Events confidence surges as IMEX Frankfurt wraps up

Global events confidence has surged after IMEX Frankfurt wrapped up another successful showing.

The 2024 edition attracted more than 12,000 eventprofs and hosted endless high-value business connections and meetings. That’s our top story this week.

Here are your top headlines for your weekly event news updates:

• Event confidence surges as IMEX Frankfurt wraps up
• UFI announces ExpoPlatform as matchmaking partner for European Conference 
• ICCA joins ECA to boost industry advocacy
• RX India strengthens leadership team with new hiring
• Messe Dusseldorf rejoins Association of Event Venues

ExpoPlatform is the official event tech partner of IMEX – read what improvements we made to power meetings and engagement at Frankfurt.

Read on for your full Week in Events roundup ⤵️

Events confidence surges as IMEX Frankfurt wraps up

IMEX Frankfurt concluded another successful outing as the 2024 edition highlighted continuing confidence growth in the global meetings and events industry.

Business boomed amid thousands of meetings, connections and conversations as next-gen industry leaders met and networked with their peers.

Key highlights include:

• Market growth and deal flow: A significant increase in exhibitor markets and thousands of qualified buyers fuelled a steady stream of requests for proposals (RFPs). This points towards a resurgent events industry built on solid foundations.
• Over 12,000 attendees: The show welcomed 12,000 event professionals, with over 4,000 being high-powered buyers.
• Investing in the future: A strong emphasis was placed on nurturing the next generation of event planners. IMEX partnered with universities to provide scholarships, mentorships and networking opportunities for young professionals.
• Sustainability takes centre stage: IMEX Talking Point 2024: Impact focused on the industry’s responsibility to create positive change. Educational sessions and initiatives addressed sustainability practices and leaving a positive legacy.

The show witnessed massive participant engagement with web and mobile solutions from ExpoPlatform, official event tech partner of IMEX.

A raft of event tech improvements were made to customize the buyer journey and make the experience more richer and flexible.

The official IMEX Events app came in for praise from exhibitors taking part in the show.

Kyle Van Alstine, senior sales account executive in Delta Air Lines, said: “I think it’s a wonderful app. It’s the one stop that you go to for all your index needs here in Frankfurt.

“All the information you need to be an executor or an attendee is on the IMEX application.

“Well, there’s two things I think helpful. One is the map. As you know, the show is quite large. So you have the map right at your fingertips to help you find your destination or your next meeting or where you might need to go meet a colleague.”

Juan Carlos Villanueva, regional director of sales Los Cabos in Amstar DMC, said: “I have used it to register my appointments, to follow up on them and send messages to the clients we’re meeting with. And I think it’s working very well.”

UFI announces ExpoPlatform as matchmaking partner for European Conference 

ExpoPlatform has partnered with UFI to provide matchmaking services for the association’s upcoming UFI European Conference.

The new matchmaking format aims to create connections aligned with the goals of eventprofs – even before the conference kicks off.

⚡ Get ready for a new matchmaking experience at the UFI European Conference, powered by @ExpoPlatform_'s cutting-edge technology!

📆 Join us on Wednesday, 12 June, at @MesseZurich for this exciting opportunity: https://t.co/vmyiGnOEyT#ufi #ufieurope #expoplatform #eventprofs pic.twitter.com/Q046JGtSdC

— UFI (@UFILive) May 16, 2024

ExpoPlatform co-founder and CEO Tanya Pinchuk said: “ExpoPlatform is thrilled to be working with UFI as the official Matchmaking Partner for the European Conference.

“This session will empower delegates to forge meaningful connections effortlessly.

“We are committed to enhancing the event experience and look forward to a successful partnership with UFI.”

Nick Dugdale-Moore, UFI Regional Director Europe, said: “Matchmaking sessions are hard to perfect. Even with quality delegates, a great setting, good organisation… no shows and other eventualities often put a spanner in the works.

“So we are trying a new approach this year, and I’m very excited to see it in action – I’m hoping it will be our best matchmaking yet.”

UFI European Conference 2024 takes place between June 11 and 13 at Messe Zurich in Switzerland. Register for it here.

ICCA joins ECA to boost industry advocacy

The  International Congress and Convention Association has joined the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance to strengthen its industry advocacy efforts.

ECA offers ICCA the chance to advocate for its members in North America and collaborate with like-minded organizations to advance industry goals and sustainability.

ECA is thrilled to welcome @ICCAWorld as our newest alliance partner! Read more about it here: https://t.co/J7FvFZhyKr pic.twitter.com/JBxilJxDww

— Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (@ECAadvocacy) May 17, 2024

Hervé Sedky, chair of the ECA board of directors, said: “Whether its supporting smart decarbonization and sustainability measures or advancing policies that help advance seamless international travel and commerce, our advocacy efforts are stronger when industry leaders from around the world speak to policymakers with one voice.

“That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome ICCA and its global community of international association meetings leaders to ECA, which will strengthen ECA’s ability to tell the story of how our industry drives economic growth and societal change to the policymakers that matter.”

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath said: “ICCA is thrilled to partner with ECA and move forward together toward the shared objectives of advocating for our industry in North America.

“This partnership promises to provide mutual support and resources to advance the goals of serving our respective members, promoting sustainability, and building a legacy that reflects our mission, vision, and values.”

RX India strengthens leadership team with new hiring

RX Global has announced a new appointment to bolster its India leadership team.

Umang Gupta will assume the role of country general manager for RX India and focus on expanding the group’s event offerings in India.

@RXIndia_ welcomes Umang Gupta as the Country General Manager.

We look forward to create smarter events, enhance customer businesses, and expand our remarkable events portfolio in India under Umang's leadership.

Learn more here: https://t.co/zSn8bCVa7o pic.twitter.com/AcMEWOHxPr

— RX India (@RXIndia_) May 17, 2024

Peter Kumposcht, managing director for RX India, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Umang to our team and am eager to collaborate with him as we further develop our presence in India.

“His deep understanding of RELX, combined with his knowledge of our business and ethos, will be invaluable as we aim to build upon the successes of RX in India.”

He added: “Umang’s leadership will drive our efforts to create smarter events, fostering our communities, enhancing customer businesses, and expanding our remarkable events portfolio in India.”

Umang said: “I am honoured to be a part of the RX India team and am looking forward to contributing to the next phase of growth for RX in India.”

Umang previously served as the marketing director for Elsevier in the India & South East Asia region, and before that, held the position of marketing head at GE Energy Connections.

Messe Dusseldorf rejoins Association of Event Venues

The Association of Event Venues has welcomed leading trade fair organizer Messe Düsseldorf as its latest global member. 

Kirstin Deutelmoser, director of business development at Messe Düsseldorf, said: “We are very pleased to be a member of the AEV again after some years of absence.

“The exchange with the AEV network was very enriching in the past and we will now reconnect with it for the future, representing the City of Düsseldorf and Messe Düsseldorf as an outstanding trade fair location.”

Rachel Parker, director of AEV, added: “We are thrilled Messe Düsseldorf is returning to AEV membership.

“Being a member of our association cultivates connections between venues facilitating the exchange of insights and keeping them abreast of the latest event venue management technologies, trends and best practices.

“We have grown a great deal over the past few years and we look forward to working with Messe Düsseldorf and sharing the knowledge we have to offer and welcome the expertise they bring to the association.”

Messe Düsseldorf, located in Germany, hosts 25-30 annual fairs at its 305,000m2 exhibition center with indoor (262,727m2) and outdoor (43,000m2) space.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful. At ExpoPlatform, we want to help you build better events and communities. Please get in touch and ask for a demo here. Thank you 😀