IMEX Frankfurt responds with intention to the industry’s new needs

22.02.2024

With a global range of exhibitors, learning sessions that dig into today’s most pertinent issues and opportunities to build new connections, IMEX Frankfurt 2024 is set to be a show with impact.

From recent meetings with buyers and suppliers across Europe and beyond, the IMEX team knows that planners have constraints on their resources and budgets and have become much more intentional about how they spend their time, money, and energy.

“In planning IMEX Frankfurt, we’ve been more intentional too. We’ve taken a close look at our attendees, what they want, and why they want it,” explains IMEX CEO, Carina Bauer. “Doing business will sit front and center of the show, along with opportunities for event professionals to broaden their global connections. A visit to IMEX Frankfurt will be an efficient and enjoyable experience from start to finish, and one that enables planners to supercharge their desired results.”
A strong roster of suppliers representing destinations, venues, hotels and technology is already confirmed for the show, taking place 14 – 16 May.

The Asian market is growing significantly with Macau, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore all expanding their presence at the show. They join a broad range of European destinations from Croatia, Finland and Ireland to Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

The area of the show floor devoted to technology is set to see a flurry of activity with Cvent increasing its space and new additions including TranslateAvle.  Alongside the global destinations, all the major hotel groups will be present including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Radisson and – new to the show - Langham.

IMEX’s learning program begins the day before the show, on Monday 13 May, with specialist education for event professionals from associations – Association Focus - and in-house – Exclusively Corporate. With burnout on the increase (according to the latest Freeman Trends Report 2024), Exclusively Corporate speaker Mike Ford, founder of Grateful Lemon, is set to tackle the crisis head on in his session - "Energized or exhausted:  Master the dance between stress and recovery”.

He explains: “We can learn some really vital lessons from the world of sport – athletes are unapologetic about their need for recovery. In many ways, we’re no different as event planners! You could say we’re ‘corporate athletes’ and have the same need to factor in recovery time!”

The curated content continues during the show with She Means Business, brought to you by IMEX and tw magazine, supported by MPI. This program explores aspects of diversity, gender equality and female empowerment including a practical session on how to negotiate equal pay.

First-timers to IMEX can make the most of a ‘welcome package’ of activities before and during the show. A webinar on 25 April focuses on the team’s top tips for making the most of the show, while an introductory meet-up on the show’s opening day will help newbies meet each other and get their bearings.

New learning formats including themed guided tours will shed a fresh light on the show. Also new for 2024 are focused panel discussions with speakers unafraid to tackle tough subjects - more details will be revealed soon.
In the meantime, attendees are encouraged to save the date for a new Speaker Preview webinar taking place on 13 March. Some of the show’s speakers will offer quick fire tasters of their education sessions - full details will be announced shortly. 

IMEX Frankfurt takes place at Messe Frankfurt from 14 - 16 May 2024