With just a few weeks to go until IMEX America returns to Las Vegas, destinations, venues and suppliers from around the world and across North America are gearing up to showcase their latest products and services for meeting and event planners. There’s plenty of news to share – from new venue and hotel openings, redevelopments, innovative incentive activities and a strong focus on sustainable meetings and events (read more in the IMEX America show preview).
The expanded show floor at IMEX America, taking place September 10 – 12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian® | The Palazzo® in Las Vegas, will be home to around 3,500 suppliers from 150 countries including new exhibitors Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Leonardo Hotels, The Hoxton, Destination Cleveland, Los Cabos Tourism Board as well as an extended Tech Pavillion showcasing the latest event tech innovations.
To
date, more than 30 current exhibitors have expanded their presence at the show,
including Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Bureau, Royal Caribbean
International, Hyatt Hotels, NYC & Company, Hungary and Dallas.
North America in the
spotlight – 100 booths, 40 states
Around 4,000 qualified buyers will come together during the three days of the
show to plan and book everything from high-level incentives to huge association
conventions as well as to make important new contacts, strengthen existing
relationships and seal critical business deals. This year planners doing
interstate business in North America will find 100 booths representing over
1,000 suppliers from 40 states including individual destinations such as
Wilmington, Jackson Hole, Spokane and Albuquerque.
Attendees can also dive into all things experiential at a new Discovery Zone, dedicated
to experimentation and immersive activities. This forms part of the show’s
focus on Imagination, IMEX’s Talking Point for this year.
Planners can also get stuck into practical hands-on workshops and experience
truly immersive role play with surprise sensory components. IMEX
America’s new Discovery Zone is designed to fuel fresh thinking and encourage
creative risk-taking.
Explore high-stakes
decision-making
Immersive learning experiences don’t get more interactive – or dramatic – than
InsideRisk’s session – What kind of leader are you under maximum pressure?
Based on the true story of Swiss executive J.P. Mottu, who in 1988 found
himself in charge of saving a young engineer kidnapped by Colombian rebels, the
program thrusts participants into real-life negotiations that have been kept
secret for over 25 years.
The multi-media workshop, taking place on Smart Monday – IMEX’s pre-show day of education,
is designed to help leaders dramatically increase their trust-building and
critical thinking abilities. Participants experience high-stakes situations
individually and in groups, exchanging invaluable insights and forging
memorable relationships with peers.
Laughter is the best
medicine
By contrast, another immersive activity sure to bring a smile to attendees’
faces, will be laughter yoga at the new Laughter Lab. Part of the Inspiration
Hub, sponsored by Maritz Global Events, home to all show floor education, the
Laughter Lab hosts several sessions on the power of laughter by Sarah Routman
from Laugh for the Health of It, LLC. Laughter yoga encourages creative play
with prolonged voluntary giggles that start intentionally and become
spontaneous, providing plenty of positive health benefits.
There are many opportunities to relax and revive during busy days at the show,
starting with the Be Well Lounge, brought to the show by Lee Papa’s Mindfulness
Lounge™ and supported by Imprint Events Group. Rise early for the IMEXrun (registration now live), sponsored by Italian
National Tourist Board – ENIT, CORT, Hilton and Maritz Global Events, or take
part in daily 7 a.m. mind, body and soul movement classes with live music,
courtesy of JessicaMicheletti.com. Alternatively, attendees
can learn how to weave wellbeing into their own events by following the
dedicated health and wellbeing education track or trying out new ‘Nook Pods’.
The pods, which were a big hit at IMEX in Frankfurt, recognize that acoustics
affect our wellbeing – in particular the 30-50% of people who are introverts.
They provide a quiet, private space to recharge or simply to concentrate.
Education remains a firm focus of IMEX America
and there are more than 180 learning opportunities over the entire show this
year – all free of charge and designed for meetings and events industry
professionals at all levels, both buyers and exhibitors. Education sessions
cover 10 tracks including Business Skills, Creative Learning, Personal
Development, Technology and Trends & Research. Each track provides fresh thinking
and new learning formats designed to make meetings more engaging, embrace new
ways of thinking and human behavior, consider big trends and issues, and
explore innovation and imagination.
IMEX America takes place
September 10 – 12, 2019, with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9. Registration for the show is free of charge and
open to all who work in the meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
For quick and easy
information or news about the show, search #IMEX19 or experience IMEX on YouTube.