Exhibitors and buyers alike on day 3 of IMEX America report business success, whether it involves closing deals or getting new ideas to provide inspiration and creativity to help them in their jobs.
Business power
Exhibitors – new and returning – felt IMEX America 2019 has been a success. According to Paul Sullivan, director of group sales at the Westin Boston Waterfront: “I close business at this show, including one yesterday for around $30,000.”
Heike Mahmoud, chief operating officer at CCH – Congress Center Hamburg, says: “I spoke to a planner from Silicon Valley about hosting events for around 5,000 people at our venue. The show has been a really valuable opportunity to showcase and gain feedback on the CCH before it reopens next year. I have some great insight to bring back to my team and some really strong leads.”
“We consider IMEX America as the cornerstone of the work we do,” said Robin Miller, director of sales at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. “It’s where we secure face-to-face time with large numbers of potential clients and existing clients. It’s critical that we’re here.”
The show is highly valued by buyers, too. “We’re expanding our international market so this show is essential for us. The appointment system means I can guarantee time with the right person from my suppliers,” said US-based Mary Somerville from HPN Global.
Diversity driven learning
IMEX America continues to deliver on a commitment to education with a range of compelling sessions on its final day, some of which explore diversity as part of Imagination, IMEX’s Talking Point for this year. Sessions include Creating environments of acceptance: gender expression in the workplace and beyond, presented by LGBT MPA, with Ron Renee Roley, senior event manager for global events at Nike, who will use personal stories and experiences to provide a safe discussion environment.
SITE and Prevue have joined forces to dive deeper into the gender-specific challenges female meeting planning professionals and suppliers have faced in their careers with Challenges women face in the meetings industry. Rhonda Brewer, vice president, sales for North America at BCD Meetings & Events and Amanda Armstrong, assistant vice president of the meetings and travel department at Enterprise Holdings, Inc., will dive into survey results about gender-specific challenges of female meeting planning professionals and suppliers. Attendees will engage in a lively discussion about issues women face in the meetings industry and will hear from experts in the field as they share their own stories and examples.
Powerful language tools for women in business with Kate Patay, CPCE, a motivational speaker, consultant and faculty lecturer at the International School of Hospitality, who offers a frank discussion about building a personal brand and boosting leadership skills. How do you measure visitor experience? led by Maksim Godovykh from the Center for Event Studies, will help attendees learn how to measure and influence customer experience at each stage of the event process.
Other sessions on Thursday cover business skills and legacy. Lasting legacies: designing better community service projects hosted by The Events Industry Council (EIC). Mariela Mcilwraith, president of Meeting Change and David Fiss, director of business development, partnerships & event strategy at Sustainable Brands, will provide a framework for developing a lasting, positive impact through meaningful projects and explore transformative approaches that benefit communities, event planners and their teams.
IMEX America concludes today, September 12, in Las Vegas.
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