The IMEX Group has announced its intention to undertake a major new research study on the future of the meetings industry to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its IMEX in Frankfurt trade show in 2012.
The new study will be conducted by Fast Future Research who run the highly acclaimed Convention 2020 study on the future of business events.
The founding sponsors are four organisations that have worked closely with IMEX in Frankfurt since the show’s launch. They are: IMEX’s strategic partner, the German Convention Bureau (GCB); the show’s venue – Messe Frankfurt; its ground-handlers, CPO Hanser and the Frankfurt Tourist Office.
The study’s findings are set to provide a focal point for a series of celebrations and special activities designed to mark the trade show’s 10th anniversary. These will include a Future Leaders Hall of Fame, 10 Years of Environmental Education, a new programme for Association Day, plus a special new location for the IMEX Politicians Forum to mark its 10th year.
Titled “The Power of 10”, the new study will seek opinions from individually selected thought and business-leaders inside and outside the meetings industry to help shed new light on what the next 10 years might hold in store. It will also look back over the last decade to capture the most important events and changes that have had the greatest impact on the industry and the professionals working within it.
The IMEX Power of 10 research project will build on the ideas and insights from Convention 2020 (of which the IMEX Group is a founding sponsor) to provide a positive perspective on how the meetings industry can evolve and fulfil its strategic potential over the next decade.
Pursuing the theme of the ‘Power of 10’, the study will be capturing the views of 10 leaders from 10 key sectors – asking them 10 questions about the next decade. It will also seek opinions from future leaders and students to get their perspectives on the industry’s future. A worldwide essay competition will be run with the 10 best submissions being awarded a Power of 10 prize plus public recognition. The study will also contain retrospectives and predictions from IMEX Group staff who have been with the trade show since its inception.
Commenting on the new study, Fast Future CEO, Rohit Talwar, stated; “It’s great to be able to build on the increasingly influential and successful research we’ve conducted on Convention 2020. That study ends in December 2011 and this new research enables us to keep that momentum going. With 2012 being such a significant, celebratory year for IMEX, it seemed fitting to look back as well as looking ahead, and to see what that comparison might reveal. Many of the respondents involved in the study will be big personalities with even bigger opinions, so we are expecting the insights and analysis to be as valuable and provocative as they are entertaining.”
Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau, also commented: “We are living in a time of constant change. This also holds true for the meeting industry. Therefore it is all the more important that we recognise and analyse early enough those future trends and developments which influence the industry. The Power of 10 study will help the industry to facilitate the planning of marketing activities and will lead to bigger success for the global meetings industry. We are delighted to be able to support IMEX with this study. The GCB has been the strategic partner of IMEX as well as the organiser of the Germany stand and the German seminars since the exhibition’s inception.”
Talking about the significance of the show’s 10th anniversary, Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group, said: “The past decade has been momentous for the global meetings, incentive travel and events industry. We will be using 2012 to celebrate and remember all of the good things that have been achieved and taking the chance to look back at how far the industry has come in 10 years. The Power of 10 research project will enable us to learn from the past 10 years and help the industry to project forward for the future. As a founding sponsor of Convention 2020 we have been delighted by the quality, insight and impact of the research conducted by the Fast Future team and could think of no better partner to work with on this flagship project.”
