IMEX Group’s Chairman announced last Wednesday the launch of a new worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, IMEX America.
Speaking at a press conference in Las Vegas, Chairman Ray Bloom said IMEX America would take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo from 11-13 October 2011.
Bloom said the exhibition would be run as part of the IMEX Group and would have a strategic partnership with MPI and a broad coalition of industry support.
"IMEX America will deliver the largest-scale hosted buyer program in North America, where top meetings and incentive buyers from across the US and the world will travel and stay free as our guests,” he said.
“For the inaugural show in 2011, we are forecasting 1,500 hosted buyers, of whom 80% will originate from within North America - the balance arriving from across the world. We will also conduct large-scale visitor marketing campaigns to attract several thousand more key decision-makers from across the country.”
Leading incentive travel and motivational event association Site will hold its 2011 Annual Conference immediately following the first show from 13-15 October.
The International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), International Association of Congress Centres (IACC) and European Cities Marketing (ECM) will hold a number of marketing and educational initiatives to support IMEX America.
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) will also organise dedicated association-led education the day before the show.
