New for 2016, European buyers can extend their visit to IMEX and opt in advance for a three day (two night) programme. This will allow them to spend more time at the show, giving them more time to complete their business objectives and take part in networking events and education sessions.
IMEX in Frankfurt, taking place 19-21 April 2016 at Messe Frankfurt, is set to provide an experience that is flexible and tailored to fit each visitor’s business needs.
Alongside new exhibitors, new educational tracks and networking opportunities dedicated to each sector of the industry, IMEX has added important new features to its distinctive Hosted Buyer programme.
Enhanced Hosted Buyer programme
New for 2016, European buyers can extend their visit to IMEX and opt in advance for a three day (two night) programme. This will allow them to spend more time at the show, giving them more time to complete their business objectives and take part in networking events and education sessions. 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.
Hosted Buyers who book their own flights can now benefit from more flight options and, for the first time, will be offered a wider variety of complimentary food options in the hosted buyer lounge. 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.
New destinations and venues
Demand from buyers to attend is at an all-time high with 24 new hosted buyer groups already confirmed from across Europe and the world. As always, among the 3,500 exhibitors who represent 150 countries, IMEX will feature a host of new meetings industry suppliers, destinations and venues who use the show to launch their products and services to the market.
Education
Two new themes will run throughout the show this year: ‘Business + ME’ focusses on personal development, CSR activities and wellbeing. New also is a track focussed on the sharing economy and how it is reshaping the way we travel and do business – this will include a high level panel discussion, due to take place on Wednesday 20 April, that will debate its impact on the meetings industry. The Inspiration Hub, home to all the show floor education, will also host experts exploring personal branding, business skills, creative learning, marketing & social media, research & trends and technology.
The day prior to IMEX in Frankfurt, Monday 18 April, is now packed with high level educational activities for both buyers and suppliers including:
Exclusively Corporate @IMEX – building your personal brand
Taking place at the beautiful Villa Kennedy Hotel, this is a valuable opportunity for corporate meeting planners from around the world to gather for a tailor-made day of education and private networking.
This year’s Exclusively Corporate event puts the spotlight on meeting and event planning as a career, focusing on how attendees can build their personal brand, demonstrate their value within an organisation and be more effective and efficient. This packed day of education and networking enables corporate meeting planners at all levels to foster valuable relationships and share best practice.
Association Day & Evening – how relevant is your association?
For professionals working for associations, organising international conferences and events, Association Day is a chance to assess how well their association is adapting in an ever-changing world. Relevancy is the focus for this year’s event and the ways in which associations across the globe are tackling this issue will be explored via a tailored programme of educational sessions and peer-to-peer problem-solving workshops. Throughout the day, issues experienced by associations across all industries are discussed, giving delegates the chance to forge partnerships and make worthwhile connections. The Day concludes with the ever-popular Association Evening event at the Marriott Hotel.
Inaugural PCMA Business School in Europe – rip up the rule-book, become an ‘outthinker’
PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) is bringing its prestigious Business School to Europe for the first time alongside IMEX in 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. Dr. Kaihan Krippendorff, renowned business strategist, consultant and best-selling author, will lead the interactive session on ‘The Outthinker Playbook – Devising Disruptive Strategies’, exploring how to cultivate new approaches to business thinking and adopt a fresh “outthinkers” approach in response to changes in business. Kaihan will help delegates to develop new strategic thinking habits for solving real challenges and reach “strategic clarity”. The innovative class is also CMP certified.
Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group, explains: “IMEX in Frankfurt, now in its 14th year, continues to showcase the amazing diversity and innovation within our industry, with both our new and established exhibitors using the show as their main platform to launch their products, destinations and venues to the global meetings market.
“At the same time we are constantly evolving the show and this year will be no exception, with major investment in our hosted buyer programme ensuring that buyers have the flexibility and time that they need to make the most of the range of business and educational opportunities at the show.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
