Inspiration Hub, the IMEX show’s education powerhouse located in the new Discovery Zone, has become home to some topical and timely education after a busy first day at the annual meetings and incentive travel exhibition event in Frankfurt.
While business forms the backbone of IMEX, the 17th edition of the show also offers plenty of experiential and learning opportunities for both planners and exhibitors. But business first.
“The planners we’ve met with so far today really tick the box for us,” said Tracia Loh, head of sales at Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau in Malaysia. “They’re association planners from the medical and financial sectors wanting to hold events at a scale that perfectly suits the venues we have to offer.”
Karina Grützner, director of convention marketing at the Stuttgart Convention Bureau, has attended 13 previous IMEX shows and said her team is especially busy this year.
“I like to talk with hosted buyers and I also like meeting other industry professionals because they’re interested and focused on what they need,” she said.
But technology’s presence is having an impact on attendees and was the focal point of other education sessions, including “AI and the Future of Events,” which showcased examples of how real-life events have used the latest AI technology. Chatbots, facial recognition, robots and even emotional recognition, currently used at the Wimbledon tennis championships, were all featured. Another session, “Are Service Robots an Answer to the Challenges in the Meetings Industry?” was held at the ZEUS Innovators Club, painting a picture of the near future detailing how robots can be used at events and venues.
Hosted buyer Jennifer Papenfuss from OSIsoft Europe said if she walks away from an education session with one idea, “I’m happy. I’ve left with plenty of ideas that I know I can implement, such as the concept of food repurposing. So smart, I love it.”
Laure Berment, who delivered the learning session “What a Waste! Finding Solutions for World Problems Using Co-Creation at the New Red Lab,” said waste is one of the biggest issues in the world.
Berment, from Too Good To Go, the world’s top app for fighting food waste, said 50 tons of waste is generated each second. She invited planners to discuss how they can address this through their events and how they can communicate their actions and encourage others to act sustainably.
The Red Lab also hosted “Meet the Geeks - Technology Trends to Enhance Your Skills in the 21st century.” “Geeks” Nanna Ulsoe and Jane Ulsoe pride themselves on being disruptors in their field and shared their method of cutting through today’s information overload.
Dancing robots, holographic presentations, magic and a walking piano were some of the experiential concepts inspiring planners in the Discovery Zone.
“The Discovery Zone is very creative and makes IMEX really stand out from other events I’ve attended,” said Patricia Torres, a hosted buyer from ISA CTEEP in Brazil. “This area really encourages you to open your mind to new concepts and creative thinking.”
