Pulling together
IMEX RETURNED TO FRANKFURT , 31 MAY TO 2 JUNE , AND ENCOURAGING DISCOURSE FROM THE POLICY FORUM HAS SET AN OPTIMISTIC TONE
L ast month CMW returned to IMEX Frankfurt for the first time since 2019 , and what an occasion it was . To the uninitiated , it was just another trade show , but to many eventprofs around the world , it was the first major industry event for which they could attend . There were absentees , such as Russia and China ; the latter contining to lock itself away from the world . By and large , the globe was well represented .
Of course , such occasions lend themselves to reacquaintance with industry peers , but also facilitates the forming of new relationships , and on this basis IMEX did not disappoint . While fewer hosted buyers were roaming the halls than in previous years , there was little question about their quality and desire to do business .
If only politicians and policymakers could have experienced this hub of business and knowledge exchange ...
Well as a matter of fact some did . Top of the content billing was IMEX ’ s Policy Forum , and this provided an ideal opportunity to engage policymakers in a live event setting . A critical task for an industry that suffers globally from a lack of measurable identity .
Thirty-five policy makers from 19 countries gathered at the forum , which takes place annually to provide a collaborative , global discussion platform to encourage policy creation that directly benefits the global meetings and business events industry .
The aim of this year ’ s forum was to help set the agenda for future , high-level discussions and build better partnerships and understanding between policymakers and the industry . The session was a combination of roundtable discussions and ‘ provocation panels ’ designed to ask the moment ’ s most pressing questions .
Top : Show floor at IMEX Bottom : Roundtable discussion
Topics included the post-pandemic landscape and the role of the meetings industry in fuelling global business recovery . Measurement and data – which is vital on a global scale - , effective storytelling , diversity and inclusion , sustainability , and greater collaboration between industry and government stakeholders were cited as ways to create better partnerships and mutual understanding .
This is critical content . For all too long the events industry has spoken to itself inwardly , but not often outwardly , and from here is born a whole raft of problems about identity and true value . It is something experienced globally , but this year ’ s Policy Forum felt somewhat different , with a new renewed energy to work with policymakers .
ISSUE 119 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 15