IMEX Partners with MPI to Establish IMEX America

IMEX Group, known for its annual hosted conference (IMEX) in Frankfurt, Germany, has announced with Meeting Professionals International, Dallas, TX, that it will establish IMEX America for October 11-13, 2011.

IMEX America will host 1,500 meetings and incentives buyers at the Sands Expo Center (Venetian/Palazzo) in Las Vegas, NV. About 80% of attendees will come from North America. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority participated in the launch announcement of Imex America. The program is being supported by other leading industry associations, including ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association), DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres) and ECM (European Cities Marketing).

The outstanding question remains, how will this partnership impact the MPI educational calendar?

"There will always be a marketplace experience at MPI live events," explains Bruce MacMillan, MPI's CEO. "Just as we have moved away from a traditional tradeshow at MeetDifferent 2010 based on member feedback, we will also continue to evolve our World Education Conference marketplace experience to be reflective of member needs at the time. With the economy recovering we need to create more marketplace opportunities for our members not less".

Hosted buyer programs may be relatively new to some U.S. event planners. Not familiar? Learn what meeting and event planners should expect on a hosted buyer program.