IMEX America, held in October at the Sands Expo, The Venetian/The Palazzo, Las Vegas, was as impressive as the mega destination that has hosted the multiday tradeshow since 2011.
The show broke records in attendance, with more than 12,200 meeting, event and incentive travel industry professionals, as well as in the number of prescheduled appointments (60,000-plus), hosted buyers (from 60 countries) and exhibiting companies (from 139 countries).
With the great turnout, IMEX America 2016 was the largest ever as well as one of the most innovative and engaging yet.
“This has been an exciting week for doing business, learning and networking,” said IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom “But also the high quality of the booths and the tremendous energy of the exhibitors and buyers has made an enormous contribution. They have created a great atmosphere around the show.”
Destinations and hoteliers from around the world, exciting networking events, inspiring keynotes and valuable educational sessions and panel presentations were highlights. Key industry issues, trends and the future of meetings and events were the focus.
An important aspect at the show was a roll-out of the Exhibition and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI), presented by Bruce Davidson, director of the U.S Office of SAFETY Act Implementation.
“There is no greater issue facing our industry, and to start the process of agreeing on a comprehensive set of nationally recognized event security guidelines and standards is an extremely important and valuable step for everyone,” Bloom said.
Other new initiatives at IMEX America this year were a series of event tech, innovation and sustainability tours in the show floor education program, which this year offered a record 269 sessions, 86 percent of which were assigned with CEs for CMP certification, more than ever before. A new Senior Planner Open Forum was successfully introduced for those with 10-plus years of experience.
Additionally, more than 1,000 delegates attended educational events on Smart Monday, powered by MPI and supported by association partners IAPCO, ICCA, ASAE, PCMA, HSMAI, DMAI, SITE, GBTA, GMIC and ECM.
One of the most unique features of IMEX America was the Play Room, a fun and creative environment designed to inspire new ideas and make meetings more interactive. The Play Room featured a dedicated innovation corner to encourage thinking outside the box and an engagement corner to inspire a deeper and richer audience experience.
Meanwhile, health and wellness was a key feature of this year’s IMEX America, with sessions dedicated to wellness as well as the IMEXrun along the Las Vegas Strip, which drew more than 800 runners. The highlight, however, was the Be Well Lounge. Sponsored by Hilton, the relaxing room on the lower level of the expo center offered a quiet respite with dim lighting, water fountains, candles and soothing sounds. The lounge was led by Lee Papa, a mindfulness speaker and trainer. Yoga and healthy snack breaks were offered every morning, and meditation classes were offered regularly each day of the show.
