IMEX America announces dates and venues up to 2025, confirming move to September in 2019 and 2020

IMEX America announces dates and venues up to 2025, confirming move to September in 2019 and 2020
The IMEX Group – organizers of IMEX America – have announced the dates and locations for their industry leading Las Vegas show through 2025.

Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group said, “We know that our industry partners from across North America and around the world plan numerous activities and co-located events around IMEX America. In addition, the fall is a very busy period for the industry. As a result, we felt that it was important to give the industry as much notice as possible with regards to our dates and venues going forward to assist with their own planning.”

“In particular, we wanted to remind the industry that we will be moving from our usual October dates to September for two (2) years in 2019 and 2020.”

In addition to confirming the dates, the IMEX Group have also announced that from 2021, after ten successful years at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, IMEX America will move to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Ray went on to explain, “The Sands Expo team have been wonderfully supportive partners since well before our inaugural show in 2011 and we are looking forward to four more successful shows working with them, through 2020. Their contribution in helping us to establish IMEX America in Las Vegas as the event where everyone from our industry, from the USA and worldwide, gathers each fall has been invaluable. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and are looking forward to continuing that partnership for many years into the future.

Ray Bloom, Chairman, IMEX Group
“However, we were not able to lock in space from 2021 onward. Therefore, after celebrating ten years working together and enjoying a fantastic relationship with the Las Vegas Sands team, we shall be moving to Mandalay Bay. We look forward to establishing successful partnerships with the Mandalay Bay and MGM Resorts International teams and we know that their world-class facilities will be an equally fitting home for the show.”

Long standing IMEX partner, the Sands Expo, commented, “As the leader of the meetings and tradeshow industry, we always felt that Las Vegas Sands was the perfect partner to assist in the launch of IMEX,” said Chandra Allison, senior vice president of sales for The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo. “It has been a pleasure helping IMEX grow to become one of the most successful annual events for meeting professionals. The show has evolved, and so has the industry. We recognize this is the right time for the show to move to its next destination. We look forward to continuing our partnership and support of IMEX America in Las Vegas for many years to come.”

Talking about their excitement in hosting the show in the future, MGM Resorts International and Mandalay Bay commented, “We are honored to partner with IMEX America and to keep such a prestigious industry event in Las Vegas. As an active supporter of IMEX, MGM Resorts International is excited to create new experiences for attendees at Mandalay Bay. We will continue to showcase the city of Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International as the leading meeting and events destination” said Stephanie Glanzer, CMP, Vice President Sales of Mandalay Bay.

Dates and Location Summary

The dates and venues for IMEX America for the next eight years will be:
2018 October, 16-18 Sands Expo
2019 September, 10-12 Sands Expo
2020 September, 15-17 Sands Expo
2021 November, 9 -11 Mandalay Bay
2022 October, 25-27 Mandalay Bay
2023 October, 10-12 Mandalay Bay
2024 October, 8-10 Mandalay Bay
2025 October, 7-9 Mandalay Bay

IMEX America, America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings & events, will take place from October 10 – 12, 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian and The Palazzo, preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on October 9.

Further details about the show can be found on the new-look website.

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#IMEX17 #MGMResorts #IMEXnews #MICEnews #LasVegas

New exhibitors

New exhibitors, new education streams and new networking opportunities will enhance the IMEX America experience

Even more business, networking and education opportunities, backed by new CSR initiatives, await the thousands of meetings professionals arriving in Las Vegas for the sixth IMEX America on October 18-20th.

First time exhibitors from across the world, the US and from all sectors of the industry will be among more than 3000 organisations exhibiting at the Las Vegas show this year.

They include many North American destinations, namely Alabama, Albuquerque, Destination Michigan, Oklahoma, Reno-Sparks CVB, Rochester, Travel Tacoma and Pierce County and Visit Spokane.

Other exhibitors new to IMEX America are Global Gifting, Hanoi Department of Tourism, HB Hospitality, Legends Attractions, Slovenian Tourist Board, and World Experts DMC.

