News
Aug 19, 2011
For the “Best of Show” award we are leaving it up to you to tell us why you think your show is the BEST. This is the first year for this special award that will debut at the 2011 TSNN Event Excellence Awards Nov. 4-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
There is no specific criterion for the award. Be creative!
What made your event so outstanding?
Did an exhibitor at your show break a record and obtain the most leads ever?
Did you have the best sessions, games, music, food or networking environment?
Was your show filled with best dressed or friendliest… more
Aug 10, 2011
This year’s Society of Independent Show Organizers’ Executive Conference - “Digital Declaration” - wrapped up Aug. 11 after not only covering various aspects of technology impacting the trade show industry, but also drawing more attendees.
In all, 180 show organizers and suppliers came to the event held at Philadelphia’s newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center, compared with 150 attendees at last year’s conference in Boston.
The event kicked off Tuesday night with a reception at the Franklin Institute, and Jack Ferguson, president and CEO of the… more
Aug 08, 2011
New buyers at Global Sources’ Private Sourcing Events more than doubled for the first half of this year, according to company officials. Among new buyers were AEON, E.Leclerc, Forever 21, Fujitsu, J.C. Penney and Lidl.
"As product costs increase, we are looking for ways to reduce expenses in other areas. Private Sourcing Events save us time and money by short-listing quality suppliers who meet our strict requirements before any meetings take place,” said Jacqueline Au, buying manager for AEON Hong Kong.
She added, “This has freed our sourcing teams to spend… more
Aug 08, 2011
UBM Asia’s Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair drew an 18-percent increase of attendees at its recent June event at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, with a record 22,452 visitors coming from 104 countries and regions, according to company officials.
Of the 22,452 visitors, 42 percent were Hong Kong-based visitors, while 58 percent were from overseas, a growth of 30 percent, compared with last year’s June event.
The largest group of visitors came from outside Hong Kong came from mainland China, with a total of 5,372, followed by India, Taiwan, the Philippines… more
Aug 08, 2011
Reed Exhibitions’ Aluminium China broke all previous attendance records at its recent show, with 11,282 visitors from 83 countries and regions, a 25-percent jump from the 2010 edition. Of the visitors, 1,244 were international – 76 percent more than last year.
In addition, 420 exhibitors were on the exhibit floor in July at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
For the first time, Aluminium China, which represents the complete industry supply chain for Aluminium, was collocated with Industrial Materials China, featuring copper, magnesium, green processing methods and… more
Aug 08, 2011
Companies across the Asia-Pacific region recently made executive management changes, including United Business Media Asia, Messe Duesseldorf, Marina Bay Sands and SKYCITY Entertainment Group:
Here are several announcements:
United Business Media Asia promoted Mike Tan to the position of senior vice president Aug. 1. Tan began his career in print publishing and joined UBM Asia in 1995 as a magazine publisher. Since then, he has undertaken a wide variety of management tasks, including as general manager for UBM Asia's China business based in Shanghai, general manager for the trade… more
Aug 08, 2011
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that Hong Kong’s overnight MICE arrivals increased by 10 percent year-on-year to 725,779 in the first six months of 2011. According to HKTB, the growth of MICE arrivals can be attributed to record-breaking numbers of participants at large-scale conventions and exhibition during the period.
Of those 725,779 arrivals, 43 percent or 310,913 were from mainland China, which grew 15 percent year-on-year. South and south-east Asia arrivals also recorded significant growth, rising 11 percent to 116,788. European, African and the Middle Eastern… more
Aug 08, 2011
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) announced a US$67,000 sponsorship fund has been set-up to assist MICE venues applying for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) green certification within this year as well as in 2012.
The bureau is working with the Thai Industrial Standards institute to launch an Energy Management Certification (ISO 50001) that would improve the standard of MICE venues in terms of their environmental impact.
Akapol Surasuchart, president of TCEB, commented that TCEB will cover 70 percent of the consultancy fee involved for each venue… more
Aug 08, 2011
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) reported the attendance of 950,000 visitors at its recently concluded 22nd edition of the Hong Kong Book Fair, an increase of 3 percent, compared with 2010. One of the largest events of its kind in Asia, the week-long event was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and ran July 18-24.
The fair is a public event with exhibiting categories ranging from books and publications, e-Books and software to stationary. A record 526 exhibitors from 24 countries and regions featured at this year’s fair. The large visiting… more
Aug 07, 2011
The American Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting & Exposition, on tap Aug. 6-9 in St. Louis, attracted 5,400 total participants, which was slightly more than the 5,270 participants that came to last year’s event in Los Angeles.
“We surpassed Los Angeles last year, and we’re really excited about that,” said Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, at a press conference on the meeting’s third day.
There also were 672 booths and 400 companies on the showfloor at America… 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.