IMEX America 2025 is projected to outpace last year's buyer and exhibitor numbers. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IMEX Exhibitions
IMEX America, the annual meetings trade show, takes place Oct. 7-9 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. In a preshow interview with Northstar Meetings Group, IMEX Group CEO
Carina Bauer revealed details of the the event's 14th year, and addressed how IMEX, which attracts international buyers and suppliers, is
addressing the new, stricter visa and immigration policies for entering the United States.
Bigger numbers in 2025
Bauer said that 4,500-4,600 hosted buyers — a slight increase over 2024 numbers — are expected to attend the show this year, noting that the number of buyers has increased each year since the pandemic.
Among the first-time hosted-buyers are a group from Poland, two groups from India and, in conjunction with the
Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, a group of C-suite executives.
On the supplier side, Bauer projected a 3 to 5 percent increase in exhibiting companies over last year’s total of 3,500 firms. Among the destination exhibitors who are either first-timers or are returning after a gap are Namibia; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Ho Chi
Minh City, Vietnam; Chile; Barbados; Tahiti; and Qatar. On the gifting side, Swarovski will participate for the first time.
Few visa, immigration concerns
When asked how IMEX is working with the groups that are coming to the show from outside the United States, given the stricter immigration and visa processes, Bauer said they anticipated few, if any, roadblocks. "It hasn't significantly impacted attendance
at this point; we register people quite early and when we are looking at registrations, we're talking to the buyers upfront about their visas. And in many, many cases, they have visas already for the United States, because they're in the industry."
Since the launch of IMEX America, the company has always provided its own team members with a letter to show U.S. immigration officers that explains, in an official way, that they work for a U.K. company. "We don't get asked for it very often, but it's
very useful, because after you come off a long flight and you're jet-lagged and tired, it can be difficult to find the right words," explained Bauer.
She added that international suppliers can request a letter from IMEX that they can use when applying for a visa at their own embassies.
When asked if any international attendees had expressed concern about coming to the United States this year, Bauer replied, "We've heard of a handful of people from different destinations being a little bit more reticent. But I would say in the main it
hasn't impacted at all. In terms of the number of international buyers and suppliers who are coming to IMEX, we're exactly where we expect to be."
New education, stand activations
Imex's roster of education sessions includes more than 150 options. The learning begins the day before the trade show opens, on Oct. 6, when
Smart Monday, powered by Meeting Professionals International, will take place. Bauer is particularly excited about two new tracks: Community Builders, and Leadership and Culture.
Among the activations attendees will experience on the exhibit halls are a railway station, VR baseball, an F1 simulator and a graphic wall with giveaway seed packets.
"On the well-being side, we'll have Circadian Cove, an area on the show floor that will include sessions on meditation, breath work and mindfulness," said Bauer.
This year, IMEX will work with the American and Australian psychological associations on a case study. "We'll be one of the first global events that they're measuring against their neurodiverse, inclusive-event certification, which is a standard that
they've created for inclusive event design," she explained.
Getting greener
Sustainability has long been a hallmark of IMEX America, with the organization adding to its green initiatives each year.
"Last year, we took part in a pilot project for Better Stands and this year we'll be expanding that to the whole show," said Bauer, explaining that the project is an audit of all the exhibitors at IMEX, based on their use of reusable materials and sustainable materials.
She added, "Our focus is always on water usage, so I encourage people to look out for the water-wise symbols on our menus to choose options that use less water. And something we did last year, which was very successful and will be repeated, is that there
will be no beef on the menus around the show."