Showcasing innovation at IMEX 2018

Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group promises that this year’s buyers will experience new products, people and spaces throughout IMEX in Frankfurt in Messe Frankfurt, 15-17 May. The IMEX Group partnership with C2 International, a leader in innovative business conferences, represents a joint effort to drive innovation in the sector and the partnership has resulted in the ‘Learning Lab’ in the Messe’s Hall 9 Dark Room where participants’ experience an educational session in total darkness. Further Hall 9 features will be the G-Tainer, a multimedia encased two-storey stack of meeting rooms. In the new IMEX Live Zone a number of experiential suppliers will demonstrate the power of how thinking and acting more creatively can engage attendees in a variety of ways. On trend with event tech – inflatables this year take shape as free-floating wireless Uber spheres and Thought Bubbles, while pop-up events include speed networking. The IMEX Inspiration Hub, the centre for most educational sessions during the show, moves to Hall 9 to increase floor space for 180-plus sessions including workshops, campfires, research pods and hot topic tables. Moving into the main exhibition hall (Hall 8) is the new Tech Café, which will enable exhibitors and IMEX to deliver stand presentations about technology, showing what’s new, how buyers can benefits and how the tech landscape has evolved. EduMonday on 14 May continues to grow, with new events including an agency directors’ forum, while She Means Business celebrates and debates the role of women in the meetings industry. There will also be activities highlighting a new IMEX partnership with LiveCom Alliance, a European umbrella organisation for national live event associations. Bringing this year’s IMEX talking point of ‘Legacy’ to life, attendees can visit a ‘Legacy Wall’ in Hall 9. Sustainably crafted from reused pallets, the wall will display exhibitors’ own legacy stories together with short stories about IMEX CSR and sustainability projects, including a spotlight on future leaders. IMEX in Frankfurt starts with EduMonday, 14 May, at Kap Europa Congress Centre. The main exhibition runs 15–17 May in Messe Frankfurt – Halls 8 and 9. For more information, click here.