The International Media Management Academic Association (IMMAA) invites members, non-members, and students to its 17th Annual Conference, on Oct 19-21, 2023, in Ifrane, Morocco.

Hosted by Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI), the conference aims to bring together academics, senior and early career researchers, and professionals in all areas of media management, new media, economics, corporate communication and related fields. IMMAA strives to be a truly international association and encourages participation from all countries.

The 2023 IMMAA conference theme is Media Transformation: A Road map for the future.

We welcome submissions addressing the challenges and opportunities of media management in the new digital and technological transformation era. We suggest three P axes:

Purpose: Why and What do media need to transform?
People: How prepared are media institutions and media managers for the transformation?
Processes: How should the media proceed with the change?

We also welcome topics that engage with the following topics but are not limited to:

• Business models for media and digital media
• Monetization strategies for content
• Audience engagement and measurement
• Social media and its impact on traditional media
• The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in media management
• The role of data and analytics in media decision-making
• Media regulation in the digital age
• The future of media and entertainment industries
• Innovation, media entrepreneurship, and start-ups
• Research and renewed methodological approaches to study and teach media management

 

Deadline and Conference registration fees:

• Submission until June 30: conference fees of 220 euros
• Late submission until July 28: conference fees of 270 euros

For more information, please check the links below:

• Call for papers
• Preliminary Program

Accommodation and Transportation

To help you plan your trip, here’s some information about getting to Ifrane and the hotels available.

Bus shuttles will be available at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport for your transportation to the conference on Oct 19 and back to Casablanca Airport on Oct 22.
More details will be provided to the conference participants.
If you choose to arrange for your own transportation to Ifrane, these are some options.

Getting to Ifrane:

Please note that guests will be offered free shuttle bus services from Casablanca Airport. Detailed travel plans and itineraries will be communicated to the participants as we get closer to the conference.

If you choose to arrange for your own transportation to Ifrane, these are some options.

You can fly into Fès, Rabat or Casablanca airports. Ifrane is located 63Km S of Fès, 84Km SE of Meknes, and 200Km from Rabat. Grand taxi and buses (CTM and private) serve Ifrane via Fès, Meknes, Rabat, and Casablanca. The taxi/bus station in Ifrane is located about 0.5km from Ifrane center and 2km from Al Akhawayn University.

If you fly into Fes, you will need to take a grand taxi or a petit taxi from the airport to the Atlas Grand Taxi station. Once at this station, you will then take a Grand Taxi to Ifrane.

Alternatively, you might be able to hire a grand taxi from the airport directly to Ifrane.

If you fly into Rabat, you will need to take a grand taxi to the train station. Trains run from there to Meknes frequently. Then, in Meknes, you will take a grand taxi directly to Ifrane.

If you fly into Casablanca, you can take either train from the airport to the Casa Port Railway Station. Or you can take the Aero bus which takes you to the center of the city. From the Railway Station, you can take the train to Meknes, and from Meknes railway station, hire a grand taxi to Ifrane.

If you fly into the Marrakech airport, there are two ways to get to Ifrane. You can go to the train station and then take the train to Meknes, from where you will take a grand taxi to Ifrane. Or you can go to the CTM bus station and take the CTM bus from Marrakesh to Ifrane.

Hotels in Ifrane:

There are several hotels in Ifrane that you can choose from, depending on your budget and preferences.

Al Akhawayn Conference Center is the official conference accommodation and is situated on-site at Al-Akhawayn University. It offers Small rooms, Large rooms, Deluxe rooms, and Suite options, with rates ranging from $48 to $120. It is located at the entrance of Ifrane, Road d’El Hajeb. Email events@aui.ma if you are interested in this option.

Perce Neige is a 3.5-star hotel that offers a King bed, 2 separate beds, and Suite options, with rates ranging from $59 to $88. The hotel is located at Hay Riad, Boulevard Mohamed VI BP: 47 CP: 5300, Ifrane, Maroc. It is an 11-minute walk/ 3min ride to Al Akhawayn university.

Michlifen Resort & Golf | Ifrane– 5* hotel offers rooms at $ 272. The hotel is located at Avenue Hassan II – BP n°18, Ifran, Morocco. It is a 6min ride to Al Akhawayn University.

Ifrane Palace is a 4-star hotel that offers Single/Double rooms for $65.

Hotel Farah Inn Ifrane has Apartments and Chalets available, with rates starting from $44. The hotel is located at Nouvelle station Touristique Biladi – Ifrane. It is a 9min ride to Al Akhawayn University.

Le Palais des Cerisiers offers its Chambre classique single rooms for $100, with additional rates for extra persons and children. It is a 25-minute ride to Al Akhawayn University.

Message from the IMMAA Conference Host

Please find below a message from the host of the IMMAA conference (Oct 19-22, 2023- Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco)

As many of you have heard, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 hit the Hawz Province, 70 km south of Marrakech, and 400 km south of Ifrane, where the IMMAA conference will take place. The population density of the area of the epicentre is low, so the human loss could have been much higher.

The damage to most of Marrakech’s infrastructure was very minimal, and the airport in Marrakech remained open, the same for government facilities, communications, and other critical infrastructure.

The airline’s services to and from Casablanca and Rabat are all operating normally.

No damage or casualties were reported in Ifrane. Ifrane is safe, and we look forward to welcoming you to Morocco.

Dr. Bouziane Zaid
Associate professor
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane
Morocco