Yesterday marked the opening of the largest IMEX yet, with 3,300 exhibitors from 150 countries occupying Messe Frankfurt’s Hall 8 and filling a record 16,500 square metres of floor space.

With 3,400 hosted buyers and several thousand trade visitors from Germany and the rest of the world forecast to attend over the next three days, IMEX 2006 is set to be the biggest and busiest to date.

Every single continent has undergone expansion at IMEX this year. Among those destinations taking more space are Bulgaria, Croatia, Dubai, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Romania, Poland, Spain and Turkey. In the Asia Pacific region Australia, India, Korea and Malaysia have also increased their presence at IMEX.

The exhibition also welcomes a long list of new exhibitors this year including Abu Dhabi, Cuba, Costa Rica, Greater Boston CVB, Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Kenya, Mauritius, Peru, Taipei International Convention Centre and Skyteam.

World-leading brands BMW-Welt, AMEX and Kuoni also exhibit at IMEX for the first time.

Hotel sector’s 30 per cent growth

Further growth and commitment is evident from the hotel sector, which is 30 per cent bigger this year, partly due to 17 of IMEX’s existing exhibitors increasing their stand space. Among these are Accor Dorint, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Ritz Carlton Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. This sector’s expansion is also reinforced by the first-time attendance of several new names including Best Western, NH-Hotels and Rocco Forte.

Hosted buyer numbers rise

The IMEX Hosted Buyer Programme has also undergone considerable growth since 2005. It now incorporates corporate, agency and association buyers from almost 60 world markets, all of whom travel and stay as guests of the organisers. Long-haul markets are particularly well represented with buyers travelling from Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, South Africa, UAE, Korea, Hong-Kong and Uruguay. This year’s buying groups from China, Brazil and India are significantly larger than before.

European representation is also strong and widespread. It includes a 50-strong group from Hungary together with buyers from the emerging markets of Croatia, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Turkey and the Ukraine.

A prestigious delegation of more than 60 HelmsBriscoe associates – representing the largest site selection agency in the world – is also attending for the full three days. Buyers from corporate companies such as Deutsche Bank and Conference Direct are also matched by an influential delegation from Carlson Companies, who have formed a close partnership with IMEX.

New mobile phone service

IMEX 2006 also sees the launch of a new mobile phone service which gives all 14,000 of IMEX’s participants instant access to a wealth of information at the ‘touch of a button’.

The launch of the new IMEX Mobile Exhibition Assistant – IMEX On Your Phone - gives buyers and exhibitors quick and simple access to personal appointment and diary pages, a full exhibitor search and Frankfurt transport, travel and hotel information. It also provides details of each day’s extensive German and English language seminars which this year features over 30 seminars and workshops.

New Vision – a platform for all

The popular IMEX New Vision Programme continues to deliver informed debate and education. This year’s programme once again includes the Future Leaders’ Forum (with MPI) and the IMEX Politicians’ Forum, both of which are running expanded formats for 2006. The Professional Development Pavilion, sponsored by CIC (Convention Industry Council), will also provide visitors with rich and detailed information from many of the industry’s leading education providers.

New Vision initiatives began yesterday with an over-subscribed IMEX Association Day, coordinated by ICCA and MCI. 250 association buyers took part in the most comprehensive education programme run to date.  They then met with 500 exhibitors for an evening of business networking. A further 400 association buyers will now visit the exhibition over the next few days.

Going for green

IMEX’s green initiatives have also expanded this year with three green awards being presented at tomorrow’s Gala Dinner. For the first time, visitors and exhibitors will also be able to view a ‘best practice’ green stand on display in the Corporate Responsibility Centre.