Welcome to a landmark year

Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group

A new life for MPI's MeetDifferent

Jeff Busch, Vice President of Events & Communication, MPI

GCB launches Meeting Planners' Guide

Matthias Schultze, Managing Director, GCB German Convention Bureau

Strength and depth

Heather Gough, Sales Director, IMEX Group

Future Leaders working together

MPI-IMEX

Making momentum matter

Mary MacGregor, Site President and Vice President, Account Development, BCD Meetings & Incentives

DMAI's new empowerMINT.com

Michael Gehrisch, President & CEO, DMAI

Be smart, be seen, be hip

ACTE

CIC Hall of Leaders inductees announced

Convention Industry Council

A practical forum for global issues

Edgar Hirt, President, AIPC

Briefing interview

Insights from outgoing Maritz President and CEO, Christine Duffy

Convention bureau marketing - A fresh approach

tmf Gmbh

Accelerating political support for meetings

IMEX Politicians Forum

Budva goes wild

IMEX Wild Card programme

Exploring emerging trends

Learning at IMEX

New partnership with US Travel announced

IMEX America

Professional nourishment for meeting managers

IMEX America Meetings for Success

A perfect fit for IHG at the Venetian

A new alliance announced

Apps for associations

IMEX Association Day

Face to face in the future

Philippe Fournier, President, IAPCO

PATA celebrates 60 years

Over 2011 with a year-long campaign

Excitement as ICCA looks ahead

Martin Sirk, CEO, ICCA

Cost visibility key

Angela Guillemet, Executive Director, INCON Group

New course director for ECM Summer School

European Cities Marketing

IAEE heads to Frankfurt

Bringing its Board of Directors meeting

COCAL to host Future Leaders

IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum

euromic expands with IMEX

Christophe Verstraete, Executive Director, euromic

Be your best at IMEX

Jon Bradshaw, Founder Meetings Mindset® and Business Development Director, IMEX Group

Packed PCMA schedule

Deborah Sexton, President and CEO, PCMA

Frankfurt Card

Free Frankfurt tours

Global business rising

Nikki Williams, Director of Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group

New challenges... exciting times

Paul Flackett, Managing Director, IMEX Group

IMEX Briefing January 2011

IMEX America and US Travel Association announce new partnership

Welcome to a landmark year

2011 will be the first year in which we have brought two major trade shows to the international meetings, incentive travel and events market. It is a very exciting time for the IMEX team but, more importantly, it is an exciting time for the global industry as a whole. Two shows mean a chance to reach new buyers, new exhibitors, new corporations and new associations and increase the business opportunities for all. Both shows also present excellent opportunities for extensive networking plus personal and professional education; an element of our business world which is becoming progressively more important to buyers and exhibitors.

IMEX in Frankfurt will welcome almost 4,000 hosted buyers from over 60 countries, including buyers from all the established European destinations plus the growing markets of India, Brazil, China and Russia. Interest from buyers in Asia, the Middle East, the USA and Australia also continues to grow. As in other years, 12 per cent or more of our hosted buyers will represent the association market and many of them will be actively involved in Association Day and Evening, which has now become a linchpin IMEX event.

Exhibitor interest continues to be outstanding, with continued growth from the hotel sector as well as the private sector – both good indicators of a sustained return to business confidence.

In planning for IMEX America in Las Vegas, we are delighted to be working with so many excellent association partners who share a deep and detailed understanding of both the North American and international meetings markets. Each year in Frankfurt IMEX has been adapted and refined as we have leveraged a growing number of high value partnerships. This model, where both parties understand the power of working together, with each playing to their respective strengths, will be exactly the same at IMEX America. We are delighted to announce a new and exclusive partnership with the USTA who are endorsing the show. In addition, co-located events including Strategic Partner MPI’s MeetDifferent educational day, the MPI RendezVous, PCMA’s International Summit, Site’s International Conference and Site Nite at IMEX America underline the significance of the show and impact on the whole industry. Expect more such announcements in the coming months.

We start 2011 with a sense of great excitement about the year ahead.

Ray Bloom, Chairman,

IMEX Group

ray.bloom@imexexhibitions.com

Top of page

A new life for MPI's MeetDifferent

• News from IMEX America's Strategic Partner and Premier Education Provider

Content and connections are the lifeline from MPI (Meeting Professionals International) to members, and what make the member-association relationship more meaningful.

For those who have attended MeetDifferent, the educational content was known for its uniqueness and innovation. As part of its strategic partnership with IMEX America, some of the original and intelligent education from MeetDifferent will be introduced to attendees. In advance of the show, MPI is producing six webinars, including three from the

top-level keynote speakers expected in Las Vegas.

For the webinars, MPI have focused on topics that will challenge participants. Generational intelligence and meeting strategy, neuroscience and meeting design: these are the future topics of industry conversations, as science and research drive event education.

Speaker Cheryl Cran, in her October webinar ‘An unprecedented workforce,’ explored the ways in which new technologies and tools can be used for meetings for multiple attendee generations. On December 8, Lynn Randall and Regina Gordon explored how the workings of the brain and biology shape our work as meeting professionals and how to apply the principles of neuroscience to increase meeting effectiveness.

