied and led the effort to defeat not one…but two tax bills. Thanks to her hard work, now in the state of Texas, destination management companies are able to deduct the cost of service from their tax base.”
MPI Foundation Youth Award
As part of IMEX’s ongoing commitment to nurturing some of the brightest up and coming talent in the industry, the MPI Foundation Youth Award is given to the winner of the international IMEX-MPI University Challenge programme. Students are judged on presentations given at Forums around the world, with the final held during the show at IMEX and the overall winner being announced at the Gala Dinner.
This year, Renea Anderson was the deserved winner and picked up her award from Bruce MacMillan, CEO and President, MPI.
Renea Anderson is an event management student and also President for the UCF Chapter of MPI. On receiving the award she commented: “The University Challenge offered such a unique opportunity for me to voice the innovative ideas I have on the future of this industry. I am humbled that MPI would ask for the vision of students such as myself, providing us with a platform to share our ideas. The Future Leaders Forum Programme has meant more to me and my career than I can ever articulate. It was the beginning of new connections, new opportunities and an education beyond the classroom. The leadership training compelled me on a personal mission to set myself apart, to strive for excellence and to make the most out of every opportunity. To win this award really is the icing on the cake!”
Australia wins again – IMEX Green Supplier Awards head down-under for second year running
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – Australian suppliers cemented their dominance of the green meetings partner arena by winning both Gold and Silver Awards in this year’s IMEX Green Supplier Award for a second year running at last night’s IMEX Gala Dinner Awards.
Adelaide Convention Centre’s innovative efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations through planning, implementation and evaluation helped them to win silver last year. In 2010 they have gone one better to be declared winners of the prestigious IMEX Green Supplier Gold Award.
Alec Gilbert, Chief Executive at Adelaide Convention Centre, who picked up the award on the night commented: “Winning the IMEX Green Supplier ‘Gold’ Award is a fantastic acknowledgment of our success in implementing sustainable practices across all aspects of the Adelaide Convention Centre operation. We have developed a culture of “Gold Service, Green Attitude”, which has become a core value for us and helped bring this continued success.
“We are proud of what we have achieved in terms of minimising our impact on the local environment and influencing others to partner with us in achieving our environmental and corporate social responsibility goals. In the past few years, Adelaide Convention Centre has continually benchmarked its environmental standards against the world’s best, and to receive this recognition is an honour we share across the entire organisation.”
Compatriots from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre were also celebrating last night after receiving the ‘Silver’ award in this category. Alison Gardiner, Manager International Convention Bidding, who received the award from IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, commented: “At the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre we believe that green values are mainstream values and are fundamental to our core business principles. We made a strategic commitment a number of years ago to establish our credentials as a globally responsible organisation and to build a sustainable future for our clients, our staff and our community.”
Alison continued: “We implemented our environmental policies at grass roots level long before the green movement gathered momentum and we continue to develop those policies. We are honoured and delighted to be part of the IMEX Green Suppliers Award and to be acknowledged in this way.”
The Green Supplier Award continues to be one of the most sought after in the industry and was developed by IMEX and GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council) to recognise environmental excellence and innovation amongst meetings industry suppliers.
This year’s shortlist also included: Complejo Grand Palladium Riviera Maya Resort and Spa; Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB); Bella Center Copenhagen; BTG Event Solutions; Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts; Doubletree Hotel Portland; Zentrum für Umweltkommunikation; Grimaldi Forum Monaco and Naturresort SCHINDELBRUCH.
Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) wins this year’s IMEX Green Exhibitor Award
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) has scooped the Green Exhibitor Award at this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt. Offering a strong case for environmental sustainability, SCIB fended off competition for this coveted award by implementing an impressive number of carbon reduction measures throughout the show, which impressed the judging panel.
The SCIB was awarded the IMEX Green Exhibitor Award 2010 in recognition of its widespread use of Swiss wood in its stand construction. The wood is a renewable resource and net remover of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. All promotional material used at IMEX was printed carbon-neutral. In addition, all Switzerland Tourism staff, including the stand builders, travelled to Frankfurt by train to reduce carbon emissions. For the transport of materials, SCIB also used trucks booked via the “truck market” to avoid empty runs between Switzerland and Germany. All stand material and printed material was organised to require just one transport run. The stand also made the most of low energy lighting, minimal electricity and locally sourced organic food and beverages.
The IMEX Green Exhibitor Award is designed to highlight the ease with which exhibitors can make their stands, marketing materials and the entire process of exhibiting at IMEX more environmentally-friendly and sustainable. The award is intended to encourage all exhibitors to contribute to IMEX’s waste reduction policies, aiding the IMEX organisers in making the show as environmentally friendly as possible.
Barbra Albrecht, managing director of Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, accepted the Green Exhibitor Award at the Gala Dinner on Wednesday 26th May from IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom. Barbra commented: “This is a fantastic recognition of all the initiatives that Switzerland as a country has taken towards sustainability as well as the environmentally friendly attitude within the activities of Switzerland Tourism and its Convention Bureau.”
