On May 20, 2025, the highly anticipated IMEX Frankfurt opened its doors amidst much anticipation. As the world's premier event for the meetings and events industry, this year's show was the largest ever in terms of scale and exhibition space, attracting nearly 3,000 exhibitors from all over the world. The three-day show (May 20-22) not only showcased the industry's prosperity, but also highlighted the strong momentum of the global industry.
Europe leads growth, hotel groups shine
Exhibitors at this year's show covered a wide range of sectors, including destinations, venues, hotel groups and technology suppliers, reflecting the industry's diversity and internationalization. In particular, European destinations saw a significant increase in the number of exhibitors compared to previous years, making it the largest geographic region represented at the show. This was closely followed by the Middle East, which also showed strong growth in the number of exhibitors. Hotel groups featured prominently at the show, becoming the second largest segment of exhibitors after destinations. Notably, the hospitality sector also introduced the largest number of new exhibitors this year, including well-known brands such as Barceló Hotel Group, Beachcomber Resort Hotels and Unique Resorts Pvt Ltd.
Strong presence of first-time exhibitors and eye-catching creative displays
The show attracted a large number of first-time exhibitors, accounting for 15% of the total. These new faces came from all over the world, including Africa (Seychelles, Kenya), Asia (Pattaya), Europe (Cyprus, Wales), the Middle East (Ajman, Saudi Arabia) and South America (Peru). In order to better showcase their characteristics and advantages, many exhibitors showed great creativity in booth design, such as the inflatable cocktail bar in Buenos Aires, the hobbit-themed display in New Zealand, and the biophilic design incorporating natural elements, etc. These unique booth designs not only attracted the attention of many visitors, but also demonstrated the innovative spirit of the exhibitors and their deep understanding of the industry.
More than 4,000 buyers gather, face-to-face communication value highlights
According to the organizer, more than 4,000 registered buyers are expected to have face-to-face communication and cooperation with global suppliers during the exhibition. This large group of buyers not only reflects the attractiveness and influence of the show, but also highlights the irreplaceable value of face-to-face communication, in-depth business dialogues and the establishment of real interpersonal relationships in the field of business activities. In today's fast-developing digital era, IMEX Frankfurt still adheres to the original intention of providing an offline communication platform for the industry, and provides an excellent place for buyers and sellers to gain a deeper understanding of each other's needs and expand cooperation opportunities.
Technology and experiential learning upgraded with exciting interactive activities
In order to enhance buyers' exhibition experience, the show organizer has upgraded the IMEX event app completely. Sponsored by the Monaco Tourism Board, the new app helps buyers plan their schedules more efficiently and book meetings anytime, anywhere, thus greatly improving the efficiency of the exhibition. At the same time, the show featured more than 200 educational sessions, delivered through the Inspiration Center and other venues spread across the show floor. These learning sessions were organized around nine themes that covered the core IMEX topic of Impact, and introduced new formats, distinguished speakers, and an element of surprise to provide attendees with a wide variety of learning opportunities.
In addition to the educational programs, the show floor featured a number of immersive and interactive zones, such as a large mirrored box, a tape art installation, musical performances, and a large-scale graffiti display designed to inspire creativity and interactivity among attendees. In addition, in order to meet the needs of participants for rest and relaxation, the show also set up several quiet zones within the venue, providing a space for people to rest, reflect and focus on their health.
Innovative Scale and Energetic Agenda to Lead the Industry's Future
With its record-setting scale and dynamic, future-oriented agenda, IMEX Frankfurt 2025 is becoming a key gathering for the global business events industry. It is a show that not only showcases the latest achievements and trends in the industry, but also provides a platform for industry players to network, collaborate and explore the future together. Here, industry elites from all over the world come together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and jointly promote the development of the global meetings and events industry.
Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China 