With nearly 3,900 hosted buyers amongst a record of almost 9,000 trade visitors, IMEX in Frankfurt 2011 produced record highs, including over 57,000 appointments across the 3 days of the show. With hosted buyers now travelling from 68 countries both the number and range of business opportunities grew once again.

The association market again featured strongly with, for the first time, over 300 association executives attending Association Day and Evening. This is a market which is crucial to our exhibitors and one which we are dedicated to developing and growing.

We were also pleased to see more buyers from key growth markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Equally the high quality of business was marked, with exhibitors commenting positively on meeting buyers from corporate companies including McKinsey, Nestle, Merck, Proctor & Gamble and Siemens.

The introduction of the IMEX App, produced by MPI and QuickMobile and sponsored by Switzerland, was another hit, with more than 1200 people downloading the App to their smartphones.

Looking ahead to IMEX America, business starts for many on “Smart Monday”, October 10, in Las Vegas with a full day of professional education, underpinned by our Strategic Partner, MPI’s MeetDifferent Day of Education & Innovation. The show will deliver the equivalent of 12 full days of professional education across the week, together with the chance to do business with around 1,500 exhibitors. Working with an excellent international network of intermediaries we will be bringing well over 2,000 hosted buyers to the show – and our key partnerships with 18 leading industry associations means the show will offer an unrivalled choice of business, free education, networking and social events. We are especially pleased to see the entire industry getting behind the show with 14 major co-located events, including MPI’s Foundation Rendezvous, PCMA’s International Summit, Site Nite North America and the Site International Conference all happening the same week.

With planning already underway for our tenth anniversary edition of IMEX in Frankfurt next year, 2011 is proving a pivotal and tremendously exciting year.