CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE Make Giving Back Part of Their Culture
March 16, 2017
The trade show industry is no stranger to teaming up with charities and demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility, and one recent Las Vegas-based trade show went out of its way to exemplify that dedication to helping those in need.
As the world’s largest trade show and conference for the construction industry, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE showed its solidarity with U.S. military veterans by hosting several fundraising events during its most recent event, held March 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Hosted charity events included a benefit concert, as well as a live and an online auction dedicated to helping The Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit organization that helps veterans secure high-quality jobs after their service.
With many veterans working in the construction and manufacturing industries, joining forces with the Endowment not only made sense for the show but also enabled its audience to help combat the high unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans, reported to be 2.6 times greater than the national average.
“While our industry has given to numerous worthwhile causes over the years, in 2015 we collaborated with The Call of Duty Endowment for the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition Benefit Auction, raising more than $29,000 to help connect military veterans with quality jobs,” explained Sara Truesdale Mooney, CONEXPO show director and vice president of exhibitions and business development for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, which owns and operates the show.
She continued, “Because many veterans work in the construction and manufacturing industries and the skill set they bring is a great fit for the many opportunities in our industry, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE teamed up again with the Endowment as the official charitable partner for the 2017 event.”
About 2,000 show participants harnessed their spending power for good by flocking to see legendary rock band Foreigner perform at the Brooklyn Bowl on the Las Vegas Strip, while many also participated in the live and silent auctions, helping to collectively raised more than $100,000 for the Endowment.
“These new benefit events offered the opportunity for CONEXPO-CON/AGG participants to not only network and have fun but also rally together as a construction industry community to raise funds to support military veterans,” Mooney said.
Many attendees expressed their enthusiasm for supporting a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of people who have sacrificed so much for their country, according to AEM officials.
The association already is considering another partnership with the Endowment, this time at the upcoming ICUEE Demo Expo, set for Oct 3-5 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
“We’re so grateful for CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE’s remarkable support of our veterans,” said Dan Goldenberg, executive director of The Call of Duty Endowment
He added, “Every dollar received by the Endowment will go directly towards the most effective and efficient veteran job counseling services in America. These will be dollars well-spent.”
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.
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