Join the IMEX hosted buyer program
Be our guest at IMEX America. You'll enjoy a VIP experience at IMEX, as well as exclusive social engagements, and free travel and accommodations.
Select the play button on the video to hear directly from our hosted buyers about IMEX America.
Free travel and accommodations
As a hosted buyer, you'll enjoy:
- Free flights and accommodations
- The knowledge that we're taking care of the details
- Attendance is free too of course—and there are no cancelation fees or fines
Flexible meeting scheduling
We run the most flexible hosted buyer program in the world. And you have flexibility over who you meet with.
Free professional development
From education tailored to your specialism at
Association Leadership Forum, Executive Meeting Forum and Corporate Focus and expert insight at drop-in education throughout the show.
Exclusive lounge access
Exclusively for hosted buyers, our Hosted Buyer Lounge is designed to help you:
- Recharge, relax and refresh
- Catch up with calls, with fellow hosted buyers and with our friendly Hosted Buyer Team—there to answer any questions you might have
What we ask in return
- As a hosted buyer you commit to booking six to eight 30-minute meetings per day with our exhibitors, through our show platform
- These should be mainly one-to-one meetings but can include group appointments and booth presentations
- We also ask that you don’t leave the show early but stay for each full day of your hosted buyer program
- We regularly check that hosted buyers are booking and attending meetings (on average hosted buyers book 16-plus meetings per show)
Activate the play button on the video to check your hosted buyer commitments.
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Total participants
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Meetings booked
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Total buyers
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Press attendees from 12 countries
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Exhibiting companies representing 80+ countries
Hosted buyer lounge
Exclusively for hosted buyers, our Hosted Buyer Lounge is designed to help you:
- Recharge, relax and refresh
- Catch up with calls, with fellow hosted buyers and our friendly Hosted Buyer Team—there to answer any questions you have
Location: Hall B (open to hosted buyers only)
Monday - closed Tuesday and Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm, Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Free services: coffee and refreshments, snacks, Wi-Fi, charging stations and spaces to work
Other services: Marketplace serving sandwiches, salads and desserts
Activate the play button on the video to explore the Hosted buyer lounge.
Applying to be a hosted buyer
Around 300 of our exhibitors invite their key clients to come to IMEX as hosted buyers (we call these exhibitors "intermediaries"). So, if you receive an invitation from one of them, and you’d like to be a hosted buyer:
- Follow the link they've sent you
- Create your IMEX account
- Use the unique invitation code to join their hosted buyer group
If you prefer you can also register with us direct.
Hosted buyer qualifying criteria
All hosted buyers must:
Be responsible for researching, organizing, influencing or making budgetary decisions for international events (outside their home country)
- Have three confirmed or planned events taking place in the next three years
- Be coming to the show with buying power
- Be at the show for the duration of their hosted buyer program
- Book meetings with exhibitors using our online meetings system
Coming to IMEX from a corporate organization?
And need help getting approval?
Join us at IMEX as part of a hosted buyer group to elevate your corporate event planning.
Worried about compliance? Cover your own travel and hotel expenses while still enjoying all the other benefits of being a hosted buyer.
Select the link below to access the letter to show your compliance department.
Download the compliance letter and supporting material - check back in 2026.
