Toss out the to do list and bring on strategic thinking at IMEX America

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Association and corporate event and travel professionals are invited to set aside their daily to-do lists and focus on strategic development and sharing knowledge with their peers at dedicated new sessions as part of IMEX America, taking place October 10 โ€“ 12 in Las Vegas.

โ€œIn a rapidly-evolving business environment, strong leadership and effective strategic planning has never been more important. Senior industry professionals within associations and corporations obviously occupy unique and powerful positions within the meetings industry, and we know they value high quality opportunities to spend dedicated, focused time together,โ€ explains Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.

The result? Two events dedicated to senior meeting and event professionals working in different sectors of the industry.

Peer to peer learning & networking at new Association Leadership Forum

Designed exclusively for association leaders and aspiring association leaders from all corners of the world, the new IMEX Association Leadership Forum takes place the day before IMEX America on Monday October 9. The education and networking program is open to those working at senior leadership level within associations and covers multiple challenges of association management and development. The free program is being created in association with ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership. Through a mix of presentations, peer to peer discussions and an executive level panel, the Association Leadership Forum will address the high level strategic issues that currently challenge leadership teams.

There will also be a series of dedicated education sessions for association meeting buyers and planners, curated by ICCA. Open to all, these will take place as part of Smart Monday โ€“ the renowned day of complimentary, cutting-edge professional development powered by MPI. Association professionals will also be able to take part in Smart Mondayโ€™s wider education program which includes sessions on purposeful meetings, latest industry trends and personal development.

All association professionals can end their day and toast the start of IMEX America at Association Evening, taking place at The Venetianยฎ | The Palazzoยฎ Congress Center. โ€œItโ€™s always a lovely chance to unwind with your peers, reconnect with old friends and forge new connections. Our Association Evening is a great networking opportunity that really โ€˜starts the week strongโ€™โ€, adds Carina.

Exclusively for high-level event strategists and Strategic Meetings Management Program owners – Executive Meeting Forum

โ€œThe best and most professionally rewarding day of my year. Sharing knowledge with my peers is priceless.โ€ This is how Shannon Wayt Sessoms of EY Group (Ernst & Young) described the Executive Meeting Forum which she attended in 2016.

Hosted at Caesarโ€™s Palace, the IMEX Executive Meeting Forum, a staple of IMEX Americaโ€™s knowledge sharing, will once again gather directors, senior managers, and VP level in-house executives for bespoke education, networking and discussions. Exclusively for high-level event strategists from across the globe, the Forum combines informal closed networking with an outstanding education program.

More than 40 managers, directors and SMMP program owners from corporate America, including BP, E&Y and Office Depot attended the Forum last year. Having run the event for the last six years, the IMEX Group now has a close understanding of the issues, challenges and support these individuals face in their organizations.

Carina Bauer comments: โ€œThe Executive Meeting Forum, Association Leadership Forum – and IMEX America as a whole โ€“ are all about bringing together industry professionals to foster relationships and share knowledge, both to advance their own career success and also to support their organizational goals. We know from our feedback that giving these senior groups high quality, facilitated learning and networking opportunities is invaluable. These unhurried settings allow them to build relationships and cement partnerships in a very personal way that offsets the risk of being out of touch or ill-informed.โ€

Registration for the Executive Meeting Forum and Association Leadership Forum is free but criteria apply. Further details can be found here.

Further details about IMEX America can be found on the new-look website.

#IMEX17

PHOTO: Association planners gather to learn and network at IMEX America

eTN is a media partner for IMEX.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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