| IMEX in Frankfurt 2011 will host over 100 senior executives including around 30 politicians representing local and regional governments from Europe, Africa, North America and Asia Pacific when they convene for the esteemed annual IMEX Politicians Forum on Tuesday 24 May.
With this year’s theme set as ‘The Benefits of Business Events beyond the Visitor Spend’, international politicians will discuss the growing and substantial impact of business events on a destination in terms of job creation, training and skills, education, infrastructure development and other factors. Due to the high calibre of delegates that are attracted each year, the IMEX Politicians Forum is now widely recognised as an influential meetings industry event, and one that rightly highlights the long-term importance of partnership, open communication and mutual understanding between the industry and its political stakeholders. |
Watch Rod Cameron speak about the need for businesses to take meetings more seriously |
The Future Convention Cities Initiative (FCCI) will kick off the day with an `Engines of Growth Seminar’, open to all IMEX attendees, this session will offer politicians and industry leaders an exclusive opportunity to hear how individual FCCI member cities are preparing for the future and discuss the key strategic developments they are undertaking. The FCCI was established with the aim of ensuring business events spur economic development, encourage investment, drive innovation and create jobs in member cities.
Rohit Talwar, CEO, Fast Future and Executive Director of FCCI, said “We are delighted that IMEX is putting such commitment behind the process of engaging with politicians. We need to work together as an industry to demonstrate that the meetings sector is a critical contributor to the knowledge transfer process in those industries that will drive long-term economic development.”
Further highlights for 2011 will include a presentation of The Convention Industry Council’s long-awaited ‘Economic Significance of Meetings to the US Economy’ study. The study provides a definitive and quantitative analysis of the economic significance of face-to-face meetings on US jobs, spending, tax revenue and share of GDP. The Politicians Forum session will also address its wider global implications.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network and discuss further industry matters during a dedicated evening function. The Forum also represents a special opportunity for politicians to see the meetings industry at work during the IMEX in Frankfurt exhibition.
Over the nine years that it has run, the IMEX Politicians Forum has successfully united politicians and industry leaders with a view to strengthening the business events sector for the benefit of local communities and destinations.
In this time, its influence and reputation has grown significantly. Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, says: “Each year this 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 our 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.”
The IMEX Politicians Forum is co-organised by ECM (European Cities Marketing) and AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres) and held under the auspices of JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council). It takes place on 24 May at IMEX in Frankfurt, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.
Participation is by invitation only. If you wish to invite a local or national politician please contact Debbie Woodbridge: debbie.woodbridge@imexexhibitions.com.