As the meetings market’s appetite for technology grows, so does the variety of tech companies exhibiting. This year Bizly, EventBank, Event Collab, Loopd Inc. (winner of last year’s #IMEXpitch tech start-up competition), MeetingHand and Scout20 are all new. They add to the wealth of technology solutions on show for meetings planners, which cover event apps, registration systems, social media, software, video and more. This provides the opportunity to see and experience a whole range of tech solutions in one place.

Other exhibitors stepping up their show floor presence with bigger booths include the Nashville CVB, NYC & Company, San Francisco and Travel Portland together with a bevy of hotels including Commune Hotels & Resorts, FRI Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Hotel Group, and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

New Senior Level Professional Development
IMEX America’s renowned education program runs all week after its usual intensive professional development start on Oct 17, Smart Monday, powered by MPI. The first of the daily MPI keynotes along with a new Association Focus program, PCMA’s Business School and the extended Executive Meetings Forum are among Smart Monday’s big learning opportunities.

A new Senior Planners Open Forum has just been confirmed to run throughout the show for planners with 10+ years’ experience. These facilitated, crowd-sourced sessions will provide senior planners with an opportunity to exchange ideas and challenges on a range of topics from leading a team to proving the value of the meeting department.

Hosted buyer services at the show have been extended with the introduction of three new zones within the hosted buyer lounge. Each zone is supported by an exhibiting sponsor. The Hyatt Regency Recharge Zone will offer massages, manicures and cell phone recharging while Atlantis is offering a Relax Zone and Turkish Airlines are supporting the reception area and concierge services. Together the zones enhance the quality of the show experience for hosted buyers, allowing them to rest, recharge and refuel before heading off for their next appointment.

Appointment schedule
Online schedules are now open. These give all pre-registered hosted buyers and buyer attendees full access to the show’s appointment system, which provides them with a personal online schedule through which to make exhibitor appointments. The schedules are often booked up quickly, so buyers are being encouraged to confirm key appointments as soon as possible and send RFPs in good time. This will enable them to make the most of their time by arranging all their business meetings and schedule in all the education sessions they want to attend.

Zenvoy’s new ‘buyer to buyer’ networking service which facilitates introductions between buyers who share common attributes is also free for all hosted buyers and buyer attendees. In addition, the hosted buyer lounge will feature a new Networking Hub with the IMEX hosted buyer team facilitating networking sessions at key times throughout the show.

The show’s hallmark hosted buyer program is boosted this year by the addition of 17 new hosted buyer groups, brought to the show by Accor UK & France, ESA Latin America, HB Hospitality, Marriott Canada, Melia Hotels International – Southeast, Sandals, Signature Boston, SmithBucklin and Visit Park City.

First Ever CSR sponsor
CSR has also come of age with the Costa Rica Tourism Board confirmed as the show’s first ever main CSR sponsor, supported by four contributing sponsors: AlliedPRA, Exclusive Destinations & 3D Cruise Partners and GES. Their engagement helps support the show’s CSR & Sustainability Showcase, including a Clean the World Station, the ‘Badge-Back’ recycling program and Garbage Grabbers – Clean Up Las Vegas. This new Monday afternoon volunteer program invites attendees to help clean up Sunset Park.

Finally returning by popular demand — but always bringing fresh energy and learnings — are the Play Room (presented by Play with a Purpose) and the Be Well Lounge (sponsored by Hilton).

Industry ‘giving back’ continues to be a major theme of the week with the MPI Foundation Rendezvous, Site Nite North America and the CEIR Golf Tournament all returning to the show.

Other timeless favorites during the week include Association Evening, CIC Hall of Leaders and Pacesetter Awards, the DMC Network and Ovation Talent Search, the IMEXrun (developed by Case Imagine) and #IMEXpitch.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group commented; “We continually research and monitor buyers’ changing requirements and endeavour to respond to them. The online schedules, the enhanced networking opportunities and the new senior education formats are designed to meet their needs, while giving them control over their time at the show. The opportunities to do business, learn and make connections as well as to give back to the local community are greater than ever.”

Registration for IMEX America is free of charge and is best completed online in advance (registration is also available at the show) https://portal.imexamerica.com/register.php.

Useful links:
How to register for IMEX America 2016
2016 Exhibitor Directory
Smart Monday
Sustainability and CSR

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/

Let’s get creative

Let’s get creative – interactive sessions and new Play Room at IMEX America

Creativity and engagement are set to top the agenda at IMEX America this year. A new Play Room and dedicated education sessions from both meeting and entertainment professionals are set to provide a fresh look at meeting planning.

