IMEX organisers launch competition with EIBTM

By Mark Armsden FRANKFURT Organisers of the inaugural IMEX meetings and incentive travel exhibition, to be held in Frankfurt on April 8-10, 2003, have promised "innovative ideas, a new vision and a new entry point for the massive German market". Mr Ray Bloom and Mr Paul Flackett, who launched the rival EIBTM (now owned and managed by Reed Travel Exhibitions - RTE) show in Geneva in 1988, are now ready to go head to head with RTE for bragging rights to the industry's best trade show. An IMEX spokesman said: "Ultimately the market will decide between the two European-based world shows, EIBTM and IMEX. It's a new scenario, but a traditional story - it's called competition." IMEX organisers said a total of 5,500 visitors will attend the inaugural event - 3,000 decision-makers from within Germany, plus 2,500 hosted buyers from 25 world markets. "Already the show is forecasting nearly 2,000 exhibitors representing around 100 countries," the spokesman added. "Key buyers will be scheduled to participate in individual or group appointments which meet their interests and needs. "Two key differentiation policies will distinguish IMEX from rival events. First, it is the only show which will deliver a major domestic market and an international one. German demand for outgoing meetings and incentive programmes is strong, growing and until now, notoriously difficult to target."