With the ninth IMEX in Frankfurt set to take place May 24 - 26 2011, the award-winning tradeshow continues to focus on developing business opportunities for buyers and suppliers through the development of its hosted buyer programme, together with sustained innovation within its educational offerings.

Each year the organisers continue to drive the development of the show by ensuring that not only the highest quality buyers attend as part of its hallmark hosted buyer programme; but also that they maximise business opportunities through its innovative appointment and messaging system. In 2010, hosted buyers placed orders of USD 450 million with exhibitors during the exhibition and expected to place over USD 2.2 billion of business with IMEX exhibitors in the 12 months following the show.

13 new hosted buyer groups are already confirmed for 2011, including Meetings in Europe, Carinho Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Montreal, Starwood Hotels and Resorts UAE and Dolce Hotels Switzerland. NH Hotels Czech Republic, Incentive Destinations, AV Business & Communication and Body and Soul International BV will also bring new groups. Buyer interest from Brazil continues to grow, with new groups set to attend from Tour House Brazil and ALATUR. A new group of 10 North American association and corporate buyers from SPIN - the Senior Planners Industry Network - will also attend for the first time. In total 450 hosted buyer groups will attend the show as part of the almost 4,000 strong programme.

Demand for exhibition space remains exceptionally high with space increases having already been confirmed by a diverse grouping of exhibitors including the Hungarian National Tourism Office, Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau, Kuoni Destination Management Switzerland and East West Travel. Egypt''s presence will also be noticeable with a large new stand from the Cairo International Conference Centre (ICC).

Once again international hotel groups will prove a dominant and important part of IMEX in Frankfurt. More than 40 will exhibit and take part in the hosted buyer programme - inviting their key international clients to attend. They include Marriott Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels, Accor, Maritim Hotels, Moevenpick and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts, Ritz Carlton, Worldhotels, Mandarin Oriental and The Rocco Forte Collection will also be present, whilst Hyatt International makes a welcome return.

IMEX in Frankfurt''s ties with the North American market continue to expand as planning for IMEX America, which debuts in October 2011, goes from strength to strength. A growing US presence at the show in Frankfurt will include Las Vegas and the Venetian/ Palazzo Hotel, The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, NYC and Company plus the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation.

New themes and initiatives for the 2011 show include an expanding partnership with new meetings performance improvement company, Meetings Mindset®. Using the latest research from behavioural science, Meetings Mindset® has created a portfolio of innovative and interactive solutions dedicated to helping meeting designers create potent, dynamic and productive meetings. IMEX and Meetings Mindset® will be demonstrating the importance and power of these principles in a variety of creative ways before, during and after the show.

Amongst a host of new sessions and topics, a brand new Women''s Leadership Forum will be launched - led by Susan Sarfati, CEO of High Performance Strategies and Liz Jackson, President of Jackson Consulting. They will share

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