IMEX America, IMEX’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, will be held Sept. 10–12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Now in its ninth year, IMEX America will bring together 4,000 buyers and 3,500 suppliers from across the events industry and around the world.

The IMEX Group’s aim is to unite and advance the meetings industry through education, innovation, and fostering connections and at its event, provides multiple opportunities for those interactions to happen.

Each year, IMEX America features an annual talking point that explores a single emerging or important trend. For 2019, that talking point is “Imagination,” celebrating creativity and curiosity. 

The show’s education program will cover transformation and collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. Learning opportunities including deep dives, one-to-one sessions and hot topic tables will provide fresh thinking on how to make meetings more engaging, embrace new ways of thinking, consider the big issues and explore innovation and creativity. 

“Smart Monday,” powered by Meeting Professionals International, is a free day of more than 180 education sessions and networking that immediately precedes the event, on Sept. 10. The day of professional development will begin with an inspirational keynote address by Phil Hansen, artist and TED Talk speaker. 

“We’re working to bring the power of imagination to everything we’re doing at IMEX America,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group. “Absolutely everything – and everyone – is connected or capable of becoming connected and the driving force behind all the positive changes we’re witnessing is the power of the human imagination – a uniquely human quality.”

She added, “So, we’re exploring and celebrating this aspect of being human – one that we frequently take for granted. Think of it as a human superpower; our instinct to ask, without judgement or limitation, ‘What if…’”

IMEX offers an online appointment system, allowing attendees to book meetings with exhibitors. Buyers can select who they want to meet with and then pick from an available time slots. The system also allows messages to be exchanged.

In addition to the official event activities, there will be an extensive number of by-invitation-only parties and special events. If you’re attending as a hosted buyer or simply as a qualified planner, your dance card will no doubt fill up quickly. These events can be another great way to expand your professional network while having a great time. 

IMEX America is free to attend and open to all who work in the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. If you regularly plan or manage large events domestically or globally, there is also an option to apply to attend as a hosted buyer. All expenses are paid, and in return, planners commit to a minimum number of scheduled meetings with the suppliers of their choice.

View the full event agenda here.

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