Post-event visitor and exhibitor statistics reveal
impressive picture of IMEX America.
An exit survey of hosted buyers attending the inaugural IMEX America in September 2011 indicates that the exhibition will help to drive US$2.8 billion in business for the US and global meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
Some 700 of the 2,000 hosted buyers at the event contributed – a representative sample of 35%. Their responses revealed that total orders placed onsite amounted to US$281 million with an expected US$1.9 billion worth of orders to be placed with exhibitors in the next nine months or so.
The average value of orders placed by hosted buyers during the show was US$496,000 each, with post-show average orders expected to be worth US$1 million each. This suggests that IMEX America hosted buyers will generate a total of US$2.2 billion in business with the show’s exhibitors.
Hosted buyer breakdown
Of the 2,000 hosted buyers that attended the first ever IMEX America, which to place at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, 75% were from the USA and 5% from Canada. The remaining 20% traveled from 34 other countries, with Brazil, the UK, Germany, Mexico, India and Australia accounting for significant numbers.
Some 65% of hosted buyers came from the incentive, agency or third-party sector. Meanwhile, 25% were corporate buyers, 11% were from the association sector and 53% of all hosted buyers at the Las Vegas trade show were responsible for budgets in excess of US$1 million.
Exhibitors and visitors
A total of 1,867 companies exhibited at IMEX America representing 147 countries. With US destinations accounting for 27% of all booths, these results bode well for US suppliers, as well as those international exhibitors who attended in order to capture new business from US buyers.
An exit survey was also conducted among IMEX America non-hosted buyers (known as buyer attendees). This group placed business in the region of US$89 million with exhibitors during the show, and expects to place US$538 million of orders within the next 10 months. These figures support the feedback from many hundreds of exhibitors who testified that both hosted and non-hosted buyers came to the show with business in hand and ready to be contracted.
From the stands…
Exhibitor feedback also supports the survey’s findings, with the show’s organisers reporting praise for the quality of buyers from all parts of the globe, and especially from North America.
“We’ve had many one-on-one appointments,” Michelle Saran, executive director of the Canadian Tourism Commission was reported as saying. “Our team pre-planned appointments, but we’ve also had a lot of people walking on to the stand for ad-hoc meetings.”
Meanwhile, Kaaren Hamilton, vice president of global sales at Carlson Hotels Worldwide, commented during the show: “We’re actually conducting and transacting business (on the stand).”
Education first
Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI’s) education programme for IMEX America attracted more than 1,100 participants (both hosted and non-hosted buyers, and exhibitors) during Smart Monday, a day of dedicated learning which took place immediately before the show.
Leveraging MPI’s MeetDifferent style of professional development for the day of innovation and education, the programme received strong satisfaction results. Additionally, hundreds of attendees also enjoyed dynamic MPI keynote speakers in general sessions each morning of the show. MPI also contributed to the development of the IMEX America mobile app, which had thousands of users interacting with education and data daily through their smartphones and tablets.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” said MPI president and chief executive Bruce MacMillan. “Seeing this exceptional event come to life after two years of collaboration was an incredibly rewarding experience. We look forward to even greater collaboration in 2012 and into the future to assure that we continue to deliver exceptional professional development and business opportunities at IMEX America.”
Industry fundraiser
IMEX America also hosted its official party in conjunction with Pure Rendezvous. The event was a fundraiser for the MPI Foundation, yielding more than US$23,000, which will be reinvested in education and research for the industry.
“IMEX America has succeeded in bringing the US and global industry the business, education and networking benefits we planned for,” concluded IMEX chairman Ray Bloom. “Our fresh new business model, centered on a strategic partnership with MPI and strong partnerships with the other leading industry associations, meant that IMEX America truly provided a global marketplace on American soil. We are now looking forward to developing several aspects of the show over the next few months in order to sustain that debut success and to build on the market momentum we’ve established.” with their hosted buyer participation.”
An exit survey of hosted buyers attending the inaugural IMEX America in September 2011 indicates that the exhibition will help to drive US$2.8 billion in business for the US and global meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
Some 700 of the 2,000 hosted buyers at the event contributed – a representative sample of 35%. Their responses revealed that total orders placed onsite amounted to US$281 million with an expected US$1.9 billion worth of orders to be placed with exhibitors in the next nine months or so.
The average value of orders placed by hosted buyers during the show was US$496,000 each, with post-show average orders expected to be worth US$1 million each. This suggests that IMEX America hosted buyers will generate a total of US$2.2 billion in business with the show’s exhibitors.
Hosted buyer breakdown
Of the 2,000 hosted buyers that attended the first ever IMEX America, which to place at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, 75% were from the USA and 5% from Canada. The remaining 20% traveled from 34 other countries, with Brazil, the UK, Germany, Mexico, India and Australia accounting for significant numbers.
Some 65% of hosted buyers came from the incentive, agency or third-party sector. Meanwhile, 25% were corporate buyers, 11% were from the association sector and 53% of all hosted buyers at the Las Vegas trade show were responsible for budgets in excess of US$1 million.
Exhibitors and visitors
A total of 1,867 companies exhibited at IMEX America representing 147 countries. With US destinations accounting for 27% of all booths, these results bode well for US suppliers, as well as those international exhibitors who attended in order to capture new business from US buyers.
An exit survey was also conducted among IMEX America non-hosted buyers (known as buyer attendees). This group placed business in the region of US$89 million with exhibitors during the show, and expects to place US$538 million of orders within the next 10 months. These figures support the feedback from many hundreds of exhibitors who testified that both hosted and non-hosted buyers came to the show with business in hand and ready to be contracted.
From the stands…
Exhibitor feedback also supports the survey’s findings, with the show’s organisers reporting praise for the quality of buyers from all parts of the globe, and especially from North America.
“We’ve had many one-on-one appointments,” Michelle Saran, executive director of the Canadian Tourism Commission was reported as saying. “Our team pre-planned appointments, but we’ve also had a lot of people walking on to the stand for ad-hoc meetings.”
Meanwhile, Kaaren Hamilton, vice president of global sales at Carlson Hotels Worldwide, commented during the show: “We’re actually conducting and transacting business (on the stand).”
Education first
Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI’s) education programme for IMEX America attracted more than 1,100 participants (both hosted and non-hosted buyers, and exhibitors) during Smart Monday, a day of dedicated learning which took place immediately before the show.
Leveraging MPI’s MeetDifferent style of professional development for the day of innovation and education, the programme received strong satisfaction results. Additionally, hundreds of attendees also enjoyed dynamic MPI keynote speakers in general sessions each morning of the show. MPI also contributed to the development of the IMEX America mobile app, which had thousands of users interacting with education and data daily through their smartphones and tablets.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” said MPI president and chief executive Bruce MacMillan. “Seeing this exceptional event come to life after two years of collaboration was an incredibly rewarding experience. We look forward to even greater collaboration in 2012 and into the future to assure that we continue to deliver exceptional professional development and business opportunities at IMEX America.”
Industry fundraiser
IMEX America also hosted its official party in conjunction with Pure Rendezvous. The event was a fundraiser for the MPI Foundation, yielding more than US$23,000, which will be reinvested in education and research for the industry.
“IMEX America has succeeded in bringing the US and global industry the business, education and networking benefits we planned for,” concluded IMEX chairman Ray Bloom. “Our fresh new business model, centered on a strategic partnership with MPI and strong partnerships with the other leading industry associations, meant that IMEX America truly provided a global marketplace on American soil. We are now looking forward to developing several aspects of the show over the next few months in order to sustain that debut success and to build on the market momentum we’ve established.” with their hosted buyer participation.”
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