News
Nov 04, 2022
NY NOW, the leading national gift and home wholesale trade show owned by Emerald Holding, will unveil a new dedicated toy destination, PLAY USA, to its market, beginning with the 2023 winter edition. PLAY USA at NY NOW will be the first national destination in 2023 for retailers, wholesalers and distributors to source the latest and greatest toy and trend merchandise.
Taking place Feb. 5-8 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, NY NOW 2023 Winter Market’s PLAY USA will showcase toys, games and trend merchandise and will capture the spirit of discovery, whimsy and joy that the products on… more
Nov 03, 2022
Event tech continues to evolve at warp speed, this time through everything from a custom smartphone map app for events, a new attendee-tracking solution powered by AI, an alliance to combine event pods and interactive touch-screen kiosks, and a rebrand of a multilingual event platform. Read on to learn more!
HipMaps
HipMaps, an award-winning, custom smartphone map app for events, businesses and destinations, released a personalized, deeply informative map for the recent IMEX America 2022 show in Las Vegas, demonstrating the company’s ability to design unique maps for events of any size.
“… more
Nov 01, 2022
According to new analysis released on Oct. 6 by U.S. Travel Association economists, the U.S. Department of State’s low prioritization of visitor visa processing is severely hindering the U.S. economic recovery, preventing an estimated 6.6 million potential visitors from traveling to the U.S. in 2023 at a loss of $11.6 billion in projected spending.
Wait times for visitor visa interviews now exceed 400 days for first-time applicants from top source markets, a huge deterrent that is sending millions of potential visitors – including business event delegates—and billions in traveler spending to… more
Oct 31, 2022
With mainstream media overflowing with negative news, it’s refreshing to focus on the positive—in this case, how the trade show industry is giving back to host communities and lending a helping hand to vulnerable populations. Read on to learn how two trade shows and one leading venue management organization are making a positive difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show
When Hurricane Ian hit Florida in late September, hundreds of restaurants and hotels were destroyed by the catastrophic storm and severe flooding. This impact was felt… more
Oct 28, 2022
Despite news this year that has portrayed trade show attendance as being down overall, some events are clearly beating the odds. Three recent record-breakers—PACK EXPO International, PRINTING United Expo and Equip Exposition—are sending a message of overwhelming positivity for the event industry’s future, with attendance surpassing pre-pandemic levels and business booming on the show floor.
PACK EXPO International 2022
Held in person Oct. 23-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago for the first time in four years, PACK EXPO International, the packaging industry’s most important show, drew more… more
Oct 28, 2022
Leading AI-powered translation service Wordly, which launched in 2019, took inclusivity to a new level for IMEX America 2022 in Las Vegas, enabling thousands of attendees to engage in education in the language of their choice, in addition to announcing Cvent integration, six more language options, on-demand transcript translation and expanded developer APIs.
Wordly, which recently topped 200 million minutes of live translation on its platform, making it the first SaaS solution designed for meetings and events to reach this milestone, was the official translation provider for IMEX America,… more
Oct 27, 2022
As inflation soars across the world, making staples such as food, energy, clothing and household items more expensive, U.S. trade show organizers are also facing their fair share of price challenges. Costs for event aspects such as transportation, hotels, venues, food and beverage, speakers and labor, to name a few, are rising nationwide and globally.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in September, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.2% over the prior 12 months, and in July, the CPI was the highest it had been in four decades, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.… more
Oct 25, 2022
When it comes to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the global events industry has a lot of work to do, according to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study. Released on Oct. 11 in partnership with EIC’s global Equity Task Force, created in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry, the study signifies the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan.
While there is an ever-growing awareness and commitment toward equity in the industry, survey scores reveal widespread DEI… more
Oct 24, 2022
More than 13,000 label and package printing industry professionals hailing from 77 countries flocked to the recent Labelexpo Americas, held Sept. 13-15 at the Donald E Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. With the key theme of digital transformation, the biennial trade show and conference focused on the latest developments in digital label printing and embellishment, along with sustainability and workflow automation.
Owned and produced by Tarsus Group, the show is one of seven Labelexpo trade shows and conferences in the Labelexpo Global Series that are held in different markets… more
Oct 20, 2022
MeetingPlay + Aventri, two leading event tech companies that merged in January, and in June acquired eventcore, which provides customized registration and other event tools, has consolidated the three entities under the new name Stova.
The company unveiled the new brand during IMEX America 2022 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where its staff was out in full force at their newly minted exhibit booth.
With the consolidation of three major event technology pioneers, the company is designed to be the most comprehensive platform in the industry for delivering exceptional on-site… more
Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started.
Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind.
“Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for."
What’s New – AT&T Discovery District
Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall.
Hotels Coming Soon
Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond.
JW Marriott
This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.
InterContinental Dallas
Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.
Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.