The new Play Room, powered by Play With A Purpose, will be held throughout IMEX America, 13 – 15 October in Las Vegas, offering attendees a creative, interactive, hands on “play space”.

With ‘quirkshops’ during Smart Monday on 12 October and on the Inspiration Hub throughout the show, the Play Room will showcase a variety of tools and techniques, providing planners with immediately useable ideas to implement in meetings. Quirkshops will cover room design, technology, networking tools and teambuilding ideas, enabling planners to create more engaging, creative meetings. Planners can work with others to get to grips with human whiteboarding, gamification, humour power and zen tangles among others.

The Inspiration Hub, home to all show floor education during IMEX, has a dedicated creative learning track with impactful sessions designed to boost engagement and create a memorable delegate experience.

Human connection – a lost art in a noisy world will be delivered by award winning magician and MPI Keynote Tim David on 13 October. Through his work, Tim has learnt what makes people tick and will share many tips in this motivational presentation uncovering the key to effective and persuasive communication and fostering connections.

Award winning film director Josh Tickell makes movies geared toward the 80 million people between the ages of 18-35. According to Inc. Magazine, he is “America’s #1 Strategist” for connecting with the Millennial Generation (also known as Generation Y). His MPI Keynote Managing and marketing to the future of Generation Y on 14 October is set to explore this further, explaining how to tailor sustainability policies, communication, HR and customer service to meet the needs of the attendees of the future.

Patrick Henry, former Nashville songwriter, performer and MPI keynote says: “If you can’t create an emotional connection with your customers…you’re going to lose them”. His keynote address on 15 October, Becoming ‘Remember-able’, shares real life stories to show how to build an extraordinary customer experience, achieve personal and professional excellence and build loyalty among their team.

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, comments: “In a rapidly evolving marketplace, it’s essential to stay up to date with the latest trends and develop a fresh approach to planning and hosting meetings. Our new Play Room is an exciting new addition to IMEX America. When combined with our creative education sessions and the outstanding line up of MPI Keynotes, we hope to provide delegates with the latest business practices which they can take back and apply to their meetings.”

Alongside the Creative Learning focused education sessions are nine other speciality tracks including Business Skills, Marketing & Communications, Risk Management & Compliance, Technology & Social Media, Trends & Research, Health & Wellbeing, Diversity, Sustainability and General Education.

The Inspiration Hub, home to all show floor education at IMEX America, is split into six areas with more than 180 education sessions – each catering to different learning styles. There are seminar rooms, a campfire area and a Hot Topic area providing the opportunity to debate the latest industry issues with peers. The Meet the Experts Clinic offers individual appointments with an industry expert and presentations at the Research Pod area showcase the latest industry research.

Leading corporate meetings executives to collaborate at IMEX America 2015 Forum

Leading corporate meetings executives to collaborate at IMEX America 2015 Forum
New executive report shows market growth and ROI demands on the rise

April 13, 2015 – With the 5th IMEX America set to take place in Las Vegas from October 13 to 15, the IMEX team is creating even stronger opportunities for buyers and exhibitors to develop business, network, and learn from experts and their peers.

One of the highlights of IMEX America for high level corporate executives is the Executive Meeting Forum (EMF). The two-day event on October 13 and 14 will bring together senior professionals in a peer-to-peer setting to share best practices, discuss issues and generate new ideas.

The discussions at the event also provide fascinating insights into the views of a cross-section of today’s industry executives. Last year’s Forum was especially revealing as the participants were from major organizations such as Microsoft, Coca Cola and Cisco Systems and almost two thirds had at least 10 years experience in the industry.
Among the many significant views that they collectively expressed were:

• Meetings Growth & ROI – there is shared optimism that the meetings market is back on track but also shared knowledge that the demand for more and more meetings ROI continues to grow too.

• SMM/SMMP – there is a keen interest in defining more “mature” models for Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) and Strategic Meetings Management Programs (SMMP), especially with smaller and distributed meetings. Creating more comprehensive policies and taking SMM more global in scale and practice is also of importance.

