IMEX America 2025: The Trends We’ll Be Watching on the Floor

Every year, IMEX America captures the pulse of the global meetings and incentives industry. It is where thousands of appointments take place and where conversations shift, setting the tone for the year ahead. As IMEX 2025 approaches, four themes are already rising above the noise. They reflect what today’s attendees demand, what tomorrow’s buyers will expect, and where recognition travel is heading next.

Sustainability with Substance

The conversation around sustainability has matured. Planners are asking for specifics, metrics, and accountability. Suppliers that can demonstrate carbon offset programs, regenerative practices, or local sourcing with measurable results are leading the way. At IMEX this year, the spotlight will fall on brands that can prove their impact and integrate it seamlessly into group programs.

Tech with Purpose

Technology is moving toward tools that simplify planning and make programs feel more personal. Expect to see AI and automation positioned as practical tools that help planners simplify scheduling, customize attendee journeys, and gather data that informs smarter decisions. The emphasis is on tools that reduce friction and create room for real engagement.

Cultural Immersion as Currency

Recognition travel is moving toward deeper immersion, with programs that tell a story about the destination and connect participants to place. This shows up in artisan-led gifting, intimate performances, private access to heritage sites, and culinary encounters rooted in local tradition. At IMEX, suppliers who can weave culture into the fabric of program design will resonate most with planners.

Wellness, Redefined

Wellness is becoming part of the program architecture itself. Longer port calls that allow for rest, agendas with intentional breathing space, and dining options that support energy and balance are increasingly expected. Attendees want recognition trips that inspire without exhausting, and the most forward-thinking suppliers are designing with this in mind.

The clarity gained at IMEX America 2025 will not remain on the show floor. It will shape the programs, partnerships, and strategies that define incentive travel in the year to come.

Why It Matters

IMEX is the industry’s forecast in real time. The themes that emerge on the floor in Las Vegas will ripple across incentive travel programs in the year ahead. For AUTHENTIC Meetings & Incentives®, these insights directly inform how we guide partners, source programs, and create visibility for the suppliers who are shaping the next era of recognition travel.

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Whether you’re skipping IMEX or simply don’t have time to cover it all, AUTHENTIC Meetings & Incentives® is here to source, shortlist, and connect you with the right suppliers. GET IN TOUCH