IMEX America Dazzles with New Destinations, Shows Strong Growth
October 14, 2012
Sporting an orange suit, “Mr. Holland” splashed imaginary orange paint on attendees, while men in kilts showcased the magical powers of haggis and bagpipes during the Euro Party at IMEX America, a trade show and convention for meetings, travel, incentives and events that took place Oct. 15-17 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The show had much to celebrate. Compared with the inaugural event last year, the trade show floor was 28 percent larger and up to 120,000 net square feet.
More than 40 percent of the exhibitors increased their exhibit footprints, with the total number of exhibitors up to 2,413.
Attendance also saw a 20-percent increase and was up to 2,400 hosted buyers, as well as an additional 1,700 attendees.
New U.S. destinations included Seattle, Nashville, San Diego and San Francisco, just to name a few, while new international exhibitors hailed from Abu Dhabi, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru and Madrid.
Germany, Mexico and several European destinations continue to have a very strong presence on the floor.
For 2013, the show is projected to move to bigger halls at the Sands and also increase its buyer program.
"There's a really good buzz on the show floor," said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group. "It also shows the power of the U.S. market."
Much of the focus this year was on streamlining the appointment process for buyers and attendees. The online appointment system had been rebuilt to make it easier to use and the online exhibit directory also now had a scheduling capability.
The educational component also has been modified to keep attendees on the showfloor. In-depth sessions were scheduled for non-exhibit hours, including Smart Monday and time slots before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
On the floor, attendees could get sparks of inspiration at Campfires, Lightning Learning Labs and presentations at the Inspiration Theater. Each session lasted between 20 and 40 minutes, offering insight from industry experts in an interactive, intimate setting.
Exhibitor Charlotte Weatherall, director of sales and marketing for The Balmoral Edinburg, appreciated the organizers efforts to drive the hosted buyer attendance, but was hoping to have a fuller schedule next year.
"The show feels quite busy and the caliber of buyers is good," she said. "We all marketed our properties quite heavily before we came, and each of us has on average about 10 appointments over three days. We'd like to see it up to six or seven a day."
She also noted that the Visit Scotland booth that her company was participating in had invested in a new booth and doubled the participating partners since the previous year.
Attendee Nancy Marsh, a hosted buyer with Tire Centers, could hardly find time for lunch. "I have eight appointments a day," she said. She also attended several presentations requested by her host, which turned out to be a great deal.
"There are a lot of different places that would work for our group that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise," Marsh said.
Last year, she discovered Punta Cana as a perfect destination for her group, and this year was hoping for similar success.
The next IMEX America will be held next October at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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