RAY Bloom, chairman IMEX, the annual Frankfurt trade exhibition, declared the show a remarkable demonstration of the determination and desire of the international meetings industry to overcome the challenge of the global economic downturn and shape a positive and reassuringly profitable future.
More than 3,700 hosted buyers and more than 5,100 visitors attended the three day show at Messe Frankfurt, Germany. Records were also broken by the number of countries represented - 157 – by the 3,500 companies who exhibited at IMEX this year.
Feedback from exhibitors reinforced this confident mood. Neal Jones, vice president global sales, Europe, Marriott Hotels International, said, “We look closely at our figures when planning marketing pushes such as IMEX and the value for money and return on investment guaranteed here is far greater than at any other exhibition. It’s a unique show offering pre-qualified visitors that really want to do business. This year seems to be busier than ever and there’s a great buzz around the place. The value of business that Marriott has achieved is now well into the millions so we are feeling very buoyant.”
Bloom said that the number of hosted buyers from long haul destinations had increased, notably from the US, Brazil, Russia, China and India. The result was an increased number of individual and group appointments and a significant rise in the amount of business being conducted between suppliers and buyers each day.
Bloom also picked out the launch of Meetings for Success as another highpoint. “This new initiative (organised in collaboration with JMIC – Joint Meetings Industry Council) is designed to highlight the profit boosting and morale enhancing benefits of meetings and incentives to corporate decision makers, particularly at board room level.”
“Together with the momentum already created through our Politicians’ Forum, Meetings for Success amplifies the impact and influence that IMEX and its partners can exert on stakeholders. It also complements other global initiatives, such as Keep America Meeting and Meetings Mean Business,” he said.
“Again, it shows that the meetings industry has great reserves of creativity and focus which strengthen it, and, importantly, these are quickly mobilised when circumstances demand a united response. We will be developing all of these initiatives, together with our new educational offering, Meetings Under the Microscope, over the coming months.”
Refinements to IMEX’s online diary and appointments system also paid off this year with over 50,000 appointments made over the three days.
Bloom also gave details of a new challenge, a bi-annual corporate social responsibility event, inspired by the efforts of Jon Bradshaw, IMEX sales manager, who cycled 3,000 miles across Europe in 2008, raising over £20,000 for stroke charities. Bloom said, “The IMEX Challenge continues our commitment to corporate social responsibility and will be a chance for all corners of the industry to come together to achieve something remarkable. Places will be limited and the first Challenge will take place in Poland in autumn 2010. More details will be announced later this year.”