ENIT at IMEX America 2026: Italy strengthens its position in the meetings industry
From 13 to 15 October 2026
29 co-exhibitors and approximately 380 buyers engaged in Las Vegas. Italy confirms its position as Europe's leading destination and ranks second worldwide for international congresses hosted.
ENIT participated in the 15th edition of IMEX America 2026, one of the world's leading events dedicated to the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), held from 13 to 15 October at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Under the theme “Design Matters”, the event achieved record-breaking results, reaffirming its role as a strategic platform for developing international business relationships. The 2026 edition welcomed over 17,800 attendees, more than 6,000 buyers, including 4,800 hosted buyers, and 96,000 scheduled meetings, comprising individual appointments and group presentations.
The ENIT USA stand, together with its Italian co-exhibitors, engaged approximately 380 buyers through individual appointments and 14 group meeting sessions, creating new business opportunities and showcasing the MICE offering of Italian destinations. ENIT USA also participated in Rendezvous Wednesday, a networking event dedicated to building and strengthening relationships with members of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), one of the leading international associations in the meetings industry.
North America represents a strategic market for Italy's business tourism sector, driven by strong demand for high-end experiences and significant spending power. Against this backdrop, Italy continues to strengthen its international position, ranking first in Europe and second worldwide for the number of international congresses hosted, with 616 events according to the ICCA 2025 rankings, behind only the United States. The sector's positive performance is also confirmed by ENIT's Research Department, whose data show that in the first half of 2026, international business travellers visiting Italy increased by 12.6%, while their spending rose by 11.4% compared with the same period in 2025.
ENIT's participation in IMEX America reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Italy's international competitiveness in the MICE sector by promoting an integrated offering that combines congress facilities, high-quality hospitality, and cultural and tourism experiences. This approach also capitalises on the growing opportunities offered by bleisure, which combines business travel with leisure activities.