For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

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Tourism and Hospitality Seen as Number 1 Choice for Investment

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The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce-commissioned business and consumer confidence indices, for the third quarter of the year, indicate that the tourism and hospitality industry show the highest interest for businesses to invest.

The study indicated that these industries were seen as being able to generate more significant returns, when compared to the other industries in the market.

“This morning, at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, noted pollster Don Anderson shared the industries which businesses are seeking to invest in the coming future. I am happy to share that the Tourism and Hospitality industries emerged as leaders. This has never happened before, where tourism is seen as the preferred industry in Jamaica, or arguably in the Caribbean,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

The Minister was speaking earlier today at the first meeting of the recently announced board of trustees for the for the recently passed landmark Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme, which took place in the Kingston office of the Tourism Product Development Company.

He also shared that, “In the last 3 ½ years, tourism arrivals has grown by 33% and revenue has grown by nearly 90%. This growth has caused a huge impact on GDP, in terms of the contribution that the tourism industry is making. In these three years, we have moved from 7.2% to 9% in 2017. We are sure, trending, as we are now, that we would have hit the 10% mark by the next review by the PIOJ.

I think that all of this is coming behind these numbers that I just gave you and it makes the point completely that the growth that we are talking about is not fictional. It is being reflected now in investor confidence and investor preference.”

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) announced the results of the 2019 third Quarter Business and Consumer Confidence Indices at the JCC Secretariat. Managing Director at Market Research Services Ltd presented on the findings.

In his address to the board, the Minister said, “I think who we have to lay the accolades to, are the workers of the tourism industry. That is why this activity, that you have agreed to serve, in building out the framework of this landmark legislation, to protect the worker of the industry, is so important. The greatest thanks that we can give the workers, is to make sure that this pension plan works for them.”

The Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Board of Trustees will play a critical role in the management of the Scheme starting with the review of the regulations required to make it operational. Its mandate will also include management of all moneys paid, or assets transferred into the Scheme and the appointment of a Fund manager.

Retired banking and insurance executive, Richard Powell serves as chairperson, with Attorney-at-Law, Hyacinth Lightbourne as deputy-chairman.

The other members are: Retired Actuary, Hon Daisy Coke; President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Omar Robinson; Group Commercial Director of Sandals Resorts, Wayne Cummings; Hotelier, Philipp Hofer; Attorney-at-Law, Carlton Williams; Chartered Accountant, Eric Crawford; Head of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute at UWI’s Open Campus,  Danny Roberts.

The Pension Scheme is a defined contributory plan supported by legislation and will require mandatory contribution by workers and employers.

For more information on Jamaica, click here.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism,

64 Knutsford Boulevard,

Kingston 5.

Tel: 920-4926-30

Fax: 920-4944

15,000 travel industry experts attended OTDYKH Leisure Fair 2019

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From 10-12 September 2019 the Expocentre in Moscow hosted the prestigious 25th anniversary of the OTDYKH Leisure expo. Over the course of three days almost 15,000 travel industry experts attended the fair, and over 600 exhibitors participated from 35 countries and 41 Russian regions. The expo showcased developments in a range of sectors, such as industrial, event, medical, sports and gastronomic tourism. Companies from across the travel industry took part, including tour operators, hotels, resorts, airlines and transport companies.

This ground-breaking event was officially endorsed by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Culture, the Federal Agency for Tourism, the Russian Union of the Travel Industry and the Russian Association of Tour Operators.
The opening ceremony of the expo was attended by an official delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Alla Manilova. Also present were the Advisor of the Head of the Federal Tourism Agency, Elena Lysenkova, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Maksim Fateev. Other esteemed guests included the ambassadors of Brunei, Spain, Mexico, Myanmar, Moldova, Panama and Egypt.

The participants

A range of top international tourist destinations had exclusive stands at the event, including the Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Spain, Serbia, Cuba, Tunis, Morocco, Taiwan, Egypt etc.
In addition to the returning exhibitors, the OTDYKH Leisure Fair 2019 welcomed a number of newcomers; among them were Iran, Taipei, Jamaica and Moldova. Cuba was a sponsor country for the first time.

41 Russian regions participated in the event. The newcomer regions were Astrakhan, Volgograd and Kemerovo, the Republic of Mari El, Khakassia and Sakha (Yakutia).They showcased the best of what the Russian Federation has to offer, and in particular the Komi Republic was announced as a sponsor region.

