With lots of industry heavies already lined up as partners and supporters, IMEX America now adds incentive powerhouse Maritz to the list.

At a press conference May 26, the second day of IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Chairman Ray Bloom announced that Maritz will hold its annual senior-level customer event in Las Vegas the day before the new IMEX show opens. Attending the Maritz event will be 100 of the company’s clients from Fortune 500 corporations, as well as senior managers from Maritz, Bloom said.

Bloom has previously announced a promise of attracting 2,000 hosted buyers to IMEX America, which launches at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas October 11–13, 2011. At the May 26 press conference he added that of the 150 destinations represented at IMEX Frankfurt, most have indicated that they will have a presence at IMEX America as well.

Webinar Series Announced
Also at the press conference, Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International, the strategic partner of IMEX America, announced that MPI and IMEX America will launch a series of six high-level webinars this fall, underlining the role of MPI as major education provider for the inaugural event. MPI will be running high-level seminars each morning before the show starts, in addition to a dedicated day of education the day before the show opens.

Because of its IMEX America partnerhips, MPI has announced that it will no longer include a trade show at its annual World Education Congress from 2011 onward. “We are putting the collective buying power of MPI members, estimated to be $16.4 billion, behind our exclusive strategic partnership with IMEX America,” said Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of MPI, in a press release.

Other partners and supporters that have lined up behind IMEX America include Site, which will hold its Site Nite event the evening before the show and its annual conference immediately after the show; as well as the Professional Convention Management Association, American Society of Association Executives, International Congress & Convention Association, Destination Marketing Association International, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Convention Industry Council, Joint Meeting Industry Council, and Green Meeting Industry Council.