Explore how Hosts Global led with purpose, partnership, and aloha at the biggest IMEX America yet.
IMEX America 2025 was one for the history books — a week where creativity filled every corner of the show floor and meaningful connections took center stage.
To everyone who visited the Hosts Global booth — thank you. We loved seeing familiar faces, meeting new friends, and sharing the legendary spirit that defines our community. A heartfelt thanks to our Hosts Global Alliance DMCs and Strategic Partners who joined us from around the world and across the U.S. — your energy, collaboration, and expertise made this year truly unforgettable.
Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from an extraordinary IMEX America 2025 — seen through the lens of Hosts Global’s creativity, collaboration, and connection.
1. IMEX America Sets a New Industry Benchmark
IMEX 2025 delivered on an unprecedented scale: attendance soared past 17,000 participants, the show floor hosted more than 3,500 exhibitors, and Hosted Buyer numbers climbed nearly 25 percent. The energy was electric — proof that face-to-face connection remains at the heart of our industry.
Hosts Global matched that momentum with 420 + meetings, strategic booth collaborations, and a continuous flow of qualified leads across the three-day event.
Takeaway: Record-breaking attendance means more opportunity — but only for those who show up with strategy and storytelling that stands out.
2. Fueled by Aloha: Tuesday’s Speed Networking Made Waves
The Hosts Global booth buzzed with island vibes during Tuesday’s Speed Networking, where business and fun met in perfect harmony.
- Hawaiian greeters welcomed buyers with fresh plumeria leis
- Ukulele players and hula dancers brought the rhythm of the islands to Las Vegas
- Engraved coconuts by Windansea Coconuts, tropical drinks, and popsicles kept guests cool between appointments
The activation wasn’t just about flair — it embodied the Hosts Global spirit of warmth, hospitality, and unforgettable experiences, while also celebrating the launch of our newest owned office, Hosts Hawaii.
Takeaway: Sensory storytelling creates emotional connections that last long after the badge comes off.
3. Impact 2.0: Purpose and Sustainability Take Center Stage
This year’s IMEX theme — “Impact 2.0: Activating the Future” — wasn’t just a talking point; it was a call to action that Hosts Global fully embraced. Every decision, from booth design to on-site engagement, reflected a commitment to sustainable events and purpose-driven choices that truly make a difference.
Inside the Hosts Global booth, all exhibiting Members and Partners uploaded their sample five-day agendas digitally to the portal, eliminating stacks of printed collateral and saving significant paper waste. Reusable Hosts Global water bottles replaced disposable cups, and lanyards from previous IMEX years were recycled and reused, proving that sustainability and style can go hand in hand.
Several Members also activated digital business cards, reducing single-use materials while streamlining post-show connections. And in a bold nod to intentional design, Hosts reused the same booth structure and custom chandelier from IMEX 2024 — demonstrating that thoughtful creativity and environmental responsibility aren’t mutually exclusive.
IMEX’s push toward zero waste by 2030 aligned perfectly with these efforts, reinforcing that sustainability isn’t just an initiative for Hosts Global — it’s part of our DNA.
Takeaway: Small, intentional actions compound into real impact. Sustainability doesn’t need reinvention each year — it shines brightest when built to last.
4. Tech Elevates the Experience (Without Replacing It)
Artificial intelligence, matchmaking algorithms, and real-time content summaries streamlined the attendee journey — but the best business still happened the old-fashioned way: in person, with trust.
Takeaway: Technology can optimize discovery and data, but the magic still lives in human connection – what we at Hosts specialize in! 😉
5. Partnerships Power Performance
Collaboration was the heartbeat of IMEX America 2025 — and nowhere was it more evident than inside the Hosts Global booth, where 23 Hosts Global Alliance Members, Global Sales Liaisons, and Partners came together under one brand, one vision, and one unforgettable presence.
This year’s in-booth lineup included the Hosts Global’s Global Sales Team: Robert Lee, Karen Christensen, Serena Melancon, Heather McLeod, Annika Clutch. As well as Host Global Members: Classic Journeys, COTC, Juice Studios, Hosts New Orleans, Hosts Texas, Hosts Chicago, Hosts Louisville, Hosts Nashville, Hosts Baltimore, Hosts Washington DC, World Events Consulting, Conceptours, Spaintacular, Iceland Travel, Lafayette DMC, Creators of Live, Experience Houston, Moloney & Kelly, Hosts Seattle, Hosts Southern California, Hosts Las Vegas , Hosts Hawaii, as well as Hosts’s Strategic Partners, Vario Productions and G7 Entertainment.
