IMEX in Frankfurt: Responding to rapid changes

The MICE industry is meeting up in the heart of Europe again from 20 to 22 May. The trade fair is responding to the breathtaking pace of change.

According to its organisers, this year’s IMEX will be focusing firmly on the needs of today’s event professionals. The world in 2025 will be shaped by the rapid development of technology, economic uncertainty, demographic change and efforts to secure sustainability, they say. Developments in the event industry will also be impacted by all this, and the event’s organisers have responded accordingly. IMEX Frankfurt has been reconfigured, and numerous changes have been made with regard to customer service and the event’s design and educational offerings. This will ensure that event specialists are equipped with the skills, knowledge and contacts they need to respond to the changes taking place both regionally and globally. One constant remains: the event at Messe Frankfurt is again all about getting to know new destinations, event venues and partners in an uncomplicated and enjoyable way. The nurturing of existing contacts traditionally also plays a hugely important role.

Education is again central to the trade fair’s accompanying programme of events, addressing subject areas such as event logistics, experiential event design, trends, environmental, social and governance practice, marketing and, in particular, technical innovation. The latter covers the rapid advances made in artificial intelligence. It is fair to say that AI is now probably one of the greatest challenges facing individuals and companies alike. IMEX 2025 also has a focus on people management. After all, this new business era requires sensitive management, a strong culture – and a new understanding of what work means to the people concerned. Experts from different fields of business who are engaged in activities around the world will be giving advice on new ways of managing people. Adjustments have to be made to fit the event industry, and this year's IMEX aims to provide answers that meet the industry’s needs.

Despite all the changes that are under way, some of which are dramatic, It it is not as if everything will take place virtually in future. “Live experiences are very important in 2025,” emphasises Carina Bauer, the CEO of the IMEX Group. “In a time when you can click, stream or view everything online, many people long for real moments,” she argues. Live experiences are not just an important way of building trust and satisfying people’s needs for social contact: “They also enable us to immerse ourselves in a community with a shared set of interests,” explains Bauer. “And that’s great news for the next cohort of young people about to enter the working world. The latest edition of our trade fair is shaped by these fundamental human requirements,” continues the IMEX organiser. “It will help event professionals to have a more positive effect in business, build up global relationships and – not to be forgotten – have fun!” (www.imex-frankfurt.com).