Free Wild Card Space
Stand E622
Every year IMEX showcases two emerging destinations from around the world, who have never exhibited at a major meetings or incentive travel trade fair before. The winning destinations will both exhibit on the IMEX Vision Wild Card stand at the show. Please visit them here or make an appointment to find out more.
2012 Winners
Sendai, Japan
Sendai, located on the east coast of Japan is popularly described as “Mori no Miyako” or “City of Trees”, thanks to its beautiful natural surroundings and tree lined streets. Sendai offers a fantastic variety of accommodation available to meeting planners – ranging from luxury hotels, traditional Japanese inns, hot spring resorts and inexpensive business hotels. The city is also home to the Sendai International Center – a dedicated meetings venue located on a historic site. Sendai has a rich history, complete with many historical temples and shrines and is also famous for some of the freshest fish in Japan. On 11 March 2011 the Tohoku region and specifically the city of Sendai were broadcast on the news worldwide because of the tragic Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. This region very much values the opportunity to let the international meetings and events industry know that Sendai (and much of the Tohoku region) has rebuilt itself, is safe and is very much open for business. |
El Salvador, Central America
The Central American nation of El Salvador, is the smallest on the mainland of North or South America. The International Fair and Convention Center of El Salvador (CIFCO) has been in the events industry for 46 years. Many important national and international events have been hosted here such as the 41st Period of Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). Events like this have established CIFCO as a world class convention center, with the perfect combination of experience, quality, and infrastructure to make your event a success. With 144,000 m2 of space that includes 11 halls equipped with air conditioning and ceramic floors. Among them is the largest hall in Central America with a capacity for 10,000 m2; and an amphitheatre with capacity for 10,000 people. |
Benefits
Each winning destination receives free exhibition space within the Wild Card Pavilion, one complimentary hotel room for three nights in Frankfurt, plus one free ticket to the IMEX Gala Dinner. The winners also benefit from marketing support to assist them in presenting their destination to the audience of international buyers at the show.
This year’s winners will also benefit from a brand new support package, provided by specialist business events consultancy, GainingEdge. GainingEdge have committed to provide Sendai and El Salvador with advice on pre scheduled appointments, detailed sales training, press release training and a review of marketing collateral as well as advice on how to maximise trade show participation plus other business-critical tips.
A case study of previous Wild Card winner Poznan, who became an independent IMEX exhibitor.
How to Apply
To qualify for a winning place, Wild Card entrants have to justify their potential as a brand new meetings and incentive travel destination or a new convention and conference centre (those currently in development or which have been open for three years or less) from a new and emerging destination.
None are permitted to have exhibited at a major meetings or incentive travel trade fair before. They also have to demonstrate that they have the commitment and capacity to handle new business and that their destination has the infrastructure to support the demands of the meetings and incentive travel market.
For more information about the 2013 Wild Card programme please contact Dale Hudson, dale.hudson@imexexhibitions.com
See all past Wild Card winners
View the German Wild Card winners
View quotes from past Wild Card winners
View a small selection of press coverage achieved by the Wild Card Programme