May 10, 2012
A week ago, the trade show industry was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. Below are the memorial and other arrangements to honor Gary. Visitation will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 301 N.E. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804; 407-898-8111. Additional visitation will take place at 10 a.m., immediately prior to the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Northland, A Church Distributed, located at 530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, FL 32759; 407-949-… more
May 09, 2012
Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president for the National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show 2012, remembers the exact day - July, 26, 2011 - she was told the event was going to have to move off of its traditional late-May show dates at Chicago’s McCormick Place for what was then supposed to be the G8 Summit (now NATO Summit) coming to town. “We were 80-percent sold out,” Heftman said. “We saw 8-percent attrition (of exhibitors) at that point.” The show’s dates were moved to May 5-8, but with a lot of hard work by the NRA show staff, the numbers… more
May 08, 2012
To honor the ‘unsung heroes’ of the trade show industry, The Expo Group has launched the Exhibit Manager of the Year Awards. Nominations will be accepted through June 8 and the top exhibit managers will be feted at the TSEA-EACA Red Diamond Congress Gala July 11. Demonstrating value, marketplace engagement and multi-channel initiatives are among the criteria that will be subjectively judged by an independent panel of industry notables. “I personally am eager to hear about the accomplishments of the exhibit managers nominated,” said Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of… more
May 07, 2012
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre recently scored four awards in the national Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Awards for a second consecutive year. The Centre’s wins were across a broad range of categories including in-house AV services, banquet and catering, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility and Education. The venue’s CEO Ton van Amerongen said he “was tremendously proud of the awards which were testament to the skill and professionalism of the Centre’s staff.” He added, “Our team is the fabric of the Centre and it is their… more
May 07, 2012
In a first-time collaboration between Germany’s Messe Duesseldorf and Indonesia-based PT. Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur, INDOPRINT, INDOPACK and INDOPLAS 2012 in Jakarta scored record participation, according to organizers. Visitors mainly attended from Indonesia, Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia and 249 exhibitors from 19 nations presented their latest product developments, applications and solutions for the printing, packaging and plastics industries. Exhibiting for the first time were companies from Italy, Japan, Turkey and the U.S. National groups and pavilions from Austria,… more
May 07, 2012
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013 will head back to Singapore June 4-7 at the Marina Bay Sands. After holding the show in Singapore in 2011, Malaysia the year before and it’s on tap in Hong Kong this year, exhibition organizers decided to take the show back to Singapore next year. “We are excited to bring Asian Attractions Expo back to Singapore in 2013,” said Andrew Lee, IAAPA’s vice president of Asia-Pacific Operations. He added, “Marina Bay Sands provides the ideal convention facilities, and… more
May 03, 2012
In the wake of the economic downturn, one might assume that the environmental movement in meetings, events and trade shows would have slowed or even come to a halt as the industry turned the bulk of its attention to financial survival. But surprisingly, if anything, the green movement has continued its forward momentum despite the recession, with no sign of stopping. So what’s the main driver? Many shows, companies and organizations have realized that going green just makes smart business sense. “The environmental movement in our industry has increased and become more mainstream… more
May 01, 2012
Billed as “The World’s Biggest Trade Fair for Lighting and Building Services Technology” Messe Frankfurt’s biannual Light+Building drew a whopping 196,000 attendees in late April to the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. Attendance at the 2012 event was up 7 percent, compared with the 2010 show, which drew 183,111 attendees. The increase in attendees came nearly as much from abroad as they did from inside German, with 44 percent coming from overseas, according to Messe Frankfurt show officials. “Light+Building is the world’s biggest trade fair for… more
May 01, 2012
Tarsus Group’s Trade Show News Network (TSNN) is pleased to announce the release of the 2011 TSNN Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States. Culled from show management and data supplied to TSNN, the list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage.  The full list can be found at http://www.tsnn.com/datasite-us It likely comes as no surprise that the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG scored the top spot on the 2011 list, with a massive 2.4 million net square foot showfloor at the… more
Apr 30, 2012
The Graphic Arts Show Co., producer of the global PRINT 13 tradeshow and conference, and CPP Expo-the Converting and Package Printing Expo will be collocated for the first time Sept. 8-12, 2013, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The agreement brings together one of the leading converting and package printing expo with the graphic communications industry’s global exhibition. “As GASC shows continuously adapt and evolve to provide the greatest value for show goers representing 12 key market segments and our exhibitors, a record 50 co-located industry conferences, meetings and… more
Partner Voices
One of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip just got an upgrade. Mandalay Bay has everything that your business needs from a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, to an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're looking for a venue that's both inviting and innovative, you have to be here. New Wave Experiences Mandalay Bay continues to invest in a new wave of enhancements both in the convention space and within the resort as a whole. New restaurant openings including Orla by Michael Mina, drawing inspiration from the award-winning chef’s childhood in Egypt and with flavors and décor inspired by the spices found in markets common to coastal Mediterranean towns, as well as Caramá by Wolfgang Puck, bringing the essence of Italy and spirit of Wolfgang into one concept, are recent additions. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas also experienced a recent remodel of all 424 rooms. Swingers, a high-end, adults-only golf and entertainment concept will debut in Fall 2024. Enhanced Technology Creating a truly effective conference venue requires careful thought into what a business needs: the right technology, capacity, and inspiration to bring ideas to the next level. As part of the resort’s refresh, Mandalay Bay implemented state-of-the-art technology upgrades, installing cutting-edge Cat6A Ethernet cabling throughout the convention center. This advancement doubles the frequency of data transmission, enabling lightning-fast speeds up to 9400% faster. The convention center now boasts 11 dynamic digital walls, spanning up to 24' x 13', strategically positioned for brand placements, sponsorships and targeted event messaging. Additionally, attendees can benefit from 20 double-sided 55" mobile flexible display units, facilitating effortless navigation to meeting rooms and events. RFID locks were installed on all meeting room doors, and over 200 motion detection cameras have been placed throughout the space. Refreshing New Design & Fine Art The newly remodeled convention space provides a bright and vibrant atmosphere that complements Mandalay Bay's tropical-inspired brand. Featuring white-washed walls and ceilings adorned with bold floral patterns in cerulean and coral tones, the space is complemented by warm walnut accent walls. In addition to the redesign of all pre-function spaces, meeting rooms and ballrooms, Mandalay Bay's 1 million square feet of exhibit space has undergone a rejuvenation, including new paint, covered pillars and relocated strobe lights. Sustainable Spectacles Mandalay Bay is committed to Focused on What Matters and creating more responsible meetings. Refillable water stations all available around the resort, cutting unnecessary plastic usage from single-use bottles. The Mandalay Bay campus’ recent upgrades represent a bold step forward in redefining the Las Vegas experience. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled service, Mandalay Bay sets a new standard for excellence in business hospitality. Whether you're seeking cutting-edge conference facilities, world-class dining options, or simply a luxurious retreat, an unparalleled meeting experience awaits.