FINAL FIGURES CONFIRM NEW RECORDS AT IMEX AMERICA 2015

Press Release
November 16 2016

FINAL FIGURES CONFIRM NEW RECORDS AT IMEX AMERICA 2015
Final figures just published for the fifth IMEX America confirm that the trade show broke many significant records.

According to statistics now available on the event’s website, IMEX America 2015, which took place in Las Vegas from 13 to 15 October, attracted a total of 10,732 industry professionals. These included 3,030 hosted buyers, an increase of 4 per cent on 2014. They represented 54 countries with 26 per cent from outside the US and Canada, notably 5 per cent from Brazil, 3.5 per cent from the UK, 3 per cent from China, 2.5% from Mexico and 1.5 per cent from each of Germany, India, Argentina and Australia.

9 per cent of them represented associations, 21 per cent were corporate buyers, 62 per cent were from incentive houses and agencies and 8 per cent were independent planners.

The show also attracted 2,053 trade attendees from 69 countries, an increase of 7 per cent year on year.

The data also confirms that the number of prescheduled one-to-one appointments and booth presentations had risen by 7 per cent to a record 57,000 while there were also 9,700 buyers at group appointments. 51 per cent of meetings had profiles attached, another new high.

Michael Friend from Superior Meeting Services in the USA explains:
“Having the opportunity to meet everyone in one location is great. It allows me to maintain relationships and take things to a whole new level. IMEX is also an excellent opportunity to experience first-hand what’s going on and what’s new on the horizon. When it’s all here, under one roof, I can really take care of business. The global presence at IMEX America really shows how far the industry has come in bringing everyone together.”

Figures also confirm that this was the biggest ever IMEX America. Overall booth space grew by 5 per cent compared with last year’s previous record. There were 3,100 exhibiting companies representing 150 countries and 80 new booths.

Paul McDonagh from the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority adds:
“The quality of buyers has been good and we’ve met decision makers for both incentive and meetings business. This is one of our key events each year and always proves to be a good investment.”

The IMEX America 2015 at a Glance Fact Sheet can be downloaded at http://www.imexamerica.com/about-us/show-statistics/

AT IMEX AMERICA 2015

AT IMEX AMERICA

TODAY: Monday, October 12, 2015
AND TOMORROW: Tuesday, October 13, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS
Issued at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday, October 12

TODAY
Smart Monday, powered by MPI drew hundreds of participants to high class educational sessions on a diverse range of key topics delivered by MPI, IAPCO, ICCA, ASAE, HSMAI, DMAI, SITE, GBTA, GMIC, PCMA, IAEE and ECM. The feedback was terrific; people found value in the day.

Adrienne Tooley, Meeting & Event Manager, Koncept Events, said, “When you’ve been in the industry a few years, you want something new and more advanced. Smart Monday and IMEX offer very high caliber, high-level speakers that are in strong touch with what’s happening in the industry.”

“To have a whole day before the show to come in early and get education here at Smart Monday is great,” said Lanie Collins, Marketing Association & Event Manager at Nicola Wealth Management. “Since I‘m the only one in my company who does meetings, it is terrific to be surrounded by and talk to other people who just ‘get it’, and I also get credit for what I am learning towards my CMP.”

The first MPI morning keynote session of the week, which was sponsored by New Orleans CVB/New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, was presented by Lee Papa on “How to Live and Lead Mindfully.”

The second PCMA Business School at IMEX America, sponsored by Synchronicities, was presented and led by Bob Kulhan, a professor at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. It revealed how to leverage improv techniques in the office.

Gabriela Marquez, BCD Travel M&I, Mexico, “This session has really encouraged me to break from my comfort zone and prompted fresh thinking. It was also a fun way to network and the interactive nature of it helped to break the ice with fellow participants. I’ve learned to really listen, not to judge, and to take risks.”

Association Focus, the exclusive event presented by ASAE and ICCA and attended by around 180 association executives, provided a broad range of valuable tailored education and peer networking opportunities. This will be followed by Association Evening, sponsored by SLS Las Vegas, at the stunning Foxtail Nightclub where invited exhibitors will join the delegates.

