Powerful start for IMEX in Frankfurt – Biggest show ever for 2014

Powerful start for IMEX in Frankfurt – Biggest show ever for 2014

Frankfurt, May 2014 – IMEX in Frankfurt opened earlier today in Messe Frankfurt’s Hall 8 with the announcement that the leading trade show for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry has grown again in 2014. New stands, stand increases from existing exhibitors, the biggest education programme ever and the scale and diversity of the hosted buyer programme are the defining features of this year’s exhibition.

64 new stands join the line up of 3500 exhibiting companies on the show floor while over a third of previous exhibitors have increased the size of their stands on 2013. Growth from various regions of the world testifies to the meetings and events industry’s growing appetite for the appointment-driven trade show, with an 11% increase in space taken by Asia Pacific exhibitors, 5% increase from Latin America, an 8% increase from the USA and 3% from Europe. Strategic partners, the GCB German Convention Bureau, are hosting over 230 exhibitors on the show’s single largest stand, F100.

Rising numbers, growing sectors
Continuing a trend seen over the past few years, the cruise sector has grown this year with three new stands joining the line-up of cruise companies keen to maximize their share of the meetings, events and incentive travel market. Similarly the continuing growth of technology advisors, suppliers and product innovators is demonstrated in a 20%+ rise in technology exhibitors. Other sectors with a larger number of exhibitors at this year’s show include airlines, car rental companies, catering services, entertainment services, conference venues and hotel resorts specialising in golf, gaming or skiing.

IMEX Opening Crowd New hosted buyer groups
20 new hosted buyer groups, the majority of which represent long-haul markets, add to the number of hosted buyers expected at the show this week. New services have also been introduced to help buyers make best use of their exhibitor appointments and business meetings at the show. A spacious new lounge for hosted buyers has been constructed to take account of rising numbers. It has double the seating capacity of previous years and features a new concierge desk, information counters, diary and boarding pass printing, mobile phone recharging plus an interactive floor plan and new food outlet. changes have been introduced to accommodate more buyers in the halls and also to allow the many thousands attending to use their time more efficiently and in more comfort.

Hallmark preshow events swell buying power
Among the hosted buyers taking part in important preshow events, and staying on at the show over the next few days, are over 300 association meeting planners from yesterday’s annual IMEX Association Day. In addition more than 80 senior executives and meetings buyers from the corporate sector also took part in the show’s latest niche education and networking event, Exclusively Corporate @IMEX. The corporate buyers represent 20 industry sectors and 21 countries. Together this powerful group brings a joint annual meetings and events buying power of $180 million to the show.

The IMEX professional education programme has also increased in scope and size in order to service the industry’s appetite for professional development while meeting the needs of rising numbers attending the show. This year’s programme is 25% bigger, with over 200 workshops, seminars and campfires being delivered by 132 speakers and industry experts. The GCB’s German language Seminartage programme will again offer German language education every day, including morning keynotes by high profile speakers. The programme is also delivered in the same eight-track format as the show’s English sessions.

Other German education includes a ‘Future Trends Clinic’, which is run by Veranstaltungsplaner, a leading association of German event planners, plus guided ‘IMEX Tours’, organised by MICE Club. The tours start by giving small groups of German visitors a short education session based on a theme from the recent GCB ‘Megatrends Report’ and continue with a guided tour of exhibitors and IMEX stands on the same theme.

Leisure travel leaders in cross industry dialogue
The presence of two leaders from the world’s leading leisure travel bodies, Mr Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the United Nations Specialised Agency for tourism and Mr David Scowsill, President & Chief Executive Officer of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), signals further strengthening in the authority of IMEX and its Politicians Forum. Their attendance at the Forum, and at the show today, represents a significant milestone for the IMEX Group, which has consistently pushed for greater and more open dialogue between the leisure and meetings, events and incentive travel sectors since it launched 12 years ago.
www.imex-frankfurt.com

Business Events Sydney to launch new brand campaign at IMEX 2014

Business Events Sydney to launch new brand campaign at IMEX 2014

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) will launch its new brand and communications campaign to the international business events community at the IMEX 2014 tradeshow in Frankfurt.

BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said IMEX was the ideal location to launch the new brand. “IMEX is the world’s largest industry tradeshow, so it made perfect sense to use this event as a launch pad for our new brand. Our team will meet with key decision makers and be able to explain the thought process behind the new look and feel, and what it means for their events, now and in the future.”

“IMEX is a great platform for us to talk to the world about our plans. It’s an important forum for us to share news and advances, and to continue to progress the industry. This year, in addition to exhibiting, we are also sponsoring the IMEX Inspiration Centre. We saw great synergies with the opportunity,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.

“The Inspiration Centre is where attendees will find stimulating education and training opportunities delivered by forward-thinking experts. It’s about focusing on issues that are genuinely pushing the boundaries of our industry and shaping its future, with programs that maximise performance, raise standards and enhance personal and professional skills. These are objectives that Sydney holds close to its heart.

“Our new brand that we are launching at IMEX, SYDNEY SHINES, is about sharing our city’s atmosphere of free thinking that results in inspired solutions. It’s about the Australian spirit that says “yes” to new ideas, embraces new challenges and flies in the face of convention. It’s about the freedom to try new things, the freedom to explore and even the freedom to fail in the pursuit of progress. Looking at the Inspiration Centre’s program, we immediately felt that it aligned with this ethos and we are proud to be a part of it.”

