Reed Exhibitions Debuts Eight New Shows for 2019

May 16, 2019

Reed Exhibitions (RX) is launching eight new trade shows this year across six cities: Chicago; Las Vegas; Orlando; New York; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego. A combination of B2B and B2C, the new events include collaborations with leading media brands and associations, geo-clones of RX global brands and value chain extensions of existing RX events.

“[Launching new events] is an integral strategic pillar for business growth at RX,” says Hervé Sedky, president of Reed Exhibitions, Americas. “We launched eight events in 2018 that will continue in 2019. To date, RX [Americas] has approved eight additional launches for 2019 with further launches expected for 2020.”

In addition, RX is open to collaboration on new show launches for 2020, he added.

RX’s LaunchPad division, created in 2017 to launch events with staying power that will drive RX business growth, appears to have it down to a science.

According to Marie Browne, LaunchPad group vice president, the division is continually conducting sector research to identify growth areas as well as space in the market for new shows that could meet an underserved audience.

“We have a formal process for evaluating these opportunities, which includes a combination of desk research. But more importantly, we interview and survey attendee and exhibitor prospects as well as industry experts,” Browne said.

She continued, “From this input, we determine the best city, venue type and time of year for the event to meet market demand. There are times when we have a great event concept but we may have to delay the event launch until we can secure the right time and location.”

Of the 50 shows that RX owns and runs in the U.S., approximately 16 were launched in the last couple of years, she added.

Here are some of the newest RX shows on tap for 2019:

Racquet & Paddle Sports Show

Held Jan. 23-25 at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and co-located with PGA Merchandise Show, Racquet & Paddle Sports Show is a collaboration with the Tennis Industry Association. This multi-faceted tennis, racquet and paddle sports industry event featured hands-on product demos and an opening welcome party at the USTA National Center. The inaugural year was conference-driven with plans for a large-scale event beginning next year.

Unbound Expo

Co-locating with Book Expo, Unbound Expo will be held May 29-31 at Javits Center in New York City. This curated collection of bookish goods will present merchandise buyers from independent and chain bookstores, museum stores and specialty retailers with a range of complementary products to help grow and expand their non-book offerings.

Outside Experience

Outside Experience will be held July 13-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Produced in collaboration with Outside magazine, which reaches 8 million active lifestyle readers per year, the new show will feature the latest gear and adventure vehicles. It will also offer attendees the chance to paddle on Lake Michigan, demo mountain bikes on an indoor dirt trail and enjoy new adventure films.

ComplexCon

As a curated convention and festival bringing the world of complex media to life in the areas of pop culture, music, art, food, style, sports, innovation, activism and education, ComplexCon Chicago will debut July 20-21 at McCormick Place. The show is a geographic extension of the popular Long Beach event, which is entering its fourth edition in 2019 and attracts 60,000 fans.

Independent Home Improvement Show

Independent Home Improvement Show powered by NHS will be held Aug. 13-15 at McCormick Place. IHIS is designed to connect independent home improvement retailers with leading manufacturers to create personalized, meaningful connections and develop strategic sourcing opportunities.

Functional Fabric Fair Portland

Functional Fabric Fair Portland powered by Performance Days will be held Oct. 22-23 at Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Showcasing the latest trends in fabric development for the functional textile industry, the event is open and complimentary to verified designers, product, purchasing or material managers looking to source fabrics and accessories for sportswear, workwear, sport fashion and athleisure apparel.

JIS West Coast

Designed to target West Coast jewelry buyers, JIS West Coast will be held Nov. 2-4 at San Diego Convention Center. As a trade-only jewelry “buying and selling” event now in its fourth decade serving the industry, the Jewelers International Showcase’s flagship show takes place in Miami three times per year to coincide with U.S. and Latin American buying cycles.

Salon du Chocolat NY

As an event that connects cocoa producers, chocolatiers, pastry chefs and thousands of individuals who are passionate about chocolate, Salon du Chocolat NY will be held Nov. 15-17 at Javits Center. The show will incorporate elements of the world-renowned Paris version of the show (and from 32 cities around the world), including a chocolate fashion show and a full schedule of delicious demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

2020 and Beyond

RX has multiple events in the pipeline for next year, including Equitana USA, which will be held Oct. 2-4 at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The annual event for equine enthusiasts is a geo-clone of EQUITANA held in Essen, Germany, one of the largest equestrian sports shows in the world that attracts more than 200,000 visitors and 750 exhibitors over nine days.

 

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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.