Upcoming webinars, on February 2nd, include Kevin Clark’s exploration of the success-survival continuum and a presentation from keynote speaker, Robin Sieger, on organisational success culture, personal and professional purpose and how this affects the industry.

Jeff Busch, Vice President of Events and Communication, MPI www.mpiweb.org www.imexamerica.com/mpiwebinars.html

Top of page

GCB launches Meeting Planners' Guide

• News from IMEX in Frankfurt's strategic partner

The GCB German Convention Bureau has launched a guide designed to get organisers thinking about how to improve every area of their event planning.

Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB explained: ‘We felt there was a need for a booklet which provided practical tips on all aspects of meeting and event planning, including traditional areas such as goal-setting, organising, project planning and negotiation, but also new subjects, such as meetings planning as a discipline, CSR and the use of mobile technology.’

The brochure, written by Richard John, also deals with running incentive schemes, risk management and health and safety, event marketing, and communicating with different generations. Richard, a well-known consultant for the meetings and events industry, commented: ‘It's great when organisations like the GCB demonstrate their commitment to the international events market by commissioning a brochure like this. They are certainly one of the most forward-thinking convention bureaux in the world today.’

Matthias Schultze of GCB said: ‘We welcome feedback on the guide, and hope to be able to update it frequently, recognising the speed with which the meetings industry is moving. The guide will also provide a wealth of useful links to other resources which will prove valuable to organisers.’

Go to www.gcb.de/ENG/about_us/ brochures.html for a hard copy or PDF download. Copies are also available by email from info@gcb.de.

Top of page

Strength and depth

• Latest exhibitors for IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America

Much of the IMEX research over the past six months has borne out what the sales team have been hearing first hand: that optimism and confidence is returning to the market.

Demonstrating this, the Hungarian National Tourism Office, Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau and Croatia will all return to Frankfurt with larger stands. The planned Cairo International Conference Centre (CICC) will take their own stand for the first time, Lithuania will return to the show and the hotel sector continues to grow.

New this year, the exhibitor manual for IMEX in Frankfurt has moved online, allowing a wealth of important logistical and marketing information to be shared much more easily.

Exhibitor interest in IMEX America is outstanding with exhibitors now confirmed from every corner of the globe, plus an expected 40 plus hotel groups participating, many of whom will bring clients as hosted buyers. Exhibitor interest in added value from IMEX America is also high. Sponsorship opportunities, such as IMEX America TV, have provoked a great deal of interest. We are thrilled that Carlson Hotels will be our first TV sponsor. We have also been working hard to make sure that exhibitors who’ve never experienced an IMEX show before understand the exceptional business value of our exhibitor package and how to take advantage of this.

“We are so excited that IMEX is coming to the US. It’s a massive opportunity for us to extend the Los Angeles CVB brand, to meet new international and domestic buyers and to take part in a really strong business and networking event.” Michael K. Krouse, Senior Vice President, Sales and Client Services, LA INC – The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Heather Gough, Sales Director, IMEX Group

heather.gough@imexexhibitions.com

Top of page

Future Leaders working together

• IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum

Recognising that industry growth begins at university level, MPI (Meeting Professionals International) and IMEX support multiple programmes to assist students in their rise as professionals in the international meetings industry.

One such initiative is the IMEX-MPI Future Leaders programme. The programme’s major project is the Future Leaders Forum, a convening of students from around the world at various live events. The Forum was developed to encourage the best and brightest students to enter the meetings and incentive travel industry. Almost 4,000 students have passed through the programme since its launch in 2003. Of these 80 per cent have said they are more likely to enter the industry as a result.

In order to engage students, a strong online presence has been established on Facebook with 1,300 members within the MPI and IMEX groups as part of the Future Leaders Network. Students also have a resource in the MPI Global Student member-only group page. These social sites allow discussions, best practices and advice to be shared from members around the world. They also enable students to create connections that will prove essential as their careers develop.

With the support of MPI and IMEX through collaborative programmes like Future Leaders, students have the opportunity to gain the education, contacts and career opportunities that will place them on the path to becoming a productive meeting professional.

www.mpiweb.org
www.imex-frankfurt.com/aboutfutureleadersforum.html

Making momentum matter

As we enter 2011, Site’s primary objective will be to lay a foundation for future success based on improving our value proposition for the motivational events and incentive travel industry. Although the past two years have been challenging, Site has emerged with great momentum.

Latin America, China and India are poised to grow membership and offer new relationships. There is also momentum with our Chapters who continue to be the lifeblood of our organisation, offering relevant, regional education and programmes. A new Director of Education will be tasked with building a library of resources in 2011 and there is momentum with our Young Leaders Programme. This amazing group will come together for a single global event in 2011 as we continue to welcome more young professionals.

Furthermore, the Site International Foundation’s Site Index studies continue to deliver meaningful, vital research and the Foundation ‘must-attend’ events of Site Nite Europe and Site Nite North America are positioned in conjunction with the IMEX shows. To make the power of Site even more accessible, 2011 will see the launch of a strategy of aligning key Site activities with other industry events, including our marquis event, the Site International Conference, taking place immediately after IMEX America in Las Vegas.

