From Los Angeles to Germany, trade shows around the world saw higher attendance and larger exhibit floors than previous years last month. Take a look:

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.

Emerald Expositions' board of directors appointed Sally Shankland as president and CEO of the company.

Shankland will assume her new role on June 1 and will remain a member of the company’s board.

Following a Dallas city audit released in January that scrutinized VisitDallas and its president and CEO, Phillip Jones, the bureau announced he is stepping down.

The city of Madison, Wisconsin, while less than half the size of Milwaukee, has a lot of things going for it. For one, it has one of the best farmer’s markets in the United States (visit in July and you’ll see what we mean). It also sits right on Lake Mendota, making it a prime spot for water recreation; ranks among the top five healthiest cities in the country; and has a creative, energetic vibe thanks to University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A primary reason many people attend conferences and trade shows is to meet the right contacts and vendors. To support this need, show organizers across industries are launching formalized matchmaking programs designed to help attendees make better connections and everyone is reaping the benefits.

Last week, Center for Exhibition Industry Research released its 2019 CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2018 exhibition industry and provides a three-year economic outlook for the exhibition industry.

Among the findings detailed in the report: strong acceleration of the U.S. economy, rising from 2.2% growth in 2017 to 2.9% in 2018, representing nine consecutive years of growth.

As publicly funded destination marketing organizations across the country face increased scrutiny over budgets and spending issues, some agencies are finding themselves under the microscope of state and local legislators questioning their ROI and very reason for existing.

International events company dmg events is expanding its suite of hospitality brands and global reach by launching HI Design Americas in the U.S. and The F&B Summit in Oman. Both are niche hospitality sector events focused on connecting buyers and suppliers with personalized business meetings.

Last year was a monumental one for Informa, with the purchase of UBM in January 2018 forming the largest exhibition company in the world. Today the London-based company announced another big change: a new brand identity for one of its divisions. Going forward, Informa Exhibitions will be known as Informa Markets.