IMEX America records biggest ever show

IMEX America has recorded its largest show ever, helping to forge “better human connections around the world”.

The event in Las Vegas almost hit 15,000 participants, surpassing the previous score of 14,000 in 2019. Read the full story below.

Other top highlights from your weekly event news roundup include:

• GITEX launches new European edition
• GL events nine-month revenue in 2023 crosses €1 billion
• Easyfairs boosts portfolio with new partnership
• Events Industry Alliance submits policy demands to UK

IMEX’s smart event app powered by ExpoPlatform played a key role in the show’s success.

Learn how you can get started with your own with our Event App Handbook. Read on for your full Week in Events roundup ⤵️

IMEX America 2023 breaks record

The latest edition of IMEX America saw almost 15,000 participants take part – breaking the previous record set in 2019.

More than 5,000 buyers – including over 4,000 who were hosted – were at the show at at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center over three days, with 80,000 pre-scheduled meeting including 73,000 of which were one-to-one with exhibitors.

Figures from IMEX Group reveal the show’s 12th outing broke the record of 14,000 participants which was set pre-pandemic.

Carina Bauer, CEO, said: “I’m delighted the industry turned out in such strong numbers from across the globe this week and that IMEX America once again provided a carefully-designed platform for everyone to come together for business, building better human connections around the world, growing and learning from each other.

“This was our biggest show ever, which was clear from the fact you can’t see the edges anymore.”

Technology for the event was delivered by ExpoPlatform, who announced a three-year official tech partnership with the group following a successful show at IMEX Frankfurt this year.

Feedback from participants about the app developed by ExpoPlatform included praise of its badge scanning capabilities, meetings scheduling, interactive floorplan and more.

Exhibitors were able to streamline their agenda using the app’s Promoted Posts feature – and scanned 124,000 contacts with the free lead-scanning tool in the app.

GITEX announces European edition

A new edition of GITEX will be launched in Europe after yet another successful edition of its flagship show.

More than 180,000 visitors from 180 nations took part in he world’s largest tech showcase at the Dubai World Trade Centre last week, featuring more than 6,000 exhibitors as well as over 1,000 speakers.

It also saw the announcement of a Berlin-based edition of the event, which will be known as GITEX Europe.

GITEX Global…A true global success story from Dubai

In 1981, with 46 exhibitors, 150 speakers, and 3,000 visitors

Dubai hosted the inaugural edition of the exhibition

GITEX evolved over the years to become the world’s largest tech and startup show

The 2023 edition sees an… pic.twitter.com/oI8V4X6tXs

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 20, 2023

Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE’s minister of state for artificial intelligence, said: “Going to Berlin proves that we are able to take the best and the brightest minds from the region to Europe and also bring them back to Dubai.

“This is a continuous momentum that started with GITEX Africa and we’re hoping to make GITEX Europe the most successful tech event in the continent.”

CEO of KAOUN International, organiser of GITEX Europe, Trixie LohMirmand said: “The mission of GITEX is to create positive impact in the industries and economies we serve, and impact is sparked when the most imaginative, innovative and forward governments and people from diverse industries and cultures with shared ambitions come together to ignite open and honest collaborations.

“GITEX is all about the power of technology and people. The creation of GITEX Europe is centred on this simple DNA.

“We are motivated by the confidence the global tech community has placed on GITEX to lead them to the greatest markets in the world with the highest trust and commitment.”

🚀LET’S RISE WITH EUROPE.

🌍From Dubai, to Africa, and now in Europe – announcing the most significant tech event launch of the decade.

GITEX EUROPE, 21-23 May 2025 – Messe, Berlin Germany.

➡️https://t.co/ioeOkGSuFB#GITEXEUROPE #GITEXGLOBAL #GITEXAFRICA pic.twitter.com/QsAsOH3v0n

— GITEX GLOBAL (@GITEX_GLOBAL) October 18, 2023

The inaugural edition will be hosted in partnership with Messe Berlin in the German city from May 21 until May 23 2025.

