The team behind IMEX America has revealed how the show, taking place October 8–10 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, is set to respond to shifts in the business events sector, in which rising costs, resource limitations and a fast-changing geopolitical landscape are all at play.

IMEX CEO Carina Bauer says: “We know people invest time and resources to attend our events, so each year we take a fresh look at the show experience to ensure it continues to deliver maximum value. This means looking at global market shifts and responding accordingly with offerings to meet the new needs of buyers from across business sectors and the challenges they’re encountering.

“It also means designing the show to put connections front and center–from business meetings and learning sessions to compelling activations and even serendipitous conversations over lunch. We know that face-to-face events are where some of the most significant and valuable business conversations take place, so we carefully craft IMEX America to facilitate that.”

Show floor mirrors a strengthening marketplace

The 2024 edition of IMEX Frankfurt demonstrated first-hand how the sector is maturing and growing with new destinations and venues now opening. This pattern is continuing into IMEX America which is seeing particular growth across the Caribbean (12 per cent) and North America (13 per cent), compared to the same period last year.

Detroit, Dominican Republic, Philadelphia, Miami and Vancouver are among the destinations increasing their presence at the show. While new names to look out for include China, Guatemala and Saint Lucia.

In addition–and in line with current industry research–representation from the incentive sector has also increased significantly. Incentive suppliers at the show have increased by 30 percent so far compared to same time last year, an uptick predicted by a recent SITE report which forecast growth through 2024 and into 2025.

Personalized tech coaching and more

According to the Event Tech Insight Report, event apps, AV and live streaming are among the most widely-used technology for event professionals, so it’s essential they understand the distinct uses of event technologies and, crucially, how getting the event tech stack right can save them time and minimize risk.

A new Tech Zone responding to this need, is where suppliers will deliver a series of “show and tells,” explaining recent examples of their technology in use, alongside one-to-one tech coaching clinics from industry experts.

Technology is one of seven learning tracks at the show with sessions dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), data and future innovations. Other tracks collectively covering 150+ learning sessions are: Business Practices, Impact, Trends/Research, Well-being, Experience Design and the increasingly popular and important Event Marketing.

With many organizations looking for unique and engaging ways to promote their brand, product or service, IMEX America features a number of immersive activations designed to inspire and spark joy. These include:

• a glitzy Mirror Box, sponsored by Toronto;
• a large-scale paint by numbers where attendees can pick up a paint brush and contribute to a giant mural;
• and a Resilience Room, curated by Google Xi, which offers a peaceful space to rest and recharge.

Attendees should also keep a look out for a poet and a rapper roaming the show floor.