Florida International University (FIU) hospitality students recently participated in IMEX America 2025, the largest trade show for the meetings and events industry in the United States. The event took place in Las Vegas and brought together more than 17,000 attendees and 3,700 suppliers from over 150 countries.
Ten students from FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management attended the event. They were able to interact with professionals from across the industry and observe current trends and technologies shaping hospitality’s future. The experience included attending educational sessions, networking with industry leaders, and participating in behind-the-scenes tours of major hotels such as the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and Paris Las Vegas.
Graduate student Emma Vitasse shared her experience: “Listening to professionals who began as interns or transitioned into hospitality from other industries reminded me just how dynamic and open this field can be. Their advice was clear: Don’t wait until graduation to start building your network. Thanks to FIU’s support, that’s exactly what we did.”
During a backstage tour at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, students learned about luxury sales strategies, meeting space management, and adapting services for changing guest preferences. At Caesars Palace’s Café Americano, they discussed operational strategies like offering round-the-clock service and securing long-term leases with renovation clauses.
Vitasse also described how educational sessions at IMEX connected classroom learning with real-world practices: “In one session, ‘How Smart Partnerships Between Event Organizers and Destinations Can Shape the Future,’ I discovered how destination management companies act as a glue between event planners and local communities.”
Another session focused on media relations within the industry. “The ‘Media Power Panel: Uncovering Getting Covered’ provided practical strategies for earning media coverage for events,” Vitasse said.
The trip was made possible through sponsorships from FIU and Eta Sigma Delta honor society. Scholarships from FIU’s Chaplin School allowed students to attend not only IMEX but also other industry events domestically and abroad.
Reflecting on her experience at IMEX America 2025, Vitasse noted: “IMEX taught me that real learning extends far beyond the classroom. It happens when you meet a global hotel executive, walk through a five-star restaurant during service or listen to a keynote speaker predict what hospitality will look like in 2035.”
For those unable to attend IMEX America 2025 in person, main takeaways from over 250 educational sessions are available online.