Thelma da Sousa of the Pacific Coast Oto Ophthalmological Society said, “This is the third year I’ve been here because there is so much you can learn. The content and range of the sessions is superb. There are so many that I want to go to that I wish there was more time.”

1,200 buyers and suppliers are going to Site Nite North America at the new Omnia nightclub, Caesars Palace.

TOMORROW
New exhibitors: There will be more than 80 new booths with exhibitors from all corners of the world, including Guam and Taiwan from Asia, Hungary and Zagreb from Europe, Paraguay and Ecuador from Latin America, plus Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Wisconsin from the U.S., to name just a few.

New education features: Magician Tim David will be the MPI keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, he will explore the “Human Connection – A Lost Art in a Noisy World.”

The new Play Room, sponsored by Play with a Purpose, will provide short, hands-on “quirkshops” around creativity, a theme incorporated throughout the program.

A new resource on the show floor, TECHnexus, will provide buyers with hands-on experience of the latest technologies and is available every day in the tech area.

The #IMEXpitch Event Technology Startup competition will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Inspiration Hub. A short list of five companies will pitch their ideas to industry experts.

Meditation Room: New for this year, this device-free area hosts regular sessions on yoga, mindfulness and meditation as well as provides quiet spot to recharge.

Press Conferences: There is a packed program of press conferences taking place at the Press Center and covering a wide range of destinations, venues and initiatives.

PRESS CENTER – sponsored by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
The onsite Press Center is located on Level 1 – Casanova Room 501 – The Venetian® | The Palazzo® Congress Center.

It offers: free Wifi, laptops and work stations, latest news from the show, its exhibitors and partners, mobile phone charging point, complimentary refreshments.

You can reach the PR team during the show at the Press Center or on the following numbers:
Press Center Onsite – (702) 691-8608
Emma Ward – (214) 883-7586
Jen McNeil – (214) 587-3819
Chris Lewis – (469) 404-6690

Useful weblinks
Latest IMEX & Exhibitor news releases – www.imexamerica.com/press/news-releases/
Press images – www.imexamerica.com/press/images-audio-video/
At a glance schedule www.imexamerica.com/events/at-a-glance/schedule/

IMEX America participants to Lace Up their Sneakers for First IMEXrun Las Vegas

IMEX America participants to Lace Up their Sneakers for First IMEXrun Las Vegas

IMEX America participants will have the opportunity to exercise their bodies as well as their minds at the show by joining in the first-ever IMEXrun Las Vegas. The run, organized by sports by tlc and sponsored by Embratur and RioTur, takes place on Wednesday October 14th at 06:30 am.

Designed to combine fun, fitness and Vegas panache, the 5km route will begin and end at the scenic Venetian® outdoor bridge & gondolas and pass partly along the Strip. A water and fresh fruit “reception” will also be provided at the finish line to refresh and refuel the runners before their day at the show.

The IMEXrun Las Vegas – Inspired by Rio de Janeiro – is open to all and builds on the successful riverside IMEXrun Frankfurt in the spring of this year that attracted nearly 250 runners.

The new event was developed and will be organized by sports by tlc which strongly believes in the unique ability of sport to enhance corporate responsibility, personal development and the practice of a healthier life.

The IMEXrun Las Vegas is an element of the new “Be Well at IMEX” program at IMEX America 2015. This includes a variety of wellness education sessions at the Inspiration Hub on the show floor, a new meditation room and an online wellness guide.

“As meetings professionals we are often on the road so wellness is an important topic,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX. “We think the IMEXrun Las Vegas captures the dynamic, caring, strong, and community-driven spirit of our industry, and will provide a fun and energizing way for people to kick off their second morning at the show.”

For further details and to register to take part please visit www.imexamerica.com/imexrun

Association Focus & Evening offer superb education

Association Focus & Evening offer superb education and networking opportunities at IMEX America 2015

Increasing revenues, designing better meetings and using mobile technologies in meetings are among the engaging subjects to be explored at Association Focus, a key part of IMEX America’s Smart Monday education program on 12 October 2015 in Las Vegas.

This special educational event, designed by IMEX together with ASAE and ICCA, is packed with fascinating discussions and insightful presentations led by an inspiring group of engaging speakers including industry professionals and independent specialists.

