In February, the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) in Melbourne delivered its largest show in more than a decade and followed it up with research suggesting the event would play a role in $400 million worth of event deals – up 21 per cent on the financial outcome from the 2024 event.
Then in May, IMEX Frankfurt had its largest ever iteration in terms of exhibition floor space activated by almost 3,000 organisations. The show saw over 13,000 attendees through the doors, including more than 4,000 buyers. More than 67,000 pre-scheduled appointments took place during the show.
At IMEX Frankfurt, Europe was behind the largest increase in physical presence when comparing 2024 and 2025, just ahead of the Middle East, while hotels brought in the most exhibitors. Overall, 15 per cent of booths were new exhibitors.
Now IBTM World, set to be held in November in Barcelona, is also boasting of new exhibitors, with the likes of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, set to make its show debut, alongside South American countries Panama and Peru.
There is also several event technology exhibitors set to showcase at the event for the first time, including Dutch event management platform Dryfta Event Tools and registration software Parthen Meeting Services, also from the Netherlands, as well as LED technology experts Tron Event Agency from Slovakia. Event platform vFairs will also exhibit for the first time.
“We’re delighted to see so many new destinations already confirmed for this year’s event,” said IBTM World exhibition director, Claudia Hall.
“With preparations well underway and host of exciting new show elements in the pipeline, we’re thrilled to witness the event’s continued year-on-year growth.
“Welcoming prestigious exhibitors from across the globe offers a diverse range of options for attending hosted buyers and visitor buyers and reinforces the strength and global reach of the business events industry.”
Meanwhile, in the nearer future, buyer registrations for IMEX America in Las Vegas in October have opened.
Business Events Australia and Tourism New Zealand are already inviting industry to be part of their presence at IMEX America as exhibitors, although, at this stage, neither country appears to be coordinating a country pavilion at IBTM World.
