News

Green building trade show, Ecobuild China, reported the participation of 127 exhibitors and more than 15,000 visitors at its inaugural edition held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).   Organised by UBM Sinoexpo, a subsidiary of UBM, Ecobuild China was held from 9th to 12th April this year concurrently with building and construction trade show, Expobuild China 2012. The shows featured a total of 418 exhibitors and 42,600 visitors over 54,000 m2 of exhibition space.   Ecobuild’s portfolio director James Blue said, “Sustainability in the built… more
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has reported a total attendance of 113,488 visitors at its collocated Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), International ITC Expo and Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in April. That represents a 6.4 percent increase, compared with last year’s edition. More than 3,670 exhibitors also participated in the shows that ran April 13-16. The HKTDC also noted that the number of international visitors was 68,899 - traveling from overseas or mainland China.… more
London-based, UBM plc has reported its interim results for the six months ended 30th June 30. Revenues were up 7.3 percent from £474 million last year to £508.7 million in the first half this year. Adjusted group operating profit rose 12.5 percent from £91.9 million to £103.4 million. Online and print revenue combined dropped 16 percent from £101.5 million to £85.6 million. Overall revenues from business in emerging markets jumped 21 percent to £93.1 million, equivalent to 18 percent of total. On the company’s events business, operating profit… more
The New South Wales State Government has recently released an initial concept plan to build a US$968 million convention and entertainment centre at Darling Harbour. First announced in December last year, the venue will be named the Sydney International Convention and Entertainment Centre. According to media reports, the venue includes seating for up to 12,000 people, and a “multi-function exhibit hall” of up to 12,000 m2. The reported building cost of the venue in the announced plan is around US$601 million. Reported events to be held at the centre will range from banquets and… more
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer and the concurrent Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware & Toys reported a total attendance of 1,700 exhibitors at the opening of the four-day trade shows. The show was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre July 4-7. Of the total, 1,300 exhibitors were attending the Hong Kong Fashion Week. The HKTDC reported exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, which included seven group pavilions from mainland China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan. For the… more
Global Sources opened its inaugural China Sourcing Fairs in Miami this week. The three-day trade show ran July 11-13 at the Miami Beach Convention Center and was jointly organised with China’s Trade Development Bureau, which is a part of the Ministry of Commerce. Product categories covered in the show includes Electronics, Baby & Children’s Products, Home Products, Gifts & Premiums, Fashion Accessories and Garments & Textiles. The first edition of the Miami China Sourcing Fairs was also co-located with the India Sourcing Fair, which featured home products and gift… more
After announcing a partnership agreement last month, Reed Exhibitions and Manch Communications announced a further extension to their partnership in India – a new trade show, the India Composites Show, will be launched later this year. The India Composites Show will be held from 1st to 3rd November 2012 at the Pragati Maidan venue in New Delhi and it is expected to attract more than 100 exhibitors at its inaugural edition. The composites market serves many high growth industries including medical, aerospace, defence, automotive, electrical, renewable energy and mass transportation… 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.