By Nadya Rousseau, Founder & CEO, and Lauren Jones, Co-founder, Alter New Media
Alter New Media at IMEX America 2025
IMEX America 2025, the world’s largest trade show for global meetings and events, underscored the industry’s shift toward responsible growth, human-centered design, and technology that advances sustainability and accessibility.
Alter New Media participated in press briefings, partner meetings, and show-floor activations, engaging with destinations, hotel groups, and technology companies, presenting new frameworks for the future of events.
Press Center Highlights
The Press Conference Room functioned as a hub for focused discussion, with coffee, cookies, and light refreshments supporting steady dialogue between media representatives and exhibitors.
Adjacent podcast booths recorded live interviews and topical conversations on sustainable hospitality, accessibility, and the role of AI in event management—facilitating real-time knowledge sharing and broader digital distribution.
On the Floor: Experiences That Defined IMEX 2025
Visit Anaheim
Nadya Rousseau visited the Visit Anaheim booth, where representatives outlined current initiatives in community-based tourism and meetings.
Watch the full interview below:
Nearby, the Cirque du Soleil activation demonstrated how performance and visual storytelling are being integrated into c event environments to strengthen audience engagement.
AREA15: Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart
As part of the broader Las Vegas experiential landscape, the team toured Omega Mart at AREA15, observing how large-scale immersive art installations are informing experiential event design. The activation illustrates a growing demand for multisensory environments that can serve as off-site venues, brand stages, and content engines—relevant for planners seeking to extend attendee engagement before, during, and after an event.
Millennium Hotels & M Social: Redefining Urban Hospitality
A key announcement at IMEX highlighted the transformation of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ Lower Manhattan property: M Social New York Downtown.
Situated across from the Oculus, the hotel carries significant historical context. Formerly the Millennium Hilton, it withstood the events of September 11, 2001, and reopened in May 2003 after an 18-month, $30 million restoration. The recovered U.S. flag from that day continues to hang in the lobby.
Following a 2022 rebrand and a full renovation completed in 2025, the property now reflects the M Social lifestyle concept—mid-century modern design, social connectivity, and sustainability. Meeting and event spaces offer panoramic views of Lower Manhattan while integrating technology-forward functionality. The brand’s engagement also extends into M Social Decentraland, a virtual environment for continued audience interaction. M Social Sunnyvale is scheduled to open in September 2026.
The former Millennium Hilton stood directly across from the World Trade Center and the Oculus. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, the hotel closed for an extended period due to significant damage. It underwent an 18-month, $30 million restoration before reopening in May 2003, symbolizing rebirth in the heart of a grieving city. The hotel famously rehung the recovered American flag that once flew outside its doors, preserving it as a lasting tribute to resilience and community strength.
Innovation Spotlight: Wellness, Technology, and Purpose
IMEX 2025 showcased health-focused technologies aimed at improving performance, recovery, and accessibility in professional settings.
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Novobeing offers immersive AR/VR sessions that support stress reduction and cognitive reset.
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Shiftwave demonstrated a nervous-system regulation device utilizing rhythmic vibration and neuroacoustic feedback to aid recovery and focus.
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The Neu Project Resilience Room—supported by Marriott Bonvoy Events, Google Xi, and Hello! DMC—provided a sensory-friendly environment for neurodiverse attendees.
These activations reflect the increasing integration of wellness technologies into event design and workplace culture.
Destination Leadership: Cities Driving Change
The Los Angeles Tourism Board detailed plans to expand the LA Convention Center to 750,000 square feet, developed in alignment with Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards. Officials also reported a 17 percent decrease in homelessness, positioning the redevelopment within a broader community-impact lens. Having been a media partner for OuterEdge LA in 2023, which took place at the LA Convention Center, we completely understand continued innovation and redevelopment.
Miami Beach Tourism outlined a $640 million convention-center transformation with an additional $1 billion investment forthcoming. The destination holds a Gold Certificate for Sustainability and Social Impact and is among the first certified Autism Centers in the United States.
Both destinations emphasized sustainability and inclusion as long-term economic and social priorities.
Events Industry Council: Raising Global Standards
The Events Industry Council (EIC)introduced updated Sustainable Event Standards (SES), aligning event production practices with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. The revised framework includes measurable criteria for carbon reduction, ethical sourcing, accessibility, and diverse supplier networks, supported by transparent reporting.
From the Floor
Across the exhibition, Nadya Rousseau documented examples of design, technology, and inclusion in practice—from artistic installations and destination showcases to the wellness-focused Resilience Room—illustrating how destinations and brands are adapting to new expectations in global engagement.
Editorial Notes
From Nadya Rousseau
“The most consistent theme this year was intentionality—programs built to measure impact rather than simply describe it. The growth areas we observed are those that combine inclusivity, sustainability, and audience experience as core design elements.”
From Lauren Jones
“The momentum around wellness and accessibility is operational, not aspirational. Standards are maturing, measurement is clearer, and the market is responding to solutions that demonstrate both performance and responsibility.”
Influencer Spotlight: Alysse Dalessandro
Championing Visibility, Authenticity, and Inclusive Representation
Alysse Dalessandro is a writer, entrepreneur, and advocate known for redefining what inclusive visibility looks like in the lifestyle and travel industries. Through her platform, Alysse promotes body liberation, LGBTQIA+ representation, and self-expression that transcends traditional beauty and branding standards.
At IMEX America 2025, her presence underscored a growing movement within the events and hospitality sectors — one that values authentic storytelling and real inclusion over performative diversity. Alysse’s collaborations often highlight brands and destinations that embrace intersectionality and design experiences for all bodies, identities, and backgrounds.
Her message resonates far beyond influencer culture. By bridging personal narrative with professional advocacy, Alysse exemplifies how digital creators can drive meaningful change within global industries — including tourism, events, and hospitality — by prioritizing empathy, accessibility, and representation.
For Alter New Media, Alysse’s work mirrors the values at the core of purpose-driven marketing: authenticity, visibility, and community impact.
Final Word
IMEX America 2025 reflected a maturing global events ecosystem focused on accountability, accessibility, and long-term impact. From the ingenuity at M Social New York Downtown to sustainability initiatives in Los Angeles and Miami, the industry continues to align innovation with measurable outcomes.
For partnership inquiries or media requests, contact info@alternewmedia.com.
