New IMEX meetings under the microscope

FRANKFURT – International meetings industry exhibition, IMEX, is launching a new campaign to help planners deliver more effective meetings and events and so generate greater return on their investment.

“Meetings Under the Microscope” will initially comprise a series of 10 workshops, each designed to give visitors a fast-track understanding of current meetings best practice and measurement plus an introduction to the behavioral science behind meetings planning.

Workshops will address topics such as meetings content and whole audience engagement; managing emotional states and the psychology of learning; meetings environments plus communications and preparation management.

The line-up of expert presenters includes Maarten Vanneste, author of “Meeting Architecture, A Manifesto”; Holger Scholz, IAF certified professional facilitator and Jon Bradshaw, human performance consultant, founder of Equinox Motivation and IMEX sales manager.

All participants will have the option to attend a final, extended teaching session when they will receive additional free support materials including case studies and a comprehensive electronic handbook – in effect a “Meetings Under the Microscope Diploma Pack.”

All sessions will be provided free of charge and take place on IMEX’s new and dedicated Professional Development and Innovation Pavilion, sponsored by the Convention Industry Council.

Said Jon Bradshaw: “Now, more than ever, it is vital for organizations investing in meetings to feel confident their efforts will produce tangible benefits for months, if not years, to come. Although there may be growing pressure on budgets, if anything, expectations – and the need for results – are higher than ever. The better planners become at proving the true, long-term value of meetings, the more they will be able to influence budgets, strategy, and senior internal stakeholders for the good of the business or organization they work for. Our new Meetings Under the Microscope initiative will make sure that organizers are not overlooking the heartbeat of their events.”

This year visitors to IMEX will have a choice of the largest and most comprehensive number of seminars and workshops with more than 70 educational sessions, 19 of them in German. The German Convention Bureau (GCB) in partnership with IMEX is also extensively marketing all German seminars under a new brand – ‘Innovision – Learning More Effective Meetings & Events.’ This also reflects a new focus on the twin issues of innovation and creativity across the whole IMEX educational program.

Several globally-recognized speakers and thought-leaders will be running sessions in 2009 together with more dedicated association seminars than ever before. Futurist, analyst, researcher, and humorist, Elliot Masie, who heads up The MASIE Center Think Tank and leads the Learning Consortium, a coalition of 240 Fortune 500 companies, will be participating, as will Rohit Talwar, CEO of trends company, Fast Future, who will also examine how creativity can be exploited, especially when budgets are under pressure.

In addition, ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) and the Center for Association Leadership, PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) and IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organisers), in partnership with IPCAA (International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association) & UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) are running their first ever member seminars, increasing the total of dedicated association seminars to nine from six last year.

For more information on IMEX’s extensive seminar and events program, visit http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/eventsandseminars.php.

IMEX 2009 will take place on May 26-28 at Messe Frankfurt. Register for free online at www.imex-frankfurt.com.