In partnership with IMEX, we invite all industry practitioners to be a part of this momentum and join us in experiencing unprecedented business opportunities, educational programming and face-to-face networking throughout the coming year.

Mary MacGregor, Site President and Vice President, Account Development, BCD Meetings & Incentives

www.siteglobal.com

DMAI's new empowerMINT.com

According to the US Department of Commerce, business travel to the United States grew 19 per cent in
the first six months of 2010. However, while business travel is on the rise and many of today’s meeting planners are seeing more meetings already on their 2011 schedules, frugality remains a key factor in the planning process.

DMAI research indicates that, on average, meeting planners research five to eight destinations in search of the
best deal before making a final destination selection. While four out of five planners cite the internet as a primary research tool, easily finding reliable and accurate destination information in a single location is often a serious challenge for these professionals, especially in the initial planning stages.

DMAI recently launched empowerMINT.com, a free new tool that enables planners who are considering multiple North American locations to search and compare destination profiles. empowerMINT.com ultimately streamlines the process by enabling single-RFP submission to multiple destinations and directly connects planners with official destination

marketing organisations. Planners are able to engage with local destination experts, providing the most accurate information about their destination and offering a full range of services (including proposal management and site selection services) at no cost.

www.empowermint.com

Michael Gehrisch, President & CEO, DMAI
www.destinationmarketing.com

Be smart, be seen, be hip

ACTE (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) aims to offer programmes that reflect issues impacting the industry on a day-to-day basis locally, regionally and globally.

In terms of ‘being smart’, this year ACTE will add an initiative called ‘Around the World in 80 Hours’, designed to bring students, buyers and other executives to the markets they are most interested in, plus an Index that will let travel departments benchmark themselves.

The association’s members and sponsors have always been the ‘in’ crowd but in 2011 ACTE will push this further. Additional initiatives include the Angel Investor Lounge - bringing together the best ideas in travel with investors who can help bring them to life - and ‘3 under 33’ showcasing the leading young minds in business travel at our conferences.

While many associate ACTE primarily with education, networking is as important. In 2011 ACTE will offer more ways to meet, ‘be seen’ and get things done, including a Consultants Corner offering certification to leading consultants and providing them with greater visibility, and a Power Talk on the day prior to IMEX America.

2010 was a great year, but ACTE is excited about 2011, particularly because of how closely the association will work with IMEX, both in Europe and at the inaugural IMEX America.

www.acte.org

CIC Hall of Leaders inductees announced

The four latest additions to the CIC (Convention Industry Council) Hall of Leaders will be inducted at a special event this June.

Sandy Angus, nominated by IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events) currently serves as Chairman of Montgomery Worldwide. Sandy has shaped the industry by establishing shows all over the world, fostering the development of an international industry.

Faye Beauchine, nominated by Site, currently serves as President, Engagement & Events, Carlson Marketing and was previously Vice President of Sales and Customer Care for Northwest Airlines. Fay has served Site, NBTA, MPI, PCMA, ICCA and ACTE, and has been named three times by Business Travel News as one of the business travel industry’s top 25 most influential executives.

Christian Mutschlechner, nominated by ICCA, serves as Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau. He has a passion for helping educate future leaders and lectures at several universities. He also served as ICCA’s lead representative to the United National World Tourism Organisation to establish a globally accepted standard for meetings industry statistics.

Cliff N. Wallace, CFE (nominated by International Association of Venue Managers) has been the Managing Director of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre since 1995, having managed venues in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Cliff is a world leader in the adaptation of western business and venue management skills in Asia. He was also instrumental in the introduction of private management of public facilities.

CIC is the sponsor of the IMEX Professional Development and Innovation Pavilion in Frankfurt and of IMEX America’s LearningCurve Zone.

www.conventionindustry.org

A practical forum for global issues

As our members look to the future many can see that both the market and the industry as a whole are in a state of transition. We’re all familiar with how factors from evolving delegate expectations to new technology and even sustainability are creating new challenges. But even the overall questions of industry finances and how risk and reward are distributed are now in question. This means that we need more opportunities for shared discussion on how to address the future.

From AIPC’s perspective, shows such as IMEX play a crucial role – one that we take full advantage of. These events bring together all the players in a way that allows us to educate and inform our members while also participating in exchanges with other organisations that represent different sectors. This year’s AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres) International Sales and Marketing Summit at IMEX in Frankfurt will be an example of the kind of synergy that is possible, combining centre marketing executives with expertise from other key client groups in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

That’s why we also feel that IMEX America will be a timely addition to the industry calendar. The scale of change is global, which means the more we can interact with colleagues from other parts of the world the better prepared we’ll be to address worldwide issues and opportunities. Together, these events will help us achieve our objectives in a more efficient way.

Edgar Hirt, President, AIPC
www.aipc.org

Briefing Interview - Insights from outgoing Maritz President and CEO, Christine Duffy

In one of her last interviews as the company’s President and CEO before moving on to her new role, Briefing talked to Christine Duffy about market trends in general.