Nominations for the IMEX Green Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and audited externally. The panel includes: Elizabeth Henderson of Elizabeth Henderson Consulting; Hugo Kimber, CEO, The Carbon Consultancy and co founder, Sustainability Intelligence; Amy Spatrisano, Principal, MeetGreen and President of the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC); Tamara Kennedy-Hill, Executive Director, GMIC; Louise Hall Reider, Owner, Louise Hall Reider & Company and Amanda Gourgue, Chief Meeting Revolutionist, Meeting Revolution.
The Green Exhibitor Award was developed in partnership with the Green Meeting Industry Council and launched four years ago. Since then IMEX has extended its own knowledge and reputation as an environmentally-aware trade show and works to encourage all exhibitors, visitors and staff to implement CSR practices wherever possible. Previous winners of this award include Estoril Congress Centre, Malta Tourism Authority, Visit London, the Sri Lankan Convention Bureau and Expoforce GmbH.
The IMEX Group consistently aims to improve the environmental credentials of its show through a variety of initiatives. These include a waste reduction programme, the use of recycled materials in visitor badges, bags and even carpets as well as using hydro-electricity throughout the exhibition – the first trade guest tradeshow at Messe Frankfurt to do so and to offer the option to exhibitors.
IMEX Green Meeting Award – COP15 rewarded for exceptional achievement
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – For two weeks in December 2009, 33,526 visitors descended on Copenhagen, including 122 heads of state, 4,000 media representatives and more than 6,000 NGOs from 192 different countries for the UN Climate Change Summit COP15. It was for this event, the largest gathering of political leaders ever organised, that COP15 Logistics and CSMP Team working within The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs picked up the coveted IMEX Green Meetings ‘Gold’ Award at the annual IMEX Gala Dinner last night.
Svend Olling, Head of Department at Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was at the Gala Dinner to collect the award. He said: “It’s a real honour and I am very proud to receive the IMEX GMIC green meetings award on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the start we wanted to make the climate change conference as sustainable as possible given the challenging conditions of hosting one of the largest international political summits ever held. We achieved our goals and this is testament to the hard work of a committed team of individuals in the Ministry and in the event partner organisations. Special recognition should be given to Jan-Christoph Napierski and to the members of the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings coalition who formed a unique private-public partnership to not only help improve the sustainability of COP15 but to share the results and learnings with the global meetings industry. This award is fantastic recognition for the hard work of all team, who leave a legacy for others to follow.”
Working with key partners including Visit Denmark, Wonderful Copenhagen (the City Convention Bureau), the City of Copenhagen, Bella Centre, MCI and a team of 12 event organisers with experience of running large events in Copenhagen, The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had two years to pull together this historic event. With sustainability as its raison d’être, the organisation strategy for this event encompassed everything from accountability, social responsibility and stakeholder engagement to producing a lasting legacy and commitment to change.
The judges were particularly impressed with the event’s demonstration of commitment to community initiatives, including partnerships, minimisation of social impact and community actions, as well as its pre and post event management, for which it received maximum marks.
On the significance of this event as a marker of best practice for green meetings, Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, commented: “With the spotlight of the world’s media focused firmly on this historic summit for its two-week duration, never before has there been more impetus to create an event that could exemplify how the international meetings industry can incorporate CSR and sustainability into the core of its strategy – a feat that was achieved with great merit. Full praise to COP15 Logistics and CSMP Team for the tremendous work that went into staging this event as well as a special mention to their key partners that helped to make it happen.”
Also credited on the night, the IMEX Green Meetings ‘Silver’ Award went to Intel Corporation, Corporate Event Marketing for its Intel Development Forum (IDF) America event.
IDF America took place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco in September 2009 and hosted around 4,000 developers, technical managers, academia, government, press, sponsors, exhibitors and Intel staff as IDF sought to reinforce its industry leadership and branding. The aim of the event was to influence developers to build their technologies on Intel architecture but, chiefly, to forward key sustainability objectives.
Showcasing its visions for reducing the environmental impact of its operations, adding value and educating attendees about sustainability, the success of IDF America is now being transferred to its global meetings strategy.
The award was collected on the night by Lou Cozzo, Corporate Event Marketing Manager, Executive Speech and Event Strategy Group, Intel Corporation, who commented: “It is a real honour to receive this prestigious award. We will use this award as inspiration to innovate earth-friendly practices that lessen environmental impact for IDF and other events that Intel supports – always with the ultimate payoff in mind, a better planet for all.”
Tourism Toronto wins IMEX Commitment to the Community Award
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – Tourism Toronto, the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association, has won this year’s globally recognised IMEX Commitment to the Community Award.
The Award pays tribute to meetings, incentive programmes, conferences, associations or business projects that demonstrate innovative efforts to benefit a charitable initiative. They are judged on four criteria: suitability, creativity, sustainability and ‘the power of one’.
