IMEX and ECM sealed their close cooperation with the signature of a new partnership agreement last month.
ECM also reaffirms its whole support to the sector, handing over 20 declarations signed by Politicians backing up the Meetings Industry during ECM CEO Meeting of Capital and major cities in Amsterdam on December 8-9.
Under the deal, both organizations will focus on trends and inspirations that are crucial in this ever changing industry ; each year IMEX comes up with new innovations and business opportunities and benefit in return from ECM knowledge on latest trends.
“ECM also advocates the value of the Meetings Industry and gives once again full support to the IMEX Politicians Forum via an active participation in shaping up the programme”, explains Heike Mahmoud, Vice-President for the Meetings Industry. The next edition will take place on May 20, 2014 in conjunction with the IMEX trade exhibition in Frankfurt.
Regarding educational opportunities, the IMEX Group is part of the selected ECM Summer School Faculty, bringing intelligence regarding how to maximize CVB’s presence at a trade shows and social media trends. The ECM Summer School is the only opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conference, meeting and event management. It sets the background and context to this most lucrative sector of tourism, illustrating its subject with up-to-date and cutting edge examples of European best practice. Course content is both relevant and practical, and at the same time is incisive and cutting edge.
“The ECM meeting of Chief Executives of Capital and major cities held in December each year also enables a continuous contact between IMEX and the key players in the main European cities. We are keen on sharing key messages and developments in the Meetings Industry.” adds Tom Hulton, director of International relations, IMEX Group.
The last CEO meeting of capital and major cities in Amsterdam, last December 8-9 was the appropriate time chosen by ECM to hand over 20 declarations of Support of the Meetings Industry to Tom Hulton, Director of International Relations, invited there as a special guest. In front of 21 leading European Cities, Tom Hulton demonstrated the economic impact of the Meetings Industry through concrete examples of congresses and through specific studies.
In response, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr handed over the declarations of Support signed by Politicians of 20 European cities. The declaration is intended to act as a public roll-call of politicians who understand the full economic impact of the meetings and events industry on their communities. It also highlights the industry’s role in building and sustaining local knowledge economies, creating employment, encouraging regeneration and stimulating infrastructure investment.
“Getting in total more than 100 declarations of support shows the importance of ongoing political advocacy in our industry and reminds us of the full economic power of meetings and events, and their role in building knowledge economies." declares Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group.
“Our relation with IMEX has always been one of great professionalism. We are very proud of this new milestone and want to congratulate IMEX on their achievements and their valuable contribution to the international Meetings Industry as a whole” comments Ignasi de Delàs, ECM President.
