Cisco to reveal 'virtual secrets' of first online Global Sales Experience in IMEX webinar

"Meetings industry professionals keen to learn about the challenges involved in staging virtual events will be able to hear the inside track on Cisco's landmark 2009 Global Sales Experience come March.

As part of the IMEX Meetings for Success webinar series, Cisco's Global Sales Experience Manager, Angie Smith, will talk in detail about the entirely virtual event which included over 200 content sessions an alternate reality game and various mini games. More than 19,000 employees attended the annual Global Sales Experience over four days in September 2009. They participated from 89 countries spanning 24 time zones and also gathered in 600 Cisco conference rooms worldwide. The planning lead-time for the global event was just 20 weeks.

Says Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, "We are delighted that Angie will be sharing her insight into this unique event which took place on an extraordinary global scale and represents something of a watershed moment in meetings industry history. So many professionals in the industry are currently struggling with what, when, if and how to blend virtual with face-to-face meetings and events. Clearly this debate remains a hot one but it won't go away easily and there is a strong desire to learn as much as possible. Virtual meetings demand huge technological support and experience. This will be a great opportunity to lift the lid on a truly pioneering event and to learn some invaluable lessons from a company at the forefront of 21st century technology."

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 3rd March. Participation is free and further details will be announced shortly. A recorded version of the webinar will also be made available free of charge afterwards.

To register interest in the webinars, email rachel.munro@imexexhibitions.com. A recorded version of the last Meetings for Success 'Head to Head' webinar between Larry Head, Global Head of Events for Diageo and Debbie Donaldson, Global Development Director of leading agency, Grassroots, is available online at http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/webinar.html.

Video case studies of Diageo's Guinness 250 campaign and the Phones4U 'Survivor' campaign, which was organised by Grassroots, are also available to view. For more information on Meetings for Success: http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/meetingsforsuccess.html www.imex-frankfurt.com "