IMEX 2024: the industry’s new needs

13.05.2024

From 14 to 16 May IMEX will return to halls 8 and 9 of Messe Frankfurt. The organisers want to focus on the industry’s new needs, as they point out.

To this end, they are in close contact with players from the international B2B event scene. From recent meetings, they know that planners have constraints on their resources and budgets. Apparently, they have also become much more intentional about how they spend their time, money, and energy. “We’ve taken a close look at our attendees, what they want, and why they want it,” explains IMEX CEO, Carina Bauer, and concludes: “Doing business will sit front and centre of the show.” Networking opportunities for event professionals to broaden their global connections are another central aim. A visit to IMEX Frankfurt is to be “an efficient and enjoyable experience from start to finish and one that enables planners to supercharge their desired results.”

Featured exhibitors will again include numerous companies and institutions representing destinations, venues, hotels and technology The Asian market is seeing significant growth with Macau, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore all expanding their presence. They will join a broad range of European destinations exhibiting in large numbers and benefiting from their home advantage. The technology segment is also set to see a flurry of activity. Knowledge transfer is another traditional part of the event with IMEX’s learning programme starting on the day before the show. It will include specialist education for event professionals from associations and companies. There will be discussions about burnout, which is on the rise according to the latest Freeman Trends Report 2024. Speaker Mike Ford, founder of Grateful Lemon, will explore the topic in his session – “Energised or exhausted:  Master the dance between stress and recovery”.

Mike Ford draws comparisons with another high-powered segment: ““We can learn some really vital lessons from the world of sport.” He observes that athletes are unapologetic about their need for recovery, being in many ways no different from event planners. The curated content continues during the show with “She Means Business”. This programme explores aspects of diversity, gender equality and female empowerment. There will also be a practical session on how to negotiate equal pay. By the way: First-timers to IMEX can make the most of a ‘welcome package’ of activities before and during the show. An “introductory meet-up” on the show’s opening day is to help newbies meet each other and get their bearings. And there will also be new learning formats such as themed guided tours. Also new for 2024 are focused panel discussions with speakers “unafraid to tackle tough subjects,” as the IMEX team boldly announce.