Issue Contents
IMEX America 2011 Intelligence Special Edition pdf
Anticipating IMEX America
Excitement and anticipation about IMEX America is
growing fast and none more so than during IMEX in
Frankfurt this year when we took the chance to
update the industry on the latest news and
developments.
IMEX America will deliver a unique model of
tradeshow in the US market - following the same
formula that has been the cornerstone of our success
with IMEX in Frankfurt for the past eight years. When
the show launches in October 2011, it will deliver
2000 hosted buyers – the largest hosted buyer
program of any meetings industry trade show in the
US. 80% of these buyers will come from across the
US and the rest from around the world and will have
been carefully qualified with the help of our
intermediaries to ensure that they place business
both internationally, as well as domestically in North
America . In addition we expect to welcome
thousands more US visitors who will be targeted
through large-scale direct marketing campaigns with
the help of our partners, such as our major media
partner, Northstar Meetings Group.
“focus on delivering the top association buyers”
Delivering the best buyers
These 2000 hosted buyers, will represent the
association, corporate and agency sectors. As with
IMEX in Frankfurt, a focus on delivering the top
association buyers to the show will be of key
strategic importance and will be made possible
through the IMEX America Association Day presented by ASAE (American Society of Association
Executives), as well as a high-level PCMA
(Professional Convention Management Association)
co-located educational event, both taking place the
day before the show opens and followed by the
popular IMEX America Association Evening.
Delivering top corporate buyers is also of
enormous importance and we are delighted that
Maritz Travel have chosen to partner with IMEX
America to deliver their annual senior-level Customer
Event prior to the show. This event will attract up to
100 Maritz Fortune 500 corporate clients, as well as
Maritz account managers who will attend as hosted
buyers.
Outstanding professional education
The success of the IMEX model is also dependent on
delivering high quality, relevant and stimulating
professional education for the benefit of all and
ensuring that sessions do not cut across essential
business time on the show floor. The role of our
exclusive Strategic Partner, MPI (Meeting
Professionals International), is key in this regard. As
the show’s major educational provider, MPI will no
longer be running its marketplace tradeshow
alongside WEC (World Education Congress) but will
be encouraging members to make IMEX America
their show of choice in the US market. MPI will be
running ‘open to all’ power keynotes before IMEX
America opens each day as well as holding a
dedicated day of education the day before the show
starts. Together we will also be launching a series of
six high-level webinars this autumn to underline the
strategic partnership and its educational ambitions.
“six high-level webinars this autumn to underline
the IMEX – MPI strategic partnership”
|
Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group |
The show will also be characterized by more of our New Vision initiatives including Future Leaders, Politicians Forum, Wild Card Americas and Meetings for Success. In total, IMEX America already has seven Forums, 40 educational seminars and workshops and four official parties scheduled, with plenty more to come.
Partner Support
 |
“We are putting the
collective buying power
of MPI members,
estimated to be $16.4
billion, behind our
exclusive strategic
partnership with IMEX
America, as well as
designing a uniquely cocreated
educational
experience for buyers
and sellers.” |
 |
"IMEX has quickly
become recognized as
the gold standard of
meeting industry trade
shows, and we are
confident that the same
level of excellence will
characterize IMEX
America." |
 |
"Site is thrilled to be
holding our International
Conference immediately
following the show.
What a great way to add
value to attendees
during a time when the
demand for ROI is
paramount." |
Premium partnerships
A number of key partnerships and alliances will form the backbone of the new show and give it strong appeal to a wide audience. Many association partners will use IMEX America as the focal point for some of their major educational and social events of the year, ensuring the show really does have something for everyone.
Strategic Partner and major
education provider MPI (Meeting
Professionals International) will be
holding its Foundation
Rendezvous during IMEX
America, as well as delivering
high-level educational content
before and during the show. Site
will be holding their annual
conference in Las Vegas
immediately following the show
(13 – 15 October), as well as Site
Nite North America on October
10, the evening before the show
opens.
IMEX America was recently
made an Alliance Partner of
DMAI (Destination Marketing
Association International) and is
also officially endorsed as the
favored large-scale incentives and
meetings industry tradeshow for
DMAI’s 625 destination
marketing organization
members in nearly 30 countries
around the globe.
“significant role in shaping the
professional education program”
PCMA (Professional
Convention Management
Association) will also be colocating
a major educational
event alongside IMEX America, whilst ACTE (Association of
Corporate Travel Executives) and
ICCA (International Congress and
Convention Association) will also
play a significant role in shaping
the IMEX America professional
education program. ICCA will be
running a US version of its
Association Expert Seminar.
