What is the IMEX Challenge?
The IMEX Challenge is a three day biennial humanitarian event at which a team of meeting industry professionals gather in order to make a positive impact on the lives of others - particularly children - in the chosen host destination. As well as attempting to complete the demanding goal of the Challenge itself within the allocated three days it also aims to leave a financial legacy allowing the continued development of the group or charity concerned.
IMEX Challenge 2012, Ljubljana, Slovenia
After considering a wide variety of CSR proposals, IMEX judges and staff voted to invite industry volunteers to join them in building a bee colony in Ljubljana for this year’s IMEX Challenge. The results of this vote set Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana to host the second edition of IMEX Challenge, which took place from 2-4 July 2012.
The IMEX Challenge is a three-day, humanitarian event at which a team of meeting industry professionals gather with the goal of making a positive impact on the lives of others – in particular, the lives of children.
This year. 15 people from across the meetings industry had the opportunity to work together with staff and patients at CUDV Draga – a residential Care Centre for mentally and physically handicapped children and adults – and the Slovenian BeBee campaign, which supports the habitat of declining bee colonies.
The Challenge included the construction of a 30sqm beehive in the Care Centre’s grounds, renovating a greenhouse and landscaping the centre’s garden. To make learning about beekeeping easy for people with disabilities, the Beekeeper’s Association of Slovenia and the Care Centre Draga created an easy-to-read textbook on the subject.
Summinig up the feeling of those that took part and the impact this will have for Slovenia, the Slovenian Convention Bureau's Miha Kovacic says: "Despite the financial and economic crisis, this was an example of the successful integration of various industries and organisations, both international and domestic, all with the aim of undertaking a socially responsible act. The official partners, in conjunction with the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and the Draga Centre, have created a meaningful project, the effects of which will be felt long after July 2012.”
Check out more photos from the site visit too. See the Facebook page here.
Local Partners
Slovenian Convention Bureau, Ljubljana Tourism / Convention Bureau, Go.Mice Congress & Marketing Agency, Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, Training, Occupation and Care Centre "Dolfka Boštjančič", Draga Kompas DMC and Grand Hotel Union.  
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