The IMEX Talking Point is a single, big idea—a theme—that runs for one or two years across our market-leading trade shows for the business events industry. Carina Bauer explains more about our focus for 2025.
Q: Carina, last year’s Talking Point at IMEX was ‘Impact.’ Why revisit it for 2025?
When we introduced Impact as our 2024 Talking Point, we wanted to spark change—to get the industry thinking more deeply about why we do what we do. But we quickly realized one year wasn’t enough. The world has only become more disconnected, and the role of face-to-face events has never been more critical.
We’re seeing a global shift. People are craving social connection. They’re longing for that shared energy you can only experience in person. So, we’re evolving the conversation with Impact 2.0 – Activating the Future. It’s about going beyond inspiration and turning values into action. Because let’s face it—there’s no impact without action.
Q: What do you mean by ‘Activating the Future’?
It’s our way of saying: Let’s stop waiting for change to happen to us and start making it happen through us.
As an industry, the global events sector is in a unique position to shape the future. We bring people together, and when that happens, change always follows. We believe the events industry can play a much larger role in supporting human development and happiness.
Activating the future is about being intentional. It’s choosing one or two areas where we can have the most impact and measuring the difference from start to finish.
Q: What areas are you focusing on with Impact 2.0?
We’ve homed in on three key topics:
- The Next Gen. According to Forrester 74% of the workforce will comprise Millennials and Generation Z by 2030. How do we make the events industry irresistible to younger talent? How do we showcase that this career path is not just exciting but also meaningful? We want to help the next generation see the potential and possibilities within this space.
- Social Disconnection and Loneliness. There’s growing evidence that social disconnection is impacting our mental and emotional health. Can events be part of the answer? We think so. Well-designed events and experiences can foster belonging, friendship and deeper connections. It’s not just about networking—it’s about individual and collective well-being.
- De-risking the Future. Sustainability is non-negotiable. But how do we make the carbon cost of attending events worthwhile? What’s the return on that carbon investment? We need to frame events as not just valuable for business, but also as contributors to collective progress. Could tying those achievements to UNSDGs, for example, be a sound way to demonstrate that payoff?
Q: What do you hope event planners and suppliers take away from this?
I hope they see this as an invitation. The invitation to make just a few small changes knowing they will create a ripple effect.
It’s not about tackling everything at once. It’s about starting with one new step, one new event, one new but beautifully designed initiative. It’s about accepting the potential and influence at our fingertips and using it wisely to create events and spaces where people feel connected, safe, included and empowered to make a bigger contribution – a bigger, more positive impact.
We all have the opportunity—and, I’d argue, the responsibility—to help shape a better, more socially connected future. Isolation doesn’t serve humans. We’re social creatures but it increasingly feels as though we’ve lost sight of this.
At IMEX, we’re ready to lead the charge, but this is a collective effort. The future we activate is one we build together.
