TravMedia has announced the hosting of the first International Media Marketplace (IMM) in Australia, which will bring together top-flight Australian and international media with key tourism destinations and brands for a full-day exhibition-style event in May 2013.
This major addition to Australia’s tourism calendar was revealed as TravMedia’s inaugural International Media Marketplace was underway at The Dorchester in London (pictured) on Monday (Mar 4) to a sellout 88 exhibitors and 250 registered media.
TravMedia is joining forces in Australia with Destination Partners, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing, and Event Sponsor, Hilton Worldwide, in presenting IMM on 3 May at the revitalised Hilton Brisbane.
IMM will provide an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase and promote their product to media from across a broad-range of spectrums, including top-producing editors, columnists and bloggers and photographers.
Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk welcomed the news.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Brisbane and surrounds to a large group of influential media from Australia and overseas,” Councillor Quirk said.
“Our region has so much to offer from our city cultural and dining experiences to the natural recreational features of our islands and country surrounds.
“The decision to host the International Media Marketplace confirms our appeal as a destination of choice for international business events with an array of world-class venues and event services available.”
The hosting of IMM in Australia marks a long tradition of TravMedia’s major support of significant industry and media marketplace events in various world locations.
TravMedia has for the past four years worked with the U.S. Travel Association on media activity at International Pow Wow and more recently has been directly involved with Society of American Travel Writers’ Annual Conferences.
TravMedia’s CEO and Founder, Nick Wayland, said the response to the London event at The Dorchester on 4 March had “been overwhelming” with the media and exhibitors “strongly endorsing this new style of industry event”.
“We are also anticipating a full-house for IMM in May as this is the perfect platform for an event concentrating solely on the meeting of premier travel and tourism product and a strong representation of media.”
In London, over 1300 meetings were pre-scheduled through TravMedia’s IMM meeting appointment system – representing an average of over 16 meetings per exhibitor.
Standholders – including Accor Asia-Pacific’s Peter Hook and Voyages Ayers Rock Resort’s Ray Stone from Australia – reported a number of ‘roll-up’ appointments, meaning exhibitors took meetings for the vast majority of IMM’s six-hour working day, in addition to enjoying networking opportunities outside exhibition hours.
Like London, entry to IMM in Brisbane will be complimentary to the media and includes lunch, refreshments throughout the day and an evening cocktail party.