If you are in the travel and events industry and you have never heard of IMEX, you might be living under a rock. IMEX is America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. 6,000+ show attendees make 70,000+ appointments with 3,500 exhibitors each year. Where else can you be in Chile, Minnesota, and Japan in the same day? I guess in the travel and event industry, anything is possible.
Every year, we look forward to colliding with industry professionals and clients to learn about new properties, hot destinations, and build relationships with our partners. We thought it would be fun to share our “top five hot destinations” from IMEX 2018:
1. Slovenia
Slovenia is a boutique fairytale destination. With spellbinding views, picturesque landscape, and over 8,000 caves, you bet there are things to do for every traveler. While some people prefer extreme sports such as mountain climbing, white water rafting or ziplining on the steepest descent in the world, others can be found at a winery or chatting up the locals who are touted as hospitable and friendly people.
2. Montenegro
Montenegro is a small bordering nation of Croatia featuring antique Venetian villages, UNESCO walled cities, deep canyons, glacial lakes, and beautiful forests. White water rafting in the Tara Canyon is a popular activity in addition to walking the beaches, taking in the history, and engaging with the lovely people.
3. Colombia
Cartagena has recently put a map dot on Colombia as a unique, South American gem. Situated on the coast, Cartagena is known for the walled Old Town and colorful colonial buildings. The architectural landscape showcases a perfect balance of old and new. While many travelers enjoy the sights and historical significance of this city, others can be found spending time near the water. White sand beaches, coral reefs, and a tropical climate make it the perfect place for beach lovers alike.
4. Japan
Tokyo, Japan will be hosting the Summer Olympics in 2020. What a fun time to feature the destination! The excitement is building for the country as the infrastructure for this monumental event is starting to develop. Travelers love Japan for its rich culture which permeates into any activity, dining experience, or even mode of transportation.
5. The Caribbean
Although parts of the Caribbean are still recovering from Hurricane Irma, many islands are back to full operation and sparking new interest. Islands such as Anguilla and Antigua have done extensive renovations following the hurricane, elevating their properties appeal and levels of service. These islands give visitors an exclusive and exotic feel and are home to well-known chains such as Four Seasons, Belmond and Leading Hotels of the World.
6. BONUS! — Wherever Hello Kitty Goes, We Go
Your life is about to be MADE. EVA Air, a Taiwanese airline, now operates Hello Kitty themed flights on certain routes with most routing out of Taipei. If you can imagine, the entire flight is themed Hello Kitty. It is so popular, they added three nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan every week.
The fun in flying on EVA’s Hello Kitty and Sanrio Family Jets begins at airport check-in with special boarding passes and baggage stickers. Onboard, cabin crews wear Hello Kitty Jet aprons and passengers use themed service items, including headrest covers, pillows, tissue, hand cream, soap, napkins, paper cups, utensils and snacks. If you still don’t believe us, check it out for yourself!
Did your top destination miss the list? If so, we would love to hear from you! Where are you taking your corporate travelers this year? Submit your comments below and we may include in a future post!
