Feedback from over 2,000 hosted buyers, 1,700 attendees and nearly 2000 exhibitors attending the debut of IMEX America in October confirmed that the new trade show for the meetings, incentive travel and events industry lived up to its promise of delivering high-quality business, networking and professional education in its four days.
Reiterating a comment by Bruce MacMillan, CEO & President of the show’s strategic partner and premier education provider MPI, IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom said, “We have successfully delivered a new, collaborative business model, which is not a US trade show in Las Vegas but a truly global marketplace in America plus a tremendous education program. That was always our vision but, of course, over the past four days thousands of industry professionals have been able to see and experience it for themselves. They now completely understand what we set out to do and have appreciated the fresh dimension it has brought to the industry here in the US.”
A notable aspect of IMEX America was the high volume of pre-scheduled appointments, as well as ‘walk-up’ business exhibitors received. SECC, for example, booked a 12,000-delegate event from a buyer who simply arrived on the day without an appointment looking to place the event outside of the US for the first time.
Over 30,000 total appointments were made before and during the show including 23,930 individual appointments. More than half (53%) of hosted buyers attending had budgets in excess of $1 million. The IMEX App won instant popularity, with 2,050 using it to enhance their IMEX America experience.
There was a noticeable ‘buzz’ around the MPI keynote speakers and USTA President Roger Dow’s update on the US Meetings Mean Business campaign, according to Bloom. The invitation-only Executive Meetings Forum was also well received. Many participants confessed that, although they knew the trade show offered an extensive professional development program, few had realized quite how big it really was. As Bruce MacMillan had expressed it the day before: “Having packed-out sessions at our own education conference is one thing. Having packed-out sessions at a trade show is unheard of. That’s the big difference. MPI and IMEX America have changed the value proposition here in Vegas this week.”
The show received invaluable support from the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, The Venetian®|The Palazzo® and Sands Expo, among other partners.
“IMEX America has succeeded in producing lasting achievements in three main areas this week,” Bloom said, “volume and quality of business, professional education and, of course, networking and new global and US business contacts. This being Vegas, ‘the city of cities,’ thousands of people were also able to laugh, relax and be entertained at the same time.” The next IMEX America will take place October 9–11, 2012.
IMEX America, www.imexamerica.com