As IMEX wraps up in Las Vegas, thousands of planners, suppliers, and destinations will head home with stacks of business cards, notebooks full of meetings, and plenty of excitement about the future.
But here’s the reality: when the booths come down, the sourcing challenges remain.
The True Cost of Trade Shows
Trade shows like IMEX are valuable, but they come at a steep price. Industry research shows the average exhibitor invests $10,000–$30,000 per show once you factor in booth design, travel, staffing, and giveaways.
And yet, as many as 80% of trade show leads never receive follow-up. That means the majority of those new contacts won’t translate into booked business.
One industry executive summed it up well: “Trade shows are fantastic for starting conversations, but they’re one of the most expensive ways to collect business cards if there isn’t consistent follow-up.”
The Planner Perspective
Planners may leave IMEX with dozens of new contacts, but the work of sourcing hasn’t gone away. On average, planners spend 40+ hours sourcing just one event, reviewing incomplete proposals and managing endless email chains.
It’s no surprise event planning ranks among the Top 10 most stressful jobs in the U.S.. In recent surveys, nearly one-third of planners reported feeling exhausted or burned out, citing workload and sourcing complexity as key drivers.
Destinations in the Spotlight — Briefly
For CVBs and destinations, IMEX offers rare visibility. But that visibility fades fast. Research shows 67% of planners want to consider destinations earlier in the sourcing process — not just once a year in Las Vegas.
Why Year-Round Matters
Trade shows create energy, but sourcing is a year-round challenge. That’s where Virsitour comes in.
- Suppliers → Instead of gambling $10K+ on a booth, pay commission-only after business is booked.
- Planners → Move from follow-up fatigue to faster, side-by-side decision-making.
- Destinations → Maintain visibility with planners all year long, not just during IMEX week.
As one planner put it: “I love the networking at IMEX, but I need tools that help me decide faster once I get home.”
From IMEX Buzz to Real ROI
IMEX is a spark, but sparks fade quickly if you don’t capture them. Virsitour is the system that keeps those conversations alive, turns them into qualified leads, and delivers results long after the trade show ends.
Faster decisions. Better leads. Less waste.