The 13th edition of IMEX America will take place October 8-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. As kickoff time approaches, Northstar Meetings Group spoke with IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer about the event’s continued growth, education highlights, her personal wellness routine during the busiest week of her year and more.
Last year, IMEX America drew 15,000 total visitors. “We expect similar numbers for 2024,” said Bauer. “For hosted buyers, we’ve had 5,000 register and of that group, we expect 4,300 will actually attend.”
On the exhibitor side, she noted there will be about 3,500 exhibiting organizations, representing about three to four percent growth over the 2023 show. She revealed that China will be exhibiting for the first time since the pandemic and there will be several first-time destinations exhibiting, including Guatemala, Tanzania and Quito, Ecuador.
Show highlights
IMEX America’s robust education program includes more than 150 sessions. Education begins the day before the trade show opens, on Oct. 7, when Smart Monday, powered by Meeting Professionals International, will take place. There will be seven education tracks: technology and innovation; business practices; impact, which will address topics including neurodiversity and accessibility; trends/research; well-being; experience design; and event marketing.
Which sessions are on her personal must-do list? The IMEX CEO cited two keynotes: Prison to Harvard: The Power of Belief and Self-Motivation, presented by Andre Norman, and Purpose. Performance. Impact., delivered by Justin Wren, a mixed-martial artist who founded Fight for the Forgotten, a nonprofit that provides clean water, education and empowerment to Pygmy communities in Africa.
Bauer also pointed out a new education series for emerging leaders that will be moderated by Holly Ransom in the Inspiration Hub on the show floor; those sessions will take place on Oct. 9.
Other show-floor experiences that are new to IMEX include Shared Studios’ portal, which will allow attendees to view destinations in real time, and a pickleball court, which will be set up on Visit Seattle’s stand.
"They [Visit Seattle] got me signed up and have me playing against SITE CEO Annette Gregg," Bauer noted. "And I’ve never played pickleball before!"
Eating and staying well
As anyone who has attended IMEX America in the past can attest, the bustling show and its surrounding events can take a physical toll. Northstar asked Bauer how she keeps in top form during the show and her week-long stay in Las Vegas.
"I try to not to drink too much and try to get fresh air every day," she said. "Mandalay Bay offers a good walk to its convention center via its pool deck level, so it gives me a five-minute outdoor walk each day before and after the show," she said, adding that for one evening [when events can stretch into the wee hours], she tries to have an early night.
She also makes a point of eating well. Among her favorite places to enjoy healthy meals during her Las Vegas stay are Verandah and Kumi, both of which are on-site at the Mandalay Bay Resort. For those times when she wants to indulge a bit, you can find her enjoying the fried chicken at Yardbird at the Venetian or a juicy steak in the neighboring Palazzo, at Cut.
Lasting Impact
Each year, IMEX chooses a talking point; for 2024, that point is "impact." How would Bauer like IMEX America to impact attendees? "We want them to leave the show feeling prepared for the year ahead, business-wise and personally," she explained. "We want people to get most of their time, but we also want them to be really inspired by something."
