Incentive - February 2009 - (Page 34) TRAVEL News The Mood IMEX Draws Wild Cards of the Market BY ALEX PALMER BY ALEX PALMER t December’s EIBTM conference, The Right Solution Limited and Reed Travel Exhibitions announced their annual Mood of the Market European Meetings Industry Research Report. With 64 percent of respondents saying that “the economic climate and pressure to reduce costs” will be a major influence in the A next 12 months, the downturn was clearly on the minds of respondents. But with that said, the results tended toward the optimistic, with only 14 percent expecting to organize fewer events and 25 percent expecting to organize more international events. Some other interesting data from the research includes: F Key factors influencing venue selection 83% 78% 51% 44% 40% . . . . Location . . . . Price . . . . Quality of service . . . . Access (road, rail links) . . . . Capacity of conference facilities Will you organize more events in 2009 than 2008? 35% 25% 9% 14% 17% . . . . About the same . . . . More international events . . . . More national events . . . . Fewer events . . . . Not sure Did you have more or fewer delegates in 2008 than you did in 2007? 32% . . . . More 54% . . . . Same 14% . . . . Fewer rom Eastern Europe to the center of the South Pacific, the winners of this year’s IMEX Wild Card program may be the hot incentive destinations of the future. The Cook Islands; the Masurian Conference Center in Zamek Ryn, Poland; the city of Novi Sad in Vojvodina, Serbia; and Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) in China were chosen by IMEX to exhibit at the 2009 meetings and events show free of charge. In addition to exhibiting for free, winners receive free accommodation and year-round marketing support and guidance from the IMEX marketing team. To qualify, entrants must not have exhibited at a major international fair before, but must have sufficient talent and infrastructure to support their ambitions to enter the meetings or incentive travel market. IMEX will take place from May 26-28 in Frankfurt, Germany. Of particular interest to incentive planners are the pristine Cook Islands, located just east of Tahiti, which offer travelers a luxurious escape and a unique cultural experience. A young destination for incentive travel, the Cook Islands nonetheless boast a number of luxurious resorts, exciting outdoor activities and a rich culinary scene. Though in free association with New Zealand, the Cooks are only a ninehour flight from LAX. [Read more about this location in our recent coverage at incentivemag.com/cooks.] The Cook Islands’ Aitutaki (above) and the Masurian Conference Center (left) That two Eastern European destinations, Novi Sad and Masurian Conference Center, won reflects the growing pull of that region as a meetings and incentive option (last year Torun, Poland, was one of the Wild Card winners). But besides their proximity, the two winners offer vastly different experiences. Masurian Conference Center is located in the Ryn Castle Hotel, which offers royal grandeur and spectacular views as well as modern and fully equipped facilities for meetings and banquets. The small town that the castle overlooks provides an ideal setting for planners looking to give winners a real European getaway. The Serbian capital, Novi Sad presents its own urban and sophisticated experience for travelers. “These Wild Card winners really demonstrate the diversity of emerging destinations in the international meetings industry,” says Carina Bauer, IMEX marketing and operations director. “This year’s entrants can expect to go on to enjoy a strong level of growth and success.” 34 | Incentive | February 2009 | incentivemag.com http://www.incentivemag.com/cooks http://www.incentivemag.com
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