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Past event: IMEX America 2026 took place October 13–15, 2026 at Mandalay Bay. Check the official IMEX America website for 2027 dates before you plan.
IMEX America 2026 runs October 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the south Strip — the largest trade show for the meetings and events industry, with 12,000+ planners, executives, and buyers.
Where to stay: because IMEX is at Mandalay Bay (not the central Strip like most shows), the on-site hotels — Mandalay Bay, Delano, Four Seasons — give walk-to-floor access, with Luxor and Excalibur a short tram ride for value. Book early for October.
IMEX America 2026 at Mandalay Bay is 40 days away. Mandalay Bay and Delano — the on-site options — command a premium during meetings industry week. Off-site alternatives (MGM Grand, Vdara, Park MGM) offer better value within 10 minutes walking.
IMEX America by the Numbers
Figures for the 2026 edition at Mandalay Bay.
The meetings industry’s own trade show — hosted buyers are pre-qualified planners with substantial budgets. Free to attend for professionals; the Opening Celebration and networking run all week.
IMEX America 2026 runs October 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. With 17,000+ meetings and events industry participants (2025) — corporate event planners, association executives, incentive travel buyers, and convention destination managers — IMEX America is the largest meetings industry trade show in North America. Hotels near the Mandalay Bay Convention Center fill up quickly for early October, sitting squarely in the compressed October convention window. This guide covers the best hotels by proximity to Mandalay Bay, booking strategy, and how IMEX fits into the broader October Las Vegas hotel crunch.
IMEX America has been held in Las Vegas every year since 2011.
IMEX America runs October 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center — the south Strip, not the central Strip where most Vegas shows sit. That changes everything: Mandalay Bay, Delano and Four Seasons are the only true on-site hotels, and a central-Strip room means a real commute every morning. IMEX also follows G2E (ends Oct 1) and precedes Money20/20 (Oct 18–21), so inventory never fully resets across October.
Stay on-site, south Strip
Mandalay Bay, Delano or Four Seasons put you in the convention center without stepping outside. Our Price Watch measured an average of $126 a night (all-in) for IMEX week on September 27, 15 days out, only about 21% above a quiet reference week; the highest listing was $432. Right call if your days are wall-to-wall and you want zero commute.
Stay central, commute in
A central-Strip room is cheaper and better placed for evenings, but budget a daily rideshare south. Workable if you are pairing IMEX with meetings elsewhere on the Strip.
Watch the resort fee: at Mandalay Bay it adds roughly $220–$280 to a five-night stay, per room — factor it into the on-site comparison.
Latest prices (October 6, 2026): one week out, only the venue hotel is spiking. Mandalay Bay went from $354 to $674 a night in four days, while the 15 other hotels we track fell 6.9% on average. See the full LVT Price Watch reading.
What Is IMEX America Las Vegas?
IMEX America is the premier trade show for the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry, produced by IMEX Group. The 2026 edition runs October 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center — the same venue as G2E (which ends October 1) and Money20/20 (which begins October 18). IMEX America connects corporate event buyers with destination management companies, hotels, venues, technology providers, and incentive travel specialists from around the world.
The audience profile is highly professional: corporate meeting planners with significant purchasing authority, association executives managing large annual conferences, and incentive travel buyers controlling multi-million dollar programs. For Las Vegas hotels, IMEX America attendees are a premium segment — and the early October timing means they arrive after G2E wraps at the Venetian — but that frees up north-Strip rooms, not the south-Strip inventory near Mandalay Bay that IMEX attendees need.
IMEX America 2026 Venue: the Mandalay Bay Convention Center
The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is the exclusive home of IMEX America, hosting the full exhibition floor and all official programming directly within the Mandalay Bay complex. This makes Mandalay Bay, Delano and Four Seasons the only truly on-site hotel options — attendees can access the show floor without stepping outside.
Note the G2E-to-IMEX transition: G2E ends October 1 and IMEX begins October 13 at the same venue. There is a 5-day gap, but hotel inventory at Tier 1 properties never fully resets — many gaming industry professionals extend their stays, and IMEX bookings layer on top of G2E checkout patterns. Book early regardless of when in the October window your event falls.
Best Hotels for IMEX America — Ranked by Proximity to Mandalay Bay
IMEX America is held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center at the south end of the Strip — a different location from most other Las Vegas conventions. Hotels are ranked below by proximity to that venue. For live rates during IMEX week (October 13–15, 2026), compare current availability before booking, as south-Strip inventory tightens once dates are confirmed.
Tier 1 — On-Site (Under 5 Minutes)
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino — Direct indoor access to the convention center. The natural choice for IMEX exhibitors and hosted buyers who want zero commute to the show floor.
Delano Las Vegas — All-suite tower connected to Mandalay Bay, same direct convention access. Preferred by planners who need suite space for client meetings.
Four Seasons Las Vegas — Occupies dedicated floors within the Mandalay Bay complex, with the same walkable access and a quieter, non-gaming environment.
Tier 2 — Short Tram or Walk (5 to 15 Minutes)
Luxor and Excalibur — Connected to Mandalay Bay by the free tram, these are the value picks for attendees who want lower rates within a few minutes of the venue.
👉 Compare current IMEX America hotel rates near Mandalay Bay
IMEX America Booking Timeline
IMEX America (Oct 13–15) falls between G2E (ends Oct 1) and Money20/20 (starts Oct 18) — inside the most compressed hotel month of the Las Vegas year. Booking logic for IMEX week:
- 4–5 months out (May–June) — Best rates and full Tier 1 availability. G2E (at the Venetian) is winding down, so north-Strip inventory is what frees up first — not the south-Strip rooms you want for IMEX. Book your Mandalay Bay room on its own timeline.
