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