• Going Global – getting a stronger handle on managing resources, virtual teams, budgets and policies across borders is key.

• Performance Punishment – there is a strong awareness that successful planners should not be “rewarded” with lower budgets and less staff.

• Technology Buy-In – the need to build more internal support and budget for Business Intelligence and Data Mining technologies is shared by many.

Offering more creative and experiential hooks for sponsors was also discussed in–depth, as was the need to build more technically savvy, open and collaborative meetings designs to increase delegate engagement.

All the findings and insights are published in The IMEX America 2014 Executive Meeting Forum Summary Report, sponsored by Dubai Business Events, which is now available to download.

This year’s Forum is sure to generate more valuable discussion and knowledge sharing. Among the important topics and significant themes likely to be covered are:

• Sharing the unprecedented ways in which the value and benefits of meetings and events are now being held to account.

• Creating deeper attendee engagement.

• Capturing ROI and its power to build stakeholder support.

• Gaining insight into industry best practices around agency, hotel and vendor management, internal key metrics and SLAs.

• Exploring how meetings and events are impacted by new economic, political and financial realities.

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group commented: “We are once again putting together a superb, comprehensive program of key issues for the 50 plus senior executives who take part each year in the Forum. It is always one of the highlights of our educational program as it enables us to provide these high level professionals with a unique and tailored tradeshow experience, access to valuable knowledge to take back to their organizations, and important networking time with their peers.”

To download a copy of the 2014 Executive Meeting Forum Summary Report and for more information on the 2015 Executive Meetings Forum visit: http://www.imexamerica.com/events/forums/executive-meeting-forum/.

IMEX CHARITY COOKING 2015

IMEX CHARITY COOKING 2015

MITKOCHEN FÜR DAS OBDACHLOSENHEIM
„LICHTBLICK“ AM VORTAG DER IMEX

Anmeldung ab sofort möglich

„Kochen mit Spaß für die gute Sache“ – so heißt es bald wieder für eine Gruppe von internationalen IMEX-Besuchern und Ausstellern, die am Montag, den 18. Mai, am Tag vor Messebeginn im Rahmen des „IMEX Charity-Cooking@Lichtblick“ gemeinsam schnippeln, panieren und verzieren.

„Die gute Sache“ – das ist der Verein „Lichtblick e.v.“ rund um die Ordensschwester Sigrid, die sich bereits seit Jahrzehnten in Frankfurt und Umgebung für Obdachlose engagiert. Mit grösstem persönlichem Einsatz hat sie es geschafft, vielen Obdachlosen eine neue Heimat zu geben. Ihr „Haus Lichtblick“ an der Eschersheimer Landstrasse in Frankfurt ist ein regelrechtes Vorzeigeobjekt.

Der unternehmerischen Verantwortung gerecht werden
Die IMEX unterstützt den Verein bereits seit 2012 im Rahmen der eigenen CSR-Strategie (Corporate Social Responsibility) durch eine Fundraising-Initiative. Die daraus resultierende Geldspende konnte im letzten Jahr für einen Bootsausflug auf dem Rhein verwendet werden, an dem die Bewohner des Heimes viel Spaß hatten.
Etwas zurück zu geben in die Community – das ist das Ziel, das die IMEX mit ihren „Giving-Back Projekten“ wie diesem verfolgt. Neben diesem CSR-Projekt organisiert die IMEX auch in Las Vegas im Rahmen der IMEX America jährlich verschiedene „Giving-Back Events“.

Emotionales Erlebnis für die Teilnehmer
Die IMEX hat sich bewusst dafür entschieden – neben der jährlichen Geldspende – auch ein persönliches Erlebnis für die Teilnehmer zu kreieren. So öffnet der „Blick hinter die Kulissen“ und der Besuch des „Hauses Lichtblick“ den Teilnehmern oftmals ganz neue Perspektiven und gibt Einblicke, die zum Nachdenken anregen.

Dank an die Sponsoren
Wie bereits in den Vorjahren wird das Sheraton Frankfurt Congress Hotel alle Zutaten und die Dekoration spenden. Zudem leitet ein Profikoch des Hotels das Charity-Cooking Team an und unterstützt tatkräftig.
Bereits zum zweiten mal ist auch das GCB German Convention Bureau als „Badge-Back-Sponsor“ dabei – die Einnahmen der „Badge-Back“ Fundraising-Initiative kommen u.a. auch dem „Haus Lichtblick“ zugute.

