IMEX CEO Carina Bauer Shares Her Favorite Event Venues Around the World

Carina Bauer is the CEO of IMEX Group.Photo: Courtesy of Carina BauerCarina Bauer is the CEO of IMEX Group, the team behind the massive IMEX America and IMEX Frankfurt trade shows for the international business events industry. Bauer joined the team in 2002 and was appointed CEO in 2009 after the brand expanded to America. An active member of the meetings industry, Bauer is currently chair of the Association of Event Organisers Council and the Event Industry Alliance; she also serves as a board member for trade show association UFI and is past president of the SITE Foundation. Bauer—who lives in Brighton, England, with her husband and two sons—has also served on global committees for MPI and PCMA. 

To Host a Large Event or Conference
It’s a city that welcomes 2.2 million convention attendees a year and has more than 150,000+ hotel rooms—it has to be Las Vegas. We’ve hosted IMEX America at the Venetian Expo (formerly the Sands Expo), and now Mandalay Bay for the first time last year, and have been blown away by the sheer scope of offering, professionalism, and energy every time. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas is home to the fifth largest convention center in the U.S., with 2.1 million square feet of space.Photo: Courtesy of Mandalay Bay

To Entertain a Client
We’re lucky to have a really diverse mix of restaurants, bars, and cafes near the IMEX office in Hove, South-East England, so entertaining guests is never a problem. I’m particularly fond of The Ginger Pig, which creates fantastic meals from some of the region’s finest suppliers. Grab a Grasshopper (it’s one of their cocktails!) and settle down to browse the menu—I recommend the vegetarian tasting platter, followed by their homemade truffles and fudge.

To Hold an Intimate Meeting
I’ve run a couple of upscale, intimate events at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, which is just outside London and set in stunning countryside. I just love this hotel, the grounds, and the way they look after you and your guests so well. I even organized one part of the meeting on a barge that traveled up and down the Thames. Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is set in a restored, 18th-century manor on 500 acres outside of London. It has 28,546 square feet of event space.Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

To Get Inspired
I visited Istanbul and Cappadocia in Turkey as part of the SITE Executive Summit in November 2019. Istanbul is always an inspiring city—a melting pot of traditional and modern, European and Asian, art and culture, and food and fun. But I fell in love with Cappadocia. It’s an otherworldly landscape that gave me a sense of awe and calm. The sight of 100 multicolored hot air balloons floating above the sun-dappled volcanic “fairy chimneys” at dawn was truly a sight to behold. 

To Eat My Favorite Dinner
An old friend of mine has become a fabulous Michelin-starred chef. Whenever I’m in London I try to eat in his restaurant, which is opposite Green Park on Piccadilly. It’s called HIDE and is open from breakfast to dinner. If you’re in London, make time to go—you won’t regret it! HIDE restaurant in London offers multiple private dining spaces including the “Hide & Seek” rooms, which each hold 10 guests or can be combined to hold 20.Photo: Courtesy of HIDE

To Get Work Done on the Road
I love working on the road, particularly on train journeys, where I seem to be able to switch off and focus better than almost anywhere else (probably as a result of commuting on trains for 12 years!). But if I really want to get to know a city, find a great spot to people-gaze, and get some work done at the same time, I’ll make sure to find a fantastic local coffee shop (no chains please!). The Best Coffee app has taken me to many neighborhood coffee shops over the years in various cities across the world. I wouldn’t travel without it!

To Hear Live Music
I saw The Rolling Stones play live at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas last year—an electric atmosphere and a powerful reminder of just how well the city hosts live events. I’ve also been lucky enough to see many great bands at the O2 Arena in London, or even at the Brighton Centre just down the road from our office. Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders, opened in 2020 and has over 10 different event spaces that can host a wide variety of gatherings—from small events for 25 to a 65,000-person venue buyout.Photo: Courtesy of Allegiant Stadium

To Unwind After a Long Day
I’m currently in training to do a big rock climb just before IMEX America, so if I want to unwind I’ll go to the climbing wall and get some training in. My husband owns the local bouldering gym, so it’s pretty easy for me to get some good coaching, and there’s a great, friendly atmosphere. It’s been fun training hard and slowly getting stronger and more competent. It’s very different from organizing events!

To Get a Great Night’s Sleep
My favorite hotel bed is in the Venetian & Palazzo in Las Vegas—I can only describe it as "enveloping" you. Other than that, my own bed at home is a close second, but definitely not as luxurious! The adjoining Venetian and Palazzo properties in Las Vegas offer a wide variety of ballrooms, board rooms, restaurants, theaters, and other event spaces, including pool decks that can host as many as 4,900 people. The on-site Venetian Expo (formerly known as the Sands Expo Convention Center) has 2.25 million square feet of expo space and five exhibit halls.Photo: Courtesy of The Venetian