Imex was such a blast. It is good to be back!
EVINTRA as official media partner of imex since 2014 had the greatest show so far. Having 9 of their Premium Members at the biggest ever EVINTRA booth, hosting the official opening party with CIM that attracted more than 1100 guests and getting more than 550 B2B meetings - made this show an unforgettable kick off as an come back of the imex in Frankfurt.
The first IMEX in Frankfurt since 2019 proved to be a momentous occasion for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry last week. It was marked by an outpouring of camaraderie, celebration and, most importantly, business.
After an enforced break of three years due to the pandemic, this IMEX show was always going to feel special. The question was, how special? Feedback from exhibitors and buyers made that abundantly clear.
EVINTRA as official media partner of imex since 2014 had the greatest show so far. Having 9 of their Premium Members at the biggest ever EVINTRA booth, hosting the official opening party with CIM that attracted more than 1100 guests and getting more than 550 B2B meetings - made this show an unforgettable kick off as an come back of the imex in Frankfurt.
The first IMEX in Frankfurt since 2019 proved to be a momentous occasion for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry last week. It was marked by an outpouring of camaraderie, celebration and, most importantly, business.
After an enforced break of three years due to the pandemic, this IMEX show was always going to feel special. The question was, how special? Feedback from exhibitors and buyers made that abundantly clear.
Premium Partners that joined EVINTRA at imex this year:
- 1MPACT Event & Destination Management | DMC from UAE (Dubai) | Alberto Cavallo
- Amazing Morocco | DMC from Morocco | Amine Benjelloun
- SMS Tourism | DMC from Malta | Julian Friggieri
- Amazing Morocco | DMC from Morocco | Amine Benjelloun
- SMS Tourism | DMC from Malta | Julian Friggieri
- Meli Tours | DMC from Greece & Romania | Alexandros Melikokis
- A Travel | DMC from UAE (Dubai) | Alina Shliakhtova
- ESG MICE & Luxury Travel DMC from Switzerland | Briss Mathur
- Meetings Escrow Inc. | Financial supplier | Liz Holtby
- Hummingbird Travel | DMC from Sri Lanka | Sanka Wijeyakulasuriya
- Interline Frankfurt | Chauffeured Services from Germany | Michael Trux
- Interline Frankfurt | Chauffeured Services from Germany | Michael Trux
Join EVINTRA at more than 60 such events per year in more than 40 countries, the world greatest hosted buyer program and destination management platform. To enquiry for exhibiting check here.
A change in the story
Corporate planners attending Exclusively Corporate on Monday 31 May, confirmed that, although some destinations are offering financial incentives of up to 100 Euros per delegate to attract events, buyers’ current top priority is how well that destination has managed Covid. Many agreed that financial incentives are helpful (if ethics policies allow) but proof of consistent and ongoing health management is more important, coupled with strong partnership values.
IMEX saw an excellent attendance of around 9000 in the halls this week, including close to 3000 buyers, of which the majority were hosted. Exhibiting companies numbered 2300.
Show experience – unexpected touches good for the soul
Over in Hall 9, IMEX’s focus on an improved show experience was impossible to miss, leaving many attendees gasping ‘wow’ as they entered the hall. A feast for the eyes with its colourful rainbow road, grassy Central Park surrounded by cabin-style food trucks, trees and abundant live plants, Hall 9 expressed the IMEX team’s commitment to biophilia (our innate human affinity with the natural world). The design team at suppliers, Fair Services, together with IMEX’s inhouse design studio succeeded in making a huge hall feel homely, comforting, accessible and ‘good for the soul.’ Attendees commented on the level of investment and care that had gone into crafting this special space, which included three branded education theatres, Forest, Ocean and Canyon; the hosted buyer lounge; food court, private ‘nook’ pods, Media Zone and more. For the first time, MPI and ICCA also offered education and a series of hot topic meetups in Hall 9.
Speaking after the closing press conference, IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer said: “It’s clearly been a great week for our global industry. The show was imbued with a sense of camaraderie and celebration, and it felt good to be back together in the same room - that’s the feeling our industry thrives on and is motivated by. We’ve heard about some huge contracts being signed and masses of business deals being done. All the indicators suggest that 2023 and 2024 are going to be very good years for our industry. However, we can’t deny the challenges of a new business reality – labour shortages, travel disruptions, supply chain issues. However, planners are resourceful, adaptable and determined by nature. They’ve learned a lot and I sense a strong determination to rebuild, but on new foundations. Equally, suppliers are doing their level best to flex and respond. The future looks bright.”