News
Jan 02, 2012
Trade shows aren’t the greenest of environments in the world, but the Consumer Electronic Association’s International CES, Jan. 10-13 at several venues around Las Vegas, is making an effort to be as sustainable as possible.
“Our green and recycling efforts at the 2012 International CES are unprecedented for the largest annual event in the western hemisphere, covering more than 1.8 million square feet and welcoming more than 140,000 attendees,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO.
He added, “We’ve worked hard to ensure that we are using… more
Dec 28, 2011
Boston has a lot to look forward to in 2012, with events booked at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center estimated to generate $625 million in economic impact and 601,000 hotel room nights, a 34-percent increase, compared with 446,596 room nights booked in 2011.
In addition, 2012 will be the first time since 2007 room nights have broken the 600,000 mark, when there were 601,990 room nights booked from events at the Hynes and BCEC.
“Our 2012 bookings clearly speak to our ability to generate significant impact for the… more
Dec 27, 2011
Several trade show companies lent a helping hand to those in need during the holiday season, giving away warm coats to kids, donating funds, iPads and iTunes gift cards to a school for special education and giving funds to a program for people with intellectual disabilities and a shelter for homeless and abused women and children.
Dallas-based Hanley Wood Exhibitions set a goal of collecting as many warm coats as possible for kids in its local community through the Winter Coats for Kids Donation Drive.
Shows in the Hanley Wood portfolio, such as World of Concrete and Remodeling/Deck… more
Dec 26, 2011
UFI, the Global Association of Exhibition Industry recently released several exhibition industry research reports detailing not only the number of venues and events worldwide, but also what types of companies are holding the events.
UFI’s 2011 “World Map of Exhibition Venues” identified 1,197 venues, with a minimum of 5,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space. The total number of venues equals 32.6 million sq. m. of gross indoor exhibition space.
This is an increase of 57 venues since 2006, with an overall growth of 3.4 million sq. m. Fifty-four percent of… more
Dec 19, 2011
In the spirit of giving back to the community, UBM Asia recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity Thailand and helped build two homes for needy families within the Sanpatong district of Ching Mai.
The project ran Nov. 24-25, and under a UBM Asia home building program named “United we Build and Make a difference”43 senior managers from across UBM Asia’s offices came together to pitch in to build the homes.
“We are proud to participate in corporate social responsibility initiatives, which improve the lives of families in need,” said Jimé Essink,… more
Dec 19, 2011
India-based jewellery trade magazine, The Art of Jewellery(AOJ), has acquired 100 percent of the HITEX International Gem and Jewellery Expo. The annual show was first launched in 2005 with the next edition due to be held next year July 20-22 at the HITEX Fair Grounds in Hyderabad. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reportedly recently signed in Bangalore by Sumesh Wadhera, managing director and chief editor of AOJ and Sanjay Kapoor, COO of Hyderabad International Trade Expositions Limited.
Sanjay Kapoor said, “We found… more
Dec 19, 2011
UBM India, subsidiary of London-listed UBM, concluded its inaugural Mumbai Jewellery and Gems Fair (MJGF) at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) with more than 280 exhibitors. UBM reports some 4,800 visitors attended the trade fair during three days, which ran earlier this month Dec 9-11.
The new event brings the total of jewellery trade shows in India to three, which includes two other events in Hyderabad and Chennai, as well as internationally established shows in Hong Kong, China, Japan and Turkey.
International pavilions present at this year’s MJGF included countries, such as… more
Dec 19, 2011
Pico Thailand, the Thai-listed subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Pico Far East Holdings, released its results for the financial year ended Oct. 31. The company posted revenues of US$45million, an increase of 52percent,compared with the year before. Pico Thailandrecorded a net profit of US$2.5million this year,also a 52 percent jump, compared with the previous year.Earnings per share in the financial year were Baht 0.646 (US$0.021).
In other Pico news, Pico Thailand and Singaporean event organiser MP International have reportedly invested in Asian Exhibition Services (AES), a Bangkok-based… more
Dec 19, 2011
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre(MCEC) has announced the appointment of its new CEO Peter King. King currently is CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, where during his time he has overseen the Royal Easter Showand has played a part in securing government investment for the construction of a new stadium.
MCEC trust chairman, Bob Annells, said, “With his valuable range of skills, Peter will be instrumental in providing higher level strategic planning and management input as the MCEC business grows over the coming years in an increasingly competitive… more
Dec 18, 2011
In 2012, the 9th edition of Medical Fair Asia, International Exhibition on Hospital, Diagnostic, Pharmaceutical, Medical & Rehabilitation Equipment & Supplies will return Sept. 12-14 to Suntec in Singapore with a 50-percent larger trade show floor.
Messe Duesseldorf Asia, the show’s organizer, predicts there will be approximately 500 exhibitors presenting the latest products for the medical sector.
“The continually increasing participation and attendance at Medical Fair Asia with record numbers at the last staging in 2010, coupled with the booming medical and health… more
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.