Corporate Social Responsibility was hands-on at international meetings, incentive travel and events trade show IMEX on Monday (19 May). Celebrity chef Werner Mansshardt helped a group of 25 international industry buyers prepare German specialty ‘spaetzle’, made with the seven traditional Frankfurt herbs for a meal that was later served to homeless people at a Frankfurt shelter.
The workshop, which was attended by buyers and exhibitors from countries including Saudi Arabia, Germany and Poland, saw attendees cook lunch for the residents of “Haus Lichtblick”, a homeless centre run by Sister Sigrid. The project also raised a four figure sum for Lichtblick aktiv Sister Sigrid e.V.
The event is part of IMEX’s CSR programme and featured fresh ingredients, sponsored again by Sheraton Frankfurt Congress Hotel, which also provided the services of chef Mansshardt plus the table decorations. Sheraton staff also helped with the cooking.
Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group, said: “This is not just about the money, but about promoting our visionary social responsibility programme to the meetings and events industry, encouraging greater awareness and participation.”
IMEX’s CSR programme supports charities local to the cities and regions where the IMEX trade show takes place in a bid to develop long term relationships with the local community and leave a lasting legacy. A Badge Back initiative has been implemented to allow IMEX attendees to vote for either the Lichtblick project or sewing initiative, Maisha’s Sewing Project, by recycling their badges into ‘voting’ bins as they leave. All recycled badges trigger a financial donation to both charities and the charity with the most badges receives a greater donation. This year the IMEX Badge Back programme is sponsored by the GCB German Convention Bureau.
The IMEX CSR programme includes various sustainable initiatives including the Sustainability Hub, the IMEX Green Awards, the Giving Back and Badge Back programmes, the IMEX Green Team and the IMEX Challenge.
