Figures announced for the next IMEX exhibition in Frankfurt, May 30 –June 1 2006, demonstrate that the global meetings, incentive travel and events exhibition is due to show significant exhibitor growth for the 4th consecutive year; as well as hosting 3,400 international buyers to Frankfurt, within an overall total of 7,500 trade visitors.

Many of the exhibition’s major exhibitors have already increased their stand sizes following a highly successful show last year. Spain will now take one of the largest stands at IMEX with 600 square metres.

In line with Middle Eastern market growth, Dubai and Jordan have also increased their presence, while Ras Al Khaimah, an emerging Gulf destination, has nearly quadrupled its stand size. South American exhibitors, Argentina, Chile and Brazil will also be represented on bigger stands at the Messe Frankfurt exhibition.

Increasingly popular destinations such as Taiwan and Turkey have also significantly enlarged their exhibition space, as have several eastern European countries including Hungary, Romania, Lithuania and Poland.

Peru, Abu Dhabi and Kenya will be exhibiting for the first-time in 2006, alongside leading brands such as NH-Hotels, BMW Welt, Kuoni and Best Western Deutschland.

Representation by the major hotel groups will also be higher next year with Abama Hotels, Conrad Hotels, Concorde Hotels, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Grecotel, Hilton International and Marriott International all increasing their space at the exhibition.

Hotel groups who will be increasing space by over 40% include Boscolo Hotels Spa, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts and Ritz Carlton.

The IMEX organisers are forecasting the attendance of 3,400 international hosted buyers, many of whom are the key clients of leading hotel groups and with 10 per cent coming from strategically important long-haul markets such as North America, Canada, Middle East, Australia, Thailand and China.

IMEX works with a network of 400 worldwide intermediaries who carefully qualify and select each buyer.

Several of the world’s leading airlines are now fully incorporated into the IMEX hosted buyer programme including Emirates Airlines, Singapore Airlines, United, Malaysian Airlines and British Airways.

IMEX’s official airline, Lufthansa, will once again be supporting the hosted buyer programme by bringing groups from North America, South Africa and the Far East and Swiss Air will be bringing key buyers from Thailand and Russia.

Lufthansa also continues its support of the exhibition by offering a 50% discount to all pre-registered exhibitors and visitors on flights from around the world to Frankfurt.

Following a highly successful first visit to IMEX last year, HelmsBriscoe International, the largest site selection and meeting services company in the world, will again bring a delegation of 40 top executives to Frankfurt. Managing Director, Pat Durocher, will also be addressing 150 students at the Future Leaders’ Forum.

Commenting on her company’s return to IMEX, Pat Durocher says, “IMEX is a key show for our global associates and, with more than 40 attendees last year, we were able to make an impact and meet with many key suppliers as well as clients. We found the show to be of tremendous value.”

Also returning will be a delegation from the UK’s Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) whose 60 British members combine an annual buying power of £500 million (€750 million).

More than 250 international association planners are set to attend the IMEX Association Day the day prior to opening on Monday 29 May. Now firmly established as the largest educational gathering of association executives in Europe, Association Day’s topical seminar programme will be followed by an evening networking event for 700 guests.

The Programme has again been planned around recommendations and feedback from association executives and is organised by IMEX business partner ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) in conjunction with 6 of the leading international trade associations.

Seminars will address topics including ‘Congress education - getting the message across’; ‘Non-dues revenue - maximising opportunities’ and ‘Member recruitment and retention issues’.

New for 2006 will be a dedicated IT Lab to give association planners the chance to sample and view state of the art technology for association management.

Says IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom, “IMEX continues to develop and grow in line with underlying market and industry optimism. Demand for IMEX 2006 is extremely strong with a number of our key exhibitors increasing their space, as well as demand from new destinations and brands. In line with such increases we will be expanding the hosted buyer programme to bring together 3,400 international buyers from around the world. We are looking forward to a busy and productive show for the industry.”

IMEX continues to be endorsed by ICCA, SITE (The Society of Incentive and Travel Executives), DMAI (The Destination Marketing Association International) and is a European Partner and sponsor of MPI (Meeting Professionals International).

IMEX 2006 will take place in Messe Frankfurt’s largest single hall, Hall 8, May 30 – June 1. Online pre-registration is now open for all hosted buyers and visitors.