Another first for IMEX as staff delight at receiving Site’s Richard Ross Award

Another first for IMEX as staff delight at receiving Site’s Richard Ross Award

Staff from IMEX, led by Managing Director Paul Flackett, were delighted to receive the 2014 Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award during the Site Global Conference in Rotterdam recently. The presentation marked the first time the award has been presented to an organisation rather than an individual.

The Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award recognises outstanding service to the incentive travel industry. It was created in memory of SITE Past President and long-time member Richard Ross, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City. The award also shines a spotlight on a recipient who has “furthered the vision, ideals and ethics of SITE”.
In making the presentation to Flackett and the IMEX team, Louise Hall Reider, CITE, Chair of the SITE Past Presidents Council said: “It was thrilling on behalf of all the Past Presidents of SITE to present the 2014 Richard Ross Award to IMEX – an organisation icon in our business, and the first-ever organisation to be recognised with this well-deserved honour. This distinction applauds their notable contributions and long-term service to the incentive travel industry, for which we are all exceedingly grateful!”
The Past Presidents of the SITE International Board of Directors agreed with the nominator remarks about IMEX, which described how “they changed the face of the meetings and incentive exhibition industry when they created and implemented the concept of the hosted buyer programme. This innovation changed the way business shows were organised and run…more importantly, they have achieved success with integrity, honesty and faith in others.”

Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group said, “It is a great honour for IMEX to receive the Richard Ross Award from Site. We are extremely grateful to be recognised in this way by the industry and it is first and foremost a great testament to the IMEX team.”

IMEX staff receive Site’s Richard Ross Award
Both organisations share a long history of working in partnership for the long-term development of the incentive travel industry. Flackett has been a Site member since 1988 and served as President of SITE International in 1995 and as SITE Foundation President in 2002. Bloom served on the Board of Trustees for the Site Foundation from 1993 – 1999 and, more recently, as Treasurer for the SITE Foundation. Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, is a current Trustee for the Site Foundation.

When the industry duo launched the IMEX trade show in Frankfurt, in 2002, Site was one of the first associations they turned to for industry feedback and support.

IMEX America

IMEX America | IMEX America wins Best International Launch Award
Organizers of worldwide meetings, incentive travel and events trade show, IMEX America, came away from the Exhibition News Awards in London last Thursday proud winners of the Best International Launch Award.

Explaining why IMEX America triumphed over some stiff competition, the judging panel summarized their decision as: “IMEX America ‘nailed it’ as a show concept. It was a clear winner in terms of development of the brand and its success with its chosen industry – as well as against its competitors.”

Judges declared this year’s competition “incredibly tough” and said “competition across our 20 categories this year, including 10 company and 10 people awards, reflected the diversity and significant achievements made in the past year.”  The judging panel comprised organizers, venue and supplier representatives.

The Awards, which are run annually by Mash Media, publishers of magazines and directories for the event, exhibition, meetings and conference sectors, saw 850 guests gathered for dinner and presentations in the newly renovated West Hall at London’s Olympia.

The Best International Launch category was new for 2012 and intended to recognize the achievement of one UK-based organizer who successfully launched an existing brand or new product in a market outside of the UK.

IMEX America debuted on October 11, 2011, at the Venetian Palazzo/Sands Expo in Las Vegas. It combined a three day trade show with one day dedicated to professional education – Smart Monday – immediately prior to opening. An exit survey of IMEX America hosted buyers revealed that total orders placed onsite amounted to $281 million with an expected $1.9 billion worth of orders to be placed with exhibitors in the nine months that followed.

Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group said, “We are honored to have been voted as the Best International Launch Exhibition at the Exhibition News Awards. We would like to thank our industry colleagues from across the world for helping to ensure that our inaugural show was so successful. We are looking forward to building on this success for 2012 and beyond.”

The other finalists in the Best International Launch Award category were: Aidex – Centaur Exhibitions; Grand Designs Live Australia – Media 10 and Diversified Exhibitions Australia; IFSEC Arabia and OSH Expo Arabia – UBM; IFSEC West Africa – UBM Montgomery and Occupational Safety and Health Expo Africa – UBM Montgomery.

Editor’s notes:
http://www.imexamerica.com/editorsnotes.html

Links for this story:
http://www.mashmedia.net/events.html

Photos:
http://www.exhibitionnews.co.uk/gallery.php?id=179&url=the-exhibition-news-awards-2012The

About IMEX America
IMEX America is the new trade show for the worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel industry. The second edition will take place at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas, (which is connected to the show’s Headquarters Hotel, The Venetian®|The Palazzo®), Oct 9 – 11, 2012.

The show’s strategic partner and premier educational provider is MPI, whose Meet Different Day of Education and Innovation takes place on “Smart Monday”, the day before the trade show opens.

IMEX also has an exclusive partnership with the US Travel Association, the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $704 billion US travel industry; is endorsed by DMAI and Site and has an Industry Partnership with PCMA. Other supporting associations include: ACTE Global, ADME, AIPC, AMCI, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, Association Forum of Chicagoland, CIC, CSAE, ECM, FICP, GMIC, IAEE, IAPCO, ICCA, ISES, JMIC, PATA, SKAL, Spin. A list of industry and media partners can be found here.

www.imexamerica.com