Mitmachen erwünscht!
Das „Giving-Back Programm“ 2015 findet am Montag, den 18. Mai 2015 von 11:00h bis 14:30h in Frankfurt im Haus „Lichtblick“ statt. Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos. Wer mitmachen möchte bei diesem Charity-Projekt kann sich ab sofort anmelden: cooking@imexexhibitions.com

ICC Sydney showcased on international stage at IMEX America, Las Vegas

Oktober 2014 – International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), Australia’s first fully integrated convention, exhibition and event precinct, has received a glowing response at IMEX America, one of the world’s largest meetings, events and incentive travel industry shows.

Chief Executive Officer of ICC Sydney, and AEG Ogden Group Director of Convention Centres, Geoff Donaghy said IMEX America provided the perfect platform to showcase Sydney to the world and meet face to face with influential industry stakeholders.

“Decision makers and selected IMEX attendees have received a special preview of ICC Sydney’s developing brand and new website today and we are delighted with the response,” said Mr Donaghy from the show in Las Vegas today.

“Our positioning of Sydney’s premier, integrated convention, exhibition and events precinct has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from IMEX delegates, further reinforcing the growing excitement and global interest in this landmark project,” he said.

Managed and marketed by AEG Ogden, ICC Sydney benefits from the extensive global experience and connectivity of the group and its representatives’ collective industry knowledge.

“ICC Sydney’s marketing and business development activities are in full swing and I encourage you to make contact with the team at any time and to come along and meet with us at upcoming industry events,” said Mr Donaghy.

ICC Sydney Director of Business Development, Beverley Parker is meeting with delegates at Stand 2633 today alongside Business Events Sydney, the city’s business events bureau.

Find out more about the exciting waterfront venue located in the heart of Sydney and a thriving dining and leisure precinct by visiting iccsydney.com today.

ICC Sydney’s key features include:
• Convention facilities capable of hosting three fully separated, self-sufficient, concurrent events

• Total exhibition capacity of 35,000sqm, including 2,500sqm of flexible space

• An open air event deck of 5,000sqm, including a bar and lounge featuring spectacular city views

• A premier red carpet theatre with a capacity of 8,000 suitable for international entertainment acts and major convention plenary sessions

• A grand ballroom to provide Sydney’s premium banqueting space for more than 2,000 people which, at almost double the previous capacity, will become Australia’s largest ballroom

• 40+ meeting rooms that link to both the convention and exhibition areas

• World’s best practice technology throughout, including wireless connectivity across ICC Sydney

• Prime waterfront location on Darling Harbour in an activated dining and leisure precinct

• A renewed and upgraded public domain, which will include an outdoor event space for up to 27,000 people and improved pedestrian access from Chinatown, Central Station, Ultimo, Pyrmont and the city centre

• Adjacent luxury headquarters hotel with 600+ rooms.

About ICC Sydney
Opening in December 2016, ICC Sydney is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and event precinct. The showcase international venue presents Australia’s largest and first fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment centre, underpinning Sydney’s place as one of the world’s most desirable meeting and major events destinations. ICC Sydney is the epicentre of a 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour by the NSW Government to highlight Sydney as the first choice in Australia and the Asia Pacific region for the major events industry. ICC Sydney is being delivered by Darling Harbour Live, comprising Lend Lease, Hostplus, Capella Capital, AEG Ogden and Spotless, in partnership with the NSW Government.

Infrastructure NSW is the NSW Government agency managing the 20-hectare transformation – Darling Harbour’s most exciting renewal in 25 years. Darling Harbour and the new convention, exhibition and entertainment venues will continue to be publicly owned through Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which is presenting a dynamic calendar of events during the redevelopment to keep the precinct active and vibrant.

ICC Sydney is operated by globally acclaimed and leading venue manager AEG Ogden, joining the group’s exceptional stable of world-class venues.

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is an Australian controlled joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.

AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Hyderabad (currently in design), Oman (opening 2016), ICC Sydney (opening December 2016) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney’s Allphones Arena, the Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly the Sydney Entertainment Centre), the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; and live theatres including Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, the WA State Theatre Centre, Albany Entertainment Centre, and Subiaco Arts Centre. http://www.aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.

Kicks Off at IMEX America 2014

Future Leaders Forum – A Defining Moment for Next-Gen Meeting Professionals – Kicks Off at IMEX America 2014

Las Vegas, Oct 2014 – For more than 105 college students from 24 universities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum (FLF) at IMEX America 2014 is more than just a break from studies – it is a defining career moment in the meetings industry. That’s exactly the goal that IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom envisioned 11 years ago when he launched this education program designed to prepare next-generation leaders in the fast-growing global meetings field. The two-day program runs through today at the Sands Expo® in Las Vegas.
Bloom said, “Featuring sessions on hot topics led by industry thought leaders, professional development training and a wide array of networking opportunities, FLF aims to ignite the passion of all attendees and entice them into rewarding careers that will shape the direction of the meetings industry.”

‘Blooming marvelous’ – Industry volunteers work their green fingers for IMEX Challenge

‘Blooming marvelous’ – Industry volunteers work their green fingers for IMEX Challenge at the Shade Tree, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Monday October 13 – A total of 46 meetings and events industry volunteers gathered at the Shade Tree center for abused women and children in Las Vegas over the weekend (Oct 11 and 12) to create a brand new healing garden as part of the IMEX Challenge 2014.

The volunteers worked tirelessly in shifts on Saturday and Sunday to complete the work on the gardens, which was generously sponsored by host sponsors, Sands Cares and GES. Sands Cares covered the cost of creating the new healing gardens, while the entire project was designed and managed by The Venetian® l The Palazzo’s® Horticultural Department who have committed to maintaining the gardens in the future.

GES (Global Experience Specialists) donated and built new storage sheds for all the garden equipment and tools, and for the Shade Tree’s animal shelter – Noah’s Animal House. The Shade Tree is unique in allowing women and children to bring their family pets with them to the shelter. Abandoned, mistreated or rehomed pets are often an unfortunate side effect of family breakups and domestic abuse.

While the volunteers were busy digging and planting, Mike Szuter, Music Director of Song Division, whose motto is “Bringing Meetings to Life with Music”, worked with the women and children to compose and record a song about their experiences and life at the Shade Tree. The song was played to the IMEX America MPI Keynote audience this morning prior to Steve Gross taking the stage to talk about using joy and optimism at work. Gross works with the Life is Good Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that uses play to help children overcome life-threatening challenges, which made the first public performance of the song especially fitting. (Hear the Shade Tree song and see the photos here).

IMEX Challenge at the Shade Tree Shelter, Las Vegas.
IMEX America has supported two local not-for-profits since its launch in Las Vegas – Opportunity Village and the Shade Tree shelter. The chance to create a new garden at the Shade Tree was a perfect fit for the 2014 IMEX Challenge. A call for individual volunteers and other sponsors resulted in many offers of support from the local Las Vegas community, IMEX partners and beyond.

Speaking about this year’s Challenge, Dale Hudson, Knowledge and Events Director for the IMEX Group, said: “First I’d like to thanks the Sands for their tremendous support without which this year’s challenge would not have come to life. Our thanks also go to GES and all the other sponsors who were so generous. We have been so lucky to have wonderful industry volunteers come forward to help, and the support of the wider meetings and events industry has been heartwarming. Giving back to the community is so important but the truth is the volunteers and supporters always get so much back from the experience themselves – it’s always a win-win. I sincerely thank all of those who made the new gardens possible this weekend…..which have already had their first visit from a hummingbird, bumble bees and butterflies.”

Host sponsors: Sands Cares and GES. Silver Sponsors: Hosts Global Alliance; Allied PRA; Las Vegas Hospitality Association; Treasure Island – Las Vegas. Bronze Sponsor: Northstar Meetings Group.

