Visit Raleigh and destination partners recently attended IMEX America in Las Vegas, Nev., and have plenty to celebrate following an incredibly successful show. Held Oct. 13-15, IMEX America brought together 6,292 buyers, 18,200 participants, 96,000 business meetings and 3,800 exhibiting companies representing more than 90 countries. Over three days, the team conducted a record number of pre-scheduled appointments and generated significant interest in Raleigh, N.C., as a meetings destination.

The excitement surrounding Raleigh's growth was evident throughout the show, with conversations frequently centered on the upcoming Omni Raleigh Hotel and Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center expansion.

"This was our best IMEX to date," said Visit Raleigh national sales manager Loretta Yingling, CMP Fellow. "For the first time in our history of attending, all of our appointment slots for all three days were booked prior to the start of the show."

Notably, this was only the second tradeshow appearance for Visit Raleigh's new booth. Designed to reflect the destination's distinctive character, the booth combined Raleigh-inspired elements such as lush greenery, warm wood accents, brick textures and modern finishes to create an inviting space for conversation. Planners praised the booth's clean design and functionality, particularly its counter seating, which fostered more casual and engaging discussions.

Another standout feature was the RDU International Airport map, thoughtfully printed on the surface of the meeting counter, allowing planners to quickly visualize the area's extensive air service and accessibility. The booth's welcoming design even drew attendees to stop and photograph the space throughout the show.

To top it all off, treats were served from Andia's Ice Cream, recently named the number-six ice cream shop in the nation by USA TODAY, bringing a taste of the destination directly to the tradeshow floor.

Beyond the appointments and booth traffic, one of the most rewarding aspects of the show was the collaborative spirit among our industry partners. Representatives from hotels, venues, event management companies, audio/visual providers and the aforementioned Andia's Ice Cream worked side-by-side to tell a unified story about the destination. Visit Raleigh extends its thanks to Melissa Haycock (Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center), Brittany Ruebesam (Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley), Victoria Miner (Sheraton Raleigh Hotel), Erin Taylor (Raleigh Marriott City Center) and Jeff Besselman and Evan Carroll (Attended Events), John Self and Miriam Harvard (Tech Factory) and Andia and Alex Xouris (Andia's Ice Cream). Together, the group demonstrated the collaboration, expertise and hospitality that help set the destination apart.

With record-setting appointments, strong buyer engagement and widespread enthusiasm for current/upcoming developments, IMEX America 2026 further demonstrated that the destination's momentum in the meetings industry continues to accelerate.

_{Photos courtesy of Alex Xouris}