B2B Marketing Events

The highlight of the expo was a series of exclusive B2B marketing events for the exhibitors. These included roundtable meetings between leading Russian tour operators and international organisations, as well as a sales-call service and bespoke workshops by industry professionals. One of the stand-out events was the B2B Speed Dating service, where industry specialists were granted the opportunity to have back-to-back, individual meetings at the exhibitors’ stands. The roundtable discussions facilitated productive exchanges on a diverse range on topics including international security, charter flights and the simplification of tourist visa procedures for Russian citizens.

The Hosted Buyer Program

Another highlight of the expo was the hotly anticipated Hosted Buyer Program 2019, where high-level buyers, tour operators and travel agencies from 18 Russian regions held meetings with exhibitors. An innovative new matchmaking system, debuted at the 25th edition of the OTDYKH Leisure Fair, allowed exhibitors to schedule meetings in advance in a specially designated business area, resulting in 430 meetings over the course of the event.

The Business Program

The OTDYKH Leisure Fair 2019 featured a comprehensive business program, comprised of 45 business events with over 150 speakers and almost 2,700 participants, cementing its status as a leading industry platform in Russia. Talks centred on the trends currently dominating the tourism market, and how they are projected to develop in the near future.

On the first day of the event, discussions focused on the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia. Other prominent seminars explored the role of creative industries, the growing popularity of folkloric culture and the impact of digital technology in the travel industry. On the second day talks centred on the rise of medical tourism in Russia, IT solutions in travel and new trends in business tourism. On the final day the topics were event tourism (such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup) and the development of industrial tourism in the Arctic. An important part of the program on the third day was the discussion on ecotourism, and the increasingly relevant role of ecology in tourism.

The final day of the expo ended on a creative note with a video competition entitled “Hello Russia, My Homeland!” in which a record number of videos were entered, showing the best tourist attractions from across the Russian Federation.

The next OTDYKH Leisure Fair will take place on 8-10 September 2020, at the Expocentre in Moscow, Russia.

MEDIA CONTACT: Anna Huber, Project Manager, Travel Exhibitions Division, Euroexpo Exhibitions & Congress Development GmbH, Tel.: + 43 1 230 85 35 – 36, Fax: + 43 1 230 85 35 – 50/51, [email protected] , http://www.euro-expo.org/

Bartlett to receive Africa Travel and Tourism Award

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Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has been recognized by the African travel and tourism industry for his exemplary work and contribution to the growth of the sector in Africa and in the Diaspora.

ATQ News and Akwaaba African Travel Market have selected Minister Bartlett as one of the Africa Top 100 Tourism Personalities to be honoured at the First African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019, which takes place in Lagos, Nigeria, September 22 to 24, 2019.

Publisher of ATQ News, Ikechi Uko says “The award recognizes personalities of African origin, living in Africa or outside the continent, irrespective of their current citizenship or nationality who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and its Diaspora.”

While he is unable to accept the award in person due to prior commitments, Minister Bartlett has acknowledged the prestigious Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities Award as a tremendous honour for the work he has been doing on behalf of Jamaica and reaffirmation that it is a tour de force in the global travel industry.

“The relationship Jamaica’s tourism industry has with the continent of Africa is very meaningful.  I therefore wholeheartedly thank the African Tourism Diaspora for this wonderful recognition, which I believe will further strengthen the relationship Jamaica has with the continent,” said Minister Bartlett in his letter acknowledging the award and advising that Jamaican High Commissioner, His Excellency Esmond St C Reid, will receive it on his behalf.

Minister Bartlett is a member of African Tourism Board Association and has been working to create avenues for continued growth and corporation between the nations of Africa and Jamaica which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenya to broaden cooperation in tourism. Also, President Uhuru Kenyatta, on his recent official visit to Jamaica, agreed to be honorary co-chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crises Management Centre (GTRCMC) for Africa.

The Africa Travel 100 Awards, now in its 18th year, has recognized over the years leaders, industry practitioners and government officials who have promoted tourism and improved travel using unique platforms and new information.

It is also set up to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves as foremost and outstanding drivers in the travel and tourism industry and through their efforts and that of their organizations have impacted positively to the travel and tourism sector, stimulating and helping to achieve the country’s tourism goals and forging interactions among stakeholders.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Travel Forward Tech Event Hosts its first #HackTravel Hackathon

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Travel Forward is hosting its first Hackathon on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at ExCeL London.