Briefing: At the Maritz Forum in Orlando you said the meetings and incentive industry must change the conversation around what it does. What does that mean?

We must get better at helping businesses, the political establishment and the general population understand and demonstrate how valuable these programmes are to our businesses and local communities. These benefits include: improved sales and service, more engaged employees, jobs and tax revenues that support the local economy.

Briefing: Maritz formed the Maritz Institute in 2009. Can you tell us more about its work and long-term goals?

Maritz has long been a leader helping companies achieve results through the power of people. The Maritz Institute extends that position by focusing on innovation and leadership. Connecting leading neuroscientists, academics and business professionals, it is a new and comprehensive approach for translating new findings in social sciences and neuroscience into business practices.

Recently The Maritz Institute and Maritz Travel collaborated on a white paper published by Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research entitled ‘The future of meetings: the case for face-to-face.’ It discusses the human science behind why face-to-face meetings are valuable business tools.

For a full copy of the white paper visit: www.imexamerica.com/meetingsforsuccess.html.

Briefing: ‘Social media’ and ‘engagement’ are two new phrases that have become commonplace in recent years. How do you sum up the engagement opportunity – or perhaps the threat - offered by social media to our industry?

Engagement of your employees, channel partners or customers is the key to quality service, innovation and societal and business contribution. The rise of social media indicates the powerful drives that are inherent in each of us. The drives to connect, contribute and create manifest themselves in social media everyday. We help clients understand the social media phenomenon and how it relates to meetings and events, and use this understanding and these tools to better
connect their people to their mission and business.

Briefing: We live in a world where the pace of change seems to accelerate faster with each passing month. Looking ahead five years, how do you expect the meetings and incentive travel industry to look?

For many businesses, the best differentiator will be service, service delivered by people that don’t just answer questions and fill orders, but connect with customers in real and genuine ways. Meetings, events and incentive travel programmes are important contributors to the corporate culture and will prove to be important tools for contributing to the economic rebound. Helping businesses tap into the potential of people will pay great dividends to those suppliers that can help clients understand and demonstrate the power of meetings and events, and deliver great experiences.

Briefing: Do you have any concerns about the financial weakness of some of your competitors?

It is challenging for all of us when companies in our industry are struggling to stay viable. The pie has gotten smaller so there isn’t as much business to go around. The unfortunate reality is that many smaller agencies are finding it difficult to adjust to different expectations in the ‘new normal’. At Maritz, we have actually been able to partner with some smaller firms on some recent opportunities. I think we’ll see more of these kinds of alliances in the future.

Briefing: We thank Christine for all her insight and support at Maritz and we wish her the very best for her new role as president of Cruise Lines International Association from February.

www.maritz.com

Convention bureau marketing - A fresh approach

Convention bureau marketing needs a fundamental new approach in order to match present paradigm shifts among industry planners, according to Johanna Fischer, Managing Director of tmf Gmbh. Existing marketing strategies are often too conservative and lack vision and the will to explore new tracks in communication. Johanna claims that if our industry wants to be better recognised, win greater respect and enjoy a stronger position among political decision makers and possible investors, it needs to wake up to a new reality.

Johanna says that development of brand communications must have a multi-level approach and include both national and regional competencies and expertise in order to attract investors as alternative sources of funds, to win congresses and also to encourage press coverage in the vertical media. Traditional tactics such as fam trips and roadshows are no longer what the market responds best to.

Johanna explains: ‘For us, not only are the well established meeting and congress markets of interest, but we also aim to identify where trends are pointing and which markets will be relevant in the future. ’The agency, which has headquarters in Munich and Wurzburg in Germany, is strongly engaged in the Indian meetings market and has identified innovative marketing tracks for corporate and event planners there, as well as those tour operators offering MICE services to corporate clients.

Johanna Fischer

Managing Director, tmf Gmbh

www.tmf-gmbh.com

Accelerating political support for meetings

• IMEX Politicians Forum

This year the Politicians Forum will attract up to 30 politicians and 60 senior meetings industry executives from around the world to IMEX in Frankfurt.

Sweden, Chile, Serbia and Puerto Rico are taking the initiative to accelerate political support in their destinations by organising their own local satellite Politicians Forums. The first satellite Forum took place in Gothenburg in March last year. Organised by Roger Kellerman of Meetings International, it was held in conjunction with TUR, the Swedish tourism fair. 40 Swedish politicians came together with approximately 30 industry attendees.

Roger Kellerman reports ‘Speakers Tom Hulton, IMEX; Christian Mutschlechner, Vienna Convention Bureau; Layth Bunni, Congrex and Sebastien Tondeur, MCI Group, together with one of Sweden’s leading experts on meetings industry issues, Björn Masuhr, certainly impressed on the country’s politicians realising that the meeting industry develops individuals, organisations, destinations and countries. We took an important leap forward with this during our first meeting.’ The Swedish satellite Forum will be held on 23 March this year.

