The achievements, innovation and passion of MICE professionals were celebrated at the IMEX Frankfurt Gala Dinner and Awards, which was held at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel on May 15, 2024.

Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, said: “As our industry evolves, so do we – with new skills, fresh thinking and innovative ways of working. This is evident in all of our award winners who demonstrate the sheer breadth of talent and professionalism that our industry is renowned for.”

A total of 10 awards were given out at the event. This year’s honorees are:

Destinations International’s Global Ambassador Award | Winner: Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, in recognition of his dedication to sustainable, inclusive destination development. Kelly’s leadership has led Fáilte Ireland to be listed as one of the top 20 best large organizations to work for. He was named Ireland’s Most Trusted Leader by Great Places to Work and is also chair of The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).

International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) International Excellence Award | Winner: Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition/CCPIT Chengdu Sub-Council. This award is given to the IAEE member who has made exceptional strides in advancing the association’s programs and presence on an international level. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition was selected for its work IAEE’s Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) Learning Program in China, which has produced more than 1,600 CEMs to date.

American Society of Association Executives’ Global Association Visionary Award | Winner: Susan Sarfati, CEO, High Performance Strategies. A new award for this year, Sarfati was selected for her visionary service, which includes leadership positions at GWSAE and ASAE, launching the Center for Association Leadership, and creating the first global summit on social responsibility for associations.

IAPCO’s Driving Excellence – Innovation Award | Winner: Claire Smyth, Sales and Marketing Director at Conference Partners International (shown top of post at right with IMEX chairman Roy Bloom). The award was given in honor of Smyth’s use of street murals and artwork to empower delegates at One Young World, Belfast, to create a legacy that extends beyond the economic impact of the conference.

ICCA Global Influencer Award | Winner: Marie Hunter, Manager Director, Conferences, Events & Experiences at The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). As global events leader at IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization, Hunter oversees a business generating more than 2,000 technical conferences and thought leadership events around the world. She has also worked on a number of other major international events, including multiple Olympic Games, the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), US Open Tennis, and World Cup Soccer.

JMIC Unity Award | Winner: Peter King, Inaugural Chair of the Australian Business Events Association. The recipient of this award is chosen by Council members in recognition of leadership roles in major industry organizations and significant contributions to industry advancement and professional development initiatives. King has been a key player in the formation of the Association, a unifying body that represents the sector with a single voice that advocates to government and drives awareness and business events industry development.

MPI Foundation Student Scholarship Award | Winner: Hlolohelo Zwane from Tshwane North College, South Africa (shown top of post at left). This award celebrates and supports the next generation of meeting planners as part of the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum International University Challenge.

Jane E. Schuldt SITE Master Motivator Award | Winner: Padraic Gilligan, Chief Marketing Officer, SITE (shown top of post center). Gilligan, a seasoned authority on the world of incentives, has served as SITE Chief Marketing Officer for seven years via his agency SoolNua. He’s the mastermind behind SITE’s signature research project with the IRF, the Incentive Travel Index, which is regarded as the definitive global data source for the sector.

IMEX EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award | Winner: TED Conferences. The TED Countdown Summit, held in Detroit last year, brought together nearly 800 business executives, scientists, policymakers, and next generation leaders to address the climate crisis.. The event was praised by judges for its truly innovative approach, embedding legacy aims and ambitious sustainability goals.

The Paul Flackett IMEX Academy Awards | Winners: Frank Murangwa, Director of Destination Marketing, Rwanda Convention Bureau; Bonnie Carlson, President & CEO, Bloomington MN, Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Christoph Tessmar, Director, Barcelona Turisme. Named in tribute to the former IMEX managing director, this award recognizes three outstanding individuals for their long-term commitment to the industry and for pushing boundaries around innovation.