IMEX 2012 in numbers

29/05/2012

The 10th anniversary of IMEX Frankfurt was a great success for all! Since the tradeshow's beginning in 2003, IMEX has continued to improve its three-day program of learning, networking and celebration of the meetings industry.

This year's Hosted Buyer program welcomed nearly 4,000 hosted buyers from over 60 countries, including 20 new hosted buyer groups. And they were busy – the number of individual buyer appointments with exhibitors increased by 21%! Throughout the three day tradeshow, some 64,000 appointments took place, including both individual and group appointments.
While the total number of tradeshow visitors was similar to IMEX 2011, approximately 9,000, the quality of hosted buyers was said to have improved. This year, 75% of buyers represented European markets while the remainder came from long-haul markets like the USA, Brazil, Russia, China and Latin America.
New exhibitors include ATA Hotels; Best Western Hotels, Buy the Sea cruise line, Detroit, Georgia National Tourism Administration, Relais & Chateaux Hotels, Qatar Airways and the Venetian Macau. There are 47 new stands and 35 existing exhibitors who increased the size of their stand.
Germany boasted the largest stand at IMEX 2012, hosting more than 200 co-exhibitors! The German Convention Bureau was also responsible for 14 seminars during IMEX.
In fact, there were over 130 unique seminars, workshops and campfire programs as well as 17 ICCA Chapter Meetings. IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom explained: “Without doubt the scope and quality of our education programme now marks IMEX out. It allows all of our participants to prove even stronger ROI so we will continue to review and develop the show's education to ensure that it keeps delivering good content in the new and exciting formats that the industry demands.”
Wednesday's Celebration Hour was just one of the many events commemorating the show's 10th anniversary. Exhibitors provided food, drinks and entertainment (i.e. karaoke at the Paris stand!) to create a festive atmosphere.
“It was a great pleasure to see the show floor come alive even more during our special Celebration Hour this year - and to see so many exhibitors entering the party spirit with great hospitality and entertainment.”