- 2–3 months out (July–August) — south-Strip tightening; Wynn and Resorts World still have inventory. Target flexible rates.
- 1 month out (September) — Tier 1 likely at peak pricing or sold out. Fontainebleau or mid-Strip properties are the pivot.
- Under 2 weeks — On September 27, 15 days out, our Price Watch still showed an average of $126 a night (all-in); rooms nearest Mandalay Bay cost more, so check live rates. Consider VRBO for extended stays.
The October Cluster — Where IMEX Fits
IMEX America is one of several major shows in the October Las Vegas cluster — but they run at different venues across the Strip, so don’t assume the same hotels work for all of them. Understanding the sequence helps with booking strategy:
- G2E (early October) — Gaming industry at the Venetian Expo (north-central Strip). Different venue from IMEX; its checkout doesn’t free up rooms near Mandalay Bay.
- IMEX America (Oct 13–15) — Meetings industry at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (south Strip). This is your venue — book near the south end.
- Money20/20 (Oct 18–21) — Fintech at the Venetian (north-central Strip). Follows IMEX but pulls demand toward the opposite end of the Strip.
- NBAA-BACE (mid-to-late October) — Aviation at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC, Paradise Road). A third distinct zone.
The practical takeaway: because these shows sit at opposite ends of the Strip, citywide demand stays elevated through October, but the specific pressure near Mandalay Bay peaks during IMEX week itself. Book your south-Strip room early for Oct 13–15 rather than relying on softness from the other shows.
Airport Transport for IMEX America
Harry Reid International Airport is approximately 5 to 10 minutes from Mandalay Bay by rideshare under normal conditions. IMEX America peak arrival is Sunday October 5 evening and Monday October 13 morning.
- Pre-booked fixed-price transfer — Recommended for Sunday evening arrivals. A fixed rate avoids Uber surge pricing during convention arrival peaks.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — Fine for off-peak Monday morning arrivals.
- Las Vegas Monorail — Does not stop at Mandalay Bay Convention Center directly. Useful for mid-Strip hotels attending Caesars-zone client events.
🚖 Pre-book your IMEX airport transfer — fixed price, no surge →
IMEX America Networking and Client Entertainment
IMEX America has a structured hosted buyer program and strong after-hours entertainment culture. Key patterns for the meetings industry during show week:
- Official IMEX hosted buyer events — IMEX runs curated dinner and networking events for qualified hosted buyers throughout the show. These are the primary networking vehicle for most senior buyers.
- Wynn private dining — Top choice for destination management companies and hotel chains entertaining corporate buyers. Reserve 4–6 weeks in advance for show week slots.
- Las Vegas Strip experiences — IMEX exhibitors frequently organize experiential client events (shows, restaurant buyouts, venue tours) as part of their buyer engagement programs.
- Mandalay Bay networking spaces — Official IMEX networking runs throughout show hours with receptions on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Official housing block or book it yourself?
Most Las Vegas shows contract a housing provider and publish an official hotel block. Booking inside it is not automatically cheaper, and booking outside it is not the same thing as the “housing poacher” warnings you will see on the show website — those refer to unsolicited callers demanding card details, not to you booking a hotel yourself.
The block tends to win during peak citywide weeks, for groups of roughly ten rooms or more, and whenever the organizer attaches shuttle access or a price-match guarantee to it. Booking independently tends to win for longer exhibitor stays covering setup and teardown nights, when the hotel closest to your hall is not in the block, and when elite loyalty benefits outweigh the rate gap.
Compare all-in totals, not headline rates. Las Vegas resort fees run roughly $44 to $57 per night at Strip casino-hotels (Las Vegas Review-Journal survey), before Nevada’s 13.38% lodging tax, which adds about $250 to $325 to a five-night stay, per room. That figure regularly reverses a comparison made on nightly rate alone. Several convention-corridor business hotels charge no resort fee at all.
Exhibitor teams contracting ten rooms or more should request the resort fee waiver in writing, at contract stage. It is negotiable before you sign and effectively impossible to obtain afterwards.
Full detail: official block vs independent booking and resort fees and waivers for trade show attendees.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is IMEX America 2026?
IMEX America 2026 runs October 13–15, 2026 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What is the best hotel for IMEX America Las Vegas?
Mandalay Bay, Delano and Four Seasons offer direct convention-center access — the closest possible option to the IMEX America show floor. For a value alternative a short tram ride away, Luxor and Excalibur are the top choices for meetings industry professionals who need strong client entertainment infrastructure.
How does IMEX America fit into the October Las Vegas convention calendar?
IMEX America runs October 13–15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. It falls between G2E (early October) and Money20/20 (Oct 18–21), both of which are held at the Venetian on the north-central Strip. October is the most compressed convention month in Las Vegas; booking 3–4 months in advance is strongly recommended.
Who attends IMEX America?
IMEX America attracts corporate event planners, association meeting executives, incentive travel buyers, destination management companies (DMCs), hotel chains, venue representatives, and meetings technology providers. The hosted buyer program qualifies senior buyers for complimentary participation in exchange for pre-scheduled appointments with exhibitors.
How far is the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from the Las Vegas airport for IMEX?
Harry Reid International Airport is approximately 5 to 10 minutes from Mandalay Bay by rideshare. For Sunday October 5 arrivals, expect surge pricing and 10–20 minute journey times during peak convention traffic. Pre-booking a fixed-price transfer is recommended.
📅 See the full Las Vegas trade show calendar 2026–2027 →