Taking place at the Venetian®| The Palazzo® Congress Center, the free event is exclusively for association executives. More than 180 association professionals from over 15 countries are expected to attend.

The day will be packed with motivating sessions where delegates can boost their knowledge and gather valuable insights and advice from peers and experts that will be helpful both in running associations as well as their events. The event also offers superb opportunities for association executives to network with peers and experts from across the globe.

After a networking lunch, delegates will first have a choice of three tracks. The ICCA session is ‘What’s Your Story?’ Led by Betsy Bair of Penton Media, Lisa Astorga, CMP of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA, it starts from the premise that every association meeting is a chance to tell a great story – so how can associations make the most of these stories and opportunities?

At the same time, Willis Turner, CEO of Sales & Marketing Executives International Inc and Shelly Alcorn, Principal of Alcorn Associates will explore the potential role and opportunities to use gaming to increase loyalty and engagement.

Dedicated Executive Track
The dedicated ASAE Executive Track will open with ‘The Journey to Great Governance’, presented by Susan Robertson, CAE, Executive Vice President, ASAE, highlighting best practice in how non-profit boards of directors can fulfil their roles in living up to public and stakeholder expectations. This will be followed by Amy Hissrich, VP Web Strategies & Communications at ASAE explaining how mobile technologies can be used to maximise results from meetings.

Meanwhile delegates can also choose to learn about increasing non-due revenues in international markets from Faris Abouhamad of the International Advertising Association and Steen Jakobsen of Dubai Business Events. Alternatively, they can hear from John Folks and Katie Callahan-Giobbi of Mindingyourbusiness on measuring the attendee experience – and how different approaches can help to design a better meeting.

A packed day of education will be followed by a superb social event – Association Evening – which will feature Cocktails and Canapés at the stunning ‘indoor-outdoor’ Foxtail Nightclub, SLS Las Vegas; a fantastic opportunity to network with peers and invited exhibitors in a relaxed environment.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group says: “Association Focus is a unique event in North America – bringing together association executives from around the US and the world to network and learn with each other in a private environment. We work hard with the market to ensure that the education sessions are highly relevant and delivered by first class educators. The Association Evening is a great culmination to the day and we are excited this year to be at a beautiful new poolside venue – it promises to be spectacular.”

For more details about IMEX America’s Association Focus and Evening and to register http://www.imexamerica.com/events/education/association-focus/

Please click here to download the Association Focus & Evening Brochure and to apply.

To attend Association Focus, delegates must first be registered as either a Hosted Buyer or a Visitor for the IMEX America trade show taking place on 13 – 15th October at Sands Expo® and The Venetian®| The Palazzo® Las Vegas. The Association Evening is also open to exhibitors who are members of one of the supporting industry associations – ICCA, ASAE, AIPC, IAEE, IACC, DMAI, PCMA, IAPCO. More information on the evening can be found at: http://www.imexamerica.com/events/networking-events/association-evening/

The education providers for Association Focus are ASAE and ICCA. SLS Las Vegas is the evening host sponsor.

CALENDAR OF MICE EVENTS 2015

CALENDAR OF MICE EVENTS 2015

ITT EGYPT 2015 – International Travel & Tourism
2015, January 10 – 13 | Cairo, Egypt
E-Mail: info@pyramidsfair.com

Vakantiebeurs 2015 –
2015, January 13 – 18 | Utrecht, Netherlands
E-Mail: info@vakantiebeurs.nl

IITT 2015 – India International Travel and Tourism Exhibition
2015, January 16 – 18 | Mumbai, India
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

EMITT 2015 – 19th East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition
2015, January 22 – 25 | Istanbul, Turkey
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

FITUR 2015 – International Tourism Trade Fair
2015, January 28 – February 1 | Madrid, Spain
E-Mail: fitur@ifema.es

SATTE 2015 – 22nd edition of the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange
2015, January 29 – 31 | New Delhi, India
E-Mail: info@satte.org

ENTER 2015 – eTourism: Transforming Mobility
2015, February 3 – 6 | Lugano, Switzerland
E-Mail: ifitt@ifitt.org

OTM Mumbai 2015 – Outbound Travel Mart
2015, February 4 – 6 | Mumbai, India
E-Mail: otm@fairfest.com

