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IMEX
in Frankfurt 2013 will see the launch of a new education and
networking event designed specifically for corporate meeting planners
and senior corporate executives.
The
pre-show event is attracting considerable interest with over 50
buyers expected to take part and participants from Amway, Estee
Lauder, Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co already confirmed.
Attendance at the new event is open to both hosted buyers and
visitors from the corporate sector.
IMEX
has offered special events for corporate buyers in the past but,
using its experience from the successful Association Day programme
combined with focus group research, the company has developed this
brand new format. “Exclusively Corporate @ IMEX” uses the
Association Day as its model to allow corporate buyers to attend the
award-winning trade show whilst also taking part in expertly
facilitated education and networking.
The
Exclusively Corporate educational programme officially begins at
midday on Monday 20 May – the day before the trade show opens -
with a networking lunch. This is followed by a mix of general
sessions, open space discussions and case studies.
The
post-lunch general session will feature three short TED-Style
presentations from senior corporate executives, followed by
facilitated discussion with the audience. Leading the panel will be
Des Duggan, Manager Education and Staffing IBM Inside Sales Europe
and Meredith Smith, Director Travel and Meetings Asia Pacific and
Japan for Merck & Co. Thereafter the group will split, with
senior executives joining a 4-hour facilitated discussion and
benchmarking programme, led by Terri Breining and Kimberly Meyer, who
also facilitate the IMEX America Executive Meetings Forum.
Meanwhile
corporate meeting planners will take part in two consecutive
sessions. First, Steph Pfeilsticker, Virtual Strategy Manager of
Event Planning and Field Recognition at Thrivent Financial will
present her peer-led case study: “Hybrid Meetings and the Art of
Career Development.” Second, Alise Long, Corporate Events and
Meetings Manager at DSM will reveal how her company launched a new
corporate branding and strategy to its 25,000 strong global workforce
over 149 events within 48 hours. This session will be facilitated by
Roger Long, Owner and Founder of Blue Ox Consulting.
The
day is rounded off with a high energy Open Space session, where
participants choose the discussion topics during the course of the
day.
The
new event programme has been carefully designed to fit around the
work commitments of its corporate audience. Participants are being
flown into Frankfurt on Sunday evening for a networking dinner
sponsored by Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel. They will stay at the
prestigious Villa Kennedy Hotel where Monday morning has been left
free for them to catch up on work, do Frankfurt city tours, site
visits or undertake business meetings before education and networking
begin at midday.
At
the close of Monday, the group will be invited to attend the annual
SiteNite Europe reception or be otherwise entertained. All of the
corporate executives will stay on for the IMEX trade show on Tuesday
21st May with long-haul participants attending the show until
Thursday 23rd May.
Says
Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group: “We know that the needs of
corporate meeting executives are very different to those of other
planners attending the show. This new programme is designed to
address their need for a private environment in which to learn from
each other through case studies and open dialogue. The sessions are
intended to be very interactive and provoke forward-thinking
discussions with actionable strategies for them to take back to the
office. The private and exclusive nature of the event makes it very
unique and will provide great added value to those buyers taking
part.”
