Innovative educational seminars, new exhibitors and hosted buyer groups and a keynote speech by one of the world’s foremost business leaders are set to make a powerful impact at Imex in Frankfurt 2015, taking place this month from the 19th to the 21st.
Imex group chairman Ray Bloom comments, "With a wide range of new exhibitors from every continent and meetings market sector, plus a rise in the number of hosted buyer groups and an inspiring education programme, Imex in Frankfurt is set to make an even greater impact this year.300 association professionals, more than 100 corporate meetings executives and 40 ministers, mayors and senior government officials from across the world will again gather in Frankfurt for dedicated peer educational and networking events.New exhibitors Buyers will have the opportunity to meet a wide range of new exhibitors from every continent and from every meetings market sector. Emerging meetings and incentive destinations in particular will be well represented, with new exhibitors including Lithuania, Prague, Ras Al Khaimah, Meet Taiwan, Kaohsiung City and Visit Faroe Islands attending alongside the large established destinations. Exhibitors with expanded stands are also wide-ranging including Singapore, China and Macau from Asia, Azerbaijan from Eurasia, Austria and VisitBrussels from Europe, Costa Rica, Peru and Brand USA from the Americas, and Preferred Hotel Group and NH Hotel Group representing the hotel sector.Around 4,000 hosted buyers will be arriving in Frankfurt from across the world, with 34 new groups from France, UK, Middle East, Asia and the USA. The unique Concierge Service, launched last year, will be further enhanced, there are lounge services such as free luggage storage and wi-fi and additional webinars for hosted buyers and intermediaries.
The Inspiration HubThe Imex team will again be introducing several engaging new strands to the well-established educational programme. The Inspiration Hub will host around 170 education sessions. There will be new early morning sessions on Business Networking and Building Confidence. Two new session formats will be geared specifically towards Young Professionals – for anyone relatively new to the industry - and Senior Professionals.Also new this year is Creative Thursday featuring interactive sessions from ISES (International Special Events Society) on how to form effective partnerships with suppliers and advice on event design.As part of the new wellbeing initiative ‘Be Well at Imex’, the Inspiration Hub has a new dedicated Health and Wellbeing track.
Special events One of the world’s foremost business leaders, Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP, the world’s largest business software company, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony."We are delighted and honoured that one of the world’s foremost business leaders, Bill McDermott, will join us as the keynote speaker at our opening ceremony – we look forward to welcoming Bill together with the global meetings industry to Imex in Frankfurt this May," says Bloom.Association Day will feature a new programme developed with the International Association of Facilitators while, at Exclusively Corporate@Imex, Kevin Kelly will deliver the keynote address explaining how many organisations’ successes is the exceptional execution of an ordinary idea.The Imex Politicians Forum will share ways to secure economic, social and reputational dividends, this year under the theme – ‘How to Attract more Meetings and Events to a Destination’.