This year’s IMEX Frankfurt, the global meetings, incentive travel and events industry show, is strengthened on the back of new association partnerships together with several added-value developments to existing agreements.
As part of IMEX’s long-term business strategy the company is offering more tailored professional education to special interest groups in the German meetings sector. A new partnership with the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) sees the trade body co-locating a tax seminar on the morning of IMEX Association Day, allowing members to attend the Association Day and the evening networking reception.
IMEX is also formalising its partnership with the Association of German Travel Managers (VDR). The result is an initial agreement for the VDR to market the Exclusively Corporate @IMEX day to its members to encourage them to attend as hosted buyers. More initiatives are planned.
Continued expansion in the Asian meetings market in recent years has given rise to several new industry associations in the region, as well as growth in the number of hosted buyers attending IMEX. The Philippines Council for the Advancement of Association Executives is one such association currently exploring ways of co-operating and its Executive Director will visit to IMEX in Frankfurt.
The longstanding partnership between IMEX and ECM – European Cities Marketing – has resulted in a boost to joint meetings industry advocacy efforts. In December ECM handed over 20 political signatories for the IMEX Declaration of Support during its CEO Meeting of Capital and Major Cities. This meant the Declaration was just one short of its first-year target of 100 named supporters.
IMEX will also be collaborating with the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) and Development Counsellors International (DCI) on a research study about generational differences in the meetings market. Results are set to be announced in Frankfurt at the show in May.
ISES, the International Special Events Society, has elected to co-locate its 2014 board meeting with IMEX America in Las Vegas in October for the first time. The society’s members collectively plan and deliver over 1m events annually and represent a powerful group of buyers within the US events market.
Commenting on the announcements, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer said IMEX America and IMEX in Frankfurt have both been built “on a strategy of forming close working relationships with key industry associations”. The announcements demonstrate plenty of scope for innovation and expansion at both the shows.
“We will continue to work with specialist groups to ensure that IMEX offers ‘something for everyone’ while maintaining clear focus on our ultimate purpose: to enable face-to-face business between buyers and exhibitors,” she said.
Awards use IMEX as launch platform
Two new awards have been added to the roster being presented at the IMEX Gala Dinner in May. A new ‘Destination Marketing Award’ will be presented by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). It comes at a time when many destinations are powering ahead with the use of social media and using advanced marketing techniques to differentiate their product offerings.
In addition, a new International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) International Excellence Award will recognise an individual or organisation who has made “exceptional strides in creating, launching and managing an international event in the events industry” over the past year.
IMEX 2014 takes place at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, on 20-22 May.
This was first published in issue 75 of CMW. Any comments? Email Zoe Vernor
