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‘At the Heart of a Huge International Industry’
Carina Bauer has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. She began her career after graduating from Oxford University setting up and running GoodBean Coffee. After three years, she sold the business, which was incorporated into a publicly listed company in 2001, by then a chain of 13 coffee shops. Soon after, she entered the meetings industry as marketing and operations director for IMEX in Frankfurt and was part of the original launch team for the exhibition. Today, Carina plays an active voluntary role with several meetings, events, and incentive-industry associations.
Given her achievements so far, it’s perhaps fitting that the ‘Talking Point’ for IMEX shows in 2018 is “legacy,” borne from a belief that all people feel the need to be part of a grand mission that’s larger than themselves.
IMEX has a strong, living commitment to the idea of ‘legacy,’” Bauer said. “We’re lucky enough to be at the heart of a huge international industry — a truly giant global network — and we want to make more of that for everyone’s benefit.”
Bauer believes the legacy theme is especially fitting this year. “‘We’ve seen a shift away from planning an event around a ‘single moment in time’ towards planning an event with longer-lasting, more meaningful impacts,” she said. “At the same time, developments in technology and, of course, social media, have allowed meeting and event planners to exploit and generate memory, meaning, and value far beyond a single meeting or event.”
Along with industry partnerships, new research, and case studies based on the topic of legacy, IMEX will be shaping education sessions and forums around the concept. Further announcements on those plans are expected soon.