The 13th edition of IMEX America opened its doors on Tuesday, October 8, shining a light on a global industry that’s buoyant, ready to do business and eager to connect. The event kicked off with a 7 percent increase in show floor space compared to 2023, with over a third of returning exhibitors expanding their presence and over 400 exhibitor booths in total.
Growth is primarily being driven by the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean, hotel groups and technology companies. IMEX America 2024 hosted 46 technology booths, of which one-third were new. Hotel groups also represented close to 25 percent of the show’s footprint. Many other sectors of the show also saw growth, from event production and incentive products to airlines and cruise lines, all pointing to the strength of the wider business events community.
The number of exhibiting companies joining the show for the first time had also increased from last year. Among the 70 new booths were Guatemala, Exhibition World Bahrain, Sonder Hotels, Destination Niagara USA, Yosemite Park and Experience Grand Rapids along with DMCs including Dragonfly Africa and Greenroute Africa.
With over 80,000 meetings planned between buyers and the 3,600 exhibiting companies, the global business event industry took take center stage, focusing on the power and importance of face-to-face business, new discoveries and personal connections.
The show’s 150-plus session education program that took place on the show floor’s Inspiration Hub was designed to supercharge the business meetings and networking. Learning was offered across seven tracks, including Impact, IMEX’s Talking Point. Encore shared a fresh take on its immersive experience, Break Free: Unlock Your Impact. Google Xi returned with its CoLaboratory offering experimental workshops and activations to encourage play, exploration and meaningful connection. The learning program was one of many ways in which participants designed their own IMEX experience. Spaces for rest, recharge and experimentation were also available, enabling people to navigate the busy business show in a way that helped them have fun, learn something new, meet the right people and achieve their goals.
IMEX America 2024 took place at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, from October 8-10.
For more information, visit www.imexamerica.com.
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