We also see the launch of the Future Convention Cities Initiative, a collaboration between Seoul Tourism Organisation, Visit London and Business Events Sydney. The initiative aims to bring together leading convention cities from around the world to help accelerate the strategic development of their business event-hosting industry. Fast Future Research has been appointed as the research partner, facilitator and co-ordinator. Fast Future Research is also leading the Convention 2020 study on the future of major meetings and events, of which IMEX are founding sponsors.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/politforum.html

Top of page

Budva goes wild

• IMEX Wild Card programme

Budva in Montenegro has been announced as one of the winners of the 2011 IMEX in Frankfurt Wild Card programme. Budva will take a free exhibition place and will benefit from complimentary hotel accommodation, a ticket to the Gala Dinner and marketing and PR support in the lead up to the show.

Budva, on Montenegro’s coast, was once one of the most popular Roman summer resorts and Budva’s Roman baths are well worth a visit. There are a number of excellent conference hotels and unique venues including the Citadela – a spectacular setting for a gala dinner. Activities include boat tours, paragliding and sailing.

Applications for the Wild Card Americas programme are open here www.imexamerica.com/wildcardamericas.html until 1 June 2011.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/wildcard.html

Top of page

Exploring emerging trends

• Learning at IMEX

The Professional Development and Innovation Pavilion at IMEX in Frankfurt will host a wide range of seminars including Sportaccord‘s ‘Everything you ever wanted to know about international sport (but were afraid to ask)’ providing an insight into how the world of international sporting events work at the top level.

During the Women’s Leadership Forum Liz Jackson, President of Jackson Consulting Inc and Susan Sarfati, CEO, High Performance Strategies will be looking at women who have achieved top-level leadership positions and how they did it. There will also be a Women’s Leadership Forum running at IMEX America.

The LearningCurve Zone at IMEX America is shaping up well. In addition to running a campfire on social media, John Nawn, founder of ‘The perfect meeting’ and former Vice President of Education for PCMA will lead a session on ‘The meeting of the future’. Exploring the many emerging trends that are having an impact on the industry, participants will review meeting design and develop a blueprint for the meeting of the future.

Tyra Hilliard, Associate Professor, University of Alabama, Restaurant, Hotel & Meeting Management Program, will present a seminar on the work-life balance opportunities open to us in today’s work environment of flexi-jobs, virtual positions and a global workforce. Tyra will also lead a session on risk management strategies for the industry.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/pdp.html
www.imexamerica.com/learningcurvezone.html

Top of page

New partnership with US Travel announced

The U.S. Travel Association has entered a partnership with IMEX America and will host a seminar during the show on key policy issues affecting incentive travel, meetings and events.

Roger Dow, U.S. Travel’s President and CEO, said the timing of IMEX America and its attendees makes it a natural complement to U.S. Travel’s International Pow Wow, which will be held in May in San Francisco.

‘With U.S. Travel’s keen interest in promoting meetings, events and incentive travel in our country year-round, IMEX America provides an ideal opportunity for us to raise visibility for these opportunities during the second half of the year,’ Dow explained. ‘While International Pow Wow will continue to be the premier showcase for international leisure operators and meeting planners interested in US business during the first half of the year, IMEX America’s focus on incentive travel, meetings and events worldwide provides professionals in those segments another opportunity to develop contacts, network and gain valuable knowledge about this market.’

'Because of its unique standing in representing the entire industry, U.S. Travel’s support opens doors to help us introduce IMEX to America on the largest scale possible,' added Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group.

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, nonprofit organisation representing all components of the $704 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel’s mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.

www.ustravel.org

Top of page

Professional nourishment for meeting managers

• Meetings for Success at IMEX America

At a time when the entire meeting industry is being redefined, Meetings for Success provides an environment for high level discussion, providing professional nourishment and clarity of direction for meeting managers.

As a veteran of the meeting industry for over thirty years, I’ve been able to participate in Meetings for Success at IMEX in Frankfurt, and it was a great privilege to have the opportunity to experience such rich discussion with my peers from around the world.

I am now honoured to be asked to coordinate the Meetings for Success programme for IMEX America. We will continue the tradition of including some of the best planning executives in the industry in a debate on how meetings can have greater meaning and produce more significant impact. We will review the state of the meeting industry and discuss how we might influence its direction. We will raise provocative questions and see what brilliant ideas arise. Some of those ideas will become white papers available to the entire industry, while others might signal a significant shift in how we do business.

The programme is being sponsored by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Kelly Wood, VP Global Sales Offices America, commented, ‘It is very appealing to have an opportunity to engage with a small group of highly influential key customers on topics and themes prevalent in our business.’

Terri Breining
Breining Group LLC
tbreining@breininggroup.com

Top of page

A perfect fit for IHG at the Venetian

A new alliance was announced in October between the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) and the Las Vegas Sands Corp. The 10 year licensing agreement with IHG will create many new opportunities for the Sands Corp, owners of the Venetian and the Palazzo Hotels in Las Vegas, IMEX America’s host hotels.

Benefits of the agreement are stated as including access to IHG’s global operating system which incorporates the worldwide ‘Priority Club’ network – a database of 52 million members - the hotel industry’s most visited websites, 10 worldwide call centres and a powerful global sales force.

In its press statement, Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven commented: ‘This alliance will bring an entirely new set of customers to our resorts and provide us the opportunity to fill additional room nights.’

