“All of our numbers have been on an upward trajectory since registration opened. But it's not about celebrating the big numbers for their own sake, it's about what these metrics say about the state of our industry. Even our specialized education programs have waiting lists, which is the first time we are far from opening day. In an era marked by so much uncertainty, these are good indicators that the global events sector is not only healthy but also stronger than many thought,” says Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group.
Such has been the interest that the IMEX team has negotiated additional blocks of hotel rooms, buses of hosted shoppers and catering services. It also expanded the guest shopper hall by 10,000 square feet (to 40,000 square feet) and ordered nearly 200 additional seats from the hall's sponsors, Cort.
Brand launches in the US market
Virtually every country in the world will be represented in the Mandalay Bay exhibition hall starting Tuesday, October 17. The ever-competitive hospitality sector will feature a wide variety of stand activations and engagement opportunities and will represent the largest proportion of space in its history. Dozens of new North American suppliers will be featured alongside established names, plus a strong presence from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Australia. African and Indian suppliers will also be present. The expansion of exhibitors into sectors including cruise lines, technology, hotels and incentive travel means the show's reach is also broader than in recent years, while those using IMEX America to launch brands into the market American include ICC Wales (UK) and Ho Chi of Vietnam. Minh City.
Knowing that the size of the event alone is no longer the attraction it used to be, the team has made the show experience easier to personalize and adapt based on the attendee's business role, their special interests, their learning ambition , your business goals or if you are a newbie. stopwatch or experienced assistant. New features in the improved entertainment app make meeting planning easier and easier on your feet. Buyers can book meetings directly from the interactive floorplan, meaning they can easily schedule meetings back to back at adjacent or nearby stands to save time. They can also book meetings through the app each day of the show. These innovations have been led by IMEX's people-first technology transformation approach.
Shared wellness values mean business
Similarly, IMEX has focused on participant well-being not as something “soft and nice to have,” but as the foundation for a productive and more enjoyable business and networking experience. The 20 session options include daily mindfulness and wellness visits, a pop-up wellness clinic, grounding and drumming sessions, plus more intense cardio.
Google Xi will provide a Resilience Room, presented in partnership with The Neu Project and Marriott International and designed by partners Storycraft Lab. The resilience rooms are intended to foster the physical, emotional and mental well-being of attendees, providing tools and resources to manage fatigue, overwhelm and sensory needs. The room will be staffed by EventWell staff who are trained to offer support and guidance. Next to the Resilience Room there is a new Quiet Space lounge. This work-free space, away from the bustling show floor, is open to anyone who needs a quiet place to sit, rest and reset.
Taking into account 2022 feedback, IMEX America '23 now offers a third restaurant, more bars and a wider variety of healthy, affordable food. Early bird breakfast options and additional coffee carts have been added, and Korean-sponsored water refill stations will make refueling and rehydration easier for everyone. Free WiFi for the show, sponsored by Visit Detroit, will be quick and easy with instant connection via QR code.
Bauer explains: “Wellness is no longer a luxury or peripheral to doing business. It is essential to each person's enjoyment and desired return on investment in a great networking event like this. Whereas deals were once (and still) made on the golf course, other sporting and wellness interests now bring together a wider variety of people and often lead to business. It is a traditional networking formula, but with a new twist in which shared personal values carry weight and often generate more meaningful connections.”
Theatrical inspiration
The Inspiration Hub, powered by Webex, has benefited from some smart changes. By pulling out the rug except for colored dots to outline learning spaces, and using design tricks from the world of theater, IMEX has created more inclusive and welcoming educational spaces. These include the Ideas, Curious Minds, Insights and Perspective theaters; the IMEX | EIC People & Planet Theatre, supported by Destination Canada; The Google Xi CoLaboratory and, close by, the impressive Break Free experience and informal chats of Encore.
Paying tribute to its host city by shedding light on Las Vegas attractions, IMEX America is also offering a variety of tours this October. They include Area 15, a Fontainebleau Las Vegas helmet site tour, and lip-smacking food tours.
Source: IMEX