Jun 22, 2017
In response to customer demand and in pursuit of an ongoing effort to grow its group business throughout Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International has officially broken ground on an approximately $130 million expansion of the MGM Grand Conference Center. Scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018, the project entails a 250,000 square foot expansion of the facility that will increase its footprint to more than 850,000 sq. ft. In addition, Stay Well Meetings, a wellness meetings experience featuring amenities and programs designed to stimulate healthy, productive and creative work environments,… more
Jun 13, 2017
At the 2017 Licensing Expo, held May 23-25 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, the power of the brand story was evident to the more than 16,000 attendees and 406 exhibiting companies, including 185 new exhibitors. The overall focus of the licensing industry is to help brands expand into new businesses, with licensing providing the necessary brand exposure in these new categories. Visitors at the event were greeted by bright primary colors and an abundance of mascots and costumed characters. According to Jessica Blue, senior vice president of UBM Americas, the first Licensing… more
Jun 13, 2017
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s Board of Directors gave final approval for the $1.4 billion expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center, paving the way for 600,000 new square feet of meeting space. “Today marks a monumental occasion for not only the LVCVA, but also the entire destination,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA President and CEO. He added, “We commend the foresight of our community and state leaders for recognizing the importance of the LVCCD and we are eager to get to work! We will ensure that the LVCVA continues to provide the world-class… more
Apr 25, 2017
The ISA International Sign Expo 2017 enjoyed a record-breaking show in Las Vegas. Held April 19-22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the annual trade show and conference for the sign, graphics and visual communications industry broke its own attendance records, with more than 20,500 industry professionals, including just under 600 exhibitors, spanning a sold-out, 210,000 square foot showfloor. At the time of the show’s opening, dozens of exhibiting companies remained on a waiting list, hoping to secure their spot on a packed expo floor. Last year, the event attracted 20,044 participants… more
Mar 22, 2017
Positive vibes, robust attendance and a bustling, sold-out trade show floor added up to a record-breaking year for the International Roofing Expo, held March 1-3 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Owned and operated by Informa Exhibitions, the annual tradeshow and conference for the roofing industry drew 11,273 commercial and residential roofing construction professionals and 476 exhibitors spanning a 131,700 square foot showfloor. “This was an amazing show to find leading-edge products, high-level education and numerous networking opportunities,” said Tracy Garcia, IRE show… more
Mar 21, 2017
Decked out with spring flowers, EXHIBITORLive 2017 offered a fresh take on attendee engagement and experiential marketing, blending ingenious design with seamless technology and thoughtful giveaways. The 29th annual conference and expo drew approximately 6,000 trade show and event marketing professionals March 12-16 to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Among the show’s more than 200 exhibitors, the showfloor sparkled with ideas, including a wide range of innovative engagement experiences. Czarnowski celebrated its 70th anniversary with a “Dinner Party” in an exhibit… more
Mar 16, 2017
The trade show industry is no stranger to teaming up with charities and demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility, and one recent Las Vegas-based trade show went out of its way to exemplify that dedication to helping those in need. As the world’s largest trade show and conference for the construction industry, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE showed its solidarity with U.S. military veterans by hosting several fundraising events during its most recent event, held March 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hosted charity events included a benefit concert, as well as a live and an… more
Mar 03, 2017
ConvExx, long-time show management company in the auto aftermarket space, has acquired Mobile Tech Expo from Kevin Halewood. "Mobile Tech Expo is the premier showcase for the paintless dent repair, detailing and automotive mobile service industries, and we look forward to continuing that mission", said Chuck Schwartz, ConvExx CEO. He added, "We understand and appreciate the Show's principles, and look to build upon what has been built as we strive to best serve the mobile automotive aftermarket." Its founder, Kevin Halewood, will remain with ConvExx and continue as show director of Mobile… more
Feb 09, 2017
Last year was a good one for Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority’s recently released 2016 Executive Summary. Driven by strong demand in both the leisure and convention segments, the city experienced another record-breaking year for convention attendance and visitation. For the third year in a row, Las Vegas broke its visitation record, welcoming 42.9 million people to the destination, a 1.5% increase compared with 2015, while nearly 22,000 meetings attracted more than 6.3 million attendees to the city, a 7.1 percent increase compared to the year before… more
Feb 08, 2017
Trade shows dedicated to the poultry, beef and firearms industries have been enjoying extra boosts in attendance recently.  The Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show shattered its previous attendance record of 8,200 attendees by attracting 9,331 participants to its most recent event, held Feb.1-3 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN. As the largest national trade show for the beef industry, the event drew 359 exhibiting companies spanning 268,000 net square feet of exhibition space. Last year, the show… more
Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact