Bangkok--Sep 1--Travelpress
Travelpress.biz/ One of IMEX's most successful 'New Vision' initiatives, its free Wild Card entry scheme for previously unknown worldwide destinations, is now open for nominations. Last year saw the largest number of entries yet for this influential programme and expectations are high that destinations will come forward for 2006.
In previous years, winners have included European, Asian, African and American destinations. Each of these has been fast-tracked into the global meetings, incentive travel and conference marketplace thanks to winning one of four IMEX Wild Card places. The Wild Card package entitles them to a free exhibition stand in the heavily promoted 'Look to the future Wild Card Pavilion' and an extensive 12-month marketing support package. Winners also receive subsidised travel and accommodation plus special invitations to the IMEX Gala Dinner.
Apart from the tangible benefits, previous winners have also paid tribute to the tremendous confidence boost and momentum that the Wild Card place gave them. One of last year's winners, Aissatou Fall of Ideas Voyages, Senegal, comments, "Imex is definitely a very good show. I was astonished at the interest in my destination. I was also able to experience different ways of working and I went back home with huge experience and more maturity in how to handle my business and make it more profitable."
To qualify for the scheme, destinations must never before have exhibited at a major meetings and incentive travel event. The award is open to any destination including towns, cities, entire regions and countries.
Says Dale Hudson, IMEX Projects Manager, "We're urging all fledgling business travel destinations around the world to put themselves forward for the Wild Card competition. The screening process is short and simple, so they won't face a mass of administration and the benefits of winning are really significant. Becoming a Wild Card winner puts a new destination in the midst of 12,000 decision-makers in the meetings and events industry and it immediately confers a status and spotlight it would be hard for them to gain in any other way."
Prospective entrants visit http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/wildcard.htm for more information or call Dale Hudson on +44 1273 227311.
Next year's IMEX will take place from May 30th to June 1st at Messe Frankfurt, Hall 8.
Editor's notes:
+ The next IMEX will take place May 30 - June 1 2006 at Messe Frankfurt, Hall 8.
+ In 2005 a total of 3,260 hosted buyers from 57 countries attended IMEX plus a further 3,870 non-hosted buyers from 97 countries (show total: 7,130). Total exhibitors were 3,000, representing 140 countries.
+ A virtual exhibition continues online throughout the year at www.imex-frankfurt.com.
+ Details of the IMEX New Vision programme can be found on the IMEX website.
+ Copies of all previous press releases and newsletters are also on the website.
Media Contacts:
- Carina Bloom, Tel +44 (0) 1273 227311 Email: [email protected]
- Kit Watts, South PR +44 (0) 1273 773002 Email: [email protected] End.