Imex 2008: The IMEX Corporate Programme has also expanded this year welcoming buyers from across the world.

Imex 2008: An innovative educational session – The Event Brain - led by Eventology and Eventia and will take the form of a traditional and interactive Oxbridge debate focussing on the reasons why people buy event services and what process their brain goes through in making these decisions. The IMEX Association Day is also due to highlight new meeting techniques with the World Café and Wiki Workshops introducing a fresh format and increased dialogue for the hundreds of association buyers who attend.

Several technology enhancements have also been introduced for 2008. The IMEX Mobile Exhibition Assistant (for use on handheld devices) will now allow hosted buyers to network with each other, while exhibitors and stand co-ordinators can also opt to receive important information updates by text to reduce paper usage.

Another new offering takes place on the Convention Industry Council -sponsored Professional Development Pavilion, where mentoring company, Shine, will provide 20-minute speed-mentoring sessions to complement the Pavilion’s regular series of professional education workshops.

Other developments for 2008 include a stronger focus on attracting more German buyers, and association meeting planners to IMEX. For the first time, IMEX’s strategic partner, the German Convention Bureau, will offer two new seminars specifically targeted at German association buyers on the first day of the show. MCI Germany will also be running sessions in German during Association Day the day before.

IMEX has also increased its marketing push within Germany, with several campaigns that acknowledge the growing influence of German marketing managers and directors on meetings and events planning and budgets.  IMEX has also put a strong emphasis on attracting business travel managers to Frankfurt. Recent trends have shown that they too have more buying influence on the outbound meetings and events market than ever before.

Interest in the IMEX Politicians’ Forum has also been strong this year, particularly from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. IMEX recently sponsored a new CEO dinner for the European Cities Marketing Association with feedback showing that European destinations are better informed and more aware than ever of the long-term value of lobbying, both at local and national levels.   

Says IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom, "With the 6th IMEX now just a few months away we are looking forward to welcoming even more participants to Messe Frankfurt in April and having the chance, once again, to deliver outstanding business opportunities to exhibitors, hosted buyers and visitors. In addition, we are proud to be able to offer innovative new ideas and services to the industry in the form of enhanced corporate and association programmes; plus showcasing best environmental and political best practice. We are all looking forward to experiencing the IMEX ‘buzz’ once again this April."