News
Jul 09, 2015
UBM Canon, which produces a series of medical design and manufacturing events, joins with UBM Mexico to announce the launch of a new trade show in Mexico.
The first Advanced Manufacturing Expo Mexico will take place Nov. 15-17, 2016, at the Centro Banamex in Mexico City.
UBM Canon will leverage its history of producing advanced manufacturing events, with collocated expos for powder and bulk solids, plastics, packaging, automation, design and manufacturing, and quality, in various venues across the United States and Canada.
UBM Mexico will bring its experience in the… more
Jul 08, 2015
Trade Show News Network will celebrate Britton Jones, president and CEO of Business Journals Inc. (BJI), as the TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree at the 6th annual TSNN Awards Nov. 6-8 in Atlanta.
“I am truly honored to be named TSNN’s 2015 Industry Icon Award honoree. I am tremendously blessed to work with incredibility insightful, talented and dedicated people,” Jones said.
He added, “We work in an environment that fosters creativity and real innovation. To me, this award is wonderful recognition of the impact and significance of our collective efforts to move the events… more
Jul 08, 2015
UBM Asia promoted Margaret Ma to vice president of UBM Asia, starting July 1, and she will become a UBM Asia board member.
Ma joined UBM Asia in April 2009 as managing director of UBM China (Shanghai). She started this subsidiary from scratch and developed it into a company, which will be generating US$65 million in revenue this year.
She was the person who sourced and completed one of UBM Asia’s most successful acquisitions in the last 15 years, namely the Shanghai International Children-Baby-Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China).
To be held July 22-24, CBME China 2015 will cover all the… more
Jul 08, 2015
The organizers of Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology (SIBT) have confirmed they will collaborate with China Smart Home Industry Alliance (CSHIA) to launch a new technical fair – Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) this fall.
The debut show will be held concurrently with its sister event, SIBT, from Sept. 23-25 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Shanghai.
The two shows are expected to host 280 exhibitors, utilizing 15,000 square meters of exhibition space. In total, 18,000 visitors are expected from a wide range of sectors, including system integrators,… more
Jul 08, 2015
Due to increased exhibit space demand, ProWine China 2015 will occupy 2 exhibition halls, increasing the exhibition area by 20 percent, compared with the show’s last staging in 2014.
This leading trade fair for wines and spirits in China will take place Nov. 11-13 in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
France remains the largest participating country, followed by Italy, Spain and Argentina. The size of the Hungarian pavilion increased by 50 percent, compared with last year. This year, a group stand from Romania will debut at ProWine China.
Since wine education is a main approach to… more
Jul 08, 2015
UBM Asia, a subsidiary of UBM plc, has concluded its China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shenzhen (Shenzhen Fair) with more than 10,400 buyers attending the show.
Now in its 13th edition, the Shenzhen Fair was held from 20th to 22nd April 2015 at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center (SZCEC). A total of 10,458 visitors from 66 countries and regions participated and 409 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions showcased their products at the three-day show. The top buyers (excluding those from mainland China and Hong Kong) were India, Taiwan, Russian Federation, the… more
Jul 08, 2015
After launching events in in Ibiza, Los Angeles and Singapore, the International Music Summit (IMS) will launch its first Chinese edition later rthis year.
IMS China will be held on 2nd October 2015 in Shanghai. The venue will be announced at a later date. The event, as part of the Budweiser Storm Electronic Music Festival 2015, is expected to be one of the largest electronic music festivals in China. It will include panels, interviews, speeches, workshops and tutorials.
Ben Turner, IMS’ co-founder, said: “It’s just one aspect of our push and support of the Asia-Pacific region. IMS Asia-… more
Jul 08, 2015
The WTM Portfolio, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, will launch two mew events in Malaysia and China next year, under the new brand, WTM connect.
The new events will serve the growing Asian leisure travel markets and provide a platform for exhibitors to meet with elite hosted buyers. The event in Malaysia, WTM connect Asia, will be held at the Eastern Oriental Hotel in Penang in May 2016 and WTM connect China, will also be held in May 2016 in Sanya, Hainan Island.
WTM Portfolio, Director, Craig Moyes, commented, “We are delighted to be able to take the WTM Portfolio to Asia and China, with… more
Jul 08, 2015
The ongoing MERS outbreak in South Korea has resulted in Taiwan’s government issuing a travel advisory covering all of South Korea – not only Seoul. In addition, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister, publicly advised Malaysians not to travel to South Korea.
According to a TTG Asia article, flight cancellations to South Korea continue to increase at a double-digit rate. Bookings from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have fallen the fastest. Japan is the only market in Asia that has not recorded a drop in flight bookings.
Business and corporate travel numbers are reportedly holding up well compared to leisure… more
Jul 07, 2015
Even with Greece throwing the Eurozone into uncertainty and the China stock market dipping precipitously, the trade show industry in these two regions, and the majority of others worldwide, is reporting positive gains, according to UFI’s 15th Global Barometer survey.
An average of 6 companies out of 10 declared increases in their businesses.
When compared to 2014, the situation is stable for the Americas and Europe, but it reflects a slight slowdown in Asia/Pacific or Middle East and Africa, who had higher levels of growth in 2014.
However, both the United States and China outperform their… more
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.