Following the successful test and roll-out of a brand new single email inbox for hosted buyers at IMEX America last year, the IMEX Group is introducing a similar concept for all hosted buyers at IMEX in Frankfurt 21- 23rd May 2013.
The new online tool works by amalgamating all exhibitor communications to a given buyer into an inbox at the IMEX website. Buyers receive a single daily email alert directing them to the net inbox which might be searched by keyword, exhibitor name and subject line. Appointments could be made directly from the messages inside the inbox. Concurrently the buyers’ diaries has been completely updated with a fresh new user-interface reducing the variety of clicks to make an appointment from 7 to three. On this way, email volumes are greatly reduced for buyers and appointment making is simpler, quicker and more productive.
Says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group: “This is among the main online developments we’ve made for IMEX buyers in recent times. It was warmly welcomed within the US so we predict the same reaction to its simplicity and user-friendliness for our Frankfurt show. We all know that consumers are extremely busy and one of the simplest ways we will help them maximise their business ROI from the show is to make planning and preparation as simple, targeted and as quick as possible.”
Other new innovations for buyers include a brand new Networking Hub at the show floor to assist them meet and find peers, a brand new educational forum for corporate planners – Exclusively Corporate @IMEX, a redesigned educational programme including a brand new Research Pod on the Inspiration Centre and hundreds of latest exhibitors from both established and emerging destinations.
Last year IMEX in Frankfurt attracted just wanting 4000 meetings, incentive travel and events industry hosted buyers from 71 countries. Total attendance over the 3 days, including trade visitors, was 14,143. Over 64,000 business appointments came about between buyers and exhibitors in the course of the show, 40,000 of that have been made between individual buyers and exhibitors (the rest being group appointments).