Premagic’s IMEX Experience
We’ve just returned from an unforgettable week in Vegas for IMEX America, and we’re still buzzing with excitement! It was our first time at IMEX, and to put it simply, the whole experience was overwhelming. Stepping into this grand event, we had no idea what to expect.
IMEX is hands-down one of the largest gatherings for event professionals across the globe. It’s where thousands of event pros—planners, producers, PCOs, DMCs, and tech innovators—come together to network, scout for new partnerships, and dive into the latest event tech that’s changing the game.
This year, from October 8–10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, IMEX America welcomed a record 15,500 attendees. Now in its 13th year, the show brought in more than 5,500 buyers, including 4,300 hosted buyers, with 7% more floor space than last year! The floor was packed, with over 5,000 booths showcasing everything from venue solutions to cutting-edge software. Our legs hurt and we'll probably need new ones. But in the end, it was all worth it.
Key Takeaways from IMEX: Why We’ll Be Returning
Event pros are an amazing crew - The event industry is full of people who are driven, creative, and love what they do. IMEX brought together the best in the game, and being around such passionate pros made us grateful to be part of this community. Every meeting was a reminder of why we’re here!
All meetings, all planned- This was an eye-opener. With every meeting pre-scheduled, there was no frantic last-minute running around. Each conversation was clear, purposeful, and helped us stay on track. This structured approach? Total game-changer.
Face time with the who’s who- Connecting in person hits different. IMEX was an awesome opportunity to go beyond LinkedIn connections and have real, face-to-face conversations with industry leaders. The only downside? We missed meeting Julius Solaris. Next time, for sure!
People want value-driven content - The buzz at IMEX was all about meaningful, change-oriented work. Buyers here were serious and driven, mainly from the big leagues of the event world. Every conversation felt purposeful. Here’s to more collaborations that make an impact.
Networking on overdrive- This was the place to build genuine connections with like-minded event folks. Everyone there was just as excited about their work as we are about ours. From inspiring speakers to new tech discoveries, we were immersed in pure event-energy goodness.
Side events worth attending- IMEX was just the start. There were tons of other side sessions, workshops, and booth-hosted gatherings. From creative workshops to casual meet-ups, these added so much extra value.
A feast for the senses - Let’s talk food! Many booths, especially hotel and venue-based ones, had mini-bars that became the go-to social hangouts. Nothing like great snacks and drinks to keep up the energy!
Power of partnerships - Partnerships were a major focus at IMEX. The partnerships we built at IMEX, including our in-booth collaboration with Arc International, were pivotal in shaping our goals and strategy. Huge shoutout to Terry Waller, Managing Director of Arc International, for his incredible support and insights
Push boundaries and dream big: This year’s theme of pushing boundaries resonated with us, leaving us inspired to take bold steps forward in our business.
Our Booth and Highlights
We set up shop at Booth E1331, proudly showcasing alongside our partner, Arc International. Terry Waller, Arc’s managing director, was a gem to work with, introducing us to potential collaborators and helping us make the most of the event.
IMEX had some unforgettable activations too! David Maldonado amazed us with a live art demonstration, while a talented crew recreated the Seven Magic Mountains right there at the event. We even caught a glimpse of a sleek F1 car brought all the way from the Middle East, and the beautiful harp music by Eileen Gannon added a classy touch to the whole experience.
Engaging Educational Sessions
With a record-breaking 1,600 attendees at the Inspiration Hub, the educational sessions were a focal point of IMEX 2024. It offered more than 150 sessions packed with insights, along with a full schedule of co-located events and activities happening throughout the week.
Though time was limited, we managed to attend the Unique Speakers Bureau’s "Global World Series Speaker Showcase." Their methodology—Fuel, Ignite, Accelerate—was a powerful reminder of the importance of creating excitement and driving engagement.
The session “Unlock the Future: AI’s Impact on the Event Industry” was another standout, featuring speakers like JT Long, Becca Hignett, Mykyta Fastovets, and Veemal Gungadin. hey discussed AI's role in collaboration, efficiency, and content creation, with Gungadin’s GEVME Spark platform, developed in collaboration with PCMA, as a prime example of how event data can be transformed into actionable insights. The session ended with an AI-themed rap that was the highlight of the day!
IMEX App: A Game Changer
When we couldn’t make it to a session, the IMEX app proved incredibly helpful. We accessed summaries and transcripts for almost all sessions, powered by SnapSight by GEVME, which is invaluable for recaps.
The app also made it easy to find and schedule meetings with buyers. We completed 40+ meetings—something that would have been nearly impossible without the structure provided by the app. Kudos to ExpoFP for their exemplary work in developing such a powerful tool.
The People of IMEX – The Real Stars
Hands down, the best part of IMEX was the people. We connected with industry leaders and innovators we’d only previously met online, and there’s nothing quite like in-person conversations!
We had great chats with event tech pioneers like Tamar Beck, CEO of Gleanin and Rachel Stephan, CEO of Snoball. Plus, meeting Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, was a real highlight—he shared some incredible insights on the latest event trends.
We also learned more about the World Potato Congress from Ellen Kouwenberg and exchanged ideas with other heavy hitters like Junior Tauvaa from PCMA, John Adadamo from Informa Connect, Sherah Sims from Salesforce, and Zaina Moussa from Run the World Summit.
There were a few extra-special encounters: Fran Rickenben from Management Excellence Inc. was really impressed by our poster creation and photo distribution services, and Terry introduced us to Charlie Carter from Mash Media. Meeting Reggie Aggarwal, CEO of Cvent was a definite highlight, and after one of his sessions, we even got to have a quick chat with Veemal Gungadin, CEO of GEVME.
IMEX was an incredible experience, and it was these conversations that truly brought it to life!
Exploring Vegas
Las Vegas exceeded our expectations! It was a bustling week with full agendas, but our team worked tirelessly to make it a success. We even managed to catch a few sights, including a trip to the famous Bellagio Hotel & Casino as well as the Caesars Palace Casino for the quintessential Vegas experience. A quick detour to the Valley of Fire was an absolute highlight, giving us a glimpse of Nevada's natural beauty.
IMEX America has proven itself to be one of the most important trade shows for networking and building valuable partnerships. We cannot wait to go back next year!
