Book booth staff, brand ambassadors, and hospitality talent for IMEX America 2026. The meetings, events, and incentive travel industry's largest trade show.
IMEX America is the largest meetings, events, and incentive travel industry trade show in the Americas. Held annually at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, it brings together 12,000+ attendees from 150+ countries for three days of business appointments, education, and networking.
Organized by IMEX Group (which also produces IMEX Frankfurt in Europe), IMEX America connects event planners, corporate meeting managers, and association executives with destinations, hotels, venues, DMCs, and event suppliers. The show features 3,500+ exhibitors ranging from national tourism organizations to boutique hotels to event technology providers.
What makes IMEX unique is its hosted buyer program. Over 5,700 pre-qualified decision makers—professionals with real purchasing power—receive complimentary attendance in exchange for scheduling appointments with exhibitors. These are serious business meetings, not casual booth conversations. Hosted buyers represent some of the largest event programs in the world, from corporate incentive trips to association conferences to major sporting events.
IMEX America also features Smart Monday, a full day of education sessions before the exhibit floor opens, plus 250+ sessions throughout the week covering topics from sustainability to technology to wellness. Evening events, destination showcases, and industry parties extend the networking well beyond show floor hours.
IMEX America brings together the global meetings, events, and incentive travel industry. Your staff will engage with event planners, CVBs, and hospitality professionals who know this business inside out.
5,700+ decision makers with real purchasing power scheduling appointments
3,500+ exhibitors from 150+ countries showcasing destinations and services
Event professionals talking to event professionals—your staff must speak the language
Convention bureaus, tourism boards, destination marketing
Meeting hotels, convention centers, unique venues
Registration, mobile apps, event management platforms
Destination management, transportation, AV production
Main exhibit hall
Primary show floor
Sessions & education
250+ sessions
Hosted buyer lounges
VIP meetings
Hospitality events
After-show events
Everything you need for IMEX — talent, production, entertainment, catering, and more
Booth staff, greeters, product demonstrators, lead capture
Appointment management, buyer check-ins, meeting coordination
VIP hosts, registration staff, concierge, guest services
Spanish, German, French, Mandarin, and other speakers
On-site coordinators, logistics managers, production assistants
LED walls, sound systems, lighting design, presentation tech
Event photographers, destination shots, headshots, booth coverage
Recap videos, live streaming, testimonials, social content
Drone photography, aerial video, FPV footage
Custom builds, scenic design, fabrication, booth enhancements
Show callers, AV techs, lighting designers
Club DJs, corporate DJs, ambient music, custom playlists
Live bands, solo artists, string quartets, jazz ensembles
Choreographed performances, cultural dancers, LED dancers
Magicians, acrobats, aerialists, fire performers
Stage hosts, panel moderators, keynote MCs, announcers
Celebrity appearances, influencers, industry speakers
In-booth catering, cocktail receptions, private dinners, food stations
Professional mixologists, flair bartenders, beverage service
Bottle service teams, VIP service, champagne presentations
Executive chefs, live cooking demos, custom menus
Formal service, passed hors d'oeuvres, buffet staff
Coffee service, espresso bars, specialty drinks
Custom arrangements, centerpieces, installations, living walls
Tablescapes, props, ambient decor, themed environments
Banners, step & repeats, wayfinding, digital displays
Shuttles, limos, party buses, VIP transport
Event security, crowd management, VIP protection
Valet parking, car displays, vehicle coordination
Understanding the IMEX audience helps us match the right staff to your booth and events.
Corporate event planners, association meeting managers, and third-party planners looking for destinations, venues, and suppliers for their upcoming events.
Pre-qualified decision makers with real purchasing power who receive complimentary attendance. They schedule appointments and are actively sourcing for events.
Convention and visitors bureaus, national tourism organizations, and destination marketing organizations promoting their cities and regions.
Meeting hotels, convention centers, resorts, and unique venues showcasing their properties and booking future events.
Destination management companies, AV providers, catering companies, transportation, and other event service suppliers.
Registration platforms, event apps, virtual/hybrid solutions, and technology providers serving the meetings industry.
Estimate your staffing investment for IMEX America 2026. Rates reflect MICE industry experience and Vegas market standards.
| Role | Rate Range | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Ambassador | $35-50/hr | View Jobs → |
| Hosted Buyer Liaison | $40-60/hr | View Jobs → |
| Host/Hostess | $35-50/hr | View Jobs → |
| Multilingual Staff | $45-65/hr | View Jobs → |
| Bartender | $40-55/hr | View Jobs → |
| Event Staff | $30-45/hr | View Jobs → |
| Server | $35-50/hr | View Jobs → |
| DJ | $75-150/hr | View Jobs → |
Rates shown are typical ranges. Actual rates depend on experience, language skills, and booking timeline. Premium rates apply for multilingual staff, industry expertise, or last-minute bookings.
Multilingual and industry-experienced staff are in high demand during IMEX week. Book early.