This year the award was made in recognition of Tourism Toronto’s Relax, Recharge & Renew programme. The RRR programme provides the parents of children with special needs much-needed luxury weekend getaways, including limousine pick-up, two nights in a hotel, tickets to shows, museums and other attractions, meals at local restaurants and a gift, benefiting two families a week, every single week.
On collecting the award from IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, Tom Griffin, Manager of Research and Social Responsibility at Tourism Toronto, said: “All of us at Tourism Toronto are enormously proud of our Relax, Recharge & Renew programme, not only because it gives a much-deserved break to parent heroes, but also because our hotel, restaurant and attraction members have supported it wholeheartedly all the way. The response from our friends in the meetings community has also been very positive and encouraging, as the programme has become another shining example of how the hospitality and tourism industry can continue to share in the gift of giving”.
Judges applauded the way in which Tourism Toronto coordinated and linked the tourism industry in Toronto with a community group that would otherwise have little interaction with it. Pooling together the collective strength of its members and partner organisations as well as working with local care centres, members of the government and other professionals responsible for children and youth services, Tourism Toronto successfully created a special service for an often overlooked aspect of children’s support services – the parents and siblings of children with special needs.
The IMEX judges were also particularly impressed with the wealth of positive testimonials received from grateful families and respite care professionals who had taken part in the programme. Special mention was also offered in recognition of the time and efforts that many staff members at Toronto Tourism had volunteered towards making the scheme a success together with the cooperation of the local Toronto tourism industry.
Other entries praised by the 2010 Commitment to the Community Award judges included MCI Dublin for its support of Irish Autism Action, the Sustainable Bonn programme and World Events.
The Commitment to the Community Award is one of 14 awards presented every year at the IMEX Gala Dinner. Of these, six are “green” awards, made in partnership and under the guidance of the Green Meeting Industry Council.
Brisbane Marketing employee honoured with IMEX-AACB Award
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) has awarded the 2010 IMEX-AACB Vin Barron Award for Australian Bureaux staff to Deborah Lonne, a coordinator with Brisbane’s economic development agency, Brisbane Marketing.
This award, co-sponsored by IMEX and Qantas, is designed to foster career development and encourage excellence in the future leaders environment of Australia’s convention bureaux. The prize was renamed in 2008 in honour of Vin Barron, ex-CEO of Tasmania’s Convention Bureau.
As the AACB winner, Deborah Lonne has been treated to return air travel to Frankfurt with Qantas Airways, luxury accommodation in Frankfurt, a generous cash allowance for expenses, free attendance at IMEX 2010 and will also be presenting her thoughts on ‘the challenges facing a destination promoting itself for business events in the next decade’ at the IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum.
Officially announced at the IMEX Gala Dinner last night, Deborah received her award from IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom, with the following sentiments: “I am so excited to have won this prestigious award. It really is a once in a lifetime experience to be able to attend IMEX in Frankfurt in this manner and meet with so many influential people in the incentive and convention industry all at once. I’m really enjoying the chance for personal and professional development and look forward to making the most out of the rest of my stay here in Frankfurt.”
AACB Executive Director, Mike Cannon, noted that Deborah had impressed the judges with her positive and proactive attitude and the clear presentation of her submission.
IMEX America – Trade show’s unique model to set new benchmark in US
- Maritz launches Customer Event during IMEX America
- Key hosted buyer groups announced
- Major educational programme already in place
- Wild Card Americas scheme launched
IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, announced his delight at the way plans and partnerships were developing for the group’s new show, IMEX America, during a press conference on day two of IMEX in Frankfurt today (Wednesday 26th May). He was joined by Bruce MacMillan, CEO of MPI (Meeting Professionals International), IMEX America’s Strategic Partner and major educational provider.
Bloom said: “IMEX America represents a unique model of trade show in the US. As a result we have had an extremely strong response and expectations are already very high. As discussions developed with a variety of partners over the first quarter of this year, it became clear that we could confidently announce a larger number of hosted buyers than first thought. Conference Direct, HelmsBriscoe, HPN, Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Maritz, MPI, ASAE and PCMA are just some of the partners who have committed to bringing their most important buyers in good numbers. As a result we now intend to host 2,000 hosted buyers from the association, corporate and agency markets to Las Vegas in October 2011.”
Maritz announces support of IMEX America
Maritz Travel, the leader in designing and delivering effective meetings, events and incentive travel programs (ME&I), also has announced today that it will run its annual senior-level Customer Event during IMEX America. This event will attract up to 100 of Maritz Fortune 500 corporate clients, as well as Maritz account managers all as hosted buyers.
“Maritz is excited to be able to integrate our annual customer event with this new industry tradeshow,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO, Maritz Travel. “It allows our clients to access the most advanced content from Maritz’ leading experts, and provides the opportunity to network with the best global suppliers in the ME&I industry. The quality of the content and educational programs available through IMEX America are aligned with Maritz’ goal of helping our clients leverage meetings, events and incentive travel programs to reach their business objectives.”
