Sunshine Matters

Last week, VISIT FLORIDA created a co-branded stand for IMEX Frankfurt, a global marketplace for meeting professionals looking to book and organize worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel programs.  This year, the event welcomed 3,500 exhibitors, 3,900 hosted buyers, 4,900 trade visitors and 62,000 business appointments.

Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, said, “More than 50 percent of appointments included an appointment profile or an RFP, increasing the effectiveness of these meetings.  An important factor in this is that among the 3,900 plus hosted buyers attending, have been many new buyers from countries such as China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt and Israel at IMEX for the first time, making the highest ever number of long haul buyers to attend the show.”

The three-day event is specifically tailored for planners to connect with suppliers during individual and group appointments, while offering continuing education and keynote speakers from various industries.  During the trade show, VISIT FLORIDA and our Partners participated in more than 230 scheduled appointments.  Our overarching message to communicate to planners was the ease of accessibility, affordability and value that makes Florida an ideal destination for professionals planning their incentive travel, meetings and events.

We would like to thank our participating Partners:  Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Worldwide Destination, Visit Orlando, OZUM, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater and Greater Miami CVB, who brought six additional partners of their own, including the Miami Convention Center, Loews Miami Beach, Advantage Destination & Meeting Services, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Eden Roc Miami Beach and 1 Hotel South Beach.

Florida welcomed more than 15.7 million international visitors in 2014, of which 760,000 came for meetings, conventions, conferences and trade shows.  As the success story of hosting meetings and events continues to grow in Florida, so will VISIT FLORIDA’s partnership in global meeting planner marketplaces such as IMEX Frankfurt.  For more information about our international Meetings & Conventions programs, please contact me at aabney@VISITFLORIDA.org.