“The fundamental human need to gather face-to-face isn’t going away.”
ES. The global business events industry has evolved significantly over the past decade. How has IMEX America adapted to changing market dynamics while continuing to deliver value for exhibitors and buyers?
Ray Bloom. The business events industry today looks very different to a decade ago. We’ve seen shifts in buyer expectations, the rise of digital tools and data-driven decision making, new approaches to sustainability, and a greater emphasis on meaningful human connections and measurable business outcomes. Our response has been to evolve the show alongside the industry while staying true to our core mission: to unite, advance and promote a thriving global industry focused on positive change.
While digital tools have an important role to play, we’ve seen a renewed appreciation for the trust, relationships and opportunities that are created when people meet in person. Over the years, we’ve adapted and continued to invest in our team, in technology and in event design to create a show environment where face-to-face meetings are efficient, delivering value and ROI for everyone involved.
ES. IMEX America is known for its hosted buyer programme and appointment-led business model. What makes this format so effective in generating meaningful business outcomes?
Ray Bloom. I pioneered the hosted buyer program back in 1988 and, although we’ve evolved it along the way, the fundamentals remain the same. Flexibility’s at the heart of our hosted buyer program at both IMEX America and IMEX Frankfurt—we give buyers the freedom to choose who they meet, plus the time and space to explore the show. As a result, we attract high-quality, motivated buyers and the impact is clear. Looking at Explori’s survey data from last year’s IMEX America, nearly 90% (87%) of buyers rated the networking opportunities as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, identifying one-to-one pre-scheduled meetings as the most valuable way to connect with exhibitors. Likewise exhibitors were overwhelmingly satisfied with the quality (86%) and relevance (87%) of buyers; with two thirds rating their ROI from the show as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
ES. Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and event technology are rapidly transforming business events. Which innovations do you believe will have the greatest impact on the future of exhibitions and meetings?
Ray Bloom. While there’s much speculation around the growth of AI and emerging event technologies, I believe the innovations that will have the greatest impact are those that help people make smarter connections, create more personalized experiences and demonstrate clearer business outcomes. For instance, we’ve invested in technology over the years, making incremental improvements each time to improve the end-to-end show experience. From streamlining the meeting booking process, adding blue-dot navigation in the app to help wayfinding across the show floor, to making education summaries instantly available. Ultimately, the most powerful innovations won’t be those that replace human interaction, but those that make it easier for people to connect, learn and do business.
ES. Sustainability is now a strategic priority for event organisers worldwide. How is IMEX America leading the conversation around responsible and sustainable business events?
Ray Bloom. Sustainability isn’t a new conversation for us. It’s been embedded in our approach since the launch of our first show, IMEX Frankfurt, in 2003. Over the past two decades, we’ve worked closely with partners, suppliers and industry stakeholders to measure progress and continually improve our approach across both shows. This long-term commitment allows us to build on what’s worked in previous years. For example at last year’s IMEX America, we were able to recover more exhibitor material, increase the amount of reusable serviceware and further reduce our carpet use. Progress comes through being willing to act early—trying things, learning publicly and improving through iteration rather than chasing perfection. Our learnings, challenges and data are all openly available in reports intended for the industry to use to shape their own events.
These reports are also part of our wider sustainability strategy which includes a goal dedicated to strengthening leadership alignment on sustainability. Our data highlights a disconnect-despite confidence in the industry’s ability to respond to sustainability challenges, many leaders feel fatigued by the messaging and disengage. This goal is intended to help create the conditions for more effective leadership engagement, sharing evidence of what works in practice and enabling more informed decision-making across the sector.
ES. Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for IMEX America, and how do you see it shaping the future of the global meetings and events industry over the next decade?
Ray Bloom. At its core, IMEX America will always be about creating opportunities for people to meet in person, build relationships and do business. The fundamental human need to gather face-to-face isn’t going away. As organizations continue to balance digital and physical engagement, the ability of live events to build trust, strengthen relationships and drive business outcomes remains a powerful advantage. I also want to see IMEX America continue to help demonstrate the broader economic and social value of business events. Our industry’s in robust health right now and delivers significant business impact: EIC’s latest Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study found that business events generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending worldwide in 2025 and attracted 1.65 billion participants globally. Our industry has an incredible ability to drive business growth, facilitate knowledge exchange, strengthen communities and create lasting positive value. That’s a story we need to keep telling.