Bloom continued, “We are guaranteeing that 80% of our hosted buyers will come from North America and will place business internationally, as well as domestically. The remaining 20% of buyers will come from other world markets. This will guarantee exhibitors access to thousands of US buyers from the enormous American outbound market; as well as the best buyers placing business within the US – both from the domestic market, as well as from across the world.”
“Our unique visitor marketing programme will also be extensive. We will place a special emphasis on the catchment area around Las Vegas and the West Coast region. Agreements with a number of partners, including Northstar as our major media partner, mean we have already identified 300,000 planners who fit our criteria” he explained.
Bloom continued: “The fact that the show is hosted buyer-led will be a unique feature in the US market, making IMEX America unlike any other trade show in North America. The scale and quality of the buyer program, the education programme and the number of its industry partnerships will be unrivalled. Our ability to bring hosted buyers in from both global and domestic markets and allow them to make their own business appointments with their choice of exhibitors using our online diary and appointment system is unique. In the last two months leading up to IMEX here in Frankfurt, for example, buyers made over 40,000 individual appointments with exhibitors. Numbers will obviously be different initially in the US, but it is this ability to make their own appointments before the show even opens that will set IMEX apart and give it enormous value and return on time invested for the business-minded buyer and exhibitor.”
40 education events scheduled – extensive marketing campaign
Bloom also explained that IMEX America’s many industry partners and affiliated associations are confident of this strategy and already making plans to build the show into their marketing and education programmes.
MPI’s Strategic Partnership with IMEX America means the association has the role of major educational provider for the three day show. As a result MPI will be running high-level seminars each morning before the show starts, together with a dedicated day of education the day before it opens and its popular MPI Foundation Rendezvous party. In addition, from 2011 it will no longer be operating its marketplace tradeshow alongside WEC (World Education Congress) each year but encouraging all members to make IMEX America their annual show of choice. Said Bruce MacMillan, President and CEO of MPI, “We are putting the collective buying power of MPI members, estimated to be $16.4 billion, behind our exclusive strategic partnership with IMEX America, as well as designing a uniquely co-created educational experience for buyers and sellers.”
MPI and IMEX America will also be launching a series of six high-level webinars in the autumn of 2010, underlining the strategic partnership and the major education role of MPI while creating momentum for the inaugural event.
Bloom explained: “We already have a total of 40 different educational events, seminars and workshops lined up in the schedule, with seven additional Forums, which include a Politicians Forum similar to the one we run every year in Frankfurt, plus a continuation and expansion of the Future Leaders Forum which we run in partnership with MPI. I am also delighted to announce today that we will be launching a Wild Card competition for IMEX America and offering free exhibition places plus a generous package of marketing support to two previously unknown destinations from the Americas region.”
Other indicators of confidence and support show in DMAI’s (Destination Marketing Association International) recent decision to make IMEX America an Alliance Partner and officially endorse the tradeshow. In addition, Site has chosen to hold its annual conference immediately after the show, together with Site Nite North America the evening before. Other key association partnerships have also been confirmed with ASAE, PCMA, ICCA, IAEE, ECM, AIPC, CIC, JMIC and GMIC. MeetGreen are confirmed in the role of Official Sustainability Consultant, whilst the Alan Waxler Group will be the show’s official ground handlers.
Several partners and exhibitors have already given their resounding approval to the launch of IMEX America. They include Angeline Lue, Director of Sales & Marketing, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, who says, “IMEX America creates an ideal platform for us to target the North America market more effectively. Based on the track record of IMEX and our success in generating leads at their shows, we are filled with anticipation at the potential this opportunity presents.”
Greg Ortale, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau has also given his support saying, “I am genuinely excited about IMEX America. Houston has had great success at IMEX Frankfurt because the organizers understand the importance of delivering value to their exhibitors. I strongly suspect the new tradeshow will meet or exceed those same exhibitor value standards.”
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.”
London creates special £20.10 business package to celebrate bumper 2010 year!
Visit London will be launching a dedicated package of £20.10 priced special offers to celebrate ‘2010’ being such a bumper year for business in London. The capital’s official visitor organisation is also celebrating 2010 with the biggest ever stand at IMEX and will be joined by 26 London partners on its stand F400 at the international tradeshow IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany (24-27th May 2010).
As IMEX takes place it also marks less than 800 days to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and for Visit London as the city’s Convention Bureau the message to Business travellers is the count-down has truly begun and London is ready and open to welcome business travellers and groups both in 2010 and beyond.