 
A hackathon, well known among technology experts globally, is a non-stop digital product development event, where problems are posed in order to come up with innovative solutions.

As tech innovation is constantly changing, it creates both new benefits and pain points for travelers. It is important, therefore, to understand and solve these challenges as efficiently as possible.

Travel Forward have teamed up with hackathon specialists Winding Tree to host their latest #HackTravel event.

The #HackTravel hackathon will bring together forward thinking travel industry players such as travel start-ups, airlines, hotels and software companies to collaboratively tackle real world industry pain points. Travel Forward #HackTravel will be a platform for self-expression and innovative perspectives through technology.

Richard Gayle, Exhibition Manager for Travel Forward explained: “We’re delighted to be working with the well-established Winding Tree to host such a dynamic, forward thinking and industry changing event such as the #HackTravel hackathon.

“Whether you are an OTA, hotel, software vendor or an independent travel tech expert, there are great challenges to take part in for both technical and business hackathon participants. This is a unique opportunity to share the problem solving process with people you would not normally be able to, to learn from and collaborate with peers and create actionable solutions at pace.

“So we look forward to welcoming all experts, so that collectively we can turn ideas that will move the Travel industry forward, into reality.”

Pedro Anderson, COO, and Co-Founder of Winding Tree, said: “We are honoured to be able to participate in World Travel Market in such a profound way. WTM London is one of, if not the, biggest event in the travel industry, and we’ll be able to showcase our technology to an audience like never before.

“Each Hackathon we’ve held in the past has had impressive results, showing the possibility and necessity for open-source technology among travel and hospitality companies, and I’m sure this one will be no different.”

The technology-focused conference, exhibition and Startup Showcase is co-located within WTM London at ExCeL London from 4 – 6 November 2019.

To register for Travel Forward, please click here.  

Travel Forward is the travel technology event co-located with WTM London and part of the WTM Portfolio of events. The second Travel Forward conference, exhibition and buyer program will take place on 4–6 November 2019 at ExCeL London, showcasing next-generation technology for travel and hospitality.

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises eight leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts.

Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press and PR Lead

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR and Events Consultant

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

IMEX America’s smart start to a week of smart business

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In the run up to the ninth edition of IMEX America, the market-leading trade show for the North American and global meetings and events industry, organizers have announced the final program for its pre-show educational day, Smart Monday, September 9, powered by MPI.

Each year IMEX, together with Strategic Partners MPI, design and deliver a whole day of professional learning and development opportunities which they offer to meeting and event industry professionals completely free of charge.

Hansen’s imaginative answer to “Embracing the shake”

Smart Monday, taking place the day before IMEX America, September 10 – 12, sets the tone for an intense week of business, networking and skills development at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas. The program kicks off with an MPI keynote by artist Phil Hansen. Hansen was forced to confront and find ways creative ways to overcome a tremor in his drawing hand. In the process he learned how to “Embrace the shake” and understood how this lesson can be applied to any part or life.

More than 30 concurrent education sessions cover hot topics for event planners, including an interactive workshop on leadership by InsideRisk and a session on ‘unlocking the DNA code of leadership’. Other opportunities include a chance to study for the Event Design Certificate and to join EventMB.com’s highly regarded Event Innovation Lab™. 

As research partners on the IMEX Talking Point of ‘Imagination’ this year, EventMB.com will also present findings and case studies from their report into some of the most imaginative events in the industry. The report is created in association with PSAV whose President, Ben Erwin, explains in this short video why imagination and creative risk-taking is important for the future of events. 

She Means Business comes to America

New this year following two years of growth and refinement at IMEX in Frankfurt is She Means Business. This joint event by IMEX and tw magazine is supported by MPI and comes to the US market by popular demand. Opening speaker, Dr. Mara Harvey, is a Head of Global UHNW Germany, Austria, Italy at UBS. Harvey’s work in the financial industry has led her to explore the profound differences in the ways men and women approach wealth. She says very often women feel less financially confident than men in managing money and explains that little girls tend to get less pocket money than little boys. “There is a gender pay gap already at a very early age. This needs to change,” she says. Harvey has also authored a series of children’s books aimed at redressing this imbalance.

Smart Monday also features special events for specialist audiences, including an Association Leadership Forum, Executive Meeting Forum plus open-to-all education crafted and delivered by leading industry associations including EIC, ICCA, PCMA, IAEE and SITE.