IHG have been exhibiting at IMEX in Frankfurt since the very first show in 2003. They will also be exhibiting at IMEX America this year as well as bringing a hosted buyer group to the show. IMEX America will take place at the Sands Expo, whilst the Venetian/Palazzo is the show’s Headquarters Hotel and is offering preferential discounted rates for IMEX America registered attendees and exhibitors.

www.ihgplc.com

Top of page

Apps for associations

• IMEX Association Day & Evening

This year’s Association Day programme at IMEX in Frankfurt will include a seminar on medical association meetings moderated by Dan Rivlin, managing director at Kenes Group, alongside a panel of leading guest speakers.

Michael Priem of travel marketing agency USDM.net will be supported by a panel of association executives in a seminar on how associations can best use social media and mobile apps. Also confirmed, Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future Research and IMEX partner in the Conventions 2020 study, will be providing insights into what we can expect from meetings of the future. The German Convention Bureau and MCI Germany will run German sessions tailored to meet the specific needs of German association delegates.

Delegates will have the opportunity to attend up to two round-table sessions of their choice before heading to the Association Evening reception. This hugely popular event offers the chance for association members to enjoy an evening of networking with exhibitors who are members of the organising trade associations. Association Day will take place on Monday 23 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt begins.

Meanwhile plans for IMEX America’s Association Day taking place on 10 October in Las Vegas are well underway with content being presented by ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership in partnership with ICCA and MCI. The day’s education will delve into: the ‘apps explosion’ and what it means for meetings; leadership; new revenue streams; membership; business models for associations and more to be announced in March. The format of the day will be similar to the successful Frankfurt model, starting with lunch followed by concurrent educational sessions, interactive round-table discussions and concluding with Association Evening.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/assc-day.html
www.imexamerica.com/associationdayandevening.html

Top of page

Face to face in the future

Globalisation, economic downturn, financial instability… we are living in a difficult period for the meetings and exhibition industry. However, IAPCO strongly believes in face-to-face meetings as profit centres for all stakeholders. We need to continue demonstrating the value of meetings at all levels of the organisation.

IMEX is the perfect example. Not only will IAPCO be present in Frankfurt, participating and delivering many of the association’s activities, but we are also endorsing and actively participating in IMEX America. Meetings and exhibitions are two of the solutions to the difficult global situation. The economic impact of our industry is huge and we need to further develop our standards, measures for the success of our meetings, and transparency and accountability. This is where our future lies.

IAPCO is the universally recognised benchmark for quality by congress organisations and is the global branding for excellence in the meetings industry.

Philippe Fournier

President, IAPCO

www.iapco.org

PATA celebrates 60 years

Over 2011, PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with a year-long campaign of events and activities. Taking the theme ‘Building tourism: Past. Present. Progressive’, the highlight will be the 60th Anniversary and Conference in April at the China World Hotel in Beijing.

The conference programme will include sessions on some of the most critical topics affecting today’s travel and tourism executives. These will include distribution challenges, changing demographics, aviation, responsible tourism and technology.

Leading discussions will be high profile speakers from both within and outside the industry. Speakers already confirmed include: Robert Broadfoot, Founder and Managing Director, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd; Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and Ray Hammond, futurist and author.

Also joining in will be senior executives from Ctrip China, MakeMyTrip India, Global Demographics, Responsibletravel.com, Boeing, Sinotech Group and ComScore.

There will be a number of competitions and activities to help celebrate this milestone year. With a firm commitment to the next generation of PATA leaders, ‘Face of the Future’ will spotlight an individual under 35 who has worked to change or advance travel and tourism in Asia Pacific. The individual will be sponsored by IMEX to attend IMEX in Frankfurt as part of their award. The ‘Tomorrow’s Tourism’ competition will also ask undergraduate tourism students to submit their ideas for a more sustainable future for the industry.

www.pata60.org

Top of page

Excitement as ICCA looks ahead

ICCA recently elected Arnaldo Nardone, Chairperson of its Latin American Chapter and past winner of IMEX’s Academy Award, as its new President at the association’s Congress in Hyderabad, India.

Asked to comment on the importance of IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America, Arnaldo Nardone said: ‘There is no doubt about the quantity and quality of clients who are regularly hosted at IMEX, the efficiency of the appointment process and the vast range of business opportunities that have been created around the core trade show. This is what makes IMEX in Frankfurt a ‘must attend’ event for every serious professional supplier in our industry. The show regularly brings together more ICCA members than even attend our own annual Congress, a true United Nations of the meetings industry.’

He continued: ‘With this background, expectations for IMEX America are high, not least amongst my fellow Latin Americans for whom the US outbound meetings market represents one of the most critical segments. I’m really delighted that IMEX and ICCA have been able to create a range of collaborative activities and events for Las Vegas that accurately mirror the extensive programme that has been built up over many years in Frankfurt.’

As at IMEX in Frankfurt, ICCA members attending IMEX America will be able to participate in data training and exchange leads, join an ICCA Association Expert Seminar, socialise with international association clients at the Association Evening and take advantage of a variety of other seminars and business  networking activities at the show.