The specially priced ‘2010’ packages will be available to event planners and buyers who will be attending IMEX and include a range of delegate and events offers which cost £20.10 +VAT per person*. Examples of the ‘2010’ packages include:
• A corporate team building session in the Indoor School at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground
• A 3-hour drinks package at the Barbican served with a selection of award winning canapés
• A football themed drinks receptions from £20.10 per person to celebrate the World Cup at Wembley Stadium
• A specialist night tour of the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder guiding your group through the ancient fortress for an hour, finishing with the Ceremony of the Keys, the world’s longest running military ceremony.
• Or on the 20th October 2010 (20/10/2010) The Merlin Entertainments London Eye will offer a 20% discount on each private capsule booked and 10% discount on each bottle of Champagne booked for this day.
• A contribution of £20.10 to the CarbonNeutral Fund for every 50 day delegate packages booked with the Business Design Centre.
*All packages noted above are subject to availability and terms and conditions. See the full 2010 list in the Editors Notes section below.
“The ‘2010’ theme was developed to highlight all the new content and great value offers which are available in London right now, as well as showing that London is keen to welcome business travellers both pre and post Olympic Games ” commented Barbara Jamison, Visit London’s Head of Business Development Europe. She added “This is a great way of reminding the world and ourselves of the sheer range and depth of meeting and event possibilities. With two years to go till the 2012 Olympics Games and Paralympic Games there is a great buzz about London and we wanted to celebrate that buzz with some great priced delegate packages!”
DNC Wembley’s Jackie Boughton added: “IMEX is a vital part of our sales mix so it is important we have relevant and interesting offers for the show. This great deal offers real value to our customers whilst linking closely to this year’s big event and our place at the heart of international football.”
The capital’s official visitor organisation will be joined by 26 partners on its stand F400 at the international tradeshow IMEX. Visit London 2010 stand partners include: Barbican, Business Design Centre, Chelsea Football Club, ExCeL London, Hilton London Metropole, London Hilton on Park Lane, Historic Royal Palaces, ILEC Conference Centre, The Landmark London, Lancaster London, London Eastside, Lord’s Cricket Ground, MangoLondon DMC, The Doyle Collection, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, Unique Venues of London, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Novotel London West, Park Plaza Hotels, PREMIUM UK – A DIVISION OF SPECTRA, Radisson Edwardian Hotels, Royal College of Physicians, Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel and Spa, The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Wembley Stadium and the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour.
As well as the ‘2010’ price packages Visit London will be profiling a ‘Fashion’ theme throughout their stand with a fashion-related client event, cocktails and cupcakes on the stand and an experiential fashion photo shoot booth which will allow visitors to experience the glitz and glamour of London by having their picture taken which they can then keep as a souvenir. By using the special ‘fashionista booth’ visitors will automatically be entered in to our amazing competition to win a whole host of exciting fashion themed prizes including a fashion weekend for two in London and flights on the London Eye.
ICCA & the international association market at IMEX
ICCA Statistics: Country and city rankings 2009
IMEX America announced as new DMAI Alliance Partner
Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) has announced that IMEX America is to become its newest Alliance Partner. The new role will further strengthen already strong links between the two global organisations that date back eight years and confirms the endorsement of IMEX America as the favoured large-scale incentives and meetings industry tradeshow for DMAI members.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Gehrisch, President & CEO, DMAI said, “We anticipate that IMEX America will continue to provide the same level of valuable global business opportunities our DMO members have come to expect when exhibiting at IMEX in Frankfurt. It will also assist our members in expanding their global reach through direct access to a new customer base. This move also continues our mutual focus on education. IMEX has continued to be one of our industry’s most fervent supporters in reaching out to students and future leaders who want to make their career in the world of meetings and hospitality. DMAI looks forward to furthering this common goal through our contributions to IMEX America’s educational programming.”
Gehrisch summed up: “IMEX has quickly become recognized as the gold standard of meeting industry trade shows, and we are confident that the same level of excellence will characterize IMEX America.”
The new alliance partnership will allow IMEX America, which launches at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas on October 11 – 13 2011, to roll out a series of extensive pre-show marketing campaigns to a large, qualified database of meetings industry professionals across the United States.
Says IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom: “IMEX America is going to be unlike any other trade show ever before seen in the US. For that reason, we have to communicate the show’s unique selling points and exceptional value forcefully and consistently to the US market. We also have to make the benefits of the IMEX hosted buyer model very clear to buyers and exhibitors alike. I am delighted that our alliance with DMAI places the IMEX message with industry leaders and I look forward to the mutual support, understanding and innovation this partnership is sure to generate in the future.”
IMEX is already the exclusive sponsor of DMAI’s Destination Pro certification program, is a key sponsor of Destination Showcase Chicago and has been involved in leading DMAI’s European Advisory Council.
Exhibitors and buyers can register their interest in IMEX America at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_interest.php
IMEX 2010 will provide its largest and most diverse educational programme to date when the show opens on May 25th at Messe Frankfurt.
