IMEX Partners With ExpoPlatform for Enhanced Buyer-Exhibitor Connections at Shows

March 10, 2023

IMEX Group launched a partnership with leading event management company ExpoPlatform to be the new official event tech provider at its shows in Frankfurt and Las Vegas.

Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt 2023 in May, IMEX has been working with ExpoPlatform to offer participants a new online platform enhanced with a range of features and tools carefully designed to maximize business connections and ease of use.

At its core, the new platform makes it simpler for exhibitors and buyers to find and connect with each other in the run-up to the show and then to enhance those relationships face to face at IMEX.

The new platform also means that all attendees now have their own personal account for all future IMEX shows, enabling a fast, single sign-on for both IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America in Las Vegas.

“At their heart, our shows are marketplaces designed to connect the right people to each other and help them do more business,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group. “Alongside ExpoPlatform, we’ve created a new platform and online experience that truly powers this up and at a time when new business is more prized than ever.”

Buyers and exhibitors will find it easier to meet and track new or existing contacts and kickstart conversations and deals ahead of meeting face to face on the show floor, according to Bauer.

“Our intention is for our buyers and exhibitors in particular to enjoy a simpler, more intuitive networking and appointment experience,” she said. “We’ve done our very best to streamline our platform so that buyers and exhibitors can find and meet each other more efficiently, and we’re committed to continuing to learn and enhance the platform over the coming months and years.”

Tanya Pinchuk, CEO of ExpoPlatform, praised IMEX as one of the greatest business event showcases and a real force for good in the industry, and said the company is delighted to help make IMEX’s events smart and seamless.

“Event planners are more tech-savvy than ever before, so we are excited to provide them with a strong digital-powered experience to improve the quality of in-person meetings,” Pinchuk said. “We can’t wait for IMEX Frankfurt and then IMEX America!

The main features and benefits of IMEX’s new platform include:

  • Free lead scanning for all buyers and exhibitors: Traditionally an additional, paid-for service at trade shows only available to exhibitors, the new IMEX app gives all buyers and exhibitors the ability to quickly scan and connect to every individual they meet free of charge. The app also gives a clean and intuitive view of all leads in each person’s new IMEX account.
  • Networking before, during and after IMEX: Buyers and exhibitors can now check out who’s attending IMEX and contact them before and during the show via the IMEX app.
  • Recommendations: Using the AI-enabled recommendation engine, finding exhibitors, products, learning sessions or potential business contacts with similar interests is faster and more accurate. (Unusually, IMEX does not offer, or force, matchmaking).
  • Personal email and calendar integration: Attendees can select and save their preferred exhibitors and education and sync appointment calendars to their personal schedules and preferred email provider (including Outlook and Gmail).
  • Bringing clients or additional colleagues to appointments: A restriction of the old platform was that appointments tended to be only one-to-one. Attendees now have the flexibility to invite multiple individuals to their appointments.
  • A seamless desktop to app experience: All system features are available on a web browser and via the app, making it easier than ever for buyers and exhibitors to manage their show experience pre-show and on-site.

IMEX Frankfurt 2023 takes place May 23-25. To register, click here. IMEX America 2023 in Las Vegas is scheduled for Oct. 17-19.

Main photo: Luke Bilton, chief growth officer, ExpoPlatform, and Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.