The Smart Monday program is free of charge although pre-registration is required for IMEX America, taking place September 10 – 12. The day is open to anyone working in the meetings and events industry and attendees must also take part in the IMEX America trade show. Some specialist events require pre-qualification. 

#IMEX19

IMEX America, the heartbeat of the global business events community, will take place September 10 – 12 at the Sands® Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian®| The Palazzo® in Las Vegas, preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI, on September 9.

www.imexamerica.com

Exhibitor news can be found here:

https://portal.imexamerica.com/exhibitor-press-releases.php

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Emma Blake (UK): [email protected]   

Norman Birnbach (US): [email protected]     

Strong support for Jamaica Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme

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In anticipation of passing its final hurdle in the Senate, the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism has embarked on another round of awareness and sensitization sessions to get workers signed onto the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme.

The scheme has already received parliamentary approval and is expected to get the Senate’s seal of approval after inclusion of a number of recommendations from that body. It will then go to the Governor General for his assent after which regulations will be drafted for the plan to be rolled out in January 2020.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, joined by Chair of Pension Scheme Oversight Committee, Hon. Daisy Coke, sold the scheme to a representative gathering of various tourism stakeholders from the Ocho Rios area Wednesday, July 17, at the Anglican Church Hall.

Describing it as a defined contractual scheme, Mrs. Coke said for the first three years of its operation, employees will contribute 3 percent of their salary, matched by 3 percent from their employers. Thereafter, the rate will be increased to 5 percent. Self-employed persons will also be subjected to the 3 and 5 percent but will not have the benefit of a matching amount.

Minister Bartlett underscored the importance of getting more from the tourism industry by developing the capacity to be able to contribute better, more efficiently “and more fulfilling to ourselves because when we work we’re working just for the employer, we’re not working to boost productivity that will enhance the bottom line of some government; we’re working also for self-satisfaction.”

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett outlines the importance of the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme to a representative gathering of workers from various sectors of the industry, at an awareness and sensitization session, held at the Anglican Church Hall in Ocho Rios on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Seated to his right is Chair of the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Oversight Committee, noted actuary, Hon Daisy Coke.

He said it was also important for workers to feel happy about what they do and having security of tenure, being remunerated appropriately and knowing that there was a social security arrangement with a social security net awaiting them after working very hard, would engender that happiness.

According to Mr, Bartlett, “the potential size of this Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme is going to be of a magnitude that Jamaica has never seen.” He said it was eight years in the making and was the first of its kind in the world.

With the ongoing expansion of the industry providing increased employment, Minister Bartlett stressed the importance of human capital development and training as the number one priority to improve the quality of what is being offered as the product and create an opinionated experience for visitors who will want to return and improve the 42 percent repeat business that the country now enjoys.

With the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program already in place through 33 high schools offering an associate degree in hotel management; the Tourism Product Development Company’s TEAM Jamaica sensitizing to what the industry is all about; HEART NTA measuring and building competence; and the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation offering on-the-job certification at various levels, he said the next step would be to have tertiary level training.

“The next level now for us is tertiary and post graduate qualification because our industry is one that is changing every day; it’s a new tourism that is emerging where technology is going to play a far more important role in the delivery of the experiences and services of the industry,” said Minister Bartlett, adding that “more and more hotels are going to become automated so that is going to have implications for the lower level employees in the sector. Our job therefore is to make sure that we are preparing the next workforce to be ITT competent and to be able to operate well within this post-industrial revolution.”

Starting October, a partnership will begin with the University of the West Indies to establish a graduate program in tourism that opens the door for persons to work through the system, write a thesis and obtain a Master of Science in Tourism. Minister Bartlett said utilizing data, “we are going to find new ways of doing the same things that we have done over the years but better ways that are more efficient, more cost effective and offer more value.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

African Tourism Board: The Need for Greater Industry Synergy in West Africa

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The 2019 IATA’s Regional Aviation Forum is being held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra, Ghana. On Tuesday Alain St.Ange, President of the African Tourism Board and the former Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine Minister of Seychelles will be moderating a session titled “West and Central Africa as Preferred Tourism Destination: The Need for Greater Industry Synergy”. Participants at the  African Tourism Board session include the Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ghana; Hon. M. Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism, Cote D’Ivoire  ; Ms. Gloria Yirenkyi, Country Manager, South African Airways; Bankole Bernard, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents; Mr. Ikechi Uko, Publisher, Africa Travel Quarterly; Mr. Sean Mendis, Chief Operations Officer, Africa World Airline.

