5 AUTHENTIC Trends Seen at IMEX America 2025... (they aren’t what you’d expect)

IMEX America 2025 is over, your feet are still recovering, and your badge lanyard is probably hanging from a hotel doorknob somewhere. But in between the hugs, meetings, and aisles, a few trends stood out that say a lot about where our industry is heading.

Here are the 5 AUTHENTIC trends spotted on the floor this year. And no, they’re not what you think.

Andrew Coelho and Ron Scarafile, Monte & Coe with Nataly Horan, AUTHENTIC Meetings & Incentives monteandcoe.com/

1. Meeting Your “Virtual Friends” IRL

That “so good to finally meet you in person” moment was everywhere. After years of LinkedIn comments, Zoom calls, and emojis, people were actually meeting face to face for the first time. And you could feel it. Real hugs. Real energy. Real connection. The kind of moments that remind us why this industry exists in the first place.

2. Off-Site Lunches Over Convention Center Chaos

The secret is out. Convention center food isn’t good, and it definitely isn’t cheap. Suppliers are catching on, hosting longer off-site lunches at nearby restaurants instead of rushing through overpriced sandwiches. Is it bad etiquette? Maybe. But if buyers plan around it, this might become the new norm. I know I’ll be making my lunch reservations early next year.

RMC Booth at IMEX America 2025

3. The Rise of the Minimalist Booth

Forget flashing lights and foam stress balls. This year was all about clean design, bright colors, and breathing room.

No clutter, no noise, just calm confidence. The booths that stood out weren’t trying too hard, and that simplicity felt refreshing.

4. Quality Over Quantity

Gone are the days of twenty-seven branded pens. This year’s giveaways were fewer but better. Personalized leather keychains, responsibly sourced totes, or custom hats. Less junk. More of the kind of stuff you actually keep.

IKŌNIK Destinations Collective Breakfast, Meditation and Sound Bath during IMEX America 2025. ikonikcollective.com/

5. Calm Is the New Buzz

Maybe it’s just me, but IMEX felt different this year. Quieter. Slower in the best way. It’s like COVID hit a reset button. For a while, everyone was sprinting to make up for lost time. Now it feels like the dust has settled. Conversations were relaxed. Smiles were easy. We’ve found our rhythm again.

The Bottom Line

IMEX 2025 proved it’s not about how much noise we make, but how real the connections feel. Quality over quantity is finally having its moment.