Best rates and first pick of multilingual, industry-experienced talent
Secure hosted buyer liaisons and destination ambassadors
Schedule briefings on your destination, venues, or services
Limited availability, especially for multilingual staff
Rush fees apply, primarily replacement staff available
New to exhibiting at IMEX America? Here's what you need to know about staffing the meetings industry's largest trade show.
Unlike consumer trade shows, IMEX attendees are event professionals. Your staff will be talking to meeting planners, CVB representatives, and hospitality executives who know the industry inside out. Generic trade show staff won't cut it here.
Hosted buyers are pre-qualified decision makers who receive complimentary attendance in exchange for taking appointments. Staff managing these meetings must be professional, punctual, and organized—these are serious business conversations.
With 150+ countries represented, multilingual staff are invaluable. Spanish for Latin America, German for Europe, Mandarin for Asia Pacific. Book these specialized staff early as they're in high demand during IMEX.
The convention center is over 1 million sq ft, plus events happen at Delano, Four Seasons, and other nearby properties. Staff should know the layout and be comfortable navigating between venues.
Exhibitors host destination parties, networking dinners, and client events throughout IMEX week. Budget for hospitality staffing beyond show floor hours—these events are where relationships deepen.
IMEX is a professional B2B environment. Business casual to business attire is standard. Destination booths may have themed uniforms, but overall presentation should be polished and professional.
Avoid these pitfalls when staffing your IMEX booth and events.
Solution: Book talent with hospitality or events industry experience. Attendees are industry peers who will notice if staff don't understand the meetings business.
Solution: Dedicate specific staff to manage hosted buyer meetings. These are your most valuable leads—don't let appointment coordination fall through the cracks.
Solution: IMEX draws from 150+ countries. Spanish, German, French, and Mandarin speakers significantly improve engagement with international attendees.
Solution: IMEX week includes numerous destination showcases, client dinners, and industry parties. Plan hospitality staffing for evening events, not just the show floor.
Solution: Industry-experienced, multilingual staff book up quickly for IMEX. Start your staffing search 4-6 months before the show.
Solution: Staff representing CVBs or hotels need destination knowledge. Schedule briefing sessions so they can speak authentically about your city, venues, and unique selling points.
Swan Forest is built for the events industry. Our staff understand your world.
We're an events company staffing an events industry trade show. We speak your language.
Staff trained to manage hosted buyer appointments professionally and efficiently
Talent who can represent CVBs, hotels, and venues with local Vegas knowledge
Staff available for education days, show floor, and evening events
IMEX America 2026 runs October 13-15, 2026 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The program spans multiple days including Smart Monday education sessions followed by three days on the trade show floor.
IMEX America is the largest meetings, events, and incentive travel industry trade show in the Americas. Organized by IMEX Group, it connects event planners, corporate meeting managers, and association executives with destinations, hotels, venues, and event suppliers. With 12,000+ attendees from 150+ countries, it's where the global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) industry does business.
IMEX is the events industry's own trade show. Attendees are event professionals—meeting planners, CVB representatives, hotel sales teams, and DMC operators. They understand hospitality and events intimately. Generic trade show staff won't resonate here; you need talent who speaks the industry's language and understands the meetings business.
Hosted buyers are pre-qualified decision makers with real purchasing power who receive complimentary IMEX attendance. In exchange, they commit to a minimum number of appointments with exhibitors. These are your highest-value leads. Staff managing hosted buyer meetings must be professional, punctual, and prepared to support serious business conversations.
Yes, we regularly staff convention and visitors bureau booths, national tourism organization exhibits, and destination marketing organization showcases. Our staff can represent cities, regions, and countries professionally, discussing venues, infrastructure, and unique selling points with event planners considering your destination.
Yes, with 150+ countries represented at IMEX, multilingual staff are essential. We source Spanish speakers for Latin American markets, German for Europe, Mandarin for Asia Pacific, and French for European and Canadian attendees. Book multilingual staff early—they're in high demand during IMEX.
IMEX week includes numerous destination showcases, client appreciation dinners, networking receptions, and industry parties throughout Las Vegas. We provide full hospitality staffing—bartenders, servers, promotional models, and event staff—for off-floor events at hotels, restaurants, and unique venues across the city.
We recommend booking 4-6 months before IMEX to secure top talent, especially multilingual staff and those with events industry experience. Booking 2-3 months out is still possible but may have limited availability. Last-minute bookings (under 2 weeks) incur rush fees and may only have replacement-level staff available.
Brand ambassadors and hostesses typically range $35-50/hour. Hosted buyer liaisons and multilingual staff command $40-65/hour depending on language. Bartenders for booth hospitality run $40-55/hour. Rates reflect MICE industry experience and Vegas market standards. All rates include our platform fee.
Yes, we schedule pre-show training sessions where your sales team can brief staff on your property, amenities, meeting space specs, and unique selling points. Staff representing hotels, convention centers, or venues should be able to discuss your product knowledgeably with event planners evaluating options.
Looking for work at IMEX America 2026? Join our network of events industry professionals.
We staff all major Las Vegas conventions and trade shows year-round.
IMEX America is where the events industry does business. Make the most of October 13-15, 2026 at Mandalay Bay with professional staffing.