European Cities Marketing (ECM), which improves the competitiveness and performance of leading European cities, and IMEX Group, owner of IMEX meeting exhibitions in America and Frankfurt, sealed their close cooperation with the signature of a new partnership agreement.
Reaffirming its support to the meetings sector, ECM handed over 20 declarations signed by politicians backing up the meetings industry during ECM CEO Meeting of Capital and major cities in Amsterdam from Dec. 8-9.
“Our relation with IMEX has always been one of great professionalism. We are very proud of this new milestone and want to congratulate IMEX on their achievements and their valuable contribution to the international meetings industry as a whole,” commented Ignasi de Delàs, president, ECM.
Under the deal, both organizations will focus on trends and inspirations that are crucial in the ever-changing meetings industry. Each year, IMEX Group will come up with new innovations, business opportunities and benefits, and in return, ECM will provide knowledge on the latest trends.
“The ECM meeting of [CEOs] also enables a continuous contact between IMEX and the key players in the main European cities. We are keen on sharing key messages and developments in the meetings industry,” added Tom Hulton, director of International relations, IMEX Group.
During the CEO meeting, ECM handed over 20 declarations of support of the meetings industry to Hulton. In front of 21 leading European cities, Hulton demonstrated the economic impact of the meetings industry through concrete examples of congresses and through specific studies.
In response, ECM Vice President Dieter Hardt-Stremayr handed over the declarations of support signed by politicians of 20 European cities. 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 communities. It also highlights the industry’s role in building and sustaining local knowledge economies, creating employment, encouraging regeneration and stimulating infrastructure investment.
“Getting in total more than 100 declarations of support shows the importance of ongoing political advocacy in our industry and reminds us of the full economic power of meetings and events, and their role in building knowledge economies.” declared Ray Bloom, chairman, IMEX Group.
IMEX Group is part of the selected ECM Summer School faculty, bringing intelligence regarding how to maximize convention visitors’ bureaus’ presence at a tradeshows and social media trends. The ECM Summer School allows students to acquire knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conference, meeting and event management.
