This Year’s IMEX Will Make Less of an Impact, on the Environment That Is

September 6, 2019

IMEX and Sustainability — IMEX is committed to surpassing its sustainability efforts from last year.

IMEX’s Sustainable Exhibiting Pledge, where three simple green initiatives to help reduce environmental impact at the show are implemented, has been agreed to by 149 exhibitors and that number continues to grow.

The organization is committed to surpassing its sustainability efforts from last year that included a 93 percent diversion rate from landfills, IMEX America’s highest diversion rate ever. Over 1.17 miles of single-use PET plastic straws were saved, 25,329 pounds of show materials were collected for donation, and almost 5,000 pounds of food donated to the Las Vegas community.

Attendees to this year’s show, September 10-12 in Las Vegas are encouraged to say no to single-use plastic by refilling water bottles, bringing coffee cups, and reusable bags. Attendees are also being urged to donate badges, gifts, and stationery before they leave.

IMEX America Encourages Recylcing — There will be more recycling containers available at this year’s IMEX.

There will be more recycling containers available, 100 percent compostable serviceware and food packaging, lanyards made from bamboo, recyclable signage that will include no vinyl whatsoever.

As part of its plastic pledge, the organization has partnered with Sands to provide strawless lids for hot and cold drinks. This will be a plastic straw-free show.

Exhibitors are asked to donate leftover materials from their booths and order water refill stations.

IMEX America’s sustainability efforts are being backed by MeetGreen, a sustainable conference management agency. There are many educational sessions on sustainability, including “Getting Started with Sustainable Events,” which offers easy-to-implement steps that can have a significant impact on sustainability performance. Mariela McIlwraith from EIC and Guy Bigwood from Global Destinations Sustainability Index introduce the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Events as conservers, creators, and catalysts and will share case studies of events which are creating positive change in communities and will encourage participants to take action.

Many new exhibitors that will be on hand for this year’s show, and include Choice Hotels International, Destination Cleveland, Israel, Leonardo Hotels, Los Cabos, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Trinidad, Uber for Business and Wilmington & Beaches.

The Discovery Zone is the hub of all things experiential and will include multi-sensory digital displays, mystery tattoos, digital graffiti walls, AR, interactive photo booths, and the Hyatt Meditation Station.
Diversity continues to top the global agenda and She Means Business, a new joint event by IMEX and tw magazine, supported by MPI, will explore this in detail with a line-up including keynote speaker Dr. Mara Catherine Harvey, UBS Switzerland AG; Vicki Hawarden, Society for Human Resource Management; and Melissa Ow, Singapore Tourism Board. She Means Business is new to IMEX America but has been a popular event at IMEX in Frankfurt the past two years.

The Tech Pavilion will feature the latest in gamification, apps, AR, and cybersecurity.

The show takes place September 10 – 12, 2019, with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9. Registration for the show is free of charge and open to all who work in the meetings, events, and incentive travel industry.