PlanetIMEX Virtual Platform for Community, Education and Networking Launches This Month
May 5, 2020
While this year’s IMEX flagship Frankfurt event was canceled back in March, members of the IMEX community will still have opportunities to come together virtually over the next several months. The virtual PlanetIMEX platform aims to keep the spirit of IMEX alive by allowing visitors to explore content, reconnect, talk about future business and continue learning in the company of friends and colleagues.
Designed in collaboration with Cvent, PlanetIMEX will feature three 3-D, interactive “islands” as destinations within the platform. Each island will have its own theme (community, education or networking) and agenda.
"We decided early on that we wanted to give something back to the industry and at the same time continue our commitment to providing high quality training, business and networking opportunities,” said Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO. “Instead of a singular online event, we opted for an innovative, transformative and new approach.”
Each year, IMEX names a single emerging or important trend as the year’s talking point. Bauer explained that PlanetIMEX was inspired by 2020’s focus topic, nature, which will also be featured in educational content.
Two of the three PlanetIMEX islands are slated to open on May 6:
- Community Island — This beach-themed space will feature news, views, research and insights from the business events world, along with leisure activities from the #imexstillrunning solo run to laid-back island music mixes.
- Education Island — A lineup of education focused on professional development, which will also be home to the IMEX Sustainability Village and the IMEX 2020 talking point: nature, will be held in this forest-inspired island. Education is sponsored by Cvent and supported by Streamlined Communications.
IMEX Group plans to expand the content, programs and interaction options on the platform over time, but has already announced some key dates for May activities:
May 11
EduMonday Live, featuring a full day of education and interactive content, will take place on Education Island. Content highlights will include:
- Explore the virtual world of PlanetIMEX with Bauer, and IMEX Chairman and Founder Ray Bloom
- Keynote address featuring Guy Bigwood, managing director of Global Destination Sustainability Index; and futurist Rohit Talwar
- She Means Business panel including Julia Brewing, head of marketing for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at Facebook; and Gabriela Suhoschi, director of World Water Week
May 12
IMEX Community Day will bring together education from industry partners and associations including EIC, IAEE, Association of Destination Management Executives International, German Convention Bureau, International Association of Professional Congress Managers, International Congress and Convention Association, ZEUS and more. The IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum will also be included in the Community Day lineup.
May 13
#IMEXstillrunning — Join the community of IMEX participants who will be running, walking or doing any other form of exercise in place on this designated date. Share your workout with the hashtag on your social media platform of choice to inspire others.
May 14
The mountain-themed Networking Island will open featuring IMEX Introductions. These will help planners explore potential new business relationships and have one-to-one conversations with other members of the IMEX global community.
May 18
PlanetIMEX will offer by-invitation specific training for event professionals from associations, agencies and companies, including a virtual interpretation of Exclusively Corporate, the Agency Directors Forum and Association Focus.
Access to PlanetIMEX will be free, but registration for each scheduled event is required. Register for access to PlanetIMEX EduMonday Live here.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
Add new comment