Other associations involved
in and supporting the IMEX
America educational and social
program include AIPC
(International Association of
Convention Centres), CIC
(Convention Industry Council),
IAEE (International Association of
Exhibitions and Events), ECM
(European Cities Marketing),
JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry
Council) and GMIC (Green
Meeting Industry Council).
In addition, IMEX America’s
success will be built on the
expertise and deep industry
knowledge and commitment of
several other partners. Prime
amongst these will be the Las
Vegas Convention and Visitors
Authority, our Official
Sustainability Consultants,
MeetGreen and Official Ground
Handlers, AWG – the Alan Waxler
Group.
Industry’s best will bring key players
Conference Direct, HelmsBriscoe, HPN, Global Cynergies and Experient are just a few of the big companies who will be working closely with the IMEX America team to bring their top buyers to the show and generate the 2000 hosted buyers forecast.
We have also been delighted
by the excellent and enthusiastic
response of many of our existing
hotel group partners who have
declared their desire to bring
their clients as hosted buyers to
IMEX America. So far they
include Starwood, Marriott,
Intercontinental Hotels, Rezidor,
Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton
and Millennium and we expect to
announce a number of others
later this year.
“exhibitors will be able to tap
into the cream of the corporate
market”
In addition to providing
dedicated educational sessions, our partners such as ASAE
(American Society of Association
Executives) and PCMA
(Professional Convention
Management Association) have
also each committed to bringing
over 100 of their most influential
buyers to Las Vegas next October
whilst Strategic Partner MPI will
be inviting around 250 hosted
buyers.
The importance of Maritz
Travel’s senior-level Customer
Event being held during IMEX
America cannot be
underestimated either. It sends
out a strong message of
endorsement and trust by one of
the industry’s most important and
revered US companies. It also
ensures that IMEX exhibitors will
be able to tap into the very
cream of the corporate market.
This event on October 10 will
attract up to 100 Maritz Fortune
500 corporate clients, as well as
Maritz account managers - all as
hosted buyers.
As Christine Duffy, President
and CEO, Maritz Travel explains: “This allows our clients to access
the most advanced content from
Maritz’ leading experts, and
provides the opportunity to
network with the best global
suppliers in the meetings
industry. The quality of the
content and educational
programs available through IMEX
America are aligned with Maritz’
goal of helping our clients
leverage meetings, events and
incentive travel programs to
reach their business objectives.”
Tips for exhibiting in the US
During the past few months of planning IMEX
America, a lot has been said about “how they
do it in Europe versus the USA” and the
differences between the two. The key to
exhibiting successfully at IMEX America will
start with knowing precisely who the key
players are, and how they can help exhibitors
get the very best out of the show.
The Sands Expo & Convention Center
team will be responsible for all electrical,
plumbing and catering services. They will also
be the primary contact for overhead rigging
for banners and signage, and for supports
over 200 lbs.
GES, our general service contractor, will
also play an important part in the production
of the show. They will be responsible for all
freight loading and unloading, freight
warehousing, empty crate storage, and
domestic transportation. They will also
manage furnishings, rigging for signs under
200 lbs, shell scheme spaces, carpeting and
the approval of stand construction designs.
GES will also undertake stand building for
custom-built and rental exhibits, custom
flooring, installation and removal labor.
However, exhibitors will still be able to hire
their own stand builders and the IMEX team
will also have a list of recommended
companies available for exhibitors to choose
from.
Our freight forwarding and transportation
partners from Europe to the US will be Agility. IMEX has worked with Agility successfully for
the past eight years in Frankfurt and the
company fully understands the way in which
an IMEX show needs to operate.
Some of the key differences between
exhibiting in the US versus Europe include:
• Raised flooring on stands: Differences
between European and US electrical
cabling and power usage mean that all
stands can be level with the show floor,
thereby saving money on rental and
installation costs.
• GES will manage all freight handling.
Unlike in Frankfurt where stand materials
can be unloaded direct onto the stand, in
Las Vegas freight must be transferred by
forklift from the loading dock to the
stand by GES.
• Due to local union installation and
dismantling rules, it is often better to hire
a local company such as GES to design
and build your stand rather than shipping
an existing stand over from Europe.
