From 19 to 21 May the gates will once again open for the MICE industry.
That is when event organisers will convene in Frankfurt for three days at IMEX.
Famous names draw attention all over the world. The organisers of IMEX have heeded this credo and have acquired a business celebrity as the drawing card for the opening ceremony of their exhibition. SAP boss Bill McDermott will hold the keynote lecture on the first day. The choice does not only have to with his renown. The executive of the software company is a passionate defender of events in the business world, according to the IMEX organisers. McDermott speaks of the brilliance and creativity connected with a meeting or event. These experiences can inspire people to achieve their targets or realise their hopes – and therefore things they would never have dreamed about in an email or in a tedious telephone conference. “That is why I always try to bring people together for a common cause and to create a movement,” explains the SAP Managing Director. “And what can be better for this than a wonderful meeting or an unforgettable event?”
During
his stay at IMEX in Frankfurt Bill McDermott will also take a tour of the
exhibition’s aisles. There he can visit some of the approximately 3,500
exhibitors presenting their destinations and services. Once again the
exhibiting firms will come from all five continents and from all branches of
the meeting and incentive industry. These include hotels, destinations,
airlines, and technology providers. On the visitor side, over 9000 professionals
will fill Hall 8 of the Frankfurt exhibition centre. This year they will
include 34 new hosted buyer groups – from France, Great Britain, the Middle
East, and the USA, among others. Much is being done for visitors. The IMEX team
is working continuously on the further development of the “Appointment System”.
Buyers can now arrange their appointments with desired exhibitors at the
exhibition more easily. For visitors and representatives of the media from last
year there is a further small treat. The registration information input last
year can be recalled for this year’s registration. This saves time during the somewhat
exasperating registration process.
The
concurrent IMEX education programme will likewise feature some innovations this
year. For the first time, experts were allowed to submit lectures in German and
thus apply as speakers. The focus this year will lie on a total of ten themes.
These include new technologies/social media, marketing and communication,
market research and trends. Of course, the eternally-burning issue of “sustainability”,
which has become more than a trendy word, could not fail to be included. MICE
organisers increasingly do not just plant a couple of trees to compensate for
the CO2 emissions caused by travelling to and from the event. Instead, they are
introducing specific measures and reducing consumption. Another theme is
concerned with inventiveness and creativity – quite an important factor in
times when there is little new under the sun. IMEX will be dedicated to an
entire “Creative Thursday” of creative event planning and organisation. In
several workshops and seminars participants will experience everything that can
make their events more effective.
Since
the exhibition’s target groups are not homogenous and have differing amounts of
years in the industry, the IMEX team has consequently adjusted its accompanying
conference programme. Two new formats will be aimed at the specific needs of
newcomers and established pros in the MICE industry: Both “Senior Planners” as
well as “Young Professionals” will have their own workshops and seminars. In
addition, on two days there will be intensive workshops each morning – on the topics
of “Business Networking” and “Self-confidence at the job”.
The
“Association Day” will also hit the stage in 2015 too. It will be held in the
new “Kap Europa” venue. The fringe event brings international association
planners from all industries and continents together every year. And there is
something else new: IMEX has always placed great emphasis on the “wellbeing”
factor of visitors and exhibitors. This objective will now be implemented
literally: For the first time the entire exhibition will be held under the
motto “Be Well at IMEX”. During the entire three-day duration of the event an
extra “Meditation Room” will offer meditation and yoga units – as the ideal
compensation for the turbulent and busy goings-on at the exhibition, as the
IMEX organisers emphasise. In addition, a “Wellness-Guide” will provide buyers
and suppliers with practical health and relaxation tips (www.imex-frankfurt.com).
Author: Peter Borstel
This article was published in TFI issue 3-4/2015
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