Under the theme “Aviation: Business for Regional Prosperity”, this high-caliber IATA event is bringing together distinguished aviation decision makers and influencers, representing Governments, regulatory agencies, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, tourism organizations, international and regional organizations, aviation suppliers and aircraft manufacturers from Africa, the Middle East and globally.

Ghana Minister of Aviation, Honourable Joseph Kofi Adda and IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa & Middle East, Muhammad Ali Albakri, together with other senior IATA executives and aviation industry experts are hosting the event in this West African Country.

The African Tourism Board currently is taking lead as the fastest growing travel and tourism organization on the continent. Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to the African region.

ATB President St. Ange told Africa on Africa day on May 25, that  African Tourism Board is ready to unite Africa through tourism.

Information on membership in the African Tourism Board can be found at www.africantourismboard.com/join 

MEDIA CONTACT: TravelMarketingNetwork, 954 Lexington Ave. #1037, New York, NY 10021 USA, PH: (+1) 718-374-6816, [email protected]   

IMEX in Frankfurt’s five steps to igniting imagination and powering up business results

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IMEX in Frankfurt returns on 21-23 May, bringing together business event professionals from around the world to meet and do business. Planners and exhibitors alike can also tap into the rich thread of imagination ideas and activations running through the show, forming IMEX’s Talking Point for 2019. Here are five ways attendees can ignite their imaginations and power up their business results at IMEX in Frankfurt next week:

1. Collaborate and co-create – IMEX is always the living embodiment of the phrase: ‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.’ This year planners can network and learn with their peers at one of the many events designed for specific audiences in the meetings and business events industry: Exclusively Corporate, Association Day, Agency Directors Forum.

The Policy Forum brings policymakers together with influential industry leaders to engage national and local governments in the advancement of our industry. This year’s red hot theme: Placemaking.

2. Think and act inclusively – Gender equality, female empowerment and diversity are the focus of She Means Business, a conference created in partnership with tw tagungswirtschaft celebrating the role of women in business and events. Anne Kjaer Riechert, Co-founder & Managing Director, ReDI School of Digital Integration, will deliver the keynote (open to all EduMonday attendees) and senior executives from organisations – including PWC, Deutsche Bank and Lufthansa HR Management, Eurometropole de Strasbourg, Rwanda Convention and Melbourne Convention – are among the speakers.

Diversity and inclusion sessions and speakers are also woven throughout the four-day IMEX education program. New for 2019 is PCMA’s #Iamremarkable workshop on EduMonday. Designed to tackle ‘gender-related modesty norms and glass ceilings’ and led by a team from Google, it will empower everyone taking part to speak openly about their accomplishments, in the workplace and beyond.

Not forgetting the industry leaders and innovators of the future, the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum brings together budding business event professionals to gain expert insight into the meetings industry, learning from and connecting with inspirational industry experts and fellow students.

3. Become more sustainable – Keep a look out for the Imagination Wall in the new Discovery Zone (Hall 9), showcasing innovations in sustainability, the IMEX team’s favorite ‘green’ household products and examples of the green products and materials used at IMEX shows. Attendees can also be inspired by huge strides in environmentally friendly practices – exhibitors who’ve signed up to IMEX’s new Sustainability Pledge, plus nominees for the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award.

“Imagine you could change the world, your country or your city with just one wish. Tell us what it would be?” Attendees are challenged to become change-makers by answering this call and pinning their wishes on the Wishing Tree, found in leafy Central Park, part of the Hall 9 Discovery Zone.

4. Unleash creativity – The sights – and smells! – of the new Discovery Zone are designed to prompt planners to question the conventional and explore fresh approaches to business meetings and events, with a strong emphasis on ‘experiential’. Expect fire-infused magic tricks, Painting Parties, holograms, dancing robots and a piano… played using your feet. Parts of the show are also infused with a new IMEX scent, designed to uplift and inspire.

EduMonday on May 20 at Kap Europa will showcase its own mini ‘Imagination Zone’, where attendees can tap into their artistic streak at a painting party or unleash some fancy moves at a silent disco to close out the day.

Many of the learning sessions at the Inspiration Hub – the show’s learning powerhouse – focus on the topic of imagination and creativity, offering a wide range of insights delivered by experts from both within and outside the global business events industry.

