28 Top Tips for IMEX America

IMEX America is a massive trade show. It’s the largest meetings, events, and incentive travel show in the world. This is where you can go from New Zealand to Spain or South Africa to Korea just by crossing an aisle. You can also meet with top representatives from each destination and companies that can help you do business there, potentially saving you multiple trips or hours of video calls.

The show is intense, and the downside is that it can be overwhelming, particularly for first-timers but also for the most experienced attendees.

While larger shows in other sectors may have a much larger footprint, this show is condensed. With almost no physical products on display, every square foot is used to conduct meetings, participate in education, or network in some way.

The show has many fans. Search the #IMEX24 hashtag on any social media platform to see the latest posts. This is the show where everybody is. It is a mandatory show for destinations, properties, and event tech execs looking to build their sales pipeline.

Skift Meetings at IMEX America

The Skift Meetings team will cover the show and deliver three key educational sessions. The Skift Meetings Innovation Lab takes place on Monday, October 7 (2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.). It is a planner-only interactive event that addresses key industry topics through facilitated peer-to-peer discussions. A team of expert facilitators will lead topical conversations. Registration is open now.

On Tuesday, October 8 (12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.), Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief Miguel Neves will join fellow panelists Ken Holsinger, SVP of Strategy at Freeman, and Chloe Richardson, SVP Growth & Communications at Explori, for “Unveiling the power of Super Data in Events.” This session, led by expert moderator Kristin Arnold, will explore the integrity of the data powering today’s most impactful industry insights and uncover the strategies behind collecting and using high-quality data.

On Wednesday, October 9 (1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.), Skift Meetings will discuss the impact of meetings in a session at the Inspiration Hub. In “Meetings with meaning: maximizing positive impact in events,” we will explore how the role of meetings and events extends beyond financial returns to become a powerful tool for social, environmental and economic impact. No registration is needed, and all IMEX America participants are welcome. The session is based on the recently released report, Meetings With Meaning: An Introductory Guide to Harnessing the Positive Impacts of Meetings and Events. The report was created in partnership with IMEX, and is sponsored by Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Destination Toronto, Hilton, Meeting Destination Vienna, Snoball, Tourism Montreal, and Visit Lauderdale. Download our free report created in partnership with IMEX.

The Basics

The show is free to attend. Yes, visitor registration costs $0. It is not open to the public, but anyone with a professional interest in meetings, events, incentive travel, and related sectors is welcome.

The show revolves around pre-qualified buyers making appointments with suppliers on the show floor. Many buyers are hosted, meaning that IMEX covers airfare and hotel costs. Buyers and suppliers have access to dedicated scheduling tools to coordinate appointments. In practice, this means honest business conversations are always happening on the busy show floor.

It’s a three-day show (Tuesday to Thursday), and the show floor is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on the last day). The Monday before the show officially opens, there is a full day of education with many sessions, including the Skift Meetings Innovation Lab. Some sessions are exclusive and by invitation only, but most are open to all, including various sessions that form part of Smart Monday, powered by Meeting Professionals International (MPI).

A lot happens off the show floor as well. Some companies have internal or client meetings, and associations hold board meetings around the show. There are also plenty of parties and networking, with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners around the show.

This all adds to a constant feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out). Even if you are present and active at the show, you will never physically be able to meet everyone or attend every event. That is why it is important to plan carefully; these hacks will help.

Before You Go

1. Book Meetings in Advance
Whether you are a buyer or not, book meetings with the people you can’t afford to miss. They will be busy, too. So, plan your time carefully and block out times for meals and other non-negotiables.

2. Check What’s On
Plenty of gatherings happen on and off the show floor, from off-site tours on Monday to keynotes and a wide range of networking events. Make sure you explore these as you are making your schedule and put them in your diary.

3. Don’t Overfill Your Schedule
It’s easy to have back-to-back meetings all day. Avoid this if you can. Things will pop up, and having some wiggle room will help. You may also want to consider freeing the first hour of the day to get your bearings.

4. Get to Know the Show Floor
The show floor layout can be overwhelming, so take a moment to get the hang of it. There is a clear logic with numbers referring to one direction and letters the other. With the booths having irregular sizes, this is not a clean matrix, and some numbers skip. There are also unofficial zones. Hotels are grouped, and so is event tech. Continents are also grouped.

5. Book Adjacent Meetings
Traversing the show floor multiple times is a sure recipe for exhaustion. So when booking meetings, try to book back-to-back with exhibitors nearby. Make sure you refer to the floor plan when you make your meetings to make sure they are never too far apart.

6. Connect Beforehand
Don’t wait until you are on site to start networking. Instead, connect with people online and start those critical conversations. This will help you make the most of your time at the show.

7. Bring Your Business Cards
Whether you prefer physical or digital business cards, ensure you are ready with them. Bring any other materials you need. Come prepared to do business.

8. Clear Your Calendar
It may be tempting to try and have a typical work week while taking in the show on-site. Avoid this at all costs. Trying to do both is a sure recipe for disaster. If you’ve invested the time in being at the show, ensure you are fully present. Do yourself a favor, set an out-of-office message, and be present.