Among the 715 free workshops and presentations set to attract a great deal of attention this year are teachings from New York Times’ best-selling book – “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything”; insight from the landmark Cop15 Taskforce on “How to implement extremely sustainable events that transform a destination” and important first phase findings from Convention 2020, a new piece of global market research that endeavours to reveal the trends and pressures set to change the shape of the international meetings and conventions market in 10 years’ time.
In a last minute change to the schedule to reflect current events in Europe, Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA will present a session on the ‘Impact and Implications of the Iceland Volcano Eruption’. This will address both the short-term reaction and immediate solutions used by event and meeting planners as well as looking at the long-term implications for insurance, risk assessment and contingency planning within the industry.
Since its launch eight years ago, IMEX has developed an extensive programme of English and German language seminars in response to visitor demand and a rapidly growing recognition of the role that live professional education and development plays in creating and sustaining a vibrant, talented and innovative industry.
Many of the sessions are devised and delivered with the help of leading industry association partners, individual experts or recognised keynote speakers. Each is designed to provide vital information, incisive debate or access to thought-leadership for the benefit of all IMEX exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors. All are provided free of charge with no need to book.
German language session highlights include “New trends in German media” by TV news editor, Christoph Teuner and “Trends in social media and online marketing” from Saphiron Management and Technology Consultants. All The majority of German seminars are organised by IMEX founding strategic partner, the German Convention Bureau (GCB).
Last year IMEX launched Meetings Under the Microscope, a new initiative designed to help meeting planners look beyond the logistics of meetings and events planning to understand some of the new science and psychology behind event content and participant preparation and engagement. This year the programme has been expanded with additional toolkits 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.
Among new speakers from the corporate sector will be Shawn Radek, VP of Deutsche Bank, who will share experience and provide insight into how the bank has developed a successful events department.
New stress-release workshops
Also new will be the introduction of short hatha yoga, Qi Gong and mediation sessions to put busy visitors in the right frame of mind for a hectic day ahead or simply to re-energise them during the day. A variety of stress-release sessions will take place every day at various times.
This year IMEX has also launched a fully searchable online diary of IMEX events and seminars so that website users can search by topic such as ‘corporate responsibility’, ‘green’ or ‘cross-cultural’ or by presenter, such as ‘IAPCO’ or ‘Fast Future’. Registered hosted buyers and visitors are also able to add seminars to their online diaries to help them plan their day effectively.
In addition to educational events, users will also be able to search all social events being staged by exhibitors or show organisers. These include cocktail receptions, on-stand competitions, networking, forums and other special events plus details of landmark events such as the CIM Cocoon Club Party and the IMEX Gala Dinner.
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.”
PCMA and IMEX America announce new partnership
The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and IMEX America have entered into a new Industry Partnership agreement that will see the two organizations collaborating on a range of marketing and educational initiatives, including the co-location of an important PCMA educational event alongside IMEX America when its launches in October 2011.
Working with PCMA will also give the IMEX Group access to a membership of over 6000 in many regions around the world. Both organizations intend to actively develop the partnership and use it to generate high quality hosted buyer groups for IMEX America as well as target potential new US trade show attendees. PCMA plans to host approximately 150 buyers to IMEX America and will target top-level association and corporate buyers from the major industry sectors.
The announcement follows a long-standing and highly effective partnership between the two organizations that has been developed and enhanced over many years at IMEX in Frankfurt.
As Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group, explains: “We will be using the experience and knowledge we’ve both gained over many years in Frankfurt as a springboard for IMEX America. With PCMA’s unparalleled reputation and authority the new show is in an excellent position to reach out to new visitors and buyers and to use PCMA’s network to raise profile and increase understanding of the IMEX model.
“Our joint message is a very clear one: We work well together. We know what PCMA members want from professional education, business and networking and we intend to deliver it in a lively, engaging and business-centred yet entertaining way. We are also focused on making sure that all members understand that IMEX is different and that the IMEX model, and especially its hosted buyer program, makes it unlike any other trade show they are likely to have seen before.”
Says PCMA President and CEO, Deborah Sexton: “Forward-thinking and global are just two attributes of IMEX so it’s fitting that PCMA has aligned itself with IMEX in a brand new partnership. PCMA has been participating in IMEX in Frankfurt for several years now by providing our signature educational offerings. That will continue. But with its brand-new show, IMEX America, the group is blazing a fresh trail and PCMA is pleased to be helping to pave the way by offering high-level education at this event.”
The addition of PCMA’s co-located educational event to the IMEX America calendar means that Bloom has now confirmed that 40 separate educational seminars and workshops will be available free of charge to attendees over three days in Las Vegas in 2011.
He concludes: “An educational program of this size and quality adds enormous value to IMEX America. That, plus our reputation for facilitating fast and easy communication between buyers and exhibitors, before, during and after the show, that leads to tangible new business. These are the distinguishing marks of the IMEX business model. They ensure that every IMEX adds up to so much more than trade show.”
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.”
