News
Sep 15, 2011
While some trade shows limp along in this economic climate, those representing high growth industries are walking tall – and wagging their tails. Case in point is SuperZoo, an annual trade show and conference for the $46 billion pet industry. Held Sept. 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the event boasted a 15 percent increase in attendance, with 13,000 attendees and 795 exhibitors spanning 137,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to show officials. In 2010, SuperZoo drew over 10,000 attendees and 690 exhibitors occupying 120,000 sq. ft.
So why is… more
Sep 14, 2011
Steven Hacker, president of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events, will leave his long-time post when his contract ends Sept. 30, 2012.
"Having served IAEE since 1992 has been a remarkably rewarding experience,” Hacker said. “IAEE's leadership will now turn its attention to the very important task of finding a staff leader for the next phase of IAEEs' future.”
He added, “Allowing a full year for the process assures members that a very deliberative process will take place, that there will be no disruption to operations and that an… more
Sep 12, 2011
David Audrain, president and CEO of the U.S. division of Germany-based Messe Frankfurt, will step down from his post when his contract expires Dec. 31.
“The last six years here in Atlanta have been a tremendous experience for me, building a remarkable team here that has delivered outstanding results in a most challenging economic climate,” Audrain said.
He added, “We have launched many new successful shows and built a portfolio that in 2012 will deliver the best year in Messe Frankfurt’s history in North America.”
Audrain said he does not have another… more
Sep 11, 2011
The 2nd Annual TSNN Event Excellence Awards (T-awards) three-day weekend will kick off Nov. 4-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel and, besides a C-level conference and a gala awards dinner, the first ever “Best of Show” award will be presented! The deadline for the awards has been extended until Sept. 23.
Also, early registration for the awards has been extended until Sept. 23. Please register at T-awards.
For the “Best of Show” award we are leaving it up to YOU to tell us why you think your show is the BEST.
What made your event so outstanding?
Did an exhibitor at your show break a record and… more
Sep 09, 2011
Just a mere 30 years ago, Cancun – on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico - was an area of virgin forests with few inhabitants, but now, it’s not only been transformed into one of the biggest resort cities in the country, it’s also on the cusp of becoming a go-to