Apr 19, 2012
Put together thousands of creative, like-minded buyers and sellers dedicated to an innovative industry undergoing a digital revolution and serious business is sure to occur, recession or no recession.
That’s exactly what took place at the National Association of Broadcasters’ NAB Show, the world’s largest annual electronic media trade show and conference for broadcasters, digital media and entertainment professionals, held April 14-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Despite the fact that attendance was flat with the year before, NAB boasted an uptick in exhibitor… more
Mar 22, 2012
The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, which owns the massive SEMA Show for the automotive specialty products sector, bought Performance Racing Industry, producers of the motorsports business magazine and PRI Trade Show.
The transaction is set to close in late March.
John Kilroy, who has 20-plus years of publishing and management experience at PRI, will serve as vice president/general manager of PRI and assume day-to-day operations for the group.
"Steve Lewis launched the PRI concept a quarter-of-a-century ago, as an organization totally dedicated solely to the racing industry… more
Mar 18, 2012
In the final months of last year and since the beginning of this year, one show after another has either shattered previous all-time attendance records or had impressive increases, compared with 2011 events in sectors as wide-ranging as meetings, golf, digital signage, natural products and crafting.
Reed Exhibitions’ EIBTM, a global event for the meetings, events and incentives industry held in December in Barcelona, had record-breaking attendance, following the official results of theshow's ABC Audit – confirming it as the largest audited exhibition in the meetings sector,… more
Mar 10, 2012
From all the smiling faces seen at EXHIBITOR Show, one might be fooled into thinking happy days are here again for the face-to-face marketing industry. Although that might be jumping the gun slightly, things are indeed looking up, according to participants at the 25th annual conference and exhibition for exhibit and corporate event marketing professionals.
Held March 4-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the lively event boasted its second year of growth since the downturn, with approximately 6,011 attendees and 272 exhibitors covering 59,500 square feet of exhibition space, according… more
Feb 19, 2012
Although the retail industry hasn’t fully recovered from the gloom and doom of recent years, there were green shoots of promise growing at Advanstar Communications’ MAGIC Marketplace, the world’s largest trade show for the fashion industry.
Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Feb. 13-15, the biannual behemoth draws global buyers and sellers of the latest trends in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing resources.
Show representatives were unable to release attendance figures by… more
Aug 16, 2017
During the August Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s board of directors meeting, employee Bill Darwin was recognized for his upcoming 100thbirthday in a surprise presentation.
Darwin officially will celebrate the milestone on August 19.
An LVCVA employee since September 2008, Darwin works for the organization’s registration services to help staff various meetings, events and trade shows throughout the destination.
He has worked for 102 shows in the destination via the LVCVA.
“I believe tourism is the backbone of Las Vegas, and I love working at the conventions and meeting the… more
Oct 03, 2016
By TSNN News
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events recently unveiled this year’s recipients of its individual awards program, which recognizes IAEE members and member companies who have made outstanding contributions to the exhibitions and events industry.
The recipients will be honored during Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition to be held Dec. 6-8 in Anaheim.
“It is an honor to recognize the exceptional IAEE members who go above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in our industry,” said 2016 IAEE Awards Committee Chairperson Doreen… more
May 03, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson
After several years working with other host cities, TRANSACT, powered by the Electronic Transaction Association (ETA), returned to Las Vegas for the first of four annual events. TRANSACT 16 drew the highest number of participants for the show in Las Vegas to date.
The show, held April 19-21 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, had 65 new exhibitors on the floor and more than 700 first-time attendees. It also had a record number of countries represented at the show.
TRANSACT 16 represents the world of payments technology; an industry that is growing and evolving on a… 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.