By Ray Smith, Exhibit City News
Jennifer Byrn was soundly impressed with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s sales pitch at IMEX America, a global meetings and events show held Oct. 8-10 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, where hundreds of countries and cities competed for tourism business.
Las Vegas boasts the nation’s No. 1-ranked convention center and three of the top five. Transportation is a breeze compared with other major convention cities. And when the workday is done, conventioneers can dine and drink at celebrity chef restaurants, take in headline entertainment, indulge in glitzy nightlife.
The convention authority awarded nearly $1 million in contracts to Florida-based Conex Exhibition Services to design and build an exhibit booth touting Las Vegas’s attractions and amenities at various travel and tourism tradeshows, initially for last year’s IMEX.
“I think it represents their creativity and helps showcase who the city is and what the brand wants to be,” says Byrn, hosted buyer with Creative Group in Camas, Wash. She helps show organizers decide where to hold a conference or exhibition to attain maximum value.
“It’s so Las Vegas, big and bold,” adds Lisa Breck, also a hosted buyer with Conference Direct in Seattle. “It was very informative. They covered all the top places in Vegas and all that’s happening in Vegas.”
The booth covers about 2,600 square feet, situated under eye-catching LED advertising screens and overhanging slogans such as “Mediocre Isn’t Invited” and “Plan for the Extraordinary.” The space accommodates 30 individual partner kiosks, including the Sphere, Allegiant Stadium, Live Nation, Maverick helicopter tours, AWG Ambassador transportation services, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and other tourist-oriented businesses. There’s a coffee bar and snacks, and 15 meeting tables.
RECORD ATTENDANCE
IMEX America 2024 reported a record attendance of 15,500, including 5,500 buyers. They scheduled 86,000 meetings over three days, the majority of which were one-on-one with exhibitors.
The numbers reflect a strong growth trajectory and an air of confidence across the business events industry.
A third-quarter outlook from Meeting Professionals International shows 72 percent of those surveyed expect favorable business conditions for next year, a slight bump from the previous quarter. Also, 76 percent project “favorable” projections for in-person event attendance. They’re seeing a decline in virtual meetings.
“The sheer number of attendees and meetings at IMEX America this week is further evidence of how our sector continues to prosper and power ahead,” says Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX. The broader “catalytic effect” of the show was exemplified in many fringe events, activities and celebrations on and off the show floor, she notes.
Drew Holmgreen, MPI’s chief experience officer, unveiled the organization’s new brand positioning, “Run the Show.” The slogan captures the essential role that event professionals play as visionaries and driving forces behind transformative experiences in the meetings and events industry.
IMEX was “wildly busy” on the first day, says Angela DiCostanzo, director of sales at M Resort in Las Vegas. There were more attendees walking the floor than she had ever seen. M Resort hosted a buyer breakfast that morning, and DiCostanzo had appointments all day.
“If you book one nice program for the hotel, it can pay for the cost of being here,” she says. “ROI, of course, is flexible.”
SELLING VEGAS
Wendy Yu, national event sales manager for Virgin Hotel, has been attending IMEX America since her years at the former Hard Rock Hotel, selling the hotel’s 130,000 square feet of event space.
“It’s a great show to meet with hosted buyers and attendees and colleagues,” Yu says at Virgin’s kiosk, which has been reused from past shows, adhering to IMEX’s commitment to sustainability.
And she credits LVCVA. “They generate business for the town. They gather all of us hotels together to make sure everybody gets maximized exposure in Las Vegas.”
Steve Hill, president and CEO of the convention authority, thanked IMEX organizers for bringing the show to Las Vegas. It’s also held in Frankfurt, Germany.
He feels the Las Vegas exhibit booth is in a prime location, near the middle of the show floor, and it’s “making Las Vegas proud.”
“This is the most important international meeting and expo show in the world,” Hill tells Exhibit City News, “so having the presence we have, you can see what’s going on here.”