New Business Models, Radical Price Incentives, Deep Personalisation and Onsite Transactions will shape the industry landscape in 2020
Convention 2020 initial survey findings show hypercompetition, technology and changing delegate behaviours are driving industry transformationThe Industry Today
- The biggest current barriers to event effectiveness are seen to be the cost of attending, poor organisation and a lack of focus in the design
- The quality of content, interaction, technology and networking were seen to be the main drivers of an effective and exciting event
For events in 2020
- Reasons to Attend - The Quality of Networking (76%) was the biggest single factor that would encourage delegates to attend events, less than 50% cited price as an influencing factor and only 1% said they would not attend live events in 2020.
- Meeting Demand - 74% felt their organisation would maintain their investment in live events in 2020, while 46% felt time and cost pressure might deter organisations from sending delegates and 59% felt their organisation would be investing far more in alternatives to live event.
- Meeting Supply - 49% said there would be fewer but larger events, while 79% expected a growth in smaller more specialised meetings and 48% thought there would be an explosion in the number of free or very low cost evening only meetings held in low cost venues.
- Business Models - 77% believe events will need to offer strong price based incentives to attract the desired delegates, 60% expect to see a rise in pay as you go / pay per session type models and 76% think there will be far more opportunities to conduct transactions at events.
- Event Technology – The most commonly expected developments are ‘Live video streaming to remote participants ‘(75%), ‘A social network before, during and after events’ (70%) and ‘All event content downloaded to our mobile phones’ (64%). Whilst more advanced immersive and experiential technologies were not ranked highly as individual developments, there was strong support for their potential applications when discussed subsequently in scenarios for personalisation.
- Personalisation – 79% expect a totally personalised technology experience and 70% felt this individual customisation would extend to areas such as food and seating. 93% believe that technology will enable capture and analysis of every activity, presentation and conversation.
- Sustainability – 70% say ethical and environmental factors will continue to influence the decision to attend.
- Convention Centre Challenges – The greatest competition to convention centres is expected to come from ‘Schools, universities and colleges’ (63%), ‘Museums, galleries and libraries’ (56%) and ‘Meeting facilities in office buildings’ (50%)
IMEX America increases hosted buyer programme to 2000
Strong demand from US and international associations, hotel groups and agencies to bring their top buyers to IMEX America when it launches in October 2011 has led organisers, the IMEX Group, to announce an increase in expected hosted buyer numbers. The announcement comes just four months after the show was launched.
Today [22 February 2010] Chairman, Ray Bloom, announced that 2000 qualified buyers will now be hosted to the new Las Vegas trade show for the meetings, incentive travel and events industry – an increase of just over 30 percent on the figure announced at launch. 80% of these buyers will come from North America, with the balance attending from around the world.
Says Bloom: “Our previous figures were confident but conservative. Recent discussions with our partners and other new business alliances make it clear that that there is pent-up demand. I’m confident we will see 2000 hosted buyers at IMEX America – an increase of more than 30 percent on our previous announcement. As mentioned before, the IMEX hosted buyer program is set to be the largest of its kind for any such US trade show and unique in this regard.”
IMEX America is set to follow a completely different model to any other trade show of its kind in the US due to the scale of the hosted program. Qualification for places on the program will follow the strict guidelines that have been used to build the authority and credibility of IMEX in Frankfurt. The program will bring top quality association, corporate and agency buyers from every corner of the meetings and events industry onto the show floor to do business with exhibitors. In addition, according to the ‘IMEX model’ they will spend longer periods of time on the show floor meeting exhibitors compared to non-hosted trade visitors.
As Bloom explains, “IMEX puts extremely high levels of effort and detail into making sure that only buyers who are active, serious and proven to place business attend as our hosted buyer guests. We already have some excellent partnerships with intermediaries who are similarly committed to these high standards and to driving serious business at the show. Together we place the strongest emphasis possible on getting this aspect of IMEX America absolutely right from the start. This is what our exhibitors expect and this is why IMEX has an unparalleled reputation. MPI, Site, PCMA and ASAE are just some of the most important organizations we will work with in the US to drive buyer attendance. They know and understand our unique model and are highly committed to it. Other US and international partnerships will be announced shortly.”
Bloom sums up: “Although the first IMEX America is over a year away, we have a very clear vision of what success will look like for our exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors and we have a clear plan for bringing that vision to life at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas October 2011.”
Future dates for IMEX America are also now confirmed as 9 – 11 October 2012 and 15 – 17 October 2013.
Exhibitors and buyers can register their interest in IMEX America at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_interest.php.
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.
IMEX Wild Card winners 2010 showcase continuing diversity of international industry
Three destinations that have never before exhibited at an international trade show, are celebrating a significant win in the IMEX 2010 Wild Card programme this week.
As a result, Uganda, the new Hof Conference and Cultural Centre in Iceland and the traditional alpine village of Morzine, France will each line up free of charge on the IMEX Wild Card Pavilion at Messe Frankfurt when the eighth IMEX gets underway on May 25th.
