Client Success Story
IMEX America 2025: Activating the Future
At IMEX America 2025 in Las Vegas, we were proud to partner with this sustainable event leader to help engage thousands of global attendees at our Build & Give activation.
IMEX has always been committed to raising the bar on sustainable events—from reducing waste and carbon emissions to providing meaningful ways for participants to engage in eco-conscious practices. This year’s theme, “Impact 2.0 — Activating the Future,” set the tone for how the industry can collaborate, drive positive change, and bring together communities to achieve shared sustainability goals.
Bringing Reusables and Hydration Front and Center
In keeping with the theme and IMEX’s sustainability vision, we introduced our Build & Give Activation to the event community. As part of this activation, attendees received a branded Cupanion Bottle that they could personalize on the spot. They could choose their lid color, bottle clip color, and personalize their bottles with a selection of decorative stickers, making each bottle a unique keepsake. Beyond being visually fun, each bottle carried a purpose—contributing to charitable projects with every reuse—turning a small act into measurable impact.
To complement the reusable bottles, IMEX ensured that water refill stations—including those supported by partners like FloWater—were intentionally placed throughout the show floor. These stations made it easy for attendees to gather, refill, and stay hydrated in a way that felt seamless and sustainable. By prioritizing hydration infrastructure that supported reuse, IMEX created a more comfortable attendee experience while reducing reliance on single-use plastic.
By combining water refill stations with Fill it Forward, IMEX offered a solution that was practical, memorable, and environmentally responsible. Guests left not only with a personalized keepsake but also with a tangible understanding of how small choices—like reusing a reusable water bottle—contribute to a larger sustainability mission.
“We love partners who drive attendee engagement and care about the planet. With this year’s theme, ‘Impact 2.0 — Activating the Future,’ it’s more important than ever to collaborate in ways that move our industry forward. The right tools help spark meaningful action, bring communities together, and make sustainability feel accessible for everyone. Last year alone, we diverted 93% of all waste from landfills, and partnerships like Fill it Forward show what’s possible when we work toward shared impact.”
Suzanne Medcalf Mulligan,
Head of Engagement at the IMEX Group
Gamification + Giving = Engagement
To amplify the experience, we ran an interactive draw sponsored by Cirque du Soleil, giving attendees a chance to win tickets when they scanned the Fill it Forward Tag on their Cupanion Bottle via the Fill it Forward app or web app. The draw was powered by Reuse365, our platform that makes it simple to track, manage, and celebrate your sustainability program. Setting up the draw was quick and straightforward in the platform. All attendees had to do was simply scan their bottles, their entries were automatically logged, and the program administrator selected the winners randomly.
The gamified element added fun while reinforcing a deeper message: sustainability can be engaging, measurable, and impactful. Beyond just winning prizes, the draw encouraged attendees to engage repeatedly with their Cupanion Bottles, reinforcing the habit of reuse while connecting them to a broader sustainability mission.
One key insight from the event: attendees expect sustainability. At a convention the size and profile of IMEX, the bar is high. They don’t just expect it—they want it to be meaningful. By offering reusables, refill stations, and an easy-to-run gamified experience, we delivered that expectation in a tangible, memorable way.
Why Sustainability Matters
- Hydration + Climate: In Las Vegas and on the show‑floor, keeping attendees properly hydrated is critical for comfort, engagement and energy. The custom bottles and refill stations made it effortless.
- Reusables over single‑use: The shift from “event swag” to “sustainable keepsake” is real. Rather than handing out single‑use bottled water or disposable cups, giving an attractive reusable bottle encourages repeated use and prolongs impact.
- Sustainability as a standard, not a bonus: The audience at IMEX is increasingly looking for events that align with their values. By embedding sustainability into water refill stations and the attendee activation experiences, IMEX demonstrated leadership and we were honoured to collaborate.
- Manage Inventory: Administrators could view live data on containers in circulation, returned, lost, or retired.
- Engagement meets impact: The gamification element turned sustainability into a shared, fun experience—driving participation, social conversation and deeper buy‑in.
Looking Ahead
Our time at IMEX America 2025 reinforced a powerful truth: when sustainability is accessible, engaging, and purpose-driven, events can deliver more than networking and business—they can deliver community, meaning, and measurable impact. We’re excited to continue this journey with IMEX and other event leaders who recognize that the future of meetings and events is not only about connection but about positive change.
Thank you to the IMEX team, the attendees who joined in the Build & Give Activation, and everyone who reused. We couldn’t have done it without you.
See how we support our event partners or connect with us to learn more.
