At the heart of our industry
Our aim is to build better human connections all over the world, to promote a thriving global events industry focused on positive change, to bring our global events community together, to provide the best platform for great business.
We do this in many ways, including through our industry partnerships and alliances, our awards program, and our collaborative sponsorship opportunities.
01. Partnerships
01. Partnerships
Industry partnerships
and alliances
Our industry is defined by community and connection, an ethos reflected by the collaborative IMEX spirit. Our partners are an extension of our team, our IMEX family.
Our shows only happen with the support of our strategic partners, MPI and GCB German Convention Bureau. And through our partnerships with leading industry associations including ASAE, Destinations International, ICCA, PCMA and SITE. And of course, with our world-class venues, Mandalay Bay and Messe Frankfurt.
We’ve worked alongside our partners to develop our shows and events, and in turn they’ve brought their own events to our shows, from SITE Nite Europe and North America to MPI Foundation Rendezvous and annual ICCA member meetings.
Our partners
02. Our awards program
02. Our awards program
Paul Flackett IMEX Academy Awards Winners 2024
Named in honor of our former Managing Director, Paul Flackett, our Academy Awards reward those making outstanding contributions to our industry.
Frank Murangwa
Director of Destination Marketing, Rwanda Convention Bureau
Bonnie Carlson
President & CEO, Bloomington MN, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Christoph Tessmar
Director, Barcelona Turisme
Gala Award Winners 2024
Awarded annually at the IMEX Gala, our awards recognize events excellence.
Destinations International Global Ambassador Award:
Paul Kelly CEO of Fáilte Ireland
International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) - International Excellence Award
Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition/CCPIT Chengdu Sub-Council
American Society of Association Executives - Global Association Visionary Award
Susan Sarfati, CEO of High Performance Strategies
International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) Driving Excellence – Innovation Award
Claire Smyth, Sales and Marketing Director at Conference Partners International
International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) - Global Influencer Award
Marie Hunter, Manager Director, Conferences, Events & Experiences at The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) - Unity Award
Peter King, Inaugural Chair of the Australian Business Events Association
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) - Foundation Student Scholarship Award
Hlolohelo Zwane from Tshwane North College in South Africa
Jane E. Schuldt Society for Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) - Master Motivator Award
Padraic Gilligan, Chief Marketing Officer at SITE
IMEX Events Industry Council (EIC) - Innovation in Sustainability Award
TED Conferences
Past winners
Our remarkable roll call of past Academy Award and Innovation in Sustainability Award winners includes:
Academy Award winners
Ulrike Von Arnold, Vienna Convention Bureau; David Kliman, The Kliman Group; Mary Casey, Maritz Global Events; Tatsuo Arai, MCI Japan
Carlotta Ferrari, Destination Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau and Convention Bureau Italia; Barbara Jamison-Woods, London & Partners; Karen Bolinger, Bolinger Consulting
Roslyn Mcleod, ARINEX; Madelyn Marusa, PRA Business Events, Inc; Heike Mahmoud, Congress Center Hamburg
Alan Pini, Friends International; Anja Loetscher, Geneva Convention Bureau; Patrick Chen, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration
Olivier Lepine, Biarritz Tourisme; Karim El Minabawy, Emeco Travel; Diane DiMaggio, Northstar Travel Media; Jeannie Lim, Singapore Tourism Board
Innovation in Sustainability Award winners
Destination Canada
Copenhagen Convention Bureau
GDS-Index
Global Climate Action Summit
Apply for the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award
Gain global recognition for your sustainability innovation by applying for the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award. Submit your entry for the 2025 award (for events that took place during 2024).
Thank you to Rivanna for providing our planet-friendly award plaques
Apply now
03. Sponsorships
03. Sponsorships
Industry sponsorship
We support and sponsor industry events and initiatives globally, investing in the future of our industry and championing programs that drive positive change, that promote and protect our people and planet.
Carina Bauer
CEO, IMEX Group
"Strong personal relationships and connections underpin our business and our industry. Our enduring collaborative spirit is buoyed by our partnerships, our shared values, our shared purpose—and by the power of collective action."
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What next?
Discover the other ways we support our industry and our people.