Strong demand from intermediaries, especially in the US and Middle East, to bring hosted buyers to IMEX 2009, is the clearest endorsement yet of the success of its long term strategy to concentrate on global development to fulfilling the expanding business needs of the international meetings industry.
IMEX chairman Ray Bloom believes this focus on worldwide growth of the hosted buyer programme, using an extensive network of respected intermediaries including the top hotel groups and trade associations, has given IMEX, due to be held from May 26 to 28, a strong, sustainable foundation for further growth over the next 12 months.
“We have spent more than six years forging strong relationships with intermediaries and hosted buyer groups in a broad range of international markets. As a result we have a detailed understanding of each destination’s and each sector’s unique business ambitions. We also appreciate the increasing pressures that buyers are under to maximise the time they spend at any trade show.
“By concentrating on controlled global expansion, we have made the world a smaller and more accessible place for the 3,600 corporate, association and agency buyers who come to Frankfurt each year, in addition to the suppliers they do business with.”
Increasing exhibition space is Croatia, the Czech Tourist Authority, Accor Hotels and Prestige Hotels of the World.
The IMEX team reports thaqt several markets were upbeat including the Middle East, Asia, Russia, China, India and the newer European states. Feedback from Kuwait, the Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular is optimistic with buyers expressing satisfaction that one visit to IMEX enabled them to efficiently meet a wide range of suppliers from favoured markets including Australia, Singapore, Asia and India.
IMEX organisers are focusing on delivering more hosted buyers in 2009, as well as putting the emphasis on extending the length of time that buyers spend on the exhibition floor meeting suppliers. A new combination of familiarisation trips and two to four night stays for long haul buyers will extend this business transaction time by up to 25 per cent.