NOW in its eighth year, IMEX 2010, plans to build on the success of last year’s exhibition with an increase in long-haul hosted buyers, more exhibitors, a more diverse professional education programme and the launch of Meetings & Conventions 2020 to look at the future of the industry.
The event runs from May 25 to 27 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, and more than 20 new buyer groups have already been confirmed from the US, Asia Pacific and the Middle East delivered by intermediaries including Marriott Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte and Starcite. Participation from US association buyers is also forecast to be particularly strong this year as a result of new intermediaries in this market.
According to last year’s post-show hosted buyer evaluation, a record $375.5 million worth of contracts are estimated to have been agreed during IMEX 2009, with an approximate $1.7 billion added in the nine months following.
In response to these increases in business, and especially the rise in individual and group appointments, many exhibitors were quick to book additional space for 2010. As a result Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Mövenpick Hotels, the Spanish Tourist Office, Indian Holiday, the Czech Tourism Authority, Luxembourg and Liberty International are all taking bigger stands. New exhibitors so far confirmed include Scandic Hotels, Warwick Hotels and Madrid, which will be taking its own stand for the first time.
Improvements have been made to the way that IMEX’s 3,500 exhibitors and nearly 9,000 buyers conduct business via IMEX online making it even easier for buyers to locate exhibitors they are interested in making appointments with.
And a first for IMEX 2010 will be a new initiative focussing on the future of the industry - Meetings & Conventions 2020. IMEX has partnered with ICCA and Fast Future to deliver a new groundbreaking research study looking at the future of live events, venues and meeting destinations. The study will explore the underlying trends and drivers that could shape the industry over the next decade and will drive a series of seminars and workshops at IMEX 2010.