Sunshine Matters

What happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas!

As part of VISIT FLORIDA’s ongoing efforts to promote meeting and incentive travel to the Sunshine State, our meetings team coordinates exhibits at trade shows around the globe.  One of the largest annual shows – IMEX America – was recently held at the Sands Exhibition Center in Las Vegas, NV and VISIT FLORIDA was front and center.

IMEX America 2012 was the largest hosted buyer program ever held in North America, with over 2,000 qualified hosted buyers and thousands of visiting meeting, convention and incentive planners from across the U.S. and the rest of the world in attendance at the show. VISIT FLORIDA’s presence this year was larger than ever, with a well-appointed 20 x 40 foot booth space, increased participation in one-on-one and group appointments, and as host of a breakfast for more than 100 planners.

VISIT FLORIDA was able to include 16 of our top destinations, service companies and properties in our booth, providing them the opportunity to network and do business with the meeting, convention and incentive professionals in attendance. Initial feedback from them has been positive, with a few testimonials below:

“What a great show! It was the perfect platform to reconnect with old contacts and make tons of new ones! I am definitely going back next year!” – Hillary Smith, CMP, CSEP from Koncept Events, LLC

“We enjoyed our experience at IMEX America. VISIT FLORIDA organized an excellent booth that promoted camaraderie and business at the same time. We are confident that the contacts we made at the booth will generate important programs for our Company.” – Fernando Rojas from Blooming Events International

To see more of what our presence looked like, please check out our VISIT FLORIDA Meetings Facebook page – and don’t forget to “like” us!  For more information on VISIT FLORIDA’s meeting efforts or to learn about exhibiting at IMEX America in 2013, please contact me at sbonda@VISITFLORIDA.org.