An expanded hosted buyer programme, more exhibitors and new educational features will create more opportunities to do business and learn about key trends at IMEX in Frankfurt this year.
More for hosted buyers
European buyers can now extend their visit to IMEX and opt in advance for a three day (two night) programme. This will give them more time to spend at the show, doing business, networking and soaking up the inspiration and new ideas. This new option makes the programme highly flexible and is in addition to the day only and two day (one night) programmes which have become well-established over the last 13 years.
Revised group appointment timings will give hosted buyers more time to explore the show floor – the show will now open at 9.45am, with no group appointments scheduled before 11am or after 4pm.
IMEX is set to welcome more than 20 new hosted buyer groups from around the world including Germany, Poland, China, South Africa and South America, plus UNICEO – the network for corporate event decision makers. ISES (International Special Events Society) is also bringing their Global Event Summit to the show for the first time.
Buyers have a wide choice of suppliers to meet, with many established exhibitors having increased their stand space including Croatia, New Zealand, PromPeru, San Francisco and Serbia – and hotel groups – ATA Hotels, Hilton International, Preferred Hotels and Trump Hotel Collection. Taking stands for the first time, or returning to the show, include Bahrain, -Catalunya Convention Bureau, Wyndham Hotels, Uniglobe Travel and Bizzabo – a new technology exhibitor.
Enlightening education
One of the new themes running throughout the show this year is ‘Business is personal’ with education sessions focusing on personal development, CSR activities and wellbeing, all designed to offer new ideas on how to change old habits of mind, body and spirit. Elevated Leadership: The Roadmap to Unlocking Your Natural Leader will help attendees to tap into their natural leadership abilities becoming more conscious, confident, and courageous –in turn elevating others. InHow mastering new habits will transform your life, Pine Communication + Training will explain how to foster new habits to help participants reach their goals more easily and achieve a healthy and successful life. Shawna Suckow, Chairwoman of SPiN, the Senior Planners Industry Network, is set to deliver two Deep Dives for small business owners wanting to learn how to take their company to the next level. The art of storytelling and its power to communicate, capture attention and engage is explored by Gebert Janssen from The Party- & Eventarchitect.
Another big theme for IMEX this year is the sharing economy with sessions exploring how it is reshaping the way we travel and do business. With the world of work rapidly changing, these sessions will address what we need to know about this new model for business including a high level panel discussion, due to take place on Wednesday 20 April, which will debate its impact on the meetings industry.
With over 180 education sessions at IMEX in Frankfurt this year, attendees are sure to find a session that matches their needs, both professionally and personally. The Inspiration Hub, home to all the show floor education, will host experts exploring hot topics such as Business Skills, Creative Learning, Diversity, General Education, Health and Wellbeing, Marketing/ Social Media, Personal Development, Sustainability, Technology, Trends and Research. CMP/CEU and ISES Points can also be accrued at a large number of sessions at the show.
Also new for this year is a series of short and snappy talks focused on ‘Trends and Future-Think’. These TED-style talks will take place at the Inspiration Hub before the show begins each day and are sponsored by Sweden.
Dedicated features
As part of the show’s comprehensive education programme, PCMA Business School is bringing its prestigious Business School to Europe for the first time alongside IMEX in Frankfurt. Hosted by Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, this free of charge programme is open to all and offers executives the chance to develop core business skills and learn from an MBA level professor. An interactive session on The Outthinker Playbook – Devising Disruptive Strategies will be led by Dr. Kaihan Krippendorff, renowned business strategist and consultant who will help participants explore how to cultivate new approaches to business thinking and how to adopt a fresh “outthinkers” approach in response to changes in the business landscape.
Exclusively Corporate @IMEX is a dedicated education and networking event solely for corporate meeting and event planners. This year, the event puts the spotlight on career development with the theme: “Choose a job you love – you’ll never work a day in your life”. The final session of the day develops this theme via a Mock Trial where participants can turn their hand to becoming prosecution and defence lawyers exploring a real, ethical scenario in an authentic courtroom setting in an engaging, entertaining educational session.
Designed exclusively for association executives, Association Day, attracts around 300 professionals from 40 countries each year. Open to all levels of association executive, Association Day offers a free afternoon of education, taking place the day before the show followed by the much-loved networking reception, Association Evening hosted by Marriott Frankfurt. This year’s collaborative programme has been developed in response to issues raised by participants at last year’s event – how to remain relevant. Charles Leadbeater is set to harness this in his keynote address. As a leading authority on innovation and creativity, he has advised companies, cities and governments across the globe and is regarded as one of the top management thinkers worldwide.
Finally, the renowned Politicians Forum brings together meetings industry leaders, representatives from government and business, professionals and academics to discuss building and sustaining a successful meetings industry. The Hon Minister Stuart Ayres, New South Wales Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events is the keynote speaker, beginning a series of focused sessions designed to promote conversation and education among destinations and showcase well-developed techniques to improve competitiveness at a national and local level.
Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, explains: “We continually consult with our buyers and intermediaries and have made changes to the programme this year to ensure that the show is truly tailored to their needs. We believe that both the buyers and exhibitors will benefit strongly from these. IMEX in Frankfurt promises a host of opportunities for all members of the meetings and incentive travel community. We know that there is no better way to do business or build a network of professional contacts and friends than face to face and we look forward to welcoming the world to Frankfurt this April.”
IMEX in Frankfurt takes place at Messe Frankfurt from 19 – 21 April 2016. For further information and to register as a visitor go to www.imex-frankfurt.com