 |
Craig Hoffend, Trade Show Specialist IMEX America |
For more information on GES, contact
Sales Manager, Charlotte Pearson at
+1 7025155618 or cpearson@ges.com
Outline Educational and Social Program
Saturday 8 – Monday 10: ICCA Association Expert Seminar
Sunday 9 – Monday 10: IAEE CEM Program
Monday 10 October:
• MPI educational conference series -
concurrent sessions throughout the day
• Maritz Travel’s high-level Customer Event
• IMEX Association Day, presented by ASAE
• PCMA’s co located educational event
• IMEX America Association Evening
• Site Nite North America
Tuesday 11 October:
• 08:30 – 10:00: MPI power keynote
• 08:45 – 09:45: Association-led
educational sessions
• 10:00 – 17:30: Tradeshow hours –
individual and group appointments; drop-in
workshops on the showfloor including
Green Power sessions; professional and
personal development bootcamps
• IMEX America Politicians Forum and
Dinner
Wednesday 12 October:
• 08:30 – 10:00: MPI power keynote
• 08:45 – 09:45: Association-led
educational sessions
• 10:00 – 17:30: Tradeshow hours –
individual and group appointments; drop-in
workshops on the showfloor including
Green Power sessions; professional and
personal development bootcamps
• IMEX America Gala Party
• MPI Foundation Rendezvous
Thursday 13 October:
• 08:30 – 10:00: MPI power keynote
• 08:45 – 09:45: Association-led
educational sessions
• 10:00 – 17:30: Tradeshow hours –
individual and group appointments; drop-in
workshops on the showfloor including
Green Power sessions; professional and
personal development bootcamps
• IMEX–MPI Future Leaders Forum
Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 October:
• Site Annual Conference 2011
New vision for a new show
IMEX America will offer visitors, buyers and exhibitors the opportunity to attend green workshops in the Sustainability Center, professional development bootcamps in the LearningCurve Zone as well as personal sustainability sessions in a Personal Sustainability zone.
“year-round marketing support to launch them onto
the world meetings and events stage”
Other initiatives will make up the important IMEX
America New Vision program, which has proven so
successful in Frankfurt. This ground-breaking series of
industry-focused forums and projects offer debate,
education and insight into a series of key issues, giving
participants the chance to influence and shape the
industry’s future and become part of the solution.
An IMEX America Politicians Forum will help raise
the profile of the industry amongst political leaders
and add further weight to already successful US
campaigns such as Meetings Mean Business. Similarly
IMEX’s Meetings for Success program will bring
corporate meeting planners together with industry
leaders to understand how best to influence
stakeholders and communicate the true value and
importance of meetings and face-to-face events within
commercial businesses. The IMEX-MPI Future Leaders
Forum, which already takes place in 14 locations
worldwide, will also receive a further boost in Las
Vegas where it will be offered to a brand new audience
of meetings industry students.
Our Wild Card Americas program will invite
previously unknown destinations from North America,
the Caribbean 
and Latin America to apply for one of
two free exhibition places at the show. Winners will
also receive an accommodation package together with
year-round marketing support to help raise their profile
and launch them onto the world meetings and event
stage. Previous Wild Card winners in Frankfurt have
since returned to the show as fully fledged
destinations in the meetings and events market, so the
valuable opportunity that winning a Wild Card
represents for newcomers is well documented. A new
Techno-How zone initiative will provide a similar
opportunity to up and coming meetings industry technologies from across the world.
IMEX America in the news
Meetingsnet May 26
IMEX America continues to make a splash
With lots of industry heavies already lined up as
partners and supporters, IMEX America now adds
incentive powerhouse Maritz to the list. Maritz will hold
its annual senior-level customer event in Las Vegas the
day before the new IMEX show opens. Attending the
Maritz event will be 100 of the company’s clients from
Fortune 500 corporations.
Meetings Review May 26
Perfect timing for US recovery
Meeting Professionals International’s president and
chief executive, Bruce MacMillan, expressed his
satisfaction with IMEX America’s early progress. “We’re
thrilled with the momentum and demand so far,” he
said. “The 2011 launch should be perfect timing for
the US recovery.”
MacMillan went on to stress the importance of
MPI’s strategic partnership with IMEX America,
explaining that the education program would not only
take place during the show, but also start in autumn
2010 with a number of high-profile webinars. “IMEX
America will be second to none for education,” he
said. “What’s more, the Las Vegas location will help to
make the event the top marketplace in the world for
meetings and events.”
Planyourmeetings.com June
The IMEX America model
“IMEX America represents a unique model of trade
show in the U.S.,” says IMEX Group Chairman Ray
Bloom. “The fact that the show is hosted buyer-led will
be a unique feature in the U.S. market, making IMEX
America unlike any other trade show in North
America.”
Trade Show News Network June
MPI drops WEC show, partners with IMEX America
When Meeting Professionals International’s World
Education Congress kicks off June 24-27 in Vancouver,
British Columbia, it will be the last time there’s a show
floor to go to at the event. Instead, MPI will be
partnering with the launch of IMEX America when it
debuts next year in Las Vegas. The announcement was
made at a press conference last week during IMEX –
the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings
and events in Frankfurt, Germany.
To see the full articles visit www.imexamerica.com/june10intelligence.html