Smart Monday kicks off at IMEX America in Las Vegas

With G2E Global Gaming Expo coming to The Venetian, Las Vegas Uber drivers once again busy dodging F1 lane closures on the Las Vegas Strip, IMEX America returns to Mandalay with the ultimate educational pre-race event, ‘Smart Monday’ Lewan Conference Center, organized by international professionals. The Smart Meetings team was in town, speaking on panels, hugging us through the aisles of the North Convention Center, and sending these notes from the expo floor.

Motivating Insights: One of the first press releases came in the form of a shared session moderated by IRF’s Stephanie Harris and SITE’s Pádraic Gilligan, with expert input from Maggie Worthington (Hilton), Jennifer Attersall (Destination Canada) and Justin Myers (Bishop-McCann) Comment, announcing the 2024 Incentive Travel Index (ITI), predicts growth for the incentive travel industry through 2026.

Incentive travel buyers expect activity and per-person spending over the next two years to exceed 2024 levels. However, they also reported concerns about rising costs, attracting talent to the industry, and safety concerns.

This annual study reports on destination preferences, program content, budgets and perceptions of the strategic importance of incentive travel. This year’s report also takes a pulse on hot topics such as technology, artificial intelligence, climate issues and sustainability.

Learn more: IMEX America focuses on impact

“Key workplace trends are increasing the strategic importance of incentive travel,” said IRF President Stephanie Harris. “Retention of talented employees and a competitive advantage in recruitment are considered increasingly important, and more recently Trends such as a new generation of qualifiers and leaders and a more distributed workforce.”

“Incentive travel buyers are increasingly looking for something new, with more than 70% of respondents saying they are looking for destinations they have never used before,” said SITE CEO Annette Gregg. “Resorts – both all-inclusive and otherwise – are growing in popularity, and destinations closer to participants’ departure points are also expected to see increased usage.”

EIC 75th Anniversary Awards Pacesetters and Legends: The landmark Event Industry Council Awards Dinner held at Aria Resort & Casino recognized five inductees into the Hall of Leadership, joining the ranks of 150 outstanding individuals who have made a lasting impact. This year’s honorees include Cathy Breden, CMP Fellow, CAE, CEM, IAEE, former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; Greg O’Dell, President of Venue Management, Oak View Group; Robin Lockerman, CMM, FASAE, Group President, MCI Group; William Reed, FASAE, CMP, chief campaign strategy officer for the American Society of Hematology, and Julius Solaris, founder of Boldpush.

Three Pacesetter Award nominees include Paola Bowman, CMP, CMM, director of client services and events for the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau; Sina Bunte, CMP, DES, founder of DigitalMind.events; Shameka Jennings, MTA, CMP, DES, CAE , Chief and Chief Events Officer at EventNoire.

Two Social Impact Awards were presented to Diane Hawkins, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (MPI Executive Vice President and Volunteer Engagement) and Gary Murakami, GTP, GLP, CMP Fellow, CMM, DES, TENEO Hospitality Group Vice President of Global Sales and Industry Relations.

The EIC is conducting a Future Landscape Study to identify emerging and evolving issues that will shape the global business events industry. For more information, visit EventsCouncil.org/futures.

Disney launches experience resources: Disney Meetings & Events has launched new products and resources designed to create engaging and impactful moments for meeting professionals and their attendees. A new team-building experience and a new set of project openers are available at
Disney destinations are located around the world. A new creative studio for meeting professionals will also debut at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in early 2025. It will provide an inspiring environment where planners can work with Disney meeting and event experts to discover products and services that help deliver experiences objectively.

Combining Disney stories with purposeful, game-based learning, Disney Meetings & Events launches new signature team-building and networking sessions designed to increase audience engagement and retention and bring a positive spin to the meeting experience Return. Sessions include competitive team-building activities based on Star Wars stories and adventures, social events inspired by Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and creative team-building activities inspired by Pixar’s “Toy Story” and “Monsters, Inc.”

Note from health advisor: David Stevens, co-founder of event wellness consultancy Olympian Meeting, scanned the area for wellness initiatives and found the following.

Experiencing Smart Mondays at IMEX really exemplifies how events can be designed with well-being first, providing opportunities for attendees to interact and restore. Smart Monday wellness initiatives are thoughtfully integrated throughout the event, providing not only moments of relaxation and reflection but also tangible tools to improve personal and professional well-being.

One of the highlights of the day was the ongoing wellness session at Tradewinds AB, where participants could join or exit sessions focusing on different aspects of health. The sessions include calming meditation exercises and practical tools for frequent travelers, helping attendees rejuvenate in bustling environments. For event attendees seeking personalized guidance, one-on-one coaching sessions are available, providing a unique opportunity for direct conversations about personal or professional growth. These sessions cater to individual needs, ensuring attendees leave with actionable insights that fit their lives.

In the main square, Crow Practice hosted a series of demonstrations focusing on healthy living techniques that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Attendees were even invited to participate in a hands-on tea-making activity, emphasizing the importance of small, mindful practices to enhance daily well-being. To add a bit of creativity and connection, there’s also an activity to make friendship bracelets – a fun and symbolic way to connect with other participants. Small moments like this remind everyone that wellness also extends to relationships and community, encouraging personal interactions in meaningful, low-stress ways.

Read more: Supporting employee mental health in the workplace

One of the more unique experiences is the opportunity to pet the puppies. This simple and heartwarming event resonated with many attendees, providing a brief but powerful respite from the stressful event attendance. With proven benefits including reducing stress and anxiety, interacting with animals is not only a fun pastime but an important part of the Smart Monday wellness experience.

Later in the day, for those who want to combine exercise with fresh air and exploration, head out! Running Tours offers walking tours of Las Vegas starting at 4:30 p.m. This tour begins just outside the iconic Mandalay Bay Shark Reef and is the perfect opportunity to soak up the sun and stretch out. A gentle walk in the surrounding area can provide some much-needed fresh air, helping to offset the long hours typically spent indoors during such events. This tour is a reminder that exercise is an important part of health and combines it with the local scenery of Las Vegas to add a unique treat.

Overall, IMEX’s Smart Mondays offer a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to happiness. From quiet mindfulness sessions to hands-on activities and opportunities for physical movement, the event offers a variety of wellness touchpoints for every participant. This is a clear reminder that wellness is no longer a “nice-to-have” at events, but an integral component of creating memorable, impactful experiences.