The People & Planet Village will serve as a hub for interactive education and conversations at IMEX America 2021, which is running November 9-11 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

“Sustainability has long been at the core of the IMEX Group and has resonated throughout the show since the very first IMEX America. We like to joke that it’s part of our DNA and that we even ‘bleed green’,” says Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group. “For several years we’ve had a dedicated area on the show floor to champion sustainability. This year we’ve re-imagined this space to create a new focal point for the show to champion not only sustainability but also regeneration, diversity, social impact and giving back.”

Based on the show floor, the People & Planet Village is powered by IMEX and the Events Industry Council (EIC). It will feature a shared educational campfire area with sessions dedicated to regeneration, nature+, and diversity as well as the chance to take part in activities that support the Las Vegas community. This includes The Misfit Market, a juice and smoothie station serving healthy drinks made from “imperfect” and surplus fruits and vegetables.

The village will give attendees a chance to take positive action by participating in three activities:

• Donate a book: “When kids read, they succeed.” That’s the philosophy of Spread the Word Nevada, which promotes literacy among at-risk children in Nevada. Over 400 books have already been donated at the show since 2017 and attendees are invited to make a donation to boost this total.
• Assemble a hygiene kit: Attendees can help the community and support IMEX’s long-standing charity partnerships by creating a hygiene kit for Clean the World. More than 5,000 kilograms of kits have been assembled at IMEX America and donated to vulnerable communities.
• Help construct a clubhouse: Over the three days of the show, the KLH Group will build a Clubhouse, a special play space, for Luna, a child with pediatric cancer. Attendees are invited to roll up their sleeves and help with the building effort. Once complete, the clubhouse will be delivered to Luna’s kindergarten ensuring that hundreds of children will benefit.

Learning sessions dedicated to regeneration and nature will cover specifics around event design, CSR case studies, eco travel, and climate-friendly food among other topics.

Attendees can also discover how event professionals are incorporating the United Nation’s SDGs (sustainable development goals) into their events and operations in a special session titled, Sustainability and social impact action plan, delivered by Mariela McIlwraith, vice-president, Sustainability and Industry Advancements at the Events Industry Council.

People & Planet Pledge

All show attendees are invited to make a pledge to champion social impact and environmental responsibility at IMEX America. The new People & Planet Pledge details a range of actions, such as using sustainable materials in booth construction, wearing a pronoun badge or carbon offsetting travel.

Everyone supporting the People & Planet Pledge can collect a special ribbon from the People & Planet Village to demonstrate their participation. Exhibitor booths will receive a green booth number.

“We want responsible consumption and production to sit front and center of each show, never more so than this year,” said Bauer. “With COP 26 [UN Climate Change Conference] taking place at the same time as IMEX America, environmental issues will now be front of mind globally. the new People & Planet Village creates a focal point to explore current issues around sustainability, diversity, and social impact.”

Partners for the new village are: LGBT MPA; ECPAT USA; Tourism Diversity Matters; Meetings Industry Fund; Meetings Mean Business; SEARCH Foundation; Above & Beyond Foundation; Clean the World; and KHL Group.