IAEE’s Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition Encourages Attendees to “Go & Be”

November 23, 2014

With the call to action to “Go & Be” – whether it is creative, innovative or strategic – the International Association of Exhibitions & Events will kick off its Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition Dec. 9-11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“We hope that attendees take away the notion that IAEE is always pushing the envelope, looking ahead to provide new and innovative ways to make your individual shows better,” said IAEE President and CEO David DuBois.

He added, “We want our guests to have the full ‘Expo Expo Experience’, taking part in the new show features that encourage engagement, networking, and intimate learning experiences.”

This year’s show will feature once again a two-day exhibit floor, but it will look a little different.

“We have diagonal cross aisles and a boulevard aisle, affectionately termed ‘attendee disruptors’, to tie in the various experiences on the showfloor,” DuBois said.

 New features to the event also will include the SwimUp TECHbar and sessions, Campfire sessions, the Meet Up Pavilion and GO & BE interactive Mega rooms. 

“The GO & BE mega rooms are a significant addition to this year’s event, as they will feature themed programming to engage attendees in unique learning environments,” DuBois said.

He added, “Our goal is for attendees to walk away with their heads full of ideas to take back and implement at their own show(s). We’ve pushed the envelope this year with new ways to learn on and off the showfloor, engaging attendees in themed rooms, adding a unique scavenger hunt and even the showfloor design with diagonal cross aisles and a boulevard aisle, all creating the ‘Expo Expo Experience’.”

The three-day event will begin with CEM classes, several meetings for different groups, the charity “Gift of Service” event, the joint IAEE/SISO session and IAEE/NACS joint session and then the official Opening General Session and CEM Class of 2014 Presentation, featuring “How to Thrive Among the Chaos & Lessons of the World’s Most Innovative Companies” presented by Robert Safian, editor and managing director, Fast Company.

The day continues with the opening of the Expo! Expo! showfloor and the opening reception goes into the night at the adjacent L.A. Live.

Wednesday, Dec. 10 is another full day of education sessions with another general session – “Relationship Revolution: Building Better Connections in the Digital Age”, presented by Seth Mattison.

The showfloor opens up once again that afternoon with that night highlighting Global Experience Specialists’ Humanity Rocks: A Celebration with a Cause at the Conga Room.

Even more sessions are spread throughout the final day of the event with the IAEE Annual Networking Luncheon and Awards Presentation, in which individuals are honored. Later that afternoon is Expociety – IAEE’s Annual Closing Event at the JW Marriot Los Angeles.

For a full schedule click HERE and for sessions please click HERE.

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.