The Wild Card Programme is part of IMEX’s commitment to fostering growth and development in the global meetings industry. The programme recognises how difficult it can be for newer destinations to break into the international meetings market, even though they may be already well-established as leisure tourism destinations.
As IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, explains: “Many newer destinations often have good travel and hospitality infrastructures in place and have already proven their success in the leisure market. The Wild Card programme, however, offers them the ideal platform for focusing their marketing efforts on the meetings and conventions industry. It’s a low-risk, extremely high value opportunity, and one that puts them in front of thousands of high quality international buyers whilst lending unparalleled credibility and a global profile.”
Each of this year’s winners will receive a package including free exhibition space, access to discounted flights and free accommodation in Frankfurt. The winners also receive ongoing marketing guidance and support from the IMEX project team all year round.
One of the winners, Morzine in France (nominated by ski company Chillypowder) has dedicated conference and meetings facilities opening at the Hotel au Coin du Feu in May which will open in time to take full advantage of IMEX 2010. Morzine offers fine dining, shopping and a wide range of outdoor pursuits. The town is 1.5 hours from Geneva Airport and within driving distance of Switzerland and Italy. The Hotel offers 19 luxury bedrooms, underground car-parking and a large outdoor terrace. Chillypowder operates a number of luxury catered ski chalets.
By contrast, Great Lakes Safaris of Uganda in East Africa, feel confident about their entry into the meetings market as a result of recent improvements to flight schedules and roads in the region. Business and communication facilities are also being expanded in Uganda, which include a number of new hotels both in city areas and in national parks. The company provides tailor-made safaris including gorilla-tracking, primate walks and a variety of other wildlife-watching experiences.
The final winner, the new Hof Conference and Cultural Centre in Northern Iceland, is set to open in August. The Centre will provide conference facilities for up to 500 people, with other rooms available for a further 200 delegates. 10 restaurants seating up to 1500 guests will also be within a five-minute walk of the centre. A second conference centre is due to open in the University area, five minutes from the centre of the town (Akureyri).
For more information on the 2010 Wild Card Winners see http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/wildcard.html
Polish foster home to benefit from first ever IMEX Challenge 2010
Details of the first ever ‘IMEX Challenge‘ have been announced today by organisers of the annual worldwide meetings, incentive travel and events exhibition in Frankfurt.
The IMEX Challenge is a new initiative designed to give meetings industry professionals the chance to work side by side in a physical challenge that will benefit a host community.
The decision to undertake the first ever IMEX Challenge in Poland in autumn 2010 means that 20 individuals will have the chance to help non-governmental organisation, OUR HOME, to refurbish and renovate the garden of a foster family in Warsaw. Established in 1991, the charity has become the most important organisation dealing with the problems of orphaned and neglected children in Poland.
The chosen foster family is currently responsible for the well-being of seven children, all under 12 years old. The IMEX Challenge Poland team will be tasked with creating a safe and enjoyable area for the children to play and relax in. This will require landscaping the whole area and supplying and fitting a range of play facilities. The Challenge will also aim to create funding for the ongoing upkeep of the garden and play area and the long-term educational development and care of the children who live with the foster family.
Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, explains: “We are not simply building a single playground and garden for one family here but improving the property for the long-term benefit of many young children in the future. The IMEX Challenge Poland team will leave behind an important legacy and we hope our efforts will also raise awareness countrywide, increase interest and, of course, encourage others to get involved in as many ways as possible. At the same time, the Challenge will promote the destination as well as the partners and sponsors to the wider global meetings industry”.
“Aside from developing an humanitarian event that will have a positive impact on a local community, these IMEX Challenges will aim to stretch the individuals involved, giving them the chance to leave behind a very physical demonstration of their commitment. Rather than simply donating money, they will donate sweat, probably a few blisters and a lot of heart,” says Bauer.
IMEX has created two sponsorship categories to support the Challenge: local partners and volunteer sponsors. To date, Polish conference and incentive organisers, Meeting Designers, and the Convention Bureau of Poland which is a part of Polish Tourist Organisation, have committed to becoming local partners. IMEX is looking for an additional 10 companies to each sponsor a volunteer of their choice to support the Challenge.
The 2010 IMEX Challenge Poland will run from 13th to 15th September. The Challenge itself will last a total of three days, although participants will need to arrive a day earlier for briefings. Each participant will need to pay their full travel costs to Warsaw, although all accommodation, food and drink will be provided on site.
Future IMEX Challenges will be held every two years.
For more information, please contact Jon Bradshaw, Business Development Director of IMEX Jon.bradshaw@imex-frankfurt.com; +44 (0)1273 224955 Mobile +44 (0)7834 967367 or visit http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexchallenge.html.
Krzysztof Celuch – Manager Convention Bureau of Poland, PTO krzysztof.celuch@pot.gov.pl; +48 (0) 22 5367042 www.poland-convention.pl
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
