Las Vegas is Leading the Way for the Trade Show Comeback

Las Vegas kicked off 2022 with multiple successful in-person events, once again proving the city’s designation as the number-one trade show destination in the U.S., and the importance of industry to the economy.

The world’s most influential technology trade show, CES 2022 returned “home” to Las Vegas in January, welcoming over 2,300 exhibitors at 11 indoor and outdoor venues. It was truly a global event, with over 30 percent of attendees traveling from outside the U.S.

CES 2022

“The CES show floor buzzed with the joy of human interaction and a five-sense innovation experience with products that will redefine our future and change our world for the better,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ that owns and produces CES.

The same enthusiasm was shared by the organizers of World of Concrete that welcomed over 40,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors to the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 18-20.

“It’s great to be here in person. There’s nothing that beats that face-to-face connection and we’re so excited that we were able to do that with our community and be able to bring our buyers and sellers together,” commented Lauren Lamb, vice president of Strategy, Marketing, and Conference at Informa Markets that owns WOC. “Las Vegas provides a full experience for all our attendees and our exhibitors to come and have a great time in addition to maximizing their ROI.”

WOC

Many exhibitors were not only excited to be back together in person but also enjoyed experiencing the 1.4 million square foot expansion of the LVCC facilities. “I love the West Hall,” said Kim Bain, marketing and communications manager at Caterpillar Inc. “We’re all very excited to move here. It’s more spacious and open.”

She was also impressed with the venue’s health safety measures.

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) that also took place on Jan.18-21 had the largest exhibit floor in its history, taking over The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer noted: “This is a very tactile business, and it means a lot to buyers to be able to see and handle our industry’s products in person. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of this SHOT Show.”

SHOT Show

At OFFPRICE, the largest U.S. trade show dedicated to discount fashion that took place on Feb.13-16 at Venetian Expo, retailers came to source available in-stock inventory. Stressing the importance of this year’s show, Douglas Emslie, CEO of Tarsus Group that owns OFFPRICE, commented: “Given the disruption that supply chains have experienced over the past two years, shows like this are more critical than ever, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Our customers appreciate the opportunity to close business in a safe and secure environment.”

Offprice

Since in-person meetings and conventions returned to the destination in June 2021, Las Vegas hosted an estimated 2.2 million convention attendees, showcasing confidence by trade show organizers that events can be held safely and successfully.

Partner Voices
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