Hosts Global shined beyond the booth, joining forces with destination partners across the show floor:
- Hosts Texas × Visit San Antonio
- Juice Studios × Visit Atlanta + Visit Savannah
- Alaska Destination Specialists × Visit Anchorage
- Barefoot Holidays × St. Lucia Tourism
- Connect DMC × Mexico & Dominican Republic
- De Palm Aruba × Aruba Tourism Authority
- COTC × Fort Lauderdale
- Operation Altitude × Colorado
- Empire Force × New York City Tourism
- Colours of Malta x Malta Tourism
- Moloney & Kelly x Ireland
- E2 X Tampa
- GSI x Puerto Rico
- 4th Dimension Italy
- Spectra x Scotland
- Global Tour x Seoul Promotion
The Hosts booth became a hub of energy, creativity, and collaboration — a place where planners could connect with local experts and discover global possibility under one roof.
Takeaway: Collaboration amplifies visibility and drives shared wins. When the industry’s best unite, everyone rises.
6. Private Moments, Big Impact
The week wasn’t just about appointments — it was about experiences that connected our industry on a deeper level.
On Tuesday night, Hosts Global partnered with ALHI to co-host the annual FUSE Event at Flanker, an evening fueled by great food, handcrafted cocktails, and standout activations that sparked conversation and built new relationships across the meetings community.
Then on Wednesday, the celebration continued with the Hosts Global private reception at Vetri Cucina — the talk of the town and an elegant, invite-only affair where guests were able to unwind, mingle, and celebrate shared success stories surrounded by breathtaking views and incredible cuisine.
Both events captured what IMEX is all about — meaningful connection, authentic hospitality, and moments that stay with you long after the show floor closes.
Takeaway: The best networking happens when the environment inspires it. Intimate, well-curated experiences deliver outsized ROI — and memories that truly matter.
7. Celebrating Industry Excellence
IMEX week is more than a trade show — it’s a celebration of the people and partnerships driving the global events community forward.
This year, the Hosts Global team was proud to take part in three of the industry’s most iconic gatherings — SITE Nite North America, the EIC Global Awards Celebration, and MPI’s Rendezvous Party. Each event brought the community together in its own unforgettable way — from recognizing trailblazing leaders and innovative programs to fueling new friendships on the dance floor.
These celebrations reminded us that behind every program and partnership are passionate professionals who care deeply about creating meaningful experiences. For Hosts Global, it was an honor to stand among peers who share that same dedication to connection, creativity, and collaboration.
Takeaway: The spirit of IMEX doesn’t end with the show floor. It thrives in every celebration that brings our industry together — where inspiration is shared, relationships are deepened, and the future of meetings and events is shaped one conversation at a time.
8. Education and Innovation Keep Evolving
From AI ethics and sustainability metrics to creative design thinking, this year’s educational sessions leaned practical and future-focused — giving planners real tools to apply back home.
Education wasn’t just happening on the show floor, though — it was also being shaped by the next generation of industry trailblazers. Our very own Rachel Siegel, Account Manager for Hosts Las Vegas, played a key role in planning this year’s SITE Young Leaders Conference, working alongside Young Leaders IBOD representative and Hosts Global Member Caoimhe Rice of Moloney & Kelly.
The conference, held Sunday, October 5 at the Golden Nugget, carried the theme “Unstoppable in Chaos: Empowered to Shape the Future.” Rachel also joined the panel “How I Got Here,” which explored the experiences of young professionals at different career stages — and the unique, winding paths that led them to where they are today.
In a world defined by disruption, today’s young leaders have the opportunity to rise with resilience, lead with authenticity, and fuel progress through meaningful connection. The conference empowered attendees with the tools, mindset, and community to thrive amid uncertainty — and to boldly shape the future of our industry.
Rachel’s leadership and insights reflected exactly what Hosts Global stands for: innovation, collaboration, and empowering the next generation of event professionals to create meaningful impact.
Takeaway: Education that inspires and equips wins hearts (and budgets) — especially when it’s led by passionate voices shaping what comes next.
9. A Truly Global Show Floor
IMEX America 2025 welcomed expanded international participation — from doubled-sized pavilions to new cross-continent partnerships — signaling the continued rebound of global MICE travel.
Takeaway: Hosts isn’t just global — we’re grounded. With experts in over 450+ destinations, we bring true local insight and on-the-ground experience that others simply can’t replicate. We don’t just say we know a place — we live it, breathe it, and deliver it flawlessly.
10. The Real Work Begins After the Show
IMEX may have wrapped on Thursday, but the energy doesn’t stop there — it’s just getting started.
After more than 420 appointments and countless spontaneous connections, our Hosts Global team is already turning conversations into collaborations and introductions into inspired partnerships.
For the planners and partners who joined us in the booth — this is where the magic continues. The follow-ups, the proposals, the brainstorming sessions that spark new programs and bring unforgettable events to life across our 450+ destinations.
Takeaway: IMEX is just the spark. The real success comes from staying connected, keeping the conversation going, and transforming great meetings into legendary experiences.
Final Thoughts
IMEX America 2025 wasn’t just bigger — it was better. From the record crowds to the Aloha-infused activations and the deep collaboration across Hosts Global’s DMC network, this year embodied the industry’s creative comeback.
Mahalo to everyone who joined us — in the booth, on the dance floor, or over dinner. Here’s to carrying that spirit of connection, creativity, and collaboration into every event we create next.
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