9. Take Care of Yourself
Comfortable shoes are a must. A reusable water bottle is also an excellent idea. Consider having a healthy snack, like a pack of nuts, in case you need a boost of energy during the long days.

10. Stay Connected
You always want to stay online in case schedules change or if you want to look something up. With this in mind, ensure you have a firm 5G connection or check the available Wi-Fi hotspots. Many lounges and spaces on the show floor offer Wi-Fi, so be on the lookout. You may also want to bring an extra charger and charging cables. You will likely run out of juice.

11. Get “Sweatworking“
There are multiple opportunities to work out with industry colleagues, a welcome variation to alcohol-heavy drinks receptions that tend to go on until late. There is a 5k fun run, the IMEXrun, that is popular with a wide range of healthy lifestyle enthusiasts. Other options include wellness experiences and several well-being education sessions.

On Site

12. Monday Is for Education
If you’re in Vegas on Monday, even if you only arrive in the afternoon, check out the many education sessions. Many are free and open to walk-ins. Just make sure you bring your IMEX badge with you.

13. Explore the Show Floor
Navigating the show is tricky, even for experts. When you first arrive, take a few minutes to explore the show floor to get your bearings. If you don’t have appointments booked first thing, this is a good time to do so. The larger and taller booths are good reference points; make sure you get the hang of how booths are numbered.

14. Find the Lounges
If registered as a hosted buyer, you can access a dedicated Hosted Buyer Lounge. Use it. You can take some time off, get refreshed, and much more. Even if you don’t have access, plenty of other lounge-type areas around the show floor are designed for your comfort. Don’t be afraid to use them.

15. Learning Happens Mainly at the Inspiration Hub
The Inspiration Hub (booth #F234) is the main area with education content at IMEX America. There are more than 300 sessions throughout the show. So if you have some free time, explore this area. Most sessions are open to drop-ins, and formats like campfires allow small group engagement with top speakers and experts.

16. Learning Also Happens on the Show Floor
This might be confusing at first, but there are plenty of exhibitors offering educational content at their booths. It’s a good idea to explore these options too.

17. Keep Sustainability in Mind
IMEX is known for taking sustainability seriously, including sharing a full report for each show. This is reflected on-site in the People & Planet Theater at the Inspiration Hub. It is well worth taking a few minutes to explore this space.

18. The IMEX Team Is There to Help
If you need assistance, look for IMEX staff and partners wearing small white badges with the IMEX logo. They know the show in-depth and are always ready to help.

19. Practice Self-Care Onsite
Make sure you drink plenty of water. Vegas is in the desert, and we tend to talk a lot at trade shows, so don’t let your throat dry up. You are also encouraged to join the IMEX Wellbeing Challenge and get rewarded for taking care of yourself at the show.

20. Get Caffeinated
Plenty of outlets sell coffee around the property, but looking out for great coffee being served at the larger booths is a nice hack. These activations are designed to attract buyers, so please keep this in mind. Most exhibitors are happy to invite visitors for coffee, and some even have creative baristas showing off their skills.

21. Cocktails and Mocktails
It’s not just coffee being served on the show floor. Some booths have fully stocked bars and attract buyers with signature cocktails and mocktails. These are great networking opportunities, so make the most of them. Remember to pace yourself — IMEX is a marathon, not a sprint.

22. Plenty of Parties
Later in the afternoons, from around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, many booths host parties and networking receptions. This can be a lot of fun, but also quite noisy if you have a business appointment next door. Look out for fun activations and great F&B.

23. Networking After Hours
Multiple parties are going on every night of the week along The Strip. Some are private or invite-only, but many have tickets available for purchase. The largest is the MPI Foundation’s Rendezvous at IMEX America. If there is one unmissable social event at the show, this is it.

24. Explore Booth Activations
Exhibitors use booth activations to attract buyers by showing off some of the most exciting things their destination or brand offers. This manifests in many ways, from dancing to massages and VR headsets to photo ops. As a result, there is plenty to explore in all corners of the show.

25. Ask for Introductions
A top networking hack is to ask people you meet to introduce you to others. This works exceptionally well if you’ve shared your objectives or can be specific about the people you want to meet. Shows like IMEX America bring together industry professionals who are connected in many ways. You never know who knows who, and this is a great way to lean on serendipity to build your network.

26. Use the Final Day to Your Advantage
The show’s final day, Thursday, is considerably less busy than the first two. That is no secret. But that can have plenty of advantages. The aisles are less active while the education program continues in full swing. Exhibitors can have more relaxed conversations with all attendees. Some of the best business and networking takes place on this last day.

After the show

27. Don’t Wait to Follow-Up
It doesn’t matter how you follow up — email, LinkedIn, Instagram, or by subscribing to a newsletter, but do it immediately. Whether you are exhibiting or just attending, continuing the conversations from IMEX America shortly after they happen is the best way to ensure your investment in attending the show is not wasted.

28. Plan for Next Year
Save the dates, or plan to participate in IMEX in Frankfurt. Remember all the things you enjoyed and the things you missed at IMEX America so that you can make the most of the next show.