A rich and varied program of professional education, sustainability initiatives, new technology projects and personal development opportunities will be made available free of charge at the inaugural IMEX America exhibition when it opens on October 11 next year in Las Vegas.

The new trade show will offer this series of ‘added value’ projects and programs under the campaigning title of ‘New Vision’ - a name that captures the spirit of IMEX America and its commitment to stimulating debate, change and innovative developments within the international meetings industry.

The credibility and appeal of the New Vision concept has already been proven at the IMEX Group’s award-winning show in Frankfurt where more than 14 initiatives have been running to widespread industry acclaim for the past eight years.

As part of its mandate on green meetings education, the IMEX America New Vision program will include a Sustainability Center. Experts at the center will deliver short, free, green education drop-in workshops plus background information, case studies and the latest guidance for meeting planners and buyers who want to improve their environmental awareness and green meetings planning expertize. The Sustainability Center will be ‘powered by’ the Green Meeting Industry Council.

The new show will also provide a dedicated showcase for leading-edge meetings, incentive travel and events industry technologies. The Techno-How Zone will offer a public platform to three hand-picked, pioneering technology companies to demonstrate their products and services to attendees. There will also be a separate Gadget Bar where attendees can get their hands on some of the latest devices on the market.  IMEX America is inviting technology companies to apply for a winning place in the Techno-How Zone. All three booth spaces will be offered free of charge to technology firms who can exhibit the ability to meet demand and bring fresh thinking and clear innovation to the worldwide meetings and events market. Application forms to win a place can be downloaded from http://www.imexamerica.com/techno-how.html

Campfire hot topics
Another part of the show floor at the Venetian/Palazzo’s Sands Expo will be dedicated to a Learning Curve Zone. This educational drop-in area will offer free 30 minute workshops from a series of industry experts plus coaching as well as personal development tips, career and professional certification advice.  ‘Campfire’ sessions will also be available on topics such as resumé writing, presentation skills and cross cultural education. John Nawn, founder of the Perfect Meeting, will run campfires dedicated to managing and maximizing social media opportunities.

In addition, as part of IMEX America’s core education program, major education provider and strategic partner, MPI (Meeting Professionals International) will be building its well-known MeetDifferent education into the show.  Attendees will have 15 different creative programs to choose from.

The IMEX Group also intends to extend its Meetings for Success initiative to IMEX America. Meetings for Success targets the educational and professional networking needs of corporate meeting planners in particular. In Las Vegas it will bring together a group of top corporate meeting executives for an exclusive Forum to discuss how they and the industry can work together more effectively to communicate the true and full value of meetings to their respective boards. Meetings industry veteran and consultant, Terri Breining, will facilitate the program.

Further important New Vision initiatives will include a continuation of the successful IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum, which will see up to 100 aspiring young meetings industry professionals attending the show for dedicated education, experience and networking.

The IMEX America Wild Card program will also provide hosted buyers and attendees with the chance to meet and do business with two previously unknown destinations or convention centers. Each of the Wild Card winners will have to prove their capacity to manage meetings, incentive travel and events industry business, but to qualify for their free booth space, they must not have exhibited at a major industry trade show before. Application forms for IMEX America Wild Card places can be downloaded at http://www.imexamerica.com/wildcardamericas.html

Talking about the exceptional array of innovative activity and educational choice on offer at IMEX America, IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, explains: “It has always been the IMEX way to push the boundaries of what’s expected from a trade show. To that end, IMEX America will be much more than an exhibition where top-level buyers and exhibitors can concentrate on doing a year’s worth of business in just a few days. We understand that busy professionals demand more in the 21st century. They also want high quality networking, big name speakers, practical, relevant and up-to-the-minute education - all in a format and at a time that works around their business appointments. Our ambition is to send every single IMEX America participant home absolutely buzzing about how much they managed to achieve in just three days at the show.”