2015 2015 Show Review The facts, stats, tweets and triumphs We ve grown! It s official 2015 was the biggest show in our history, and you helped make that happen. We d like to thank you, our fantastic exhibitors, for making this the most colourful, vibrant and productive show we ve hosted so far. The show welcomed nearly 9,000 visitors, including over 3,950 hosted buyers many of whom were attending with great excitement for the first time. These newcomers came in their thousands from across Europe as well as from countries such as India, China, Egypt, Israel, Brazil and Argentina, making this the highest ever number of long-haul buyers to attend the show. 65,000 pre-scheduled individual, stand presentation and group appointments were made and this year saw the addition of 55 new stands on the show floor with 20% of returning exhibitors increasing their space. It was also great to see so many exhibitors investing in redesigning their stands and creating a fresh, new look. Read on to find out about 2015 s other successes. Frankfurt 19 21 Mai/May 2015
2015, the heart of a valuable industry At the end of each I am often asked about the show s most memorable moments. For me and for the entire team, the most memorable and positive moments are simply seeing the signs of success and achievement on the faces of our exhibitors and buyers. As a global meeting point for the entire meetings and incentive travel industry we take this responsibility seriously. 2015 was, once again, a record-breaking show in many respects. However, what matters for us is the business achieved, the networking and new connections made and the education and new ideas that were gained. The outstanding number of appointments, including those with RFPs attached, was a testament to the hard work being done on the show floor over the three days. Similarly, the revamped and enhanced educational programme, with 170 sessions, gave our thousands of buyers and exhibitors the opportunity to develop both professional and personal skills. Of particular importance this year, was the visit to the show by Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP and now global advocate of the valuable contribution that meetings, events and incentive travel make to business and economic growth. It was a compliment to us all that Bill joined us at 2015 and we could not have a more passionate or better supporter for our industry. As we look ahead to the rest of 2015 and into 2016 we can see many positive signs for our industry, but it remains as important as ever to shout about the value of this industry. Chairman, Group
2015 Who came and where were they from? This year our highly valued Hosted Buyer Programme attracted 3,952 hosted buyers from 78 countries. While 35% came from the USA, UK and Germany combined, 35% came from 43 long-haul destinations such as UAE, China, South Korea and Brazil to name just a few. A huge interest from German visitors The number of trade visitors at 2015 reached 4,935, representing 97 different countries. Once again the enthusiasm of the German market was impossible to miss: Germany provided 61% of visitors and 14% of hosted buyers from industries including insurance, banking, pharmaceutical and IT event planners keen to source new suppliers both within Germany and across the international market. Down to business With 65,000 pre-scheduled appointments and thousands more unscheduled, the show got off to a promising start with an influential gathering of 80 corporate planners at our event with a combined annual meetings budget of $270 million. Meanwhile, the 300 buyers attending Association Day also provided an impressive combined budget of $900 million. We have a lot of prescheduled appointments during the show and we re meeting new people at the networking events. For us it s been three very intense days and we really appreciate being part of the show this year. Daniel Raphael Sewing, Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, Germany
2015 Making corporate connections This year, international buyers from 13 different industry sectors, with a combined meetings and events budget of over $270 million, attended the third event. Senior executives from Accenture, American Express, Barclays, Cisco, Fidelity, GlaxoSmithKline, Lenovo, SAP and TetraPak were among the 80 attendees who participated in the dedicated education and networking day for corporate meeting and event planners. Celebrating associations Hundreds of association professionals from around the world gathered to attend a highly interactive and insightful Association Day at in Frankfurt. This popular annual event is designed specifically for all levels of association executives to broaden their knowledge about the challenges facing associations, exchange information and have the opportunity to network. The evening reception gave exhibitors the chance to meet and mingle with association buyers over cocktails and dinner as well as celebrating the launch of the show. One of its main draws is the wide variety of buyers - welcomes agency, corporate and some quality overseas buyers. The show has a real buzz and energy. Mark Spivey, Maritim Hotels, Germany We always take extremely seriously. It s part of a much wider sales and marketing campaign. We ve even launched our brand new initiative in conjunction with. Barbara Jamison, London & Partners, UK
2015 Meetings matter 2015 opened with a powerful speech from Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP, who told the audience that meetings matter and that the meetings sector made a significant difference to thousands of supporting industries and the creation of jobs. You matter because you create a network effect that is not just measured in numbers, he said. Because of the people that you touch, because of how many kids will get an education, how many ideas get exchanged, because of the events that the industry is putting on. You are truly changing the world. Politicians Forum Spreading the word Dedicated to raising awareness of the value of the meetings industry, this year s Politicians Forum saw over 120 participants including ministers, senior government representatives, policy makers and meetings industry leaders from all over the world. The theme for this year s Politicians Forum was: How do I attract more meetings and events to my destination? Ms Tokozile Xasa, Deputy Minister from the National Department of Tourism in South Africa, said, I ve appreciated how critical the role of government is in helping businesses to operate in this market. It s been good to gain insights from the private sector and understand how collaboration between government and business is essential.
