This year’s IMEX America education programme has been revealed and combines education, entertainment and clever new formats to appeal to seasoned veterans, industry first-timers, and more – according to organisers.
Tahira Endean, head of programming at IMEX, says that this year’s programme has been designed with one eye on helping people navigate the future: “The demands on experience design are always evolving which means we approach each education programme with a clean slate.
“Above all, we’ve designed content that’s unexpected and prompts people to think about themselves, their roles and their talents differently – if they come away with three to five learnings they can immediately apply, then we’ve done our job!”
All 150 sessions of IMEX America’s education will be delivered within six tracks:
- Technology and innovation
- Trends and research
- People and planet
- Business practices
- Experience design
- Event marketing.
Sessions
Sessions will include The Party Scientist, Jacques Martiquet, who is an ‘international joy facilitator’ for Fortune 500 companies and international events: “My mission is to give as many people as possible the greatest antidepressant: Joyful Human Connection. I do this by uniting and uplifting humans as a speaker, workshop facilitator, entertainer and… party crasher.”
EventProfs Unplugged will be a series of interviews with senior industry leaders in a chat show format. Endean says: “We’re experimenting with some new formats at the show, and this is one of them. This is where education meets entertainment, which is vital in an age of soundbites, memes and TikTok trends,” she adds.
‘How can you use visuals to tell a story’ will be answered in a series of daily filmmaker workshops.
Meanwhile, Encore, Maritz Global Events, DRPG and PCMA are among the organisations sharing new ways to use technology. Sessions will cover AI, the metaverse and hybrid events, centering on real-world experiences and how these technologies are being applied.
Google Xi’s new CoLaboratory
IMEX America 2023 also marks a new milestone in the development of the Google Xi CoLaboratory. With a focus on collaborative exploration, learning and growth, Google and various exhibiting partners and speakers will provide a programme of sessions and spaces focused on experience design and the principles of belonging.
Acclaimed disability advocate, Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow and part of IMEX AVoice4All – thought leadership – in association with Destination Toronto, will also be sharing her specialist knowledge: “We’ve seen a considerable shift since the pandemic – an acceleration of organizations’ awareness and understanding of accessibility. It’s a potent economic driver that brings benefits for everyone.”
In line with current trends and preferences, well-being activities will be embedded across the show, designed to offer life-hacks, learning, coaching, fitness, nutritional and mental health guidance.
IMEX America 2023 takes place 17-19 October at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, and opens with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on 16 October.
