IMEX
On the road to Mandalay
IMEX AMERICA IS SET TO RESPOND IN VEGAS TO WHAT ’ S HOT , LATEST MUST- KNOWS AND INDUSTRY ’ S BIGGEST STRESSORS
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MEX America , which runs this year 8-10 October 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 .
Show floor to mirror strengthening marketplace With the sector maturing and growing with new destinations and venues now opening , it is a pattern set to continue into the show , organisers report , which , as of the start of August , was seeing particular growth across the Caribbean ( 12 %) and North America ( 13 %), 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 China ,
Guatemala and Saint Lucia are some of the new names to look out for .
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 % so far compared to the same time last year , organisers report . This would seem to reflect findings of a recent SITE report which forecast growth in the sector through 2024 and into 2025 .
Personalised tech coaching With event apps , AV and live streaming among the most widely-used technology for event professionals ( according to the Event Tech Insight Report ), it ’ s essential to understand the distinct uses of event technologies and , crucially , how getting the event tech stack right can save planners time and minimise risk .
A new Tech Zone , designed to respond 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 .
Left : Connections to be front and centre at IMEX America 2024
Technology is one of seven learning tracks at the show with sessions dedicated to 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 Event Marketing .
With many organisations looking for unique and engaging ways to promote their brand , product or service , IMEX America features a number of immersive activations designed to inspire . 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 .
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 .
“ It also means designing the show to put connections front and centre – 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 .” n
n IMEX America takes place 8 – 10 October at Mandalay Bay , Las Vegas and includes Smart Monday , a pre-show education day , powered by Meeting Professionals International ( MPI ) on 7 October .
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