2015 Sharing new skills, information and ideas One of s key attractions is the wide variety of education initiatives on offer. This year, the Vision Initiatives programme hosted 170 education sessions, 30 of which were in German. There were new early morning sessions on Business Networking and Building Confidence and a new initiative, Creative Thursday, focused on transforming meetings from ordinary to inspiring. Work, rest and play Another fresh innovation, Be Well at, put health and wellbeing on the agenda and gave people the opportunity to find some quiet time off the show floor. sessions explored wellbeing in the workplace, yoga and meditation, while some stands contributed to the theme by serving super-healthy green smoothies and more. A runaway success For those who wanted to fit in some exercise in Frankfurt, the first ever run, sponsored by Rio de Janeiro attracted 250 eager participants and more than 50 nationalities. The 5km run took place along the scenic Main riverside and ended with a Brazilian breakfast at the finish line. From the multitude of educational opportunities to all of the experiences represented on the show floor - it was awesome! Barbara Watkins, Verifone, Inc, USA - Hosted Buyer
2015 A mouth-watering taste of exhibitors hospitality Exhibitors should feel especially proud for giving buyers plenty to shout about in terms of business and inspiration and also for making networking easy and fun with hundreds of different ice-breaking ideas for providing hospitality. Across the three-day exhibition, around 300 stand events took place with live music, fancy football, Latin American dancing, demonstrations of cigar making and Arabic art, and all manner of competitions, prize giveaways and souvenirs. And as if that wasn t enough to capture the imagination there were Sri Lankan cocktails, Peruvian tapas, Armenian Brandy, Turkish Delight, Pastis tasting, Icelandic energy shots, Colombian coffee and far too many more culinary delights to mention from every corner of the globe. The show is energetic, dynamic, fast paced. You can feel the buzz! Steen Jakobsen, Dubai Business Events, UAE
2015 The word is They said what? Tweets rose by 40% and Twitter contributers rose by 17% 150% year-onyear increase in Facebook posts! in Frankfurt is electric. We have a full book of appointments and a lot of walk in traffic. The atmosphere is not like work, it s more like productive fun! John Iannini, Melia Hotels International, USA At in Frankfurt I can learn about what is trending. That keeps me and my team on their toes. Rajeev Kohli, Creative Travel, India The buyers here are fabulous. Very interested and excited to learn about us. in Frankfurt is exciting. You can feel the adrenaline. Everyone is talking here talking business. Adina Hano, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Israel It s my first time here and I was astounded when I entered the hall! I ve made some good contacts. Outside of my scheduled appointments, I ve discovered some new venues and destinations. My first time at the show has been fun and very useful - I plan to return. Michał Małaczek, Rival Group, Poland Hosted Buyer 29 meetings with 10 different countries over 3 days. This #15 is a wrap. Til next year! @brendamontreal Great meeting old friends and new suppliers at Frankfurt #15 @TheVenuePro
2015 Gain even more business, at 2016 now 19-21 APRIL, Frankfurt. There are two options available for exhibitors. (Please note: prices are subject to German VAT regulations.) Space only: 1,060 per square metre Perfect for exhibitors who would like the flexibility to build a stand to their own design and specifications. A second storey for hospitality can also be built at no extra cost. Shell scheme: 1,130 per square metre A pre-built area offering white walls and carpeting in a choice of colours. For a small extra cost, walls can be ordered in a different colour. Furtniture, electricity and lighting must be ordered separately. To book your stand, please contact the sales team: +44 (0)1273 224955 sales@imexexhibitions.com www.imex-frankfurt.com The sales team (left to right): Richard Allchild: Sales Manager, Mary Rodgers: Sales Executive, Alex Donaldson: Sales Manager, Heather Gough: Sales Director, Achilleas Schizas: Sales & Administration Executive, Oliver Bailey: Sales & Organising Manager. April is the new May. comes early in 2016. In partnership with: Bringing it forward