Staff from IMEX, led by Managing Director Paul Flackett, were delighted to receive the 2014 Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award during the Site Global Conference in Rotterdam recently. The presentation marked the first time the award has been presented to an organisation rather than an individual.
The Richard Ross Past Presidents’ Award recognises outstanding service to the incentive travel industry. It was created in memory of SITE Past President and long-time member Richard Ross, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City. The award also shines a spotlight on a recipient who has “furthered the vision, ideals and ethics of SITE”.
In making the presentation to Flackett and the IMEX team, Louise Hall Reider, CITE, Chair of the SITE Past Presidents Council said: “It was thrilling on behalf of all the Past Presidents of SITE to present the 2014 Richard Ross Award to IMEX – an organisation icon in our business, and the first-ever organisation to be recognised with this well-deserved honour. This distinction applauds their notable contributions and long-term service to the incentive travel industry, for which we are all exceedingly grateful!”
The Past Presidents of the SITE International Board of Directors agreed with the nominator remarks about IMEX, which described how “they changed the face of the meetings and incentive exhibition industry when they created and implemented the concept of the hosted buyer programme. This innovation changed the way business shows were organised and run…more importantly, they have achieved success with integrity, honesty and faith in others.”
Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group said, “It is a great honour for IMEX to receive the Richard Ross Award from Site. We are extremely grateful to be recognised in this way by the industry and it is first and foremost a great testament to the IMEX team.”