What One Thing? A Meeting Planner's Guide to the Top of the Events World
Sep 23, 2026 · 19 min · 8 segments
Send us Fan Mail With nearly 4,000 exhibitors, hundreds of education sessions and nonstop networking, making the most of IMEX America starts with a…
Carina BauerGuest
JT LongHost
So for each event, you have a talking point, and the talking point this year is Design Matters.
So, uh, first of all, I would say, you know, Design Matters is not just about the aesthetics of an event, it is about how you design all aspects of the event very intentionally.
I always talk about how we design our hosted buyer program very deliberately and very intentionally.
So, for example, the hosted buyer program is designed so that hosted buyers can really design their own journey and their own micro experiences within this very big ecosystem of the show.
And it's also deliberately designed to allow planners the opportunity to have a very effective time through their pre-planned meetings, but also lots of time for exploration and inspiration and education.
Also, other things that are beyond, as you say, the content, we have, um, relocated the hosted buyer lounge, so the footprint has now increased by about 20% compared to last year.
And as I was saying, you know, we have some really great experiences in there.
And then, you know, the other thing we've been working on for the past two years, and we've just been awarded again, called the Comprehensive Neurodivergent Accommodation.
It's a top level, uh, endorsement available under the Australian Psychological Society's Neurodivergent Inclusive Event Guidelines, which is a bit of a mouthful.
Um, but, um, a- and that applies to aspects of IMEX that we design, so n- n- that w- i- within our control, if you like.
All of these things go into how we think about the flow of the show, but importantly, the experience that different stakeholders, different types of participate, participants are having when they come in.
So for each event, you have a talking point, and the talking point this year is Design Matters.
So, uh, first of all, I would say, you know, Design Matters is not just about the aesthetics of an event, it is about how you design all aspects of the event very intentionally.
I always talk about how we design our hosted buyer program very deliberately and very intentionally.
So, for example, the hosted buyer program is designed so that hosted buyers can really design their own journey and their own micro experiences within this very big ecosystem of the show.
And it's also deliberately designed to allow planners the opportunity to have a very effective time through their pre-planned meetings, but also lots of time for exploration and inspiration and education.
Also, other things that are beyond, as you say, the content, we have, um, relocated the hosted buyer lounge, so the footprint has now increased by about 20% compared to last year.
And as I was saying, you know, we have some really great experiences in there.
And then, you know, the other thing we've been working on for the past two years, and we've just been awarded again, called the Comprehensive Neurodivergent Accommodation.
It's a top level, uh, endorsement available under the Australian Psychological Society's Neurodivergent Inclusive Event Guidelines, which is a bit of a mouthful.
Um, but, um, a- and that applies to aspects of IMEX that we design, so n- n- that w- i- within our control, if you like.
All of these things go into how we think about the flow of the show, but importantly, the experience that different stakeholders, different types of participate, participants are having when they come in.
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