It’s officially that time of year again when meeting planners and other meetings industry professionals will gather in Las Vegas for IMEX America.
This year’s event is being held Oct. 10 to 12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. Attendees will want to ready their schedules for these five not-to-be-missed educational sessions.
Association Leadership Forum
Held on Monday, Oct. 9, the day before IMEX America officially begins, the new IMEX Association Leadership Forum will bring together association leaders to participate in education and networking designed specifically for them. A mix of peer-to-peer discussions and panels will address issues that leadership teams currently face as part of IMEX’s popular Smart Monday professional development programming.
“Purposeful Meetings” with Janet Sperstad
Also as part of Smart Monday, Janet Sperstad, CMP, program director at Madison College will give a presentation about how to create purposeful meetings that bring attendees deeper meaning, innovation and insight in mind. Sperstad will encourage engagement and inspiration in lieu of perfectly executed logistics by emphasizing the five areas that define purposeful meetings: behavior science, meeting design, technology, health and well-being, and leaving a positive legacy.
“Activity Is Not Productivity” with Juliet Funt
Tuesday morning will begin with Juliet Funt, CEO of WhiteSpace at Work, a training and consulting firm that helps organizations reclaim creativity, productivity and engagement. Funt’s focus on a “WhiteSpace” culture will help meeting planners bring positive changes to workflow management as well as help identify strategies to create more meaningful moments at work.
“Prosperity Ahead—Or Not?” with Todd Buchholz
On Wednesday morning, Todd Buccholz, economist and author, will discuss the current state of the global economy, especially the effect of corporate earnings on the meetings industry. He will also address how President Trump’s attitude toward foreign trade will affect international commerce and travel.
“Creating Innovative Experience” with Brent Bushnell
Brent Bushnell, CEO of Two Bit Circus, a Los Angeles- based entertainment company that builds micro-amusement parks, will closeout the conference on Thursday morning with more ways for meeting planners to create innovative experiences using immersive entertainment. Instead of using videos, books or websites to enhance events, Bushnell discusses how to make events more interactive using technology and innovative thinking.
