The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) has selected 30-year convention industry veteran Joyce Leveston as the new CEO of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, following a unanimous recommendation by the executive search committee and approval from the NYCCOC Board of Directors. Joining the Javits team on February 10, Leviston will officially take the helm on March 10. 

With the help of 4,500 exhibitors—1,400 of which were startups—in front of 141,000 attendees, the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s leading tech events by underscoring AI's intersection with humanity, highlighting accessibility-focused tech, and debuting energy transition and quantum computing conference tracks.  

Cybersecurity threats are on the rise across all industries. In fact, almost 90% of organizations experienced a breach in the last year, according to data by the Centre for Cybersecurity that was published by the World Economic Forum.  

Inside Live Events, a new book by co-authors Freeman Board Member Bob Priest-Heck and Freeman Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons, debuted yesterday as a comprehensive playbook for creating and producing live events, including trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits.  

Two trade show industry organizations announced key launches and initiatives recently. 

Since stepping into her role as President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) in December 2023, Marsha Flanagan has hit the ground running. With a focus on innovation, community building, and sustainability, she is setting ambitious goals for the association in 2025.

On January 8, New York-based private equity firm Clarion Capital Partners completed its acquisition of Marketplace Events (MPE), a leading consumer and trade show organizer that produces more than 110 events across 54 markets in the U.S. and Canada. Terms of the deal, which marks Clarion Capital’s first holding in the events industry, were not disclosed. 

To kick off the new year, TSNN sat down with some of our industry’s most well-respected leaders to gain insights into what we can expect for trade shows in 2025. While none of them claimed to be clairvoyants, their extensive expertise in producing impactful, high-value events to meet the needs of growing audiences has convinced us that these veteran professionals know what they’re talking about.  

Hearts and minds around the world are surely with the Los Angeles area, which has experienced catastrophic damage from wildfires that started last week and have ravaged idyllic neighborhoods like the Pacific Palisades and Altadena. As of publication time, approximately two dozen people have died, and more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Experts say that this could become the costliest wildfire disaster in U.S. history, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is set to debut the exclusive Citywide Track at the Connect Spring Marketplace 2025. Taking place from April 22–24 at the Forbes Five Star luxury hotel and casino Wynn Las Vegas, the program is designed to foster collaboration and innovation among trailblazers, decision-makers, and thought leaders in the events industry.