Making an impact: 7 trendy IMEX exhibitors

Events are increasingly becoming important change makers within organizations. A recent study by the Incentive Research Foundation found that 27 percent of incentive travel planners now report to marketing, while 24 percent report directly to the CEO.

This shift is in line with the IMEX America 2024 theme “Impact,” which from October 7 to 10 offered business events professionals numerous opportunities to expand their knowledge, resources and contacts.

Across the 400-booth exhibition floor, it was clear that the focus is on leveraging conversation spaces, gifting strategies and tech tools to create an impact. And the technology companies’ expanded presence at the exhibition reflected the market’s growing focus on efficient ways to connect people, create new experiences and expand the message.

Here are some of the trendy exhibitors that caught my eye:

• snapshot Improves event impact by condensing large volumes of live generated content—such as keynote presentations, panel discussions, and attendee surveys—into an AI-driven summary of key insights. An interesting feature is the ability to recommend content you may have missed, allowing users to easily glean key insights from an event’s overwhelming amount of information.

• August Robotics was on the show floor to introduce its “Chief Marking Officer,” an autonomous robot named Lionel that creates floor markings for exhibits in both conventional and non-conventional spaces. Lionel replaces the manual and often stressful task of marking the show floor with tape, allowing show teams to focus on other tasks.

• As events become increasingly integrated into marketing, increasing attendance has become a priority for planners. Building on the idea that peer-to-peer influence is three times more effective than traditional advertising campaigns, Snoball was at IMEX to introduce a tool to help attendees, speakers and exhibitors share event news across their own social networks.

• This year several exhibitors presented sustainable gift experiences. JoyCoast offers eco-friendly wooden sunglasses and accessories and plants 10 trees for every pair purchased. Aloha bags Customizes its entire range of eco-friendly products using a long-lasting heat transfer process, enabling unique designs in corporate colors and logos. Additionally, the company donates five percent of its annual profits to conservation efforts in Hawaii.

• Finally, it was encouraging to see more venue options designed from the ground up for impact. For example, Kona Village, A luxurious Rosewood estate in Hawaii remodeled with a focus on sustainability. It uses solar energy, efficient water systems and locally sourced ingredients to support the community. The resort also emphasizes waste reduction through recycling programs and avoids single-use products Plastics and thus ensures a more environmentally friendly footprint.

Similar, Happy goat, A nonprofit farm and event venue in Mariposa, California, near Yosemite National Park, is focused on combating food insecurity in the area by donating proceeds to local initiatives. The ranch offers a range of experiences including farm-to-table dining, goat snuggles and adventure activities, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Melissa Van Dyke is senior vice president of integrated marketing and innovation at Creative Group.