IMEX

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿? 🔎 At ebx.lab 2026, we looked beyond traditional ROI and explored a bigger question: How can we better understand and measure the value business events create? From new perspectives and hands-on collaboration to plenty of conversations in between, ebx.lab was all about challenging established ways of thinking and exploring what impact can really mean. Our highlight video takes us back to those two days in Frankfurt. 🎬 Matthias Schultze Felix Rundel Akram Ouzid Ursula Winterbauer Dr. Martina Neunecker Fraunhofer IAO Research Centre for Future Meeting Studies (rcfms) IMEX PCMA PCMA EMEA David Kries Josephin van Waasen, DES

My IMEX America experience began in Hawai‘i. Or at least, that is how it felt. Last night, Lū‘au Hawai‘i 2026 transported us through the music, the food, the culture and, most importantly, the people. And Springs Preserve was the perfect setting. The landscape and setting made the feeling of being transported complete. The invitation said, “In Hawai‘i, relationships are something we value deeply.” The evening brought those words to life. And then one of the speakers said something about community that captured the whole evening for me. She grew up in Hawai‘i and now lives in Las Vegas. When she talked about raising her children away from the place and culture that shaped her, she said they may not be in Hawai‘i, but they create it here. She nailed it. Community is not just about us coming together. It is about what each of us brings when we come together, and what we create with those parts of ourselves wherever we are. This is one of the things my work helps people see: we do not only arrive carrying load and demand. We also arrive carrying culture, perspective, energy, memory and relationships. Each person brings a combination that exists nowhere else, and that is part of the value of gathering. And then there is serendipity. I truly believe serendipity is the universe introducing us to the people we are meant to meet. There is an energy exchange between people that we do not talk about enough. You can meet hundreds of people at an event, but certain conversations simply feel different. There is a resonance. Something clicks. Not every person we meet will become a connection we strengthen, build and hold. They are not supposed to. But last night, I reconnected with my industry friends, unexpectedly ran into people I did not know I would see (Anna SunAnna Sun David T. Stevens®, PMED, WITT-AP)David T. Stevens®, PMED, WITT-AP) and met new people who already feel like they were supposed to cross my path. Jami Paronto, I am looking at you. And Marykay Lui, DESMarykay Lui, DES, you have been such a dear friend for so many years. Thank you for inviting me into this experience and giving me such a meaningful way to begin IMEX. I am so grateful for you and your amazing hospitality. Meet Hawaii created the conditions for community. The people inside it created the magic. If this is how IMEX begins, I cannot wait to see who else the universe puts in my path this week. Mahalo to everyone who made the evening so special. #IMEX26 #MeetHawaii #EventProfs #Community #Mahalo Human Capacity Design

Nobody talks about how hard it is to go from this…to this. ➡️ 😂 Two weeks later and feeling those IMEX America blues! What a week it was. What an industry we work in. 💜 18,000+ people. 96,000 meetings. More than FIVE YEARS of business conversations packed into three days. And I’m pretty sure I personally contributed at least 567 hugs! But beyond the impressive numbers, IMEX is such a powerful reminder of why we all love this industry. The connections, the conversations, the ideas, the friendships, and the incredible energy that happens when people come together in person. At the end of the day, it is ALL about people and progress. ❤️ Immense gratitude to Ray, Carina, and the entire IMEX team for creating something so special for our industry year after year. Thank you for choosing Las Vegas 15 years in a row. The best is yet to come. Until next year, IMEX! ✨ #IMEX26 #VegasMeansBusiness #MeetingMatters

THREE THINGS MONDAY FROM FRANCE! 1) INDUSTRY SHOUT-OUT: Congrats and Thank You to the team at Cventnt, for a great Connect Europe event. SongDivision has been collaborating on these events for over 8 years now, and got to show everyone how we use music and songwriting to engage, energise & connect, while reinforcing the key event messages and takeaways! Felicia Asiedu Oonagh Hughes Victoria Akinsowon PG Dip DigM Latoya E. Rachel Andrews Jamie Vaughan Jennifer Bialek Reggie Aggarwal Sarah Hunt 2) INDUSTRY SHOUT-OUT: I know it was a couple of weeks ago, but one final thank you to the legends at IMEX for my favourite Vegas event yet! It flew by so fast (which means it must have been great!) but I just want to shout out everyone who helped make it so special including my SongDivision family Andy Sharpe Marsha Sharpe Jodi Katz Leigh Houison John Lombardo Club Ichihi Liz Lathan, CMP Nicole Osibodu, XOXO Show Gear Productions Zenus, Inc. Chuck Budzina Panos M. Nick Borelli Paul Wade Brandon Wight Lea Clark Cam Twellman Jessica Manton Shelley WILLIAMS Nate Horne Carina Bauer Richard Allchild, CMP Laura Lewis Lauren Barry, CMP Kit Watts Suzanne Medcalf Mulligan Tahira Endean, MSc, CITP, CMP, CED 3) PODCAST RECOMMENDATION & SHAMELESS PLUG: Speaking of IMEX, the latest episode of 'Look Mum, I'm Failing!' was recorded live at the Encore stand, with two of my favourite people in the world - Amanda Armstrong, CMP, CED and Jodi Katz. The conversation really defined why I started this podcast - honest, funny, vulnerable, authentic and inspiring.... PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/e3E4PBsK Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eQr5Reuw Youtube: https://lnkd.in/ec8uWYCC