Every year, IMEX America’s Talking Point, which serves as an overarching theme for the event, shines a light on a topic that drives conversations and addresses important issues in the industry. And this year, the Talking Point — Impact — is especially engaging.
The MICE industry has the potential for creating a positive impact in the world, and IMEX is especially well positioned to play an important role, according to Carina Bauer, the organization’s CEO.
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“IMEX is in a unique position in the global events industry,” she said. “We only run two annual trade shows and yet, because of their global market significance, our team's visibility and experience, and our deep relationships with the sector, we’re often treated differently. That means people expect us to lead, to have a voice and to represent the best interests of all involved. I’ve learned not to take this responsibility lightly, but to embrace it as an extraordinary opportunity to make a bigger, positive impact on the world."
“This became acutely meaningful for me and many other business leaders and owners during the pandemic,” Bauer added. “Like it or not, it was rich with painful lessons, and it changed us. I used that time to focus on changing aspects of the company, knowing this would positively impact our shows and our clients in the future."
Noteworthy Examples of Positive Impact
IMEX’s dedication to sustainable practices is just one example of how focusing on impact can bring positive results. “Ever since our original PR advisor, Chris Martins, told us IMEX should be advocating for green meetings in 2001, we’ve been consistently committed to reducing the environmental impact of our shows,” Bauer said. “Initially, we did it quietly, chipping away at change and pressing partners to make small but viable improvements. We learnt. They learnt. And we kept on asking.”
“Now, 20 years on, we have a robust, informed and confident approach, aided by some excellent supply chain and venue partners who work with a well-informed, caring team who understand what’s possible, and why it’s important,” she continued. “This year, for example, we’ll be using the Better Stands 10-point framework to assess and improve stand sustainability at our shows. In this day and age there’s no excuse for specifying a build-and-burn stand. The same applies to single-use plastic. We all know better, and we must do better! That's why IMEX is also on its way to being Net Zero by 2030.”
IMEX also aims to be impactful by supporting local businesses. “Given what I know about the power of events — and the events industry — to make a lasting positive impact on a local community, we’ve worked hard to cement productive and meaningful ties with local businesses as well as support organizations,” Bauer said. “Everything from lobbying Meeting Professionals International to bring EMEC [the European Meetings and Events Conference] to Brighton to buying from local suppliers, to helping the city’s many homelessness charities work together and coordinate resources better, making a positive local impact is woven into who we are and how we show up, and we extend this care to our host cities Las Vegas and Frankfurt, too.”
Exhibitors That Set an Example
Exhibitors at IMEX America have also shown their ability to have a positive impact. The Costa Rica Tourism Board, for example, now sets aside a portion of the revenue generated by business events to fund the growth and conservation of a 36,000-tree forest called the MICE Forest at the Horizontes Experimental Station, a research and development facility. This initiative also makes it easier for event planners to see the results of highly visible sustainability efforts when searching for truly eco-friendly meetings destinations.
The Singapore Tourism Board, meanwhile, offers a free, downloadable Legacy Toolkit for planners that includes practical tools and information to equip planners with actionable steps to devise meaningful legacy initiatives, including detailed frameworks and helpful case studies. The organization has also set a baseline for both carbon and waste reduction within their own events industry, followed by a commitment to carbon neutral trade show participation, which started with IMEX Frankfurt 2024 in May.