IMEX America 2026 in Las Vegas Puts AI and Human Connection at the Heart of Business Events

IMEX America 2026 shows how AI can transform business events without losing the human touch, as global meeting professionals gather in Las Vegas. New industry research highlights growing technology adoption, changing attendee expectations and the importance of meaningful connections, placing artificial intelligence and human expertise at the centre of discussions.

IMEX America 2026 Puts Human Connection at the Centre of AI Discussions

The global meetings and events industry is entering a new phase of technological transformation, with artificial intelligence increasingly influencing how conferences, exhibitions and corporate gatherings are planned and delivered. However, discussions during the opening day of IMEX America 2026 highlighted an important distinction: successful events depend on human interaction, even as technology becomes more sophisticated. TTW Correspondent James Jackson is online, bringing readers the latest updates, key insights and industry developments from IMEX America 2026 in Las Vegas.

Taking place from 13 to 15 October at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, IMEX America brings together event organisers, destination representatives, hospitality professionals, technology providers and meetings industry leaders.

Across educational sessions and conversations on the exhibition floor, participants examined how AI can improve operational efficiency, simplify event management and support personalised experiences.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of preserving the relationships, creativity and emotional understanding that distinguish successful face-to-face events from purely digital interactions.

For the wider travel and tourism industry, the conversation carries significant implications. Business events generate demand for hotels, airlines, convention centres, restaurants, transport providers and local tourism businesses.

As organisers increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, destinations and hospitality companies must understand how technological improvements can enhance visitor satisfaction without replacing personal service.

AMEX Forecast Highlights Industry Confidence Despite Rising Costs

The AMEX 2027 Global Meetings & Events Forecast presented an industry that remains confident about its future despite continuing economic and operational pressures.

According to the research, 93% of meeting professionals expressed optimism about the industry’s prospects while acknowledging the challenges facing event organisers.

These include rising operating costs, geopolitical uncertainty, climate-related disruption and the increasing complexity of delivering successful international meetings.

One of the forecast’s central findings concerns the integration of artificial intelligence with human expertise.

Rather than treating AI as a replacement for experienced professionals, the research identifies opportunities to combine technological intelligence with human judgement, creativity and empathy.

AI can support data analysis, scheduling, resource allocation and attendee communications. Meanwhile, event professionals remain responsible for understanding participant expectations, resolving complex situations and creating experiences that encourage genuine engagement.

Paul McDonnough of AMEX highlighted the importance of strategic meetings management frameworks in helping organisations balance financial resilience with the delivery of high-quality experiences.

This approach is particularly relevant for international conference organisers managing multiple destinations, suppliers and attendee groups.

By introducing clearer management processes and appropriate technology, businesses can potentially reduce administrative complexity while protecting the quality of their events.

Freeman Research Reveals Changing Expectations Among Younger Attendees

New findings presented by Freeman provided further insight into how artificial intelligence is influencing attendee behaviour.

During a presentation examining The Freeman Trends Report: Understanding the Participant Journey, Ken Holsinger discussed how younger participants increasingly use AI-powered tools to research events and assess their relevance.

Interestingly, the research also identified a contradiction: younger generations are frequent AI users but remain sceptical about the reliability of AI-generated information.

This creates a challenge for event organisers seeking to attract participants through digital marketing and personalised communications.

Traditional promotional messages emphasising the size of an exhibition, the number of speakers or the overall scale of a conference may not always resonate with younger audiences.

Instead, potential attendees increasingly want practical information about learning opportunities, professional relevance and the people they are likely to meet.

Holsinger encouraged organisers to release relevant information progressively rather than waiting until an entire conference programme is complete.

Sharing confirmed speakers, educational sessions and networking opportunities earlier could help prospective participants evaluate an event and make registration decisions sooner.

For event marketers, this signals a shift towards more targeted communication based on attendee interests and professional objectives.

“IMEX America 2026 demonstrates how the global meetings and events industry is embracing artificial intelligence while recognising that human connection remains its greatest strength. Technology can simplify planning, improve communication and create more personalised experiences, but the true value of business events lies in meaningful conversations, professional relationships and shared ideas. The growing integration of AI presents exciting opportunities for tourism destinations, convention centres, hotels and event organisers to improve efficiency and strengthen international collaboration.

What makes this transformation particularly encouraging is the industry’s commitment to using innovation as a supporting tool rather than a substitute for human expertise. As business events continue to evolve, organisations that combine intelligent technology with creativity, empathy and exceptional hospitality will be better positioned to deliver memorable experiences.