Martin Sirk, CEO, ICCA

www.iccaworld.org

Cost visibility key

A survey conducted by INCON, the dynamic partnership of the world’s leading conference and event organisers, revealed restrictive budgets and increased demand for cost visibility as the key factors impacting global conference business in 2010.

61 per cent reported restrictive budgets as the number one factor affecting their business in 2010. Other non-economic challenges included marketing initiatives, technological developments, the impact of regulations such as the pharma code and CSR issues.

A complete copy of the survey report is available to download on www.incon-pco.com. INCON will be back at IMEX 2011 in Frankfurt with the INCON Cyber Café, which will also be a key feature at the inaugural IMEX America in October.

Angela Guillemet
Executive Director, INCON Group
www.incon-pco.com

New course for ECM Summer School

Pier Paolo Mariotti, Meeting Manager at the European Academy of Bolzano, Managing Director of the EURAC and TIS Convention Centers and Founder and Director of IT Meetings and Incentives in Italy, has joined the ECM Summer School’s faculty.

Mariotti will specialise in green meetings and the wider green agenda, speaking on its pivotal significance for the future development of the tourism and meetings industry.

‘The faculty of ECM Summer School is very strong and you don’t change your horse if you have the winning one! Of course, times are changing, the industry is developing and there are new technologies and media available. The needs of students change accordingly and our task is to keep up and be ready to fulfill their expectations’, says Pier Paolo Mariotti.

The 25th ECM Summer School will be hosted by the city of Krakow, Poland, 27-31 August 2011.

www.europeancitiesmarketing.com

Top of page

IAEE heads to Frankfurt

Reflecting the global nature of the exhibitions and events industry, IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events) is committed to continually serving a global audience and its international members. In 2011, IAEE will bring its Board of Directors meeting to IMEX in Frankfurt for the first time.

This meeting of key industry thought-leaders and decision makers allows IAEE to interact with leaders of the German industry in particular. The schedule will include a series of briefings that will enhance the directors’ understanding of key European industry issues as well as a special trip to the International Motor Show, the world’s largest car show. At IMEX America, IAEE will be running two CEM courses, plus an educational seminar.

Additional initiatives IAEE is considering implementing in 2011 to broaden its resources to the international audience include creating a Global Resource website to carefully expand international outreach without abandoning the domestic interests of its US members. The association is also looking at creating an overseas event as a forum for global leaders to share and discuss trends, issues, and best practices. In addition an advisory board that focuses on international issues is under consideration. IAEE will also be evaluating new markets for further expansion of the CEM Learning Programme.

IAEE continues to provide quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. As the largest association for those who operate more than 20,000 global events each year, it is committed to bringing buyers and sellers together to conduct business face-to-face.

www.iaee.com

Top of page

COCAL to host Future Leaders

• IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum

For the third consecutive year IMEX will be joining COCAL delegates in presenting the Future Leaders Forum during its 28th Annual Congress, 14-18 March, in Viña del Mar, Chile. Students will attend special presentations and exchange knowledge with industry professionals attending the COCAL Congress. Presentations will be delivered by world renowned speakers such as Rohit Talwar who will discuss the progress of the Conventions 2020 research initiative, including future trends for meetings, events and venues in Latin America.

Previous Future Leaders Forums at the COCAL Annual Congress were held in San Jose, Costa Rica, and in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Forum forms an important part of the joint COCAL and IMEX alliance objective to develop industry knowledge within the region by encouraging the leaders of tomorrow.

www.cocal2011.com

Top of page

euromic expands with IMEX

euromic has enjoyed great success with IMEX in Frankfurt. Past shows have provided extraordinary opportunities for both networking and business. The proven IMEX hosted buyer programme ensures that IMEX in Frankfurt, and soon IMEX America, will provide even greater value for exhibitors in the future as they face an ever-changing marketplace. Las Vegas, a convention mega-city, is an exhilarating location for IMEX America. It provides easy access for west coast planners and offers non-stop connections from all major North American cities. Also the exchange rate makes it great value for our exhibitors.

euromic was one of Ray Bloom’s first supporters when he envisioned and implemented the concept of hosted buyers in 1988. Over the years, the model has taken off and we are excited to see the programme expanding to North America.

Our association is confident that the IMEX Group will continue to provide us with cutting-edge ideas, solutions and trends that will be of immense value.

Christophe Verstraete, Executive Director, euromic

www.euromic.com

Top of page

Be your best at IMEX

• Meetings Mindset® at IMEX in Frankfurt

If I asked you what element of an event it was essential to have performing at its best to ensure the delivery of a powerful event with exceptional ROI, what would your answer be?

I’ve always felt that no matter where the meeting takes place, when it occurs, who attends and why it is happening, for the event to be effective there is one factor that sits above all others - the performance of THE most important element – the participant.

As humans we are used to taking responsibility for our performance in certain situations; how many of us for example have prepared for hours for exams, public speaking or job interviews? At Meetings Mindset® we want to help participants be able to do this for a meeting too.

