Following
the successful test and roll-out of a new, single email inbox for
hosted buyers at IMEX America last year, the IMEX Group is
introducing the same concept for all hosted buyers at IMEX in
Frankfurt 21- 23rd May 2013.
The
new online tool works by amalgamating all exhibitor communications to
a given buyer into an inbox on the IMEX website. Buyers receive a
single daily email alert directing them to the online inbox which can
be searched by keyword, exhibitor name and subject line. Appointments
can be made directly from the messages within the inbox. At the same
time the buyers’ diaries have been completely updated with a fresh
new user-interface reducing the number of clicks to make an
appointment from 7 to 3. In this way, email volumes are greatly
reduced for buyers and appointment making is easier, quicker and more
productive.
Says
Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group: “This is one of the most
important online developments we’ve made for IMEX buyers in recent
years. It was warmly welcomed in the US so we expect a similar
reaction to its simplicity and user-friendliness for our Frankfurt
show. We know that buyers are extremely busy and the best way we can
help them maximise their business ROI from the show is to make
planning and preparation as simple, targeted and as quick as
possible.”
Other
new innovations for buyers include a new Networking Hub on the show
floor to help them meet and find peers, a new educational forum for
corporate planners – Exclusively Corporate @IMEX, a redesigned
educational programme including a new Research Pod at the Inspiration
Centre and hundreds of new exhibitors from both established and
emerging destinations.
Last
year IMEX in Frankfurt attracted just short of 4000 meetings,
incentive travel and events industry hosted buyers from 71 countries.
Total attendance over the three days, including trade visitors, was
14,143. Over 64,000 business appointments took place between buyers
and exhibitors during the show, 40,000 of which were made between
individual buyers and exhibitors (the remainder being group
appointments).
Registration
is free.