This balanced approach can strengthen destination competitiveness, encourage sustainable industry growth and reinforce the lasting importance of face-to-face engagement across global tourism markets.” Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World, commented

AI-Powered Personalisation Could Reshape Conference Planning

Personalisation emerged as another important theme during the opening-day discussions.

As AI technology develops, attendees may increasingly rely on their own digital assistants to explore conference programmes, identify suitable sessions and discover networking opportunities.

This could change the relationship between event organisers and participants.

Traditionally, conference applications have served as central platforms for schedules, speaker information, venue navigation and networking.

However, AI-powered tools may allow individuals to access and organise relevant event information through platforms they already use.

Holsinger suggested that event content must become more accessible and structured to support this changing behaviour.

For organisers, preparing AI-ready information could involve improving the accuracy, consistency and accessibility of programme details, speaker profiles and session descriptions.

Clear information may help digital tools generate more useful recommendations, although organisers must also consider data protection, accessibility and the reliability of automated responses.

The wider opportunity lies in helping attendees navigate increasingly complex event programmes without becoming overwhelmed by information.

When implemented effectively, personalised technology can support more relevant learning experiences and make large conferences easier to navigate.

Event Technology Can Give Organisers More Time for Personal Engagement

Another discussion focused on the practical challenges event professionals face when delivering conferences and exhibitions.

During the session Swipe Right: The Event Tech Dating Game, Michelle Orlando of Elevoque explained how administrative responsibilities can prevent organisers from fulfilling their intended role as hosts.

Event teams frequently spend substantial time answering routine questions, managing operational issues and supporting attendees with logistical requirements.

Although these responsibilities remain essential, they can reduce opportunities for meaningful conversations with participants, exhibitors and industry partners.

AI-enabled systems offer potential solutions by assisting with frequently asked questions, information retrieval, registration support and routine communications.

Reducing repetitive tasks could allow experienced professionals to concentrate on strategic decisions, relationship development and problem-solving.

Importantly, this approach does not remove the need for human support.

Instead, it allows organisers to identify which activities benefit from automation and which require personal attention.

For hotels and convention venues, similar applications could improve guest communications and meeting coordination while enabling employees to provide more individualised hospitality.

Human Experiences Remain Essential to Successful Business Events

The importance of emotional engagement was reinforced by Cecilia Lavin of Voxo AI, who encouraged attendees to remain focused on their immediate experiences and the people around them.

Her comments reflected a broader message emerging from IMEX America: technology should support participation rather than distract from it.

Conferences are valuable not simply because they distribute information, but because they create opportunities for discussion, collaboration and professional relationships.

Face-to-face meetings allow participants to exchange ideas, interpret reactions and build trust in ways that digital platforms cannot always replicate.

This is particularly significant for international business events, where relationships between destinations, suppliers and buyers often influence long-term commercial partnerships.

AI can help identify relevant contacts, recommend sessions and simplify scheduling.

However, the quality of conversations and the strength of professional relationships ultimately depend on human participation.

Event organisers therefore face the challenge of introducing technology without making experiences feel impersonal or excessively automated.

Successful implementation requires a clear understanding of when digital assistance improves convenience and when personal interaction delivers greater value.

What AI Adoption Means for Tourism Destinations and Hospitality Businesses

The growing use of artificial intelligence also presents opportunities for destinations competing to attract international meetings and exhibitions.

Convention bureaus, destination management companies, hotels and conference venues can use technology to improve planning efficiency and understand visitor requirements.

Data analysis may support demand forecasting, resource management and the identification of suitable facilities for different event formats.

AI-assisted communications could also help international delegates access practical information about transport, accommodation and conference services.

Nevertheless, destination competitiveness continues to depend on factors beyond technology.

Accessibility, infrastructure, service standards, cultural experiences and the ability to deliver reliable hospitality remain central to successful business events.

For tourism authorities, the most effective strategy may involve combining digital innovation with investment in skilled professionals and high-quality visitor experiences.

The discussions at IMEX America suggest that technology adoption should be measured not only through operational savings but also through attendee satisfaction, accessibility and the strength of professional engagement.

As the industry continues to evolve, organisers who successfully combine technological efficiency with meaningful human interaction may be better positioned to meet changing expectations.

IMEX America 2026 highlights a defining opportunity for the global events industry: using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency while strengthening human relationships. As attendee expectations evolve, organisers, destinations and hospitality businesses must balance innovation with empathy, ensuring technology supports meaningful experiences, professional collaboration and sustainable business events growth worldwide.