IMEX America Gets Lots of Attention

Coming off the biggest IMEX in Frankfurt to date, organizers of IMEX America have announced a significant spike in interest and new bookings from North American exhibitors for their Las Vegas trade show, which opens at the Sands Expo, October 14.

US hotel groups will once again make their mark with some of the show’s biggest single booths but IMEX America is also proving attractive to smaller destinations and meetings and event industry suppliers. A rising trend for 2014 is for exhibiting companies who have previously shared booths to branch out on their own and take dedicated booth space.

Among the latest US exhibitors taking their own booths or appearing for the first time at the show’s fourth edition are: AEG Live Venues, Alaska, Fort Lauderdale, Grand Rapids, Hilton Head, Newport Beach, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Savannah, Sonoma Valley, West Hollywood and Warner Brothers.

Other exhibitors who have increased the size of their booths for 2014 include: Arizona, Beverly Hills, Destination DC, Charlotte, Colorado, Columbus, LA, Orlando, New Orleans, Nashville, NYC&Co, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, San Jose, Seattle, Sonoma County and St Petersburg.

Host city and a key partner in IMEX America’s continued growth, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, are also increasing the size of their showcase Las Vegas booth. Host hotel, The Venetian® | The Palazzo®, plus the Wynn Encore, MGM Hotels, Caesars Entertainment and other landmark Vegas hotels plus many of the city’s biggest shows will also have a strong presence. MGM also comes in as the new sponsor of IMEX America’s Association Focus Evening Reception, which hosts over 650 guests on Smart Monday, October 13.

Says Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group: “There are a number of factors creating the strong growth we’re seeing for this year’s show. With a four-year track record under our belts, IMEX America has proved to be a consistently successful show for a wide variety of exhibitors. Smaller US destinations and exhibitors are increasingly attracted by the strong customer service and pre-show support offered by the IMEX team. And, importantly, there is a growing understanding about the show’s unique appointment system – where buyers self-select the exhibitors they want to meet – which means that every appointment represents a pre-qualified and highly targeted business opportunity.”

Source: Travel & Tour World