Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the IMEX Group has announced the next evolution of its Talking Point with the topic for 2025: Impact 2.0 – Activating the Future. The company’s annual Talking Point forms a focus for the year ahead, anchoring IMEX show content, research and storytelling as well as providing a theme for exhibitors, partners and attendees to explore at each IMEX show and throughout the year.
The 2025 Talking Point is a continuation of the Impact topic launched last year, but developed to address the current global climate and with a firm focus on taking positive action and using events to make real, lasting change happen.
‘There’s no impact without action’
Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, explains: “When we introduced Impact as our 2024 Talking Point, we wanted to spark change—to get the industry thinking more deeply about why we do what we do. But we quickly realized one year wasn’t enough. The world has only become more disconnected, and the role of face-to-face events has never been more critical.
“We’re now seeing a global shift. People are craving more social connection and longing for that special shared energy that you can only experience in person. So, we’re evolving the conversation with Impact 2.0 – Activating the Future. It’s about going beyond inspiration and turning values into action. Because let’s face it—there’s no impact without action.”
- Photo (L): Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group. Download image here.
- Photo (R): Impact 2.0 - Activating the Future. Download image here.
Three Talking Point pillars
The Talking Point is designed to help event professionals harness the power of carefully-designed events and experiences in the year ahead and make changes, however small, to deliver positive change.
The focus is on three key, and hugely current, areas where events have the potential to deliver the most impact:
- The Next Gen : According to Forrester research, 74 per cent of the workforce is projected to comprise Millennials and Generation Z by 2030. We’ll explore how to make the events industry irresistible to this talent pool.
- Social Disconnection and Loneliness: In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Commission on Social Connection, calling loneliness ‘a pressing health threat.’ IMEX will be asking how event and intentional experiential design can answer this rapidly growing need for belonging, friendship (‘frolleagues’) and restorative connections.
- De-risking the Future: We’re now only five years away from the 2030 target set out in the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. How do we make the carbon cost of attending events more worthwhile and demonstrate a credible return on carbon investment?
Impact 2.0 at IMEX Frankfurt
IMEX Frankfurt, taking place 20-22 May, will share many ways for planners to explore these three areas. As well as new show floor activations and research data, a dedicated Impact education track brings together an impressive global roster of speakers sharing their stories of change and activation.
The Talking Point is also woven into the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award with added Impact ‘bonus points’ awarded to entries which show exceptional success in this area. Applications are now open for the award* which has been designed to celebrate meeting, incentive and exhibition professionals driving sustainability through innovation and collaboration.
Carina sums up: “Positive action sits at the core of our Talking Point – we invite the industry to join us and effect real and lasting change. It’s about accepting the influence at our fingertips and using it wisely to create events which embrace the next gen, nourish connections and support our planet. Even small changes can create a ripple effect, delivering a collective, positive impact.”
IMEX Frankfurt takes place 20–22 May, with registration going live soon. More details here.
ENDS
* IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award : There’s no application fee and the deadline is 10pm GMT on Friday, February 7