Organisers of the annual IMEX in Frankfurt trade show for the international meetings, incentive travel and events industry have announced their final, extensive professional education programme for the 2014 Messe Frankfurt show.
The 150-plus free educational sessions have been planned to appeal to industry buyers, as well as suppliers and will be delivered across eight industry-specific tracks including a new Business Skills track. Sessions will be led by industry experts and internationally-renowned speakers, with the majority qualifying for CMP points.
New educational venues on the show floor include a new Tech Hub, sponsored by Double Dutch, the Meeting Design Hub, delivered by the Meeting Support Institute and a Creativity Pod. These new areas complement the existing IMEX-CIC Inspiration Centre, sponsored by Business Events Sydney, the Research Pod and Sustainability Hub, powered by GMIC.
Among the speakers will be Debra Zabloudil of The Learning Studio whose “Creating And Delivering Oral Presentations That Pack A Punch” will cover the timeless challenge of how to make a business presentation with confidence and authority. Zabloudil will also share her leadership skills in another session entitled “Everything I Need to Know About Leadership I Learned From Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Elsewhere in the programme, Maritz Travel’s “Avoiding The Me Too And Getting To The A-Ha’s of Social Media” will encourage their audience to “experience, enjoy and learn from entertaining social media bloopers, mistakes and blunders” on one of the show’s new Hot Topic Tables. On the new Tech Hub Zubin Betthay, from Double Dutch, will present a case study about SAP, a company that derives 60% of its revenue from events, in “Using Event Data To Drive Revenue”.
New ‘Business Skills’ track makes eight
The education programme is the most extensive yet to be produced by IMEX and its partners and has been designed to complement the show’s core focus on face-to-face business appointments combined with multiple networking events. Eight special education tracks have been crafted to enhance either personal or business performance while advancing industry knowledge and standards. They include ‘Business Skills’, ‘Risk Management & Compliance’, ‘Trends & Research’, ‘Creative Learning’ and ‘Sustainability’. IMEX has also taken current trends for shorter, more varied learning formats into account. This year’s programme combines 45-minute seminars, 30-minute small group campfires plus new approaches such as moderated Hot Topic Tables and Meet The Expert Clinics. The new clinics allow visitors to book free one-to-one consultations with speakers, giving them the chance to acquire more in-depth knowledge or benefit from guidance on a specific business issue.
Enhanced online search makes planning easier
IMEX has also made extensive changes to the presentation and search functionality of its online education and event information. The modifications make it faster and easier for visitors to identify and save the education sessions that best meet their needs or match the gaps in their daily business diaries. Intuitive search is now available by keyword or a combination of filters such as ‘venue’, ‘speaker’, ‘track’, ‘language’, ‘type’ or ‘CMP points’ with results displayed by day and time.
Running alongside the extensive English language education, the German seminar programme has also been expanded. Strategic partners, the GCB German Convention Bureau, will be offering high profile keynote speakers, show floor seminars and campfires within the eight educational tracks. Megatrends show floor tours are being offered in partnership with the Mice Club, as well as a Future Trends Clinic delivered by Veranstaltungsplaner.
Says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group: “I am delighted with the way our education programme has come together this year. We will be delivering a huge variety of sessions with very generous support from sponsors and partners such as the Convention Industry Council, Business Events Sydney, the Green Meeting Industry Council, the Meeting Support Institute and Double Dutch. Their help has allowed us to produce a high quality programme with a firm focus on supporting industry growth, best practice and innovation.”
IMEX in Frankfurt starts with two preshow educational events for special industry groups – IMEX Association Day and Exclusively Corporate @IMEX on Monday May 19 – followed by the three-day business-centered trade show at Messe Frankfurt, which runs from May 20 – 22.
