Today, Oct. 15, 2018, is Smart Monday, powered by MPI — the educational session-based precursor to IMEX America. Approximately 1,000 event professionals are gathered at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, making this year’s Smart Monday bigger than that of any previous year.

MPI is offering more than 30 breakout sessions covering a wide variety of topics such as augmented reality, contract litigation, crisis management and women in leadership. The majority of the education sessions are eligible for certified meeting professional (CMP) certification clock hours.

The event is also more interactive this year: MPI Carnival and the Six Star Innovation & Experience Lab are contributing live experiential activities in addition to the extensive education program from MPI.

The IMEX talking point for 2018 is “legacy,” — referring to planning events with longer-lasting, more meaningful impacts — although perhaps also stimulating thought about how we as an industry can overcome the tech-industry definition of legacy as “outdated.” 

The legacy theme will be woven throughout the event’s education sessions and Future Leaders Forum. Attendees will be encouraged to recycle, be conscious of sustainability and contribute their materials and time at the Giving Back booth. The new Legacy Wall will showcase inspiring stories and case studies from exhibitors, partners and IMEX staff about the legacies they will leave behind.

In the opening MPI keynote today, Julius Solaris, editor of EventMB, shared information from “Legacy: The Power of Events,” a new IMEX research report produced by EventMB.

Other pre-IMEX activities taking place today include the Association Leadership Forum created by ASAE, the Executive Meetings Forum, and SITE Young Leaders. The Shamrock Invitational Golf Classic, Association Evening and Site Nite North America are the first of the week’s many popular networking activities.

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