The hardest worker at IMEX

Who worked the hardest at the last IMEX fair in Frankfurt? Who do you think? I strolled past the stand of Cycle Europe 2008 a few times and for two days in a row I was confronted with a strapping young man who was riding his bum off on a bike. His name has an Italian ring to it but I assure you he’s pure Scottish. He has the body of a young muscular lion and according to my psychological instinct he has a heart of gold. On the last day of the fair I went to ask him how far he’d actually got. Panting and sweaty he told me: ‘I… I… pffeew… think I’m in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam.’

In those two days he’d travelled 140 km. And all this for charity! Marco Barcella works for a charity organisation and in June he’s going to cycle in total a distance of 4800 km through 9 countries in 13 weeks, all this by initiative of Jon Bradshaw – also an Adonis type but a good cyclist too and he’s the Sales Manager of IMEX. The aim of this grueling physical challenge is to raise 20,000 pounds for stroke charities throughout Europe that fund the physical and mental rehabilitation of younger stroke victims. I told Jon, because he’s the leader, that he has to come to Antwerp after his visit to Amsterdam, to come and pick up another little cycling wonder, my Editorial Officer Steven Kins (see picture on the right). Jon, you have gained a new sponsor: HQ Magazine! And to whoever's reading this: go to the Cycle Europe website, get out your money and donate.

The Smallest Stand at IMEX

Did you also pass by without knowing that it was the smallest stand at IMEX, at the entrance of Hall 8? One man, with one notebook computer, sat down behind an inconspicuous little stand, saying 'Restaurant Bookings by selected-restaurants.com'! I am grateful to Hilton de la Hunt (what a name, you could get rich with a name like that) because he gave me the right service at a critical time. From now on I will call him Dr. Hilton de la Hunt, the restaurant doctor. At Wednesday evening, a time when almost everybody at the fair had left for the gala dinner, I was still looking for a nice restaurant in Frankfurt to go to with my team. Hilton asked me: location? Interior? Taste? Price range? And before I knew it, he wrote the perfect answer to those questions on a note: Nizza am Main, of course with a view on the river! And good food. And it had a cheerful crew of Mediterranean boys. Because everyone was in a good mood - but also because we had to wait some time before our food arrived - we were even offered a bottle of Pinot Noir on the house. Hilton, I will book my restaurants with you again next year, but then it will be a Japanese restaurant, because I think I remember you telling me that you have a hidden treasure in your collection…

The Golden Calf (part 2)

I suppose that my blog entries on the Golden Calf will have to come in several episodes. A few messages ago I wrote about the painful moment in Brussels. Luckily, I could also experience a joyful moment later on, at the IMEX association day in Frankfurt. It was a good day. But… what did I hear there? A managing director - a man of distinction - of a major Paris-based association had received 37 invitations from several meeting suppliers for this event. Another form of worshipping, I thought.
And at one of the seminars, someone told that a president of an equally respectable association wanted to do an on-site inspection in a beautiful town. But he stipulated his conditions: it had to be for the whole family - four in total -, free business-class flight tickets and a free stay in a five-star hotel! So, someone who let others worship him!
In the transfer bus to the hotel I sat next to a respectable man and I told him the whole story again. 'Oh,' he said, 'I wouldn't be surprised if there are even stranger things going on. I can imagine there is some professor in the ambassador environment who says that his convention would fit perfectly in that city. And that he can do something about it. But then he adds that his car is broken-down…' Someone who knows his worshippers well, I guess? It's worth the consideration, if you don't bear in mind the moral values. And that will be the topic of the future: who will formulate an ethical code for associations?

Anette's Kangaroo

It doesn't happen often that an invitation is really inviting or makes life more pleasant. Anette Palm of the newly started Conventions Australia has succeeded in attracting attention just before Easter. By regular mail I - as well as my colleagues and many others in the world - received a personalised Kangaroo from her. You all know that the Kangaroo is a famous icon in Australia. It symbolises the unique character of Australia and their bounding enthusiasm for visitors to their shores! I think Anette will welcome many visitors on Tuesday April 17th during the IMEX fair to announce the launch of Conventions Australia. All this thanks to the jumping Kangaroo. And thanks to the extraordinary initiative: 8 convention cities of Australia side with the logo of a continent! Anette, the plush kangaroo is proudly standing in the HeadQuarters’ office!