So with ROI still the buzzword at every industry event I attend, I was curious about how the meetings industry could leverage what behavioural science tells us about physical, mental and practical performance improvement and at IMEX 2010 launched Meetings Mindset®; a service aimed exclusively at improving the performance of the participant.

The response was exceptional and since then we have been developing a variety of innovative, interactive and creative solutions each dedicated to helping meeting designers create powerful, dynamic and effective meetings by maximising the performance of the participant.

IMEX and Meetings Mindset® will be focusing on participant performance throughout the build up to IMEX in Frankfurt 2011, encouraging you to think ahead and take small practical steps before the exhibition to ensure you are at your most productive. You will receive simple but refreshing advice on how to be practically, mentally and physically prepared, perform at your best and, above all, produce results and be a success. The service will continue at the show – at the IMEX Meetings Mindset® Performance Centre.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/meetingsmindset11.html

Jon Bradshaw Founder, Meetings Mindset®

www.meetingsmindset.com

Business Development Director, IMEX Group

jon.bradshaw@imexexhibitions.com

Top of page

Packed PCMA schedule

PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) is a leading organisation for meeting and event professionals, delivering innovative education while promoting the value of professional convention management.

At IMEX in Frankfurt 2011, PCMA will present a timely education session for industry professionals involved in the planning and execution of international meetings. The association will also host a stand where visitors can learn about the latest PCMA programmes, events, products and services.

Also in 2011, the PCMA International Summit will co-locate with IMEX America. Taking place 13-14 October 2011 in Las Vegas, this event will bring together a select group of meeting professionals and suppliers for high-level discussions on the state of international meetings and the current challenges related to conducting business in the global marketplace. Attendees will share ideas, best practices and learn from their colleagues.

Deborah Sexton, President and CEO, PCMA

www.pcma.org

Frankfurt Card and free Frankfurt Tours

The Frankfurt Tourist and Congress Board will be offering free Frankfurt city tours to all IMEX 2011 participants. Guided coach tours of Frankfurt will take place on 23 and 27 May. Starting at the main train station the tours will take participants along the river to Sachsenhausen where the city’s traditional apple wine is made, on to the centre and the cathedral, then to historic Römerberg and past Goethe-Haus, where one of Germany’s most famous poets was born, to the tallest observation deck in the city - the Main Tower.

If you plan to travel within Frankfurt during your trip to IMEX, the Frankfurt Card offers reduced admission to places of interest and unlimited use of Frankfurt public transport. Prices start from Euro 8.90 for one day. The card can be purchased from the Frankfurt Information Counter at IMEX and various places around the city and can also be ordered in advance.

www.imex-frankfurt.com/travelandaccom.html

Top of page

Global business rising

• Hosted buyer programme for IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America

The hosted buyer team spent the last half of 2010 meeting with intermediaries and consolidating groups and hosted buyer numbers for IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America.

We are extremely pleased that more than 13 new groups have already been confirmed for Frankfurt, and we expect to announce many more in the coming months. High quality buyers from Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Latin America and the USA will feature strongly and once again we have experienced strong demand from China and Brazil. The appetite of both countries for international meetings and incentive travel continues to grow at a pace, and we are delighted to play a role in delivering these buyers and their business to the show.

New groups coming to Frankfurt include Meetings in Europe, Carinho Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Montreal, Starwood Hotels and Resorts UAE and Dolce Hotels Switzerland.

Momentum continues to build for IMEX America with almost 250 buyer groups now confirmed, many of which include the major hotel groups such as Starwood, Intercontinental, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Rezidor, Mandarin Oriental and Millenium, plus top agencies – HelmsBriscoe, Maritz, and Carlson Marketing to name just a few.

The growing trend for associations and corporations to hold their pivotal annual meetings around IMEX in Frankfurt continues and it is clear that IMEX America is having the same effect; becoming a week when the North American industry, and our international peers, will come together in huge numbers to achieve a great deal of business.

Nikki Williams, Director of Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group
nikki.williams@imexexhibitions.com

New challenges... exciting times

Another year has passed and the pace of development for IMEX grows ever quicker. Now in its ninth year IMEX in Frankfurt continues to grow as the global flagship event. New exhibitors… fresh educational programmes… environmental initiatives and technology projects are all part of the overall development which has made this event so popular. Both exhibitors and visitors alike recognise IMEX in Frankfurt as the place to be, where business can be promoted and concluded successfully. The unique brand of IMEX quality acts as an assurance of the many possibilities available to attendees.

The worldwide anticipation for IMEX America is nothing short of phenomenal. Contracts have been completed well in advance as the industry sees the chance to move forward in a new marketplace. IMEX America will carry forward the same principles of quality and delivery. A full three days of show floor activity will be supplemented by the highest levels of education and information. With key industry associations contributing their knowledge and support, all can be assured of a return on investment whether exhibiting or visiting.

These are exciting times, destinations are bouncing back from adversity, new challenges are appearing daily and still we see reports of growth and new found stability. These movements are mainly the result of the hard work and professionalism of the industry and its desire to succeed. At IMEX we are working hard to ensure that this success continues.

Paul Flackett, Managing Director, IMEX Group
paul.flackett@imexexhibitions.com