GITEX Global is the flagship version of the show, while GITEX Africa was launched this year.

This was the third consecutive year ExpoPlatform partnered with the organiser Dubai World Trade Centre to deliver the technology for the show.

It included creating an all-in-one smart event platform with advanced features to drive quality meetings, boost interactions and increase leads.

GL events crosses €1bn in nine-month revenues

GL events saw its revenues hit more than €1 billion (£884 million) in the first nine months of 2023, according to its reports. 

The company’s latest financial statements revealed its January to September figures stood at €1.0152bn – up 26% from the same period last year.

It also shows that its third quarter revenue was €325m, up 16% from the same period in 2022.

Olivier Ginon, chairman-CEO of GL events, said: “GL events’ growth momentum has remained strong.

“Bolstered by growth of 16% in the third quarter, for the very first time our group crossed the symbolic one billion euro milestone for nine-month revenue.

“This quarterly performance highlights the strength of business momentum in Europe and South America, and confirms the upturn in China, particularly for our Live activities, with revenue from this country already exceeding €70m.

“These new successes were achieved thanks to the commitment of all our teams in each of our business divisions.”

Live events contributed to the maximum revenues at €568.6m, followed by venues at €266.2m and exhibitions at €180.4m.

The highest growth was recorded by the exhibitions division, which jumped 83% from €98.8m in the first nine months of 2022.

Easyfairs boost portfolio with new partnership

Easyfairs has entered a new partnership to expand its portfolio in industrial B2B communities.

Its collaboration with Milan-based exhibition organiser QUiCKFairs adds two key events – Coiltech Italia and Coiltech Deutschland – strengthening its position in the Italian and German markets.

Coiltech are annual industry-leading events focusing on materials and machinery for electric motor design, maintenance and repair.

Roland Brand, CEO of Easyfairs DACH region, said: “The partnership with QUiCKFairs is an exciting development for Easyfairs; the Coiltech events serve niche communities making them a perfect fit for our business.

“We look forward to working closely with Sebastian Kuester and his team on further growing these thriving events.

“We are confident they will leverage the experience of Easyfairs with our pan-European network of industrial trade shows, our advanced technology platform, and the obvious synergies within the Easyfairs portfolio.”

The agreement means QUiCKFairs’s event team will continue to manage both editions of the Coiltech event.

Sebastian Kuester, founder and managing partner of QUiCKFairs, will become the company’s CEO and maintain an investment in Easyfairs.

He said: “I am thrilled to join the Easyfairs family. My investment allows me to continue acting as an entrepreneur and join in the success of over 200 events.

“Becoming a part of a privately owned, globally operating event organiser, repeatedly recognised with the Great Place to Work award, ensures that the QUiCKFairs team will continue to work in an inspiring and supportive environment while joining the ranks of a Top 20 company.

“For Coiltech’s exhibitors and visitors, this development primarily signifies long-term continuity, as the success stories of Easyfairs and QUiCKFairs are built upon the same principles.”

EIA submits key policy demands to UK Parliament

The EIA has published three key policy demands in its new manifesto for the UK Parliament.

Areception held at the Houses of Parliament in London saw the body present the interests of the events industry to members.

This included three top policy demands:

• Creating growth incentives
• Implement actions to minimise trade conflicts and improve market access
• The government to strategically leverage business events to promote key sectors, boost their visibility and drive trade

Andrew Harrison, director at EIA, said: “The EIA represents a wide variety of businesses, each essential to the success of the industry, acting as a catalyst for growth by bringing together investors, innovators and customers from around the globe to do the deals that drive international and domestic trade.

“Our new manifesto advocates for their best interests and we hope that policymakers gain a fuller understanding of the untapped potential they could help our industry unlock.”

The EIA represents the Association of Event Organisers, the Association of Event Venues and the Event Supplier and Services Association.

The alliance’s main objective is to represent the business events industry and boost travel, tourism, hospitality and global business supply chains.

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