A preview of Sydney’s shiny new brand will be showcased to a select group of industry trade journalists at 1.50 pm on Tuesday 20 May during Sydney’s press conference. Hosted by Lyn Lewis-Smith, the press conference will also include updates to the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney and Darling Harbour Live development and the unveiling of Sydney’s new expenditure methodology.

BESydney will be joined by Beverley Parker from ICC Sydney and BESydney Ambassador and Australian expatriate, Tim Walker, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr Walker will share his personal experiences of hosting an event in Sydney – twice – and what makes the city shine globally as premier business event destination.

Named the world’s most reputable city in 2013 and ranked among the world’s top 20 cities for the number of events held in the city each year by the latest ICCA Country and City Rankings results, Sydney is bursting with opportunity.

“From Barangaroo to Darling Harbour, our city is evolving at a rapid pace. ICC Sydney is now around 2.5 years from completion, but it’s only part of the Sydney story,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.

“Australia’s harbour city is getting on with business, with $63 billion worth of infrastructure committed by the New South Wales Government over four years. This is not the Sydney people knew a decade ago. The future is bright, it’s collaborative, and brimming with possibilities.

Sydney joins Tourism Australia on Stand B320 for the three-day international tradeshow.

Berlin auf der IMEX 2014

Berlin auf der IMEX 2014
Im Fokus: CityCube Berlin und 25. Mauerfall-Jubiläum

Berlin, Mai 2014 – Starker Auftritt für die Hauptstadt: Auf der IMEX 2014 präsentiert sich Berlin vom 20. bis 22. Mai auf dem deutschen Gemeinschaftsstand erstmals mit mehr als 30 Partnern. Das Berlin Convention Office von visitBerlin sowie Hotels, Locations, Kongress-Zentren und Agenturen der Stadt zeigen am Messestand F100-40/41, Halle 8, die Berlin-Highlights der kommenden Monate.

„Mit dem neuen CityCube Berlin und der modernen Hotellandschaft bietet Berlin seinen Kunden den optimalen Rahmen für Events. Die IMEX ist der passende Ort, um das zu zeigen“, sagt Heike Mahmoud, Director Conventions des visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office. „In Berlin treffen Vergangenheit und Zukunft aufeinander; hier ist die Hightech-Branche zu Hause. Daher ist die Stadt ideal für Kongresse aus Wissenschaft und Forschung.“

Der neue CityCube Berlin verfügt über eine Kapazität von 11.000 Teilnehmern und bietet einen modernen Rahmen für Kongresse und Tagungen. Mit der Expansion des Estrel Berlin um ein Kongress-Center wird die Hauptstadt ihre Position auf dem internationalen Markt weiter stärken.

25 Jahre Mauerfall und Kundenveranstaltung „Fall4Berlin“ in Großbritannien
Das 25. Mauerfall-Jubiläum ist das zentrale Thema des Hauptstadt-Standes. Höhepunkt der Feierlichkeiten im Herbst: eine zwölf Kilometer lange Lichtinstallation aus hunderten mit Helium gefüllten Ballons entlang des ehemaligen Mauerverlaufs. Der Messestand vermittelt einen ersten Eindruck dieser geplanten Aktion. Ausgewählte UK-Agentur-Kunden erleben vom 17. bis 18. Juli bei London, wie sehr sich Berlin seit dem Mauerfall verändert hat. Unter dem Motto „Fall4Berlin“ können sie ihr Berlin-Wissen bei interaktiven Challenges auf die Probe stellen.

Zukunft im Blick: Der Kongress-Sommer in Berlin
Berlin ist im Juni Gastgeber von gleich drei hochkarätige Veranstaltungen zu Zukunftsfragen: Vom 11. bis 13. Juni kommen die wichtigsten Vertreter der deutschen MICE-Branche zur „MEXCON – Meeting Experts Conference“ in die Hauptstadt. Insgesamt 34 internationale Vertreter von Verbänden und Kongressbüros treffen sich vom 26. bis 28. Juni beim „ICCA Sector Destination Marketing International Client/Supplier Business Workshop“ in der Stadt. Vom 29. Juni bis 2. Juli berät der internationale Verband der Ausstellungs- und Kongress-Zentren im Rahmen der „Annual Conference and 56th General Assembly of AIPC“ über aktuelle Trends.

Berlin in den Top 5 der internationalen Kongress-Destinationen
Spitzenposition für Berlin: In der aktuellen Statistik der International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) belegt die Hauptstadt im weltweiten Vergleich den fünften Platz. Bei der Zahl der Verbändekongresse konnte sich Berlin mit 178 Veranstaltungen im Jahr 2013 steigern (2012: 172).

Weitere Informationen zum Kongress-Standort Berlin unter convention.visitBerlin.de.

Für Rückfragen wenden Sie sich bitte an:
Katharina Dreger
visitBerlin-Pressesprecherin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 26 47 48 – 956
katharina.dreger@visitBerlin.de

Christian Tänzler
visitBerlin-Pressesprecher
Tel.: +49 (0)30 26 47 48 – 912
christian.taenzler@visitBerlin.de