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In this episode of What One Thing?, Smart Meetings Vice President and Editorial Director JT Long talks with Tahira Endean, head of programming at IMEX, about what attendees can expect at IMEX America 2026, Oct. 13-15 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with Smart Monday, powered by MPI, on Oct. 12. Under the new Design Matters talking point, the show's education program is moving to a more prominent home in the Inspiration Hub and expanding across 12 tracks.

Endean previews sessions on event design, food and beverage, neurodiversity, sustainability, leadership, technology and joy, along with new ways for attendees to pause and reset. She also explains why play is not optional, why the industry's AI conversation must move beyond prompts and how intentional planning can help attendees retain more of what they experience. Her one thing for navigating a show this large is simple: Do not arrive cold. Choose the education and events that matter most, protect time for recovery and leave space for the unexpected connections that make IMEX memorable.