IMEX America Highlights Landmark Week for Event Industry

October 23, 2018
Danalynne Wheeler Menegus

Billed as the incentive travel, meetings and events industry’s largest trade show in the U.S., IMEX America 2018broke its own records for success last week. Held Oct. 16-18 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, this was the show’s eighth consecutive year in Las Vegas.   

According to IMEX Group, the show boasted the following statistics:

  • 13,000 estimated participants
  • 6,000 attendees
  • 3,300 hosted buyers
  • More than 3,500 exhibitors
  • More than 150 countries represented
  • 70,000 estimated appointments
  • Economic impact of $19.1 million 

Smart Monday, the MPI-powered day of education immediately prior to IMEX America, also broke its previous attendance record. 

The success of IMEX America, particularly the economic impact, illustrated what IMEX Group Chairman Ray Bloom called “a landmark week” for the events industry. 

“(The) announcement at IMEX America that globally, business events generate over $1 trillion in direct spending, matching the consumer electronics sector in size, puts its economic contribution into clear perspective and places it among the world’s leading business markets,” Bloom explained.

Las Vegas is no stranger to generating economic impact. As industry leaders referenced during GMID 2018, the city is home to three of the top 10 largest convention centers in North America and has been the number one trade show destination for the past 24 years. 

In 2017, Las Vegas hosted a record-breaking 6.6 million business travelers and hosted nearly 22,000 meetings. 

“In Las Vegas, the event industry professionals and facilities for events represent the global industry at its best,” said IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer.

She continued, “Their professionalism and cooperation have played an important role in the development of the show. The relationships we have built here have become like family and helped to make Las Vegas feel like our second home.”

IMEX America 2019 will return to the Sands Expo Sept. 10-12 and will take place Sept. 15–17 in 2020. The event is committed to exhibiting in Las Vegas through 2025.

To learn more about IMEX Group and its future events, go HERE.

 

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