IMEX 30 May - 1 June 2006

At first impression I have no idea why so many people prefer IMEX to EIBTM.
Frankfurt is dreary, empty and devoid of life after 9:30 p.m. All that was left was listening to a soul-less singer in the lobby/restaurant of the Arabella Sheraton 'Grand' Hotel where I was staying. - Supposedly 5 stars and part of the Luxury Collection. My room was large but had two single duvet on a large bed, push button that were used in bedsit in the 80's in guise of a flush I could go on but as the Lanesbourough is part of the Luxury Collection... There is really no comparison! A wonderful collection of vintage Rolls Royce in the entrance though made up for it, the kind of cars that if ever I was driving would like to drive.

The fair itself is not really as big as I was told, there was no parties organised for the hosted buyers except for one organised by Reeds Exhibitions on the night before the date printed on the invitation!

A sad mistake of the organiser was to have placed the first time ever presenting stand of Israel in the midst of all the Arabic countries, resulting in a literally empty stand for the two days of exhibition.

Perhaps it is the interminable corridors, perhaps it is the lack of smile or service, perhaps it is the bitter cold of a 31 May in Frankfurt or perhaps it is just dreary people.... Roll on Malta, Sitges, Athens and Sorrento!

Perhaps I think I need a little sun! I am off to the South of France!

In terms of contacts to be made, I have seen quite a few people that I missed at EIBTM, EMIF and others but quite frankly will not go back.

It was also surprising that none of the German convention bureaus did organise something to attract buyers after the show, it was my intention to discover this market but failed miserably in this respect.

Imex the essential worldwide exhibition for meeting and incentive travel in a city that has no appeal to organise either. I did share my thoughts on the plane back with a lady that turned out to be the PR of the show, I hope that I gave her some food for thoughts.