For the third year in a row, Tourism Kelowna proudly joined Destination Canada's team of partners at IMEX America, the largest trade show for the global meetings, events, and incentive travel industry. 

The day before the event's official kick-off, I attended IMEX Smart Monday, powered by MPI (Meeting Professionals International). This full day of learning offered concurrent sessions on a range of topics, allowing me to walk away with pages of notes and ideas before the tradeshow floor even opened. 

Once IMEX America 2026 kicked off, traffic at the Canada tradeshow booth never seemed to slow down. This year's event drew more than 18,000 participants, including buyers and exhibitors from across North America and beyond. Over 6,200 buyers attended (up 2.5% year-over-year), mostly from around the US, with Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom rounding out the top 5 countries buyers travelled from.

Across the three-day event, Shannon Rivers (who joined us from the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort to represent Kelowna) and I met with 35 clients, including incentive planners, association executives, and corporate event organizers, in a series of B2B appointments. It was exciting to have so many conversations with planners looking at Canada, some of whom already knew Kelowna and others we introduced to our destination for the first time. 
 

^{Photo: Destination Canada / Ben Johnson}

Another highlight of the trip was attending the SITE Chapter Leaders Breakfast, where I connected with chapter leaders from around the world. This was a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas and gain inspiration for our recently launched SITE Pacific Northwest Affiliate.  

A highly collaborative spirit was one of the best parts of being part of the Canada booth, as destination partners and destination management companies made introductions, sent clients each other's way, and created opportunities for one another. IMEX America is an energizing experience, and we're excited about the potential opportunities that come from showcasing our destination to top-tier clients on this global stage. 

We truly appreciate the continued partnership with Destination Canada's business events team, who work tirelessly to bring Team Canada together so we can show planners why they should meet in Canada. 

For more information about Tourism Kelowna's participation at IMEX America 2026 or its other business development activities, please contact me at nicolem@tourismkelowna.com.