2019 TOP Trade Shows List

The 2019 TSNN Top Trade Show List is exclusively sponsored by Expocad and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center.

For a complete 2019 TSNN Top Trade Shows list that includes contact information please contact John Rice jrice@tsnn.com.

* Professional attendee figure includes exhibit personnel

TSNN Rank by NSF Event Event Date(s) Venue
11
International Home + Housewares Show Annual housewares marketplace including products from the kitchenware, cook and bakeware, dinnerware, home decor, gourmet food, cleaning, home organization, kitchen/personal care/household electrics, floor and carpet care, home healthcare and pet supplies.
Organizer: International Housewares Association
# Exhibitors: 2,203
# Attendees: 34,500
03/02/2019 to 03/05/2019
McCormick Place
NSF: 812,135
12
RECon RECon is the global convention for the shopping center industry and provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world. With over 35,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors it is the largest industry convention, making it an unparalleled opportunity to do a year's worth of business in just three days.
Organizer: International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
# Exhibitors: 1,088
# Attendees: 31,337
05/19/2019 to 05/22/2019
Las Vegas Convention Center
NSF: 806,000
13
MAGIC - August 2019 (PROJECT, THE TENTS, MAGIC MEN’S, POOLTRADESHOW, PROJECT WOMENS, STITCH@PROJECTWOMENS, WWDMAGIC, FNPLATFORM, SOURCING at MAGIC) Every February and August, the retail industry convenes in Las Vegas for the United States’ most comprehensive fashion marketplace - MAGIC. Here you will find the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing. From the height of advanced contemporary luxury brands, to the latest trends in fast fashion, MAGIC fuels the business of fashion.
Organizer: Informa Markets
# Exhibitors: 4,697
# Attendees: 76,819
08/12/2019 to 08/14/2019
Las Vegas Convention Center/Mandalay Bay Convention Center
NSF: 777,555
14
World of Concrete World of Concrete is the commercial construction industry’s first, largest and most important annual international event for concrete and masonry professionals across the globe! At World of Concrete, find all the new products, resources, equipment and valuable information necessary to strengthen your business.
Organizer: Informa Markets
# Exhibitors: 1,504
# Attendees: 40,402
01/22/2019 to 01/25/2019
Las Vegas Convention Center
NSF: 773,728
15
MAGIC – February 2019 (WWDMAGIC, FN PLATFORM, SOURCING AT MAGIC, PROJECT, THE TENTS, POOLTRADESHOW, PROJECT WOMENS, STITCH@PROJECTWOMENS, CHILDRENS CLUB) Every February and August, the retail industry convenes in Las Vegas for the United States’ most comprehensive fashion marketplace - MAGIC. Here you will find the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories, and manufacturing. From the height of advanced contemporary luxury brands, to the latest trends in fast fashion, MAGIC fuels the business of fashion.
Organizer: Informa Markets
# Exhibitors: 3,209
# Attendees: 48,000
02/05/2019 to 02/07/2019
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
NSF: 729,429
16
National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest annual gathering of foodservice professionals in the Western Hemisphere. Taking place over four days every May in Chicago, the Restaurant Show brings together over 65,000 industry professionals to discover, learn, connect, inspire and gain the tools needed to innovate and thrive. In 2019, for the 5th consecutive year, the National Restaurant Association Show was the largest in show history. With 2,350 + exhibiting companies from representing 900+ product categories, specialty pavilions and curated features, and robust education programs consisting of focused sessions, culinary demos, celebrity chefs, industry stars, and keynotes, the Show offers everything the foodservice industry needs to increase productivity and profitability.
Organizer: National Restaurant Association/Winsight LLC
# Exhibitors: 2,364
# Attendees: 42,544
05/18/2019 to 05/21/2019
McCormick Place
NSF: 725,869
17
SHOT Show SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show is an American annual tradeshow for the shooting, hunting, and firearms industry. It is the biggest event of this type in the world."SHOT", besides being a general reference to shooting, is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade" (show). The SHOT Show is restricted to members of the shooting, hunting and outdoor trade industry including commercial buyers and sellers of military, law enforcement and tactical products.
Organizer: National Shooting Sports Foundation
# Exhibitors: 2,513
# Attendees: 20,025
01/22/2019 to 01/25/2019
Sands Expo & Convention Center
NSF: 689,010
18
Mid-America Trucking Show The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world. Held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY, the show attracts 70,000+ attendees and 1,000+ exhibitors from throughout the United States and abroad. As the industry’s premier business venue, MATS offers attendees the best opportunity to efficiently research the latest products and services, gain insight into current topics in the industry, and network with attendees and exhibitors from around the world. For exhibiting companies, MATS offers an unparalleled forum to effectively introduce new offerings, increase brand awareness, promote products and connect with suppliers, customers, and prospects.
Organizer: Exhibit Management Associates, Inc.
# Exhibitors: 1,020
# Attendees: 72,584
03/28/2019 to 03/30/2019
Kentucky Exposition Center
NSF: 635,688
19
The NAMM Show NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), established in 1901, is the not-for-profit association that strengthens the $17 billion global music, sound and event technology products industry. Our association and our trade shows serve as the crossroads for professionals wanting to seek out the newest innovations in music, recording technology, sound, stage and lighting products. The show gives the industry a first-look at new innovations offered from the global music product industry and serves as a hub to network, learn and enjoy live music.
Organizer: NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants
# Exhibitors: 1,917
# Attendees: 115,303*
01/24/2019 to 01/27/2019
Anaheim Convention Center
NSF: 616,065
20
NAHB International Builders' Show America’s largest annual residential housing construction trade event for manufacturers and suppliers of home construction products and services.
Organizer: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
# Exhibitors: 1,484
# Attendees: 63,816
02/19/2019 to 02/21/2019
Las Vegas Convention Center
NSF: 609,261
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.