The event, held in late April, closed its doors after another successful show and with positive signs that the industry continues to remain strong despite economic uncertainty in some parts of the world.
In his closing ceremony speech, IMEX chairman, Ray Bloom, said IMEX 2008 had been marked by a series of record-breaking highs, both on and off the show floor.
“An indication of the robust and healthy nature of the international meetings industry currently is that IMEX welcomed well over 8500 buyers to Messe Frankfurt, of which more than 3600 were hosted buyers - a far larger proportion of these being from long-haul markets than ever before,” he said.
“Adding to this positive picture is the fact that these buyers achieved over 40,000 pre-organised appointments over the last three days, of which more than 30,000 were made through the individual online appointment system.”
He said there were noticeably more German trade visitors than previous years, a result of additional marketing by IMEX and the German Convention Bureau.
He also made mention of the success of this year’s Association Day, attended by 270 association executives, and highlighted the continuing growth and popularity of the Future Leaders Forum (FLF), which is run in partnership with MPI (Meeting Professionals International).
Looking ahead to new developments for IMEX in 2009, Mr Bloom told his audience that IMEX would continue to focus on building the quality and scope of its long-haul hosted buyer program.
“We have succeeded in tripling the number of long-haul hosted buyers coming to IMEX since 2006. These buyers are of key strategic importance to the show alongside our extensive European hosted program.”
Other developments for 2009 will include a new Innovation Clinic designed to showcase innovative learning techniques plus live event and incentive ideas in the Professional Development Pavilion.
The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) took the opportunity at IMEX to award the 2008 Vin Barron IMEX Prize for Australian Bureaux staff to Ian-Michael F Mitrani, a business development manager with Sydney’s Convention Bureau.
AACB executive director, Mike Cannon, said Ian-Michael impressed the judges with his approach to the many challenges facing bureaux leaders combined with his clear ability to see potential solutions.
The annual award, which is co-sponsored by Qantas, is designed to foster career development and encourage excellence among Australia’s convention bureau, young future leaders.
IMEX managing director, Paul Flackett, said the prize had been renamed to incorporate the name of Vin Barron, the retiring CEO of Tasmania’s Convention Bureau.
Visit www.imex-frankfurt.com for further details.
INSET: Former CEO of the Adelaide Convention Centre, Pieter van der Hoeven, was presented with this year’s Asia Pacific Acadamy Award at IMEX for services to the industry.
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