LIGHTFAIR International Will Head Back to Philadelphia in 2017
August 17, 2015
LIGHTFAIR International, billed as the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, will return May 7-11, 2017, to Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Convention Center in 2017 for its 28th annual staging, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., vice chairman, president and COO of LFI managing partner AmericasMart Atlanta.
Produced annually alternately on the East and West Coasts, LFI was last staged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 2013.
LFI’s 2017 return to Philadelphia will follow its 2016 showing in San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center, the event’s newest West Coast venue. LFI’s San Diego event will run April 24-28 next year.
LFI 2015, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York in May, broke all registration and trade show records with double-digit growth marking the largest staging in its history. It set an all-time trade show floor record with 268,580 net square feet, housing 599 exhibitors.
Registration grew to 29,900 attendees, a 15 percent gain, compared with the previous record set in 2014, with representatives from 89 countries.
“Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Convention Center afford our global customer base a highly accessible and accommodating venue, well-scaled to the expanding space and service demands aligned with LFI’s continuing growth,” Portman said.
He added, “Our 2013 experience there was positive and productive. We fully expect LFI’s 2017 showing to exceed those high marks.”
LIGHTFAIR International brings the industry’s newest and most advanced products and technologies to a global attendee population of lighting designers, specifiers, architects, consultants and engineers from around the world.
Throughout the trade show floor, exhibitors showcase exclusive introductions and a large spectrum of solutions such as LEDs, OLEDs, luminaires, energy-efficient products, alternative energy, solar power, decorative, controls, software, digital signage, healthcare and hospitality.
LIGHTFAIR also features six pavilions: Building Integration; Daylighting; Design; Exterior & Roadway Lighting; Global Light + Design; and New Exhibitor Pavilion.
LFI is sponsored by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). The event is produced and managed by AmericasMart Atlanta.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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