Las Vegas Celebrates Trade Show Success

Las Vegas kicked off 2023 with some of the largest trade shows in the world, once again proving the power of face-to-face and the city’s designation as the number-one trade show destination in the U.S.

The world’s most influential technology event, CES 2023, which took place in Las Vegas in January, exceeded expectations and returned to six-digit attendance for the first time since the pandemic. With over 115,000 attendees, it featured 3,200 exhibitors showcasing the latest in tech on over 2.2 million net square feet of exhibit space across the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), The Venetian Convention and Expo Center and ARIA Resort & Casino.

“The innovation unveiled this week will drive economic growth and change in meaningful ways to improve our lives and create a better future for the next generation,” said Gary Shapiro president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association that owns and operates the show.

The annual Design & Construction Week brought over 200,000 residential construction and design industry experts to Las Vegas for several co-located shows, including Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), International Builders’ Show (IBS), the National Hardware Show (NHS), The International Surfaces Event (TISE) and the Las Vegas Winter Market.

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) welcomed over 52,000 professionals and delivered the largest event in its history, marking the second year of the expanded showfloor across The Venetian Convention and Expo Center and CAESARS FORUM.

Fashion was in the spotlight in February during Informa’s MAGIC Las Vegas, PROJECT Las Vegas and Sourcing at MAGIC that took over the LVCC and turned its West Hall Expansion into an elevated, photo shoot-like experience.

“Our attendees come to be fully immersed in fashion and industry,” said Kelly Helfman, president of Informa Markets Fashion. “This year we brought the best new and emerging designers with notable established brands together, provided top-tier industry expert panel sessions, and created opportunities for attendees to network with industry peers.”

In March, Las Vegas welcomed CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023, the largest construction and fluid power trade show in North America, drawing over 139,000 attendees from 133 countries and turning the space in and around the LVCC and Las Vegas Festival Grounds into an exciting showcase of the future of construction.

“Las Vegas doesn’t stay still,” said Dana Wuesthoff, vice president, Exhibitions & Event Services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which owns and produces the show. “Something will be new and different when we come back. We work closely with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and local partners and we’re already planning our 2026 show.”

CONEXPO 2023

Las Vegas is committed to supporting trade shows in sustainable growth by delivering a world-class experience for exhibitors and attendees. Navigating the LVCC campus is fast and fun now with the addition of Vegas Loop at Las Vegas Convention Center, an underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company and featuring Tesla vehicles, that also connects to Resorts World Las Vegas – Hilton, Conrad & Crockfords in the Strip. More stops are scheduled to open soon throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport.

Transportation around the city’s event venues is also streamlined with the Las Vegas Monorail, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the LVCC campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration.

Las Vegas now offers over 14 million square feet of trade show and convention space destination-wide, including three of the country’s largest convention centers, and is poised for further growth as the nation’s top trade show destination.

This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.

Partner Voices

NO WISH IS TOO BIG AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER

Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience. The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact. The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included: AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact

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