Participating in the event as volunteer sponsors were: Katrin Naumann, Another Koncept; Cheryl Brazier, Carlson Rezidor Group; Kay Johnson-Frutiger, Covance; Mandy Rinder, Koncept Events; Hilary Smith, Koncept Events; Betsy Bair, MeetingsNet; Varena Jandak, Vienna CVB; Christian Mutschlechner, Vienna CVB; Judith Settele, Vienna CVB; Karen Kinoshita-Banas, Wyndham Hotel Group; Michael McAllen, AVforPlanners.com (also the official podcast sponsor); Thomas Kostoff, Sofisticado, Las Vegas; Jason Glascock, Associate Director of Sales, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; Kara Yesilcimen, Destination Fabulous; Chris Meyer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Terri Meyer, CMA Planners.

Individual sponsors included: Elizabeth Baranik, Hard Rock Café; Kim L. Van Delft, AAPG; Linda Davis, Baskow & Associates; Stephanie Arone, Activity Planners, Inc.; Diane Herrmann, JNR Incorporated; Han R. Geskes and Aero Jet Services.

Two special sponsors also made vital donations – The South Africa National Convention Bureau and DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International).

IMEX Group announces growth in partnerships for 2014

IMEX Group announces growth in partnerships for 2014

The IMEX Group, organiser of two global trade shows for the meetings, incentive travel and events industry, has announced a number of new association partnerships together with several added-value developments to existing agreements.

New industry awards use IMEX as launch platform
Two new awards have been added to the roster being presented at the annual IMEX Gala Dinner in May. A new ‘Destination Marketing Award’ will be presented by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) in recognition of a successful marketing or branding campaign undertaken by a single destination. The Award comes at a time when many destinations are powering ahead with the use of social media and using more advanced marketing techniques to differentiate their product offerings.

In addition, a new International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) International Excellence Award will recognise an individual or organisation who has made “exceptional strides in creating, launching and managing an international event in the exhibitions and events industry” over the past year.

New German association partners
As part of IMEX’s long-term business strategy the company is starting to offer more tailored professional education to special interest groups in the German meetings and events sector. A new partnership with the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) sees the trade body co-locating a tax seminar on the morning of IMEX Association Day in Frankfurt to allow its members to attend the Association Day event in the afternoon as well as the evening networking reception.

IMEX is also formalising its partnership with the Association of German Travel Managers (VDR). The result is an initial agreement for the VDR to market the Exclusively Corporate @IMEX day to its members to encourage them to attend as hosted buyers. More joint initiatives are planned as the partnership grows.

Asian association growth taking shape
Continued, rapid expansion in the Asian meetings market in recent years has given rise to several new industry associations in the region, as well as growth in the number of hosted buyers attending the IMEX shows. The Philippines Council for the Advancement of Association Executives is one such association currently exploring ways of working together and, as a significant first step, its Executive Director will pay a formal visit to IMEX in Frankfurt in May.

ECM boost to Declaration of Support
The longstanding partnership between IMEX and ECM – European Cities Marketing – has also been expanded and has already resulted in a significant boost to joint meetings industry advocacy efforts. In December ECM handed over 20 political signatories for the IMEX Declaration of Support during its CEO Meeting of Capital and Major Cities. This brings the number of signatories to the Declaration to just one short of its first-year target of 100 named supporters.

Partners foster new research links
During the year IMEX will also be collaborating with the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) and Development Counsellors International (DCI) on a research study about generational differences in the meetings market. Results are set to be announced at IMEX in Frankfurt in May.

Co-located Board meeting draws more senior buyers
ISES, the International Special Events Society, has elected to co-locate its 2014 board meeting with IMEX America in Las Vegas in October for the first time. The society’s members collectively plan and deliver over 1 million events annually and represent a powerful group of buyers within the US events market.

Commenting on the announcements, IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer said: “IMEX America and IMEX in Frankfurt have both been built on a strategy of forming close, mutually beneficial working relationships with key industry associations. Today’s announcements demonstrate that there is still plenty of scope for innovation and expansion at both the shows. We will continue to work with relevant, specialist groups to ensure that IMEX offers ‘something for everyone’ while maintaining clear focus on our ultimate purpose: to enable and create face-to-face business between buyers and exhibitors.”

IMEX in Frankfurt opens on May 20 at Messe Frankfurt. Association Day and Exclusively Corporate @IMEX both take place on Monday May 19. Online registration is now open.