Comeback News

Has your company hosted, or are you a supplier who has helped host, a safe, well-executed trade show, meeting, convention or other event? Tweet us using the #comebackstories hashtag to @TSNN_com_us and we’ll share your role in the recovery of a lifetime.

Associations Catering to Event Professionals Prep for August Reunions
Jul 08, 2021
Many of the hospitality professionals providing services to events during the pandemic are eagerly awaiting a chance to convene with their peers. In August, two such shows catering to some of the hardest hit industries resume in-person gatherings. Rather than look back upon the unchangeable past, both are assembling with eyes toward a productive and positive future. Here, we preview the National Association for Catering and Events Experience Conference, Aug. 1-4 at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, Aug. 3-6 in Dallas. NACE Experience… more
On Your Marks: Run Shows Set to Debut in U.S. Next Year
Jul 07, 2021
Raccoon Events is built upon the guiding principle that runners slow down to walk trade show aisles and — dare to dream, sit — for inspirational keynotes. Having successfully launched two run shows in the United Kingdom, where the health- and wellness-minded company is based, it is time to step across the pond. Run Show USA, as the American version is dubbed, is off to a brisk pace planning for 2022. Its initial show will debut Jan. 29-30 at Hynes Convention Center in Boston, and a second event at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago was recently announced for June 4-5. A third… more
Jun 28, 2021
In response to audience and industry demand, three leading show organizers are gearing up to launch two new trade shows for the food and beverage and the plastics processing industries next year. Take a look! SIAL America Leading global event organizers Comexposium and Emerald have formed a strategic partnership to launch the first large-scale, generalist food show for the $1.5 trillion U.S. food and beverage market: SIAL America. Set to debut March 22-24, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it will co-locate with Emerald’s International Pizza Expo and International Artisan Bakery Expo… more
McCormick Place Is Ready to Light Up With Events Again
Jun 22, 2021
Peter Eelman, vice president and CXO at AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology, strode up to the stage at Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place. “We are coming back,” he said. “Let that soak in for a moment.” While he was specifically referring to the International Manufacturing Technology Show powered by AMT, occurring Sept. 12-17, Eelman may as well have been speaking for Chicago’s trade show industry. Shut for 14 months due to COVID, McCormick Place officials and several returning organizers gathered in May to celebrate the return of business. The event was also a showcase of… more
MPI World Education Congress Demonstrates the Power of Face-to-Face Meetings
Jun 21, 2021
More than 1,200 event professionals gathered at MPI’s World Education Congress at CAESARS FORUM last week, the largest in-person industry event so far this year. While attendance was about half of pre-pandemic levels, the large showing is another shot in the arm for an industry recovering from essentially a lost year of business. A hybrid event, WEC placed an emphasis on safety in bringing together 1,229 people in Las Vegas and attracted another 568 remote attendees. Content reflected the state of the industry, pointing toward ways to hold events responsibly while confronting social issues… more
Mohawk Momentum Road Show Covers New Ground in Road to Vegas
Jun 16, 2021
Mohawk Flooring made the daring decision during the height of the pandemic that the show must go on. Half a year later, the aptly named Momentum Road Show wraps up at The International Surface Event (aka SURFACES) at Mandalay Bay Convention Center, June 16-18, in a fully opened Las Vegas. The traveling showrooms, each about 20,000 square feet, made four stops – Dallas (Jan. 25-27), Atlanta (Feb. 1-3), Indianapolis (Feb. 9-11) and Huntington Beach, Calif. (March 2-4) – in what was essentially one giant product launch. With the ongoing housing renovation boom, there simply was not time to… more
World of Concrete Reignites Large Trade Shows and Conventions
Jun 15, 2021
World of Concrete, which took place June 8-10 in Las Vegas, signaled the return of major trade shows in the United States. With banners flying over telescope cranes, power tools roaring through cement and attendees shaking hands and sometimes hugging, the event not only felt like a reunion but also a solid foundation for the return to business.  The show kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s $1 billion West Hall and the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, the underground tunnel developed by Elon Musks’ The Boring Company that shuttles attendees across… more
Connect, BizBash Get Back to Hugs, Normalcy at Las Vegas Conference
Jun 08, 2021
Hugs replaced fistbumps as the days of yesteryear reappeared during the Connect and BizBash collocated event at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas. The B2B conference geared toward matching event planners with venue personnel to spur future business, and evrent inpiration from BizBash, drew about 750 attendees in-person May 22-24, with another 1,500 event professionals participating online. Connect and BizBash were in the unusual position of hosting a second event during the pandemic, having executed a scaled-down and delayed version of its largest annual conference last fall in… more
How Experience Kissimmee Has Served In-Person Events for the Past Year
Jun 03, 2021
Experience Kissimmee Senior Director of Meeting Sales and Services Michelle Moore couldn’t believe her ears at a recent meeting at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. In a pre-event meeting, the key players were discussing dine-arounds, branding activations and entertainment options.  “It was wonderful,” Moore said. “For the first time in over 14 months, we actually talked about non-health and safety stuff.” Of course, COVID-19 was the elephant in the room. But significant vaccination progress and relaxed CDC guidelines have shifted the conversation from when, and not if,… more
Trade Shows to Watch as Comeback Gears Up
May 28, 2021
Fittingly, World of Concrete in Las Vegas will signal the return of trade shows as we know them. After all, the event organizers are looking to build a foundation of safety measures and business development in executing trade shows that remind the world of just how valuable meeting in-person can be. While Surf Expo and other shows have drawn applause for operating during the pandemic, the schedule gets decidedly more crowded starting in June. Las Vegas will be fully open and other destinations will not be far behind. Buoyed by vaccination progress, a precipitous drop in COVID-19 cases and… 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