ECM announces a stronger partnership with IMEX and hands over 20 Declarations of Support for the Meetings Industry
IMEX and ECM sealed their close cooperation with the signing of a new partnership agreement last month.
ECM also reaffirmed its support for the Meetings Industry by handing over 20 political signatories for the IMEX Declaration of Support during the ECM CEO Meeting of Capital and major cities in Amsterdam on December 8-9.
Under the deal, both organisations will focus on trends and fresh ideas that are crucial in this ever-changing industry.
“ECM actively advocates for the full value of the Meetings Industry to be better understood and once again offers its full support for the annual IMEX Politicians Forum by helping to shape the programme”, explains Heike Mahmoud, Vice-President for the Meetings Industry. The next edition of IMEX in Frankfurt will run May 20th – 22th at Messe Frankfurt with the day-long Politicians Forum taking place on May 20th.
Regarding educational opportunities, the IMEX Group is part of the selected ECM Summer School Faculty, bringing intelligence regarding how to maximise CVBs’ presence at trade shows plus social media trends. The ECM Summer School is the only opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conference, meeting and event management. It sets the background and context for this lucrative business sector, illustrating its subject with up-to-date and cutting edge examples of European best practice. Course content is both relevant and practical, and at the same time incisive.
“The ECM meeting of Chief Executives of Capital and major cities held in December each year also enables a continuous contact between IMEX and the key players in the main European cities. We are keen to share key messages and mutually benefit from developments in the Meetings Industry,” adds Tom Hulton, director of International relations, IMEX Group.
The Declaration of Support
The last CEO meeting of capital and major cities in Amsterdam, last December 8-9 was the appropriate time chosen by ECM to hand over 20 declarations of Support of the Meetings Industry to Tom Hulton, IMEX Director of International Relations, who was invited as a special guest. In front of 21 leading European Cities, Hulton demonstrated the economic impact of the Meetings Industry through concrete examples and case studies.
In response, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr handed over the signatures of 20 European city politicians who have put their names to the IMEX Declaration of Support. The Declaration is intended to act as a public roll-call of politicians who understand the full economic impact of the meetings and events industry on their citizens and wider communities. It also highlights the industry’s role in building and sustaining local knowledge economies, creating employment, encouraging regeneration and stimulating infrastructure investment.
“This latest show of support from 20 ECM city politicians demonstrates that political momentum is now stronger than ever and reminds us all of the full economic importance of meetings and events, and their role in building knowledge economies.” declares Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group.
“Our relationship with IMEX has always been one of great professionalism. We are very proud of this new milestone and want to congratulate IMEX on its achievements and valuable contribution to the international Meetings Industry as a whole,” comments Ignasi de Delàs, ECM President.
*ENDS*
IMEX Group
The IMEX Group runs two award-winning annual trade shows for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry. IMEX in Frankfurt takes place each May at Messe Frankfurt while IMEX America takes place every October in Las Vegas.
The IMEX Politicians Forum will take place during the IMEX trade show in Frankfurt, on May 20, 2014. As IMEX is a natural gathering place for industry leaders, it provides a unique platform to meet with national and regional Politicians and government officials from around the world to showcase the broad social and economic impact the meetings industry has on economic growth – jobs, inward investment, business activity and tax revenues for global governments, with the intent of influencing policies favorable to its continued growth.
If you would like to invite your politician to the Forum please contact Debbie Woodbridge who will send you an information pack and an official invitation for your politician. debbie.woodbridge@imexexhibitions.com
*ECM (European Cities Marketing) improves the competitiveness and performance of leading cities of Europe by providing a platform for convention, leisure and city marketing professionals to exchange knowledge, best practice and widen their network to build new business. European Cities Marketing is promoting and linking the interests of 110 members from more than 100 major cities in 32 countries.
For more information and pictures, please contact: Flavie Baudot, press@europeancitiesmarketing.com,