Tuesday, May 27, 2025

The IMEX Group has just landed a powerful recognition—one that’s sending ripples across the travel and events industry. The company, long hailed for its innovation in Global Event Tourism, has climbed into the Top 10 ranking of the UK’s Best Places to Work. But this isn’t just another badge of honor. It’s a moment that reveals how workplace culture, resilience, and visionary leadership can converge to create global impact.

Coming fresh off the energy of IMEX Frankfurt’s 21st edition, this announcement marks a thrilling milestone. The event itself was a pulse-check for a recovering world. Professionals from over 100 countries gathered. Deals were made. Ideas were exchanged. But behind the scenes, something bigger was brewing—a work culture so robust, it’s become a benchmark for the entire travel sector.

This achievement by the IMEX Group isn’t just about climbing a list. It’s about rewriting the playbook on how internal success translates to global influence. And the timing? Perfectly poetic. Just days earlier, IMEX CEO was recognized at the Sussex Dynamic Awards as Businesswoman of the Year—another clue that something exceptional is unfolding within the halls of this Brighton-based powerhouse.

Is the future of global travel being shaped by a company that prioritizes its people? Are we witnessing the rise of a new era in Workplace leadership within tourism? And what exactly does this mean for an industry already in the middle of transformation?

You’re about to find out. Keep reading.

The IMEX Group, a powerhouse in global trade show production, has just secured a landmark recognition—breaking into the top 10 of the UK’s most prestigious workplace culture awards. This accolade comes hot on the heels of a high-powered IMEX Frankfurt, their 21st edition, which concluded with robust participation and renewed optimism across the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector.

IMEX was awarded its ranking in the 2025 Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards, under the medium business category, advancing from a respectable 25th place last year. This milestone marks more than just corporate excellence. It highlights the synergy between exceptional employee culture and global industry influence, especially as international travel and tourism inch closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Based in Brighton, UK, with a team of 82, IMEX’s growth reflects an unwavering commitment to people-first practices. Their hybrid model combines purpose-built offices in Hove with flexible remote arrangements. This isn’t just about perks. It’s about purpose. The workplace culture nurtured within IMEX is translating into stronger global business performance.

Amid a volatile macroeconomic backdrop—ranging from geopolitical shifts to legislative shakeups—IMEX continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Their top-10 workplace achievement is not just symbolic. It signals a wider trend across the event tourism sector: organizations with high employee trust and engagement are outperforming their peers in growth, innovation, and audience reach.

IMEX’s journey began in 2001, and its inaugural IMEX Frankfurt launched in 2003. In 2011, they expanded into the United States with IMEX America in Las Vegas. Today, both shows draw over 13,000 professionals from 100+ countries, making them pivotal hubs in the global travel and MICE ecosystems.

This expansive reach is more than numbers. It’s about influence. IMEX shows function as barometers of global travel health, facilitating billions in travel-related contracts and partnerships annually. And with travel demand booming across Europe, the Americas, and APAC, IMEX’s role is more critical than ever.

As the travel industry rebounds from the shadows of COVID-19, the events sector—long considered a tourism driver—is rapidly regaining steam. According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), business tourism is forecast to grow by over 7% annually through 2027, driven by hybrid meeting formats, sustainability initiatives, and digital integration.

This resurgence is mirrored in the success of IMEX Frankfurt 2025. Held earlier this May, the event saw packed halls, diverse global exhibitors, and unprecedented engagement from emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This rise in participation indicates not just recovery, but renewed confidence in in-person business travel.

The IMEX Group’s rise to the top 10 workplace ranking reflects a broader shift in the tourism industry. Culture is becoming a performance asset, not just an HR talking point. Research by Deloitte shows that companies with high-trust cultures are 2.5 times more likely to be high-performing in volatile markets.

Travel companies, airlines, hotel chains, and DMCs are now reevaluating their organizational cultures. From talent retention to frontline service delivery, culture is influencing everything from traveler satisfaction to business scalability.

In the case of IMEX, strong internal culture has fueled external wins—like increased sponsor retention, growing exhibitor loyalty, and deeper partnerships with tourism authorities across Europe and North America.

With IMEX Frankfurt now concluded and IMEX America on the horizon, all eyes are on what’s next. The event tourism industry is undergoing structural transformation. Key trends shaping 2025 and beyond include:

IMEX is uniquely positioned to be the nerve center of this transformation. Their forums, exhibitions, and knowledge programs don’t just showcase innovation—they shape it. And with a deeply engaged workforce behind the scenes, IMEX isn’t just riding the wave. They’re helping build it.

This win is not isolated to IMEX. It has ripple effects across the UK’s South East and beyond. Local suppliers, hospitality partners, and talent pools benefit directly from the group’s global stature. Brighton and Hove, traditionally creative hubs, now sit at the heart of a global tourism power play.

Meanwhile, tourism boards in Frankfurt, Las Vegas, and emerging host cities are ramping up collaboration with IMEX to capitalize on the returning demand. Airlines, airports, and local governments are watching closely—because where IMEX goes, business travel follows.

In an industry where disruption is the norm and innovation the expectation, culture has emerged as the ultimate competitive edge. IMEX’s recognition as a top 10 workplace is not just a celebratory milestone. It’s a case study in how people-first companies are rewriting the playbook for global growth in tourism and events.

With borders open, confidence rising, and demand surging, the travel industry is entering a new era. IMEX is not only keeping pace—it’s helping define the path forward.