OTM Delhi 2015 –
2015, February 12 – 14 | New Delhi, India
E-Mail: otm@fairfest.com

ITB Berlin 2015 – The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show
2015, March 4 – 8 | Berlin, Germany
E-Mail: itb@messe-berlin.de

MITT 2015 – 22nd Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition
2015, March 18 – 21 | Moscow, Russian Federation
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

UITT 2015 – 21st Ukraine International Travel &Tourism Exhibition
2015, March 25 – 27 | Kiev, Ukraine
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

AITF 2015 – 14th Azerbaijan International Travel & Tourism Fair
2015, April 2 – 4 | Baku, Azerbaijan
E-Mail: tourism@iteca.az

SITT 2015 – Tour Sib
25th Siberian International Travel & Tourism Exhibition
2015, April 16 – 18 | Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

WCT Expo 2015 – World Culture & Travel Expo
2015, April 17 – 19 | Atlanta, United States of America
E-Mail: Jennifer@ExpoIncorporated.com

KITF 2015 – 15th Kazakhstan International Tourism & Travel Fair
2015, April 22 – 24 | Almaty, Kazakhstan
E-Mail: Maria.Badakh@ite-exhibitions.com

ATM 2015 – Arabian Travel Market
2015, May 5 – 7 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates
E-Mail: arabian.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk

MITM Euromed, Meetings & Incentive Travel Market
2015, May 6 – 8 | AR Diamante Beach**** Hotel in Calpe, Spain
E-Mail: gisela.matamoros@mitmevents.com

ITE & MICE 2015 – The 29th International Travel Expo
Hong Kong & the 10th MICE Travel Expo,
2015, June 11 – 14 | Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (Hall 1A-1E)
E-Mail: travel@tkshk.com

TTF Hyderabad 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, July 24 – 26 | Hyderabad, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

TTF Kolkata 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, July 31 – August 2 | Kolkata, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

TTF Ahmedabad 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, September 11 – 13 | Ahmedabad, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

Otdykh 2015 – International Russian Travel Market
2015, September 15 – 18 | Moscow, Russian Federation
E-Mail: e.kohlhauser@euroexpo-vienna.com

TTF Surat 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, September 18 – 20 | Surat, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

8th Baltic Sea Tourism Forum
2015, September 22 – 23 | Gdańsk/Malbork, Poland
E-Mail: info@balticseatourism.net

TTF Mumbai 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, September 24 – 26 | Mumbai, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

FITE 2015 – 13ª edición de la Feria Internacional del Turismo en Ecuador
2015, September 24 – 27 | Guayaquil, Ecuador
E-Mail: presidencia@fite.info

JATA 2015 – JATA Tourism EXPO Japan
2015, September 24 – 27 | Tokyo City, Japan
E-Mail: event@t-expo.jp

TTF Pune 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, October 2 – 4 | Pune, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

IGTM 2015 – International Golf Travel Market
2015, October 5 – 8 | Tenerife, Spain
E-Mail: igtm.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk

FITPAR 2015 – Seminario Internacional sobre Rutas Turísticas Multidestinos
2015, October 9 – 11 | Asunción, Paraguay
E-Mail: gerencia@asatur.org.py

IMEX AMERICA 2015
2015, October 13 – 15 | Las Vegas, United States of America
E-Mail: info@imexexhibitions.com

TOUR SALON 2015 – Fair of Regional and Tourism Products
2015, October 15 – 17 | Poznań, Poland
E-Mail: info@mtp.pl

WTM – Silk Road Tour Operators Speed Networking Event at WTM London
2015, November 2 | London, United Kingdom
E-Mail: silkroad@unwto.org

WTM 2015 – World Travel Market
2015, November 2 – 5 | London, United Kingdom
E-Mail: enquiry@reedexpo.co.uk

UNWTO – 9th UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit
2015, November 3 | London, United Kingdom
E-Mail: mnavarro@unwto.org

TTF Guwahati 2015 – Travel and Tourism Fair
2015, November 20 – 22 | Guwahati, India
E-Mail: ttf@fairfest.com

TT Warsaw 2015 – 23rd International Travel Show
2015, November 26 – 28 | Warszawa, Poland
E-Mail: mpieniazek@mttargi.pl
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