News
Mar 02, 2020
The COVID-19 coronavirus has now caused more than 3,000 deaths worldwide from a confirmed 89,253 cases. As this outbreak continues to lead to cancellations and postponements of business events, use these resources to stay informed on the latest news.
IAEE
Access the organization’s official statement as well as evolving resources on understanding novel coronavirus’ impact on the industry.
SISO
The Society of Independent Show Organizers is collecting resources and statements here addressing shows that are canceling or rescheduling, as well as news updates directly impacting events.
UFI… more
Feb 28, 2020
Reed Exhibitions has acquired two signature events from Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) — the North American-based ITS World Congress and Annual Meetings — bringing together two respected names in the events and mobility industry.
ITS American will continue to lead, manage and deliver content for both events, while Reed plans to bring its global reach and resources to ITS America members and stakeholders through personalized matchmaking, marketing and lead-gen opportunities for exhibitors.
“I am delighted to announce this landmark acquisition and look forward to… more
Feb 27, 2020
The first quarter of 2020 has been a bustling time for the trade show industry, with event producers and solutions providers signing a bevy of new clients and renewing deals. Here are some of the latest:
Corcoran Expositions Lands Five New Shows
Independent trade show organizer Corcoran Expositions recently signed trade show management agreements with five events. They include three American Society of Microbiology shows: Clinical Virology Symposium, ASM Microbe 2020 and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS 2020), as well as American Geophysical Union’s… more
Feb 26, 2020
Ripples from the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus continue to be felt by the meetings industry. Today, Reed Travel Exhibitions announced that it has postponed the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. Originally scheduled for Apr. 6-8, the event has been rescheduled to Apr. 13-14, 2021. The location (Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands) will remain the same.
According to Reed officials, the decision was made based on the latest advice from its partners, and after in-depth discussions with customers and hosted buyers regarding the coronavirus.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Shane… more
Feb 26, 2020
When I first learned about Chicago Planner Master Class, I was intrigued. Put on by Ateema Media & Marketing, this series of events designed specifically for professional event planners and event marketers isn’t a typical talking-head education session or a loose networking opportunity. Instead, events (which take place several times a year) are structured as a brief introduction from a partner sponsor followed by 10 roundtable discussions on topics pre-selected by attendees.
I attended my first one last week and not only did I learn a lot, I was also impressed with the layout and flow… more
Feb 25, 2020
InfoComm 2020, the largest professional audiovisual expo and conference in North America, is gearing up to introduce the Live Events Experience (LEX), a new showfloor feature and interactive tech platform designed to connect and inspire the live events community.
The LEX Stage will feature a wide array of event AV technology at this year’s InfoComm, set for June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees will see stage performances, get behind-the-scenes access to an interactive tech area, and hear technology professionals discussing top-of-mind industry topics, according to… more
Feb 24, 2020
The latest round of people announcements is all about girl power. Check out the latest promotions, new hires and appointments of (mostly) women across the industry this month:
Catherine Chaulet is now president and CEO of Global DMC Partners, a network of independently owned destination management companies. Serving as president of the company for six years, her promotion to CEO came as a result of her strong leadership skills.
Julie Coker, president and CEO of Philadelphia CVB, will depart from her role in March to take on a new position as president and CEO of San Diego Tourism… more
Feb 21, 2020
The ever-expanding tourism market is getting two new shows this year, one geared toward consumers with a job fair component, and one for business events professionals. Take a look.
Exceptional Experiences in Barcelona
Reed Travel Exhibitions will launch Exceptional Experiences, a two-day conference and ideas showcased on experiential marketing and live events, in Barcelona later this year.
Set for Dec. 2-3 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via conference center in Spain, the show will take place alongside the business events trade show IBTM World and bring together the creative live events community… more
Feb 20, 2020
International Market Centers, the world’s largest operator of showroom space for the furniture, gift, home décor, rug and apparel industries, has launched a new B2B digital and e-commerce division. Dubbed IMC_di (the “di” stands for digital innovation), the new division comes alongside IMC’s acquisitions of two technology companies specializing in the gift, home and apparel industries: Pharos, an integrated sales, marketing and commissioning software; and RepZio, a patented B2B sales platform and digital marketplace.
The resulting e-commerce platform - currently in development - will be… more
Feb 19, 2020
In the wake of the expanding coronavirus outbreak mainly within China, but spreading to other countries by the day, the massive Mobile World Congress in Barcelona decided to cancel its show after a slew of major tech firms pulled out citing safety concerns.
While this event is just one of many global trade shows grappling with coronavirus concerns, fears of the COVID-19 virus are not stopping major U.S. trade shows from going forward as planned — but with some extra precautions.
TSNN reached out to several shows on the U.S. trade show calendar in the next few months to find out how they… 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.