Marketplace Events, Reed Exhibitions Continue Growth In B2C Events Space

February 3, 2020

Two leading event producers are expanding their reach in the consumer show marketplace with a popular show acquisition and a launch.

Marketplace Events Scoops Up Cincinnati Holiday Market 

Cleveland-based Marketplace Events, known as the largest producer of B2C shows in the U.S. and Canada, has acquired the Cincinnati Holiday Market from Hart Productions of Cincinnati, Ohio. As the first of the new year for Marketplace Events, the acquisition marks the 13th since the company was purchased by Sentinel Capital Partners in early 2016.  

Held annually at the Duke Energy Convention Center, the 19-year-old Holiday Market features approximately 350 local and regional vendors offering a variety of curated, unique and handcrafted holiday-related goods, gifts, food and home décor items, as well as thousands of shoppers to Downtown Cincinnati each year.

“We know this show has become a beloved annual tradition for many, and I am confident that its future is in very capable hands,” said Hart Productions CEO Vicki Hart, who helped launch, manage and grow the show.

She continued, “The deep industry experience of the Marketplace Events’ team, especially in the areas of marketing and operations, will ensure the show continues to grow and thrive.”

With this sale of its final consumer show, Hart Productions will continue operating as a trade and large-scale event consulting firm leaning on 65 years of industry expertise.

The holiday show acquisition comes less than three years after Marketplace Events purchased the Cincinnati Home & Garden Show from Hart Productions. Since acquiring this home show in May of 2017, the company has grown its attendance by 21 percent, according to Marketplace Events officials.

Toni Garbo, manager of the Cincinnati Home & Garden Show, which runs February 22-March 1, will also oversee the production of the Cincinnati Holiday Market, set for November 13-15 this year. 

“The Cincinnati Holiday Market is a terrific addition to our growing portfolio of holiday shows and a wonderful way for [Marketplace Events] to bring in the new year,” said Tom Baugh, CEO of Marketplace Events.  “Vicki Hart should be lauded for her success in growing one of the best holiday events in the Midwest – in just a few years the show has become a powerhouse.”

He continued, “Just as our Cincinnati team has done with the home and garden show, we look forward to building on Vicki’s success and continuing to grow the holiday show to benefit exhibitors and attendees for years to come.”

Marketplace Events now produces 76 shows in 34 markets including 51 consumer home shows in the U.S., 16 in Canada, six holiday shows, two bridal shows and one spring boutique. Combined, the 76 events attract 22,000 exhibitors, 1.9 million attendees and another 3 million unique web visitors annually.

Reed Exhibitions to Launch Endurance Sports Festival 

Reed

The endurance sports community will soon be getting its own consumer show. Reed Exhibitions is gearing up to launch EnduranceCon, a two-day endurance sports festival set to debut June 27-28 at Long Beach Convention Center in California. The event is expected to attract approximately 150 exhibitors and 8,5000 attendees, and will be presented in collaboration with Spartan, known as the world’s largest obstacle course race and endurance brand.

Designed to celebrate the passion and lifestyle of athletes and enthusiasts at all levels of running, cycling, triathlon, obstacle course racing and other sports, EnduranceCon will feature:

  • New, exclusive gear from leading brands, including footwear, apparel, equipment, tech and nutrition
  • Motivational and educational talks by celebrity endurance athletes on topics ranging from injury prevention to mental endurance
  • Interactive experiences such as sample races, skills clinics and contests
  • Socialization and celebration with fellow enthusiasts over food, drinks, film, art and music

 EnduranceCon’s current lineup of industry sponsors and supporters — who will help promote and participate in the event via competitions, talks, podcasts, on-site activations and a race directors summit — include Road Runner Sports (official retailer),  OOFOS, Conqur Endurance Group (Los Angeles Marathon), Babbitville Radio, USA Cycling, USA Triathlon and Spartan.

At the show, Spartan will host a short obstacle course race for first-timers and its ever-growing community of passionate competitors, while Spartan Founder and CEO Joe De Sena will lead a keynote on the final day of the event.

“Spartan’s global community knows the true meaning of endurance and what it’s like to push beyond what they ever thought possible, which is why working with Reed on EnduranceCon, a unique expo designed to celebrate this superior human quality, is a natural fit,” De Sena said. 

He added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate and build the event into a catalyst for transformation and one of the world’s leading destinations for anyone interested in pushing their boundaries.”

EnduranceCon is the creation of Reed’s 3-year-old LaunchPad division, which works to identify underserved market segments and launch events to meet audience demand while driving Reed business growth.

To learn more, go here

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las Vegas Hotel & Casino recently completed a $63M redesign and remodel of its 1,830 guest rooms and 155 suites. Down the street, Bellagio Las Vegas is sporting renovated rooms in the Spa Tower with sunrise-inspired decor and luxurious soaking tubs in Premier King rooms after a $110-million transformation. Reinvented Luxury Experiences The Luxury Meetings District, made up of Bellagio Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas, is now more connected than ever before. A new interior walkway opened this October for a seamless attendee experience – connecting Vdara, Bellagio, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests can now walk from Park MGM to Bellagio in around 15 minutes. New on the scene in the Luxury Meetings District is Cathedrale at ARIA, TAO Group’s upscale establishment specializing in exquisite French-Mediterranean cuisine offering elevated private dining experiences that opened in May. Heralded by World’s Best 50 Restaurants, GQ and VOGUE, LPM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is opening this fall and will deliver its signature spontaneity and imaginative celebration of France’s Mediterranean cuisine, art, and culture to the unique luxury resort in impeccable fashion.  A “New Wave  for Mandalay Bay A new wave of enhancements and experiences has arrived at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, including Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, an 8,445-square-foot restaurant that opened this June, perfect for pre- and post-game eats and drinks. Event planner’s favorite, Chef Michael Mina’s StripSteak, received a full renovation and now includes one of the largest private dining rooms on The Strip. Retro by Voltaggio debuts a one-year residency with a fun take on pop culture of the 80s and 90s with classic American dishes. An exciting addition planned for 2024 is Swingers, a 40,000-square-foot oasis of street food, miniature golf and art at Mandalay Bay. Most exciting for meeting planners, the 2.1 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center  is undergoing a complete refresh, with lightened space, added eye-catching art, and improved technology infrastructure for even more flexible space. Energy-efficient digital signage now leads the way with faster internet speeds and new AV options. From renovated guest rooms and meeting spaces to celebrated dining options and dedicated teams, MGM Resorts is dedicated to delivering exceptional and innovative meeting experiences.