Subject:
Title
Contract for Exhibition Participation with IMEX America Ltd., for booth space at 2025 IMEX America, including indemnification provisions.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by Department Director of the Contract for Exhibition Participation with IMEX America Ltd., for booth space at 2025 IMEX America, including indemnification provisions.
• IMEX is one of the largest hosted trade shows in the U.S. for the meetings industry.
• Results to date from the 2024 show include confirmed bookings for 2,713 room nights, which will bring an estimated $786,770 in direct economic impact to the County.
• IMEX America Ltd. will not agree to remove indemnification provisions.
• County Attorney has reviewed to ensure contract meets the indemnification waiver criteria set forth in paragraph three of Resolution No. 06-70.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Prosperity and Opportunity
2. Provide and promote tourism opportunities
Summary:
The contract with IMEX America Ltd., is for exhibition space at 2025 IMEX America, which is scheduled for October 7-9, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Participation at this event is necessary to meet the marketing goals of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) as it involves hosting a series of appointments and networking with meeting planners from the corporate, incentive, association, insurance, financial, and SMERF (social, military, education, religious and fraternal) markets (all markets).
Background/Explanation:
IMEX is one of the largest hosted shows in the U.S. for the meetings industry with over 4,000 meeting planners in attendance annually. During the 2024 show, the CVB had 75 pre-set appointments, but due to the local state of emergency from Hurricane Helene and impending Hurricane Milton, the CVB wasn’t able to fully staff the event and had to cancel some appointments. Even so, to date the CVB has booked 2,713 room nights from the 2024 show that will bring $786,770 in direct economic impact to the County and continues to work on booking another 2,329 room nights that have the potential to bring an additional $675,810 in economic impact. In addition, the CVB distributed marketing materials and shared destination information with over 240 meeting planners who stopped by the booth.
At this year’s show, the CVB will share the booth with five hotel partners: Sheraton Sand Key, Hilton Clearwater Beach, JW Marriott Clearwater Beach, TradeWinds Island Grand and Clearwater Beach Marriott Resort on Sand Key.
Fiscal Impact:
Total Estimated Cost: $83,220
Funding to support the Contract for Exhibition Participation in the amount of $83,220 is provided through the CVB’s Annual Operating Budget. The source of funding is the Tourist Development Tax Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Department Director to sign this Contract for Exhibition Participation was granted by the County Administrator under Resolution No. 06-70.
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Director, Convention and Visitors Bureau
Partners:
Tourist Development Council
Attachments:
Contract for Exhibition Participation
Supporting Documentation
Resolution No. 06-70