1. Assignment 1
INDIVDUAL Student Essay
1) The goal is to identify either:
A. Ideas or visions on how different aspects of the meetings industry could evolve over
the next 10 years.
OR
B. Case examples from around the world of how business events, meeting venues and
meeting destinations are innovating to prepare for the future.
Share Your Vision of the Future for the Meetings Industry
The IMEX Group and Fast Future Research are looking for input from students for the
upcoming 'Power of 10' Study. We want to know how current students believe the
meetings industry will develop and what it will look like in 10 years time. This is your
opportunity to contribute to our vision of the future. We are very interested in new
visions of the future in terms of meeting technology, venue innovation, destination
marketing and strategy, business models, event marketing and participant engagement.
2. What Could I Receive?
1. 10 points toward your final grade
2. Globally, Two winning submissions will be selected and the winners will have their
work published on the IMEX website as well as in the IMEX Daily Paper. The winners
will also be invited to participate in the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum in
Frankfurt (including flights and accommodation) and present their case study during this
event. The best 10 entries will also be published as part of the Power of 10 research
report.
3) Closing date and word length
The essays must be presented in English, should be a minimum of 750 words and a
maximum of 1500 words in length.
4) Essays should address one of the following:
Ideas or visions – e.g. how different aspects of the meetings industry could evolve over
the next 10 years. This could be event formats, use of technology, venue design,
business models, event marketing or participant engagement. These ideas or visions must
show clear evidence of research on the trends, ideas and developments that could
influence the next ten years. E.g. don’t simply write about the use of social media in
marketing – this is happening right now – we want imaginative, research driven views of
how the sector could evolve over the next 10 years.
Examples of Event Innovation – E.g. case examples of innovation in event design,
participant engagement, marketing, business and financial models, use of technology or
social media or other types of innovation in the design and delivery of events.

2. Examples of Venue Innovation – E.g. genuine forward-looking case examples of how
venues are innovating in terms of their strategies for the future, the design of their
facilities, flexibility in using their space, research, financing and revenue models, use of
technology and social media, marketing, service delivery and partnerships.
Examples of Destination Innovation – E.g. case examples of how destinations are
innovating in terms of strategies for the future, marketing, event support, measurement
of economic impact, use of technology and social media, support for their local meetings
industry, partnership working and research.
5) Submissions MUST provide a clear and concise presentation, including:
• A 50 word summary (conclusion)
• A short description of the issue being addressed by your idea or the case study
event, venue or destination – including - where relevant – the history, size, target
audience, key challenges and future objectives
• A detailed description of the ideas or actual innovation – the reasons for doing it, the
objectives and how you would implement it / for case studies - what they did or are
doing
• The expected or actual results and benefits – including - where possible and relevant
(e.g. for case studies) - customer perceptions of the innovation
• Images and diagrams where appropriate
• Reference sources used.
Any submissions that exceed the world length or do not follow this exact format will be
returned without being reviewed. Entries will be judged on the quality of the idea or
the extent of the case study innovation, the actual or likely benefits and the clarity of
presentation of the overall idea or case study.
6) Important information that MUST be included:
The front page of the submission must include only the following information
1. The title of the idea or case study :
2. The entrant’s name, date of birth, address, email and telephone number.
3. Include the following; Exhibition Management, Mahidol University International
College, Instructor Scott M Smith (youngskalthailand@gmail.com).