IMEX, the global meetings, incentive travel and events industry exhibition, will deliver more exhibitors and more buyers when it opens its doors this May in Frankfurt.

3,400 hosted buyers are forecast within an overall visitor number of 7,500; as well as more than 3,000 exhibitors.

For the fourth IMEX, taking place at Messe Frankfurt on 30^th May to June 1^st, around 35% of previous exhibitors have booked larger stands than in 2005.

More space has been taken by Spain, Ireland, Visit London, Malaysia, Namibia, Jordan, Dubai, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Boston and several eastern European countries including Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland.

There is notable buoyancy among European destinations with half of them increasing their stand sizes.

40% of hotel exhibitors including Accor Hotels, Boscolo Hotels Spa, Conrad Hotels, Hilton International, Hyatt International, Marriott International, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Ritz Carlton and Starwood have decided to take bigger stands.

Commenting on the decision to take greater space, John Licence, Vice President Global Sales, Europe for Marriott International said: "IMEX continues to be a very successful show for Marriott International producing tangible leads for our wide portfolio of worldwide properties. We have increased our stand space in 2006 …. to accommodate the increasing demand from our hotel representatives to attend!  We consistently see leads of over $10million taken at each show and expect 2006 to be another successful visit for us."

With, in addition, a host of new exhibitors right across the market, including Peru, Abu Dhabi, Kenya and Tucson (USA) together with leading brands such as SkyTeam, Rocco Forte, NH-Hotels, BMW Welt, Kuoni and Best Western Deutschland, IMEX 2006 will be larger than in 2005, reflecting substantial growth for the fourth consecutive year.

In line with the increasing size of the exhibition, the number of hosted buyers and delegates going to Frankfurt with partner associations and clients is also expected to be notably higher this year.

3,400 hosted buyers are forecast including 10% from long haul markets with many of them the key clients of major hotel groups.

North American, Canadian, Middle Eastern, Australian, South American, South African, Indian, Thai and Chinese buyers will all be well represented. IMEX works with a network of 400 worldwide intermediaries who carefully qualify and select each buyer.

A new partnership with the VDR (German Business Travel Association), as well as ongoing collaboration with the German Convention Bureau is expected to drive buyers from the German outbound market to IMEX.