5. Understand the power of technology – Technology can help to drive innovation but many planners question ‘where do I begin?’ Participating in one of the technology-driven learning sessions or visiting one of the many event tech suppliers is a good place to start. Practical applications of event tech, diversity and a firm focus on future thinking all form part of a packed program of sessions at The ZEUS Innovators Club in Hall 9. New for this year is the Red Lab, where experts from outside the events sector will deliver fresh perspectives on topics such as ‘Incorporating VR, AR and AI into learning’, ‘Virtual screens and the future of workplace design’, ‘How can data transform the event industry?’ and ‘Are service robots an answer to the challenges in the meetings industry?’.

At the dedicated technology area on the show floor in Hall 8, planners can meet suppliers, experience the latest innovations and gain valuable advice – The Meeting Pool returns to head up the TECHknowledge area of the show floor, offering bite-size tech tutorials on topics including how to boost personal and professional productivity, and how technology can drive sustainability.

IMEX in Frankfurt takes place 21-23 May 2019.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Ward, [email protected] ; Chris Lewis, [email protected]

IMEX partners with Simpleview and SearchWide Global

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The IMEX Group has teamed up with two US-based organizations – Simpleview and SearchWide Global – collaborating with them as Industry Partners.

As part of its aim to ‘help everyone in the global meetings industry to make the connections that matter’, IMEX has created the Industry Partner accreditation to support companies who want to invest in the business events industry.

Both Simpleview and SearchWide Global have major plans to grow their companies and both want to expand further into Europe, having already opened sites in the UK.

Simpleview is a leading provider of DMS, CMS, website design, digital marketing, revenue generation and mobile technologies for the travel and tourism industry. It has recently opened an office in Liverpool alongside existing offices in Mexico City, Mexico; Oslo, Norway; and Vancouver, Canada plus its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

“Through our formalised partnership, IMEX enables us to provide global thought leadership in the industry. As a truly international organisation, we can bring together destinations from all over the world, giving them access to a wider range of experience and best practices within the tourism industry. The IMEX shows also provide a great opportunity for us to touch base with our clients and develop business through the relationships we have been building,” comments Richard Reasons, president at Simpleview.

SearchWide Global is a full service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management, experiential marketing, and sports and entertainment industries. As part of its European expansion, the company has plans to open an office in London to help its clients fulfil their global recruitment needs.

Mike Gamble, CEO of SearchWide Global, says: “Being at IMEX in Frankfurt for the first time this year will allow us to showcase our brand in Europe. It’s a valuable opportunity to meet new people and catch up with industry colleagues.”

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, concludes: “Our wider remit is to support companies who want to invest in and expand in the business events industry and our new Industry Partner category allows us to do just that, giving companies a platform to showcase their services to planners outside of exhibiting at the show. We work closely with our partners to create an environment at the show for businesses to learn from other industry organisations and provide an opportunity for them to work together off the show floor.”

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Ward, [email protected] ; Chris Lewis, [email protected]

Minister Bartlett extends condolences to the family of Pishu Chandiram

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Jamaica Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep regret at the passing of tourism and in-bond trade stalwart, Pishu Chandiram.

“I was very saddened to learn about the passing of Pishu Chandiram. I offer my sincere condolences to the Chandiram family and the staff of Bijoux. We will never forget his kindness and invaluable contributions. I pray that the love of those around you provide comfort and peace during this period of grief,” said Minister Bartlett.

Pishu Chandiram grew up in the family business, K Chandiram Limited in Kingston and started his work life in 1951 after graduating from St. Georges College. With the coming together of in-bond merchants in Montego Bay to construct Shoppes of Rose Hall, in 2007 he joined the group and opened Bijoux’s signature store in that centre. 

Today, Bijoux also operates from the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier, Island Village in Ocho Rios and in Kingston.

He was also among some 56 awardees of the inaugural Golden Tourism Day Ball, held last December, honouring those who have provided at least 50 years of service in the tourism industry. The gala event was organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, and will become an annual event that honours industry stalwarts.

“I am so happy we had the opportunity to recently honour Mr. Chandiram  for his commitment to the tourism industry and in particular the in-bond trade for 67 years. His speech that evening was extremely moving, as it showed his commitment to the industry and the passion he had for nation building. May God give him eternal rest and I am certain his legacy will live on for years to come,” said Minister Bartlett.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944