IMEX Frankfurt is taking place next week

17.05.2023

IMEX Frankfurt, taking place from 23 to 25 May, is set to welcome almost 3,000 exhibiting companies representing over 100 countries and more than 3,500 global buyers.

With strong demand from across the world and a significant bounce back from Asia, the 2023 IMEX show floor will offer a snapshot of the global event industry’s growth curve, most salient trends and future developments.

One of the differences compared to 2022 is the long-awaited return of Asia. With restrictions lifted, most of Asia is clearly on a return to international form. This will be most evident on the show floor where Indonesia, Taiwan, India, and Sri Lanka are all exhibiting. They are joined by Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong who are also set to deliver major press announcements. Newcomer Sarawak, the largest of Malaysia’s 13 states, will have its own stand for the first time and will also be joined by the region’s Tourism Minister.

Destinations, venues and suppliers from all corners of the world will line up for business next week, with strong representation from Europe, including Germany, France and Spain; North & South America – including Brand USA which is exhibiting for the first time, while Boston and Georgia have both increased their presence.

International hotel groups plus smaller boutique hotels will be showcasing their venues, with many introducing new service offerings or properties. Some big names have increased their presence for 2023 including Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts, NH Hotels and Radisson.

Doing business remains at the heart of the show and thousands of appointments have already been booked. Buyers can now download the app, sponsored by Monaco Convention Bureau, which allows them to plan their time at the show and offers free lead scanning for buyers and exhibitors for the first time.
Image: IMEX Frankfurt Show. Download image here.

The show’s learning programme has been stepped up with fresh formats, topical subjects and speakers who rip up the rulebook. This includes the Encore Ideation Station where the team will turn traditional education sessions on their head with snappy seven-minute presentations. They promise a ‘super-secret finish to the workshops’. Intrigued? Curious IMEX attendees are invited to meet them at the show and find out more.

The Google Experience Institute (Xi) CoLabs is a series of mini design-thinking sprints shining a light on the key topics the global Xi community is currently exploring. This is a unique opportunity to experience Google’s forward-thinking and highly inclusive collaboration models and techniques. Megan Henshall, global events strategic solutions lead at Google, explains: “Being champions for good in the world, using our discipline to promote cultural shifts that are going to put us all in a better place - we can do that. This is the stuff that’s going to attract the next generation.”

Headline speakers are lined up to share some solid, practical advice, designed to both power professional and personal development. Best-selling author, leadership and sales training expert Christopher Kai’s session Science-based sales strategies made simple will see him zone in on how to be more successful in sales by building rapport through science-based storytelling.

Headliner Alex Brueckmann works at the intersection of strategy, leadership, performance and empowerment. His sessions at the show – in both English and German language – focus on moving beyond purpose to impact. Alex explains: “For an organisation’s purpose to have meaning, it must go beyond simply making money or providing jobs. The answer lies in shifting the focus from purpose to impact.”

All these sessions form part of the extensive, free programme of 150 educational and networking events at IMEX Frankfurt. The learning journey starts with education for specialist audiences the day before the show, on Monday 22 May, followed by six tracks of general learning that run Tuesday to Thursday on the show floor’s Inspiration Hub.