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IMEX has introduced several new and innovative meetings techniques into the programme for its next Association Day, as the organizing authority of the exhibition announced. With help from the World Cafe and Wiki Workshops, the Association Day (April 21st 2008), which provides a dedicated and discreet learning opportunity for 250 association meetings buyers, will offer guests more interactive and dynamic content than in previous years.
Paul Borawski, Executive Director & Chief Strategic Officer for the American Society of Quality, and World Cafe facilitator, will lead a session on “Innovation in Association Management”. The World Cafe concept provides meetings with a simple methodology for hosting conversations. The process ensures that participants’ discussions are linked together so that they build on each other as people move between groups and share ideas. The World Cafe approach to meetings has recently grown in strength across Latin America, Asia and the USA but is still relatively unknown in Europe.
Similarly, a session on “Meetings technology – Tomorrow’s toolkit” will be run in the brand new format of a Wiki Workshop. This new meetings concept aims to produce immediate results within small groups by providing them with flawless technology and a “Wiki” template to guide their thinking towards a clear outcome.
Says Carina Bauer, IMEX Marketing and Operations Director, “Our new programme will be very forward-looking and inspiring, with plenty of scope for participation. The Association Day audience has a great deal of experience and knowledge to share, and we hope that by increasing opportunities for peer-to-peer contact, we will help generate more discussion and, ultimately, more change for the better.”
The educational programme organized by ICCA (The International Congress and Convention Association) will also include a session on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – guiding delegates on how to create a sustainable CSR strategy which promotes strategic objectives and motivates members. MCI will run a series of round-table discussions later in the day giving delegates the opportunity to discuss topics as diverse as membership recruitment & retention to conference VAT; as well as a number of sessions dedicated to German association executives.
The educational sessions will be followed by the Association Evening reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in Frankfurt, which allows recognised industry suppliers and exhibitors to network with association buyers. Over the past five years, this reception has become the largest event on the IMEX calendar.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
