by Li Jackson, Exhibit City News
In a dazzling display of industry prowess, IMEX America 2023, the leading trade show for the global business events sector, has unveiled its impressive post-show statistics, showcasing a resounding success for its bumper 2023 edition. The event, which took place from October 17 to 19 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, drew a record-breaking 15,029 participants, marking the largest gathering in IMEX history.
The heart of this accomplishment lies in the diverse array of attendees, including 5,364 buyers – a combination of hosted buyers and buyer attendees – making this edition IMEX’s most substantial show to date. Notably, over 4,000 of these buyers were hosted buyers, with a staggering 45 percent wielding budgets of $5 million and above. The event’s 3,443 exhibiting companies created an advantageous ratio of buyers to exhibitors, fueling robust business interactions throughout the expansive show floor.
For an in-depth analysis of the post-show statistics, detailing buyers by nature of business, buying power, and country, interested readers can explore additional figures from the 12th edition of IMEX America here.
The event not only broke records in terms of attendance but also stood out for embracing a growing trend in the industry—personalization and community-centric experiences. Several initiatives highlighted this shift:
- First-Timer’s Tour: Over 200 attendees participated in a new initiative – the first-timer’s tour – on the opening day. This unique tour, introduced for the first time this year, featured a musical warm-up and facilitated ice-breakers, setting the stage for participants to embark on a guided exploration of the main features of the show floor.
- Experience Profiles™: Nearly 4,000 participants engaged with Storycraft Lab’s Experience Profiles™, specially tailored for IMEX America. Attendees took a quiz to unveil their Experience Profiles type, receiving a personalized guide to the show based on their individual preferences in interpreting information, engaging with others, and embracing new experiences. Feedback indicates that this innovative approach was well-received, offering event planners fresh ideas for their own occasions.
- Inspiration Hub: The show’s largest-ever Inspiration Hub, sponsored by WebEx, attracted over 2,000 attendees to its diverse education sessions. Participants could ‘pick and mix’ from a range of topics, spanning from personal well-being, such as managing mental health for oneself and team members, to exploring future trends and forecasts from around the globe and various industry sectors.
Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX, expressed her satisfaction, stating, “Our biggest ever show was not only large in terms of size but also value created. It certainly felt as if the whole of our global industry was in attendance. The sheer scale of the show means that it provides an accurate reflection of the current state of our industry – and it was good to see such buoyancy and confidence evident in the many business connections across the show floor.”
This success has set the stage for positive momentum and confidence leading up to IMEX in Frankfurt 2024, scheduled for May 14-16. The business event community can already register their interest here, anticipating another milestone gathering.
