Organizers of IMEX America have announced that the third edition of the U.S. tradeshow for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry is set to deliver even further growth this fall. The amount of hosted buyers, exhibiting companies and new exhibitors are set to exceed numbers set in 2012.
The completion of the multi-million dollar Sands Renovation program means that IMEX America will move to new halls at the Sands Expo for 2013.
“It feels like a new venue and is now truly state-of-the-art,” said Ray Bloom, chairman, IMEX Group. “The larger halls give us space to expand and allow more exhibiting companies from all over the globe to take part and to do business. It has also opened up new meeting spaces, a business center and café areas.”
To date, 33 percent of all contracts received by IMEX America in 2013 have included increased booth space, showing that more exhibitors desire a stronger presence at the show’s third edition. Over a third of exhibitors have increased the size of their booths by 50 percent or more compared to last year. Many new booths already are confirmed for the show.
IMEX America has quickly established itself as a new model of exhibition in the U.S. Its combination of a three-day appointment-focused tradeshow with a pre-show educational day – Smart Monday – in partnership with strategic partners and education providers, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), plus partnerships and co-located events in cooperation with the major industry associations, has proved a strong market proposition. Supportive local partners – the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority – and host hotels, The Venetian and The Palazzo together with the Sands Expo and Convention Center – have all made a significant contribution to its award-winning success.
Recognized for its year-on-year growth, IMEX America was honored at the Trade Show Executive Fastest 50 Awards & Summit in Chicago on May 9. Having previously been declared one of the honorees in the “Fastest 50 Class of 2012” list, the tradeshow was pronounced a Grand Award winner for ‘Highest Growth in Exhibitor Numbers’. Out of the top 50 honorees list, IMEX America came in 8th by the number of exhibitors, 10th by net-square feet and 38th by attendance numbers.
The Grand Award was accepted by Kimberly Meyer, strategic initiatives consultant and CEO of meetings analytics, IMEX America. Meyer works with a colleague, Terri Briening, to jointly facilitate the IMEX America Executive Meetings Forum, which takes place annually as part of the three-day Las Vegas tradeshow on Oct. 13 to 15.
