Inaugural Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week Will Feature Four Premier Shows Under One Roof

February 28, 2022

Leading trade show organizers Emerald and Questex have teamed up to launch the inaugural Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week, featuring four premier food and beverage trade shows taking place concurrently at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Running March 21-24, SIAL America, Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show), International Pizza Expo and World Tea Conference + Expo will unite decision-makers from all sectors of the recovering $1.5 trillion food and beverage industry under one roof at the 4.6-million-square-foot facility. 

“We’re excited to collaborate with Emerald and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority [LVCVA] to bring key food and beverage buyers together in one central location to deliver a new high-value experience that combines key education, product activations and customer interaction,” said Tim McLucas, vice president, Bar & Restaurant Group, Questex.

A collaboration between international trade show organizers Emerald and Comexposium, SIAL America is a first-of-its-kind cross-category generalist food and beverage show that supports the food and beverage market. Boasting a long-standing reputation as a premier event host for the industry, SIAL convenes importers, food service companies, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and restaurateurs looking to discover, innovate and learn. 

Now in its 38th year, Emerald’s International Pizza Expo is the pizza industry’s leading event that welcomes pizzeria professionals from across the world. Focused on all elements of the pizza industry, the show features suppliers, educational sessions presented by top industry professionals and national competitions.

At Bar & Restaurant Expo, attendees have a chance to get ahead of the curve by learning about the latest trends and troubleshoot challenges facing their businesses. With participants ranging from single-unit to national chain operators and the industry’s largest hospitality groups, the show delivers the latest in experience and innovation to move business.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, World Tea Conference + Expo honors the traditions and the future of tea. Besides providing access to leading suppliers and timely educational sessions, this year’s event promises to deliver new features and enhancements. 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Questex for the inaugural edition of Food and Beverage Industry Week,” said Jessica Blue, executive vice president, Emerald. “It will be an exciting and invaluable week for everyone in the food and beverage industry.”  

Since in-person meetings and conventions returned to Las Vegas in June 2021, the LVCC has hosted more than 58 trade shows and events attracting upwards of 800,000 attendees, showcasing confidence by trade show organizers that meetings can be held safely and efficiently, according to LVCVA officials. 

“We are grateful for our partnership with Emerald and Questex, and we are excited to welcome the first-ever Las Vegas Food and Beverage Week to the Las Vegas Convention Center,” said Brian Yost, COO of the LVCVA, which owns and operates the LVCC. 

He continued, “Las Vegas brings key industries together, fostering in-person connections that move business forward. We look forward to providing the organizers, exhibitors and attendees of these shows with an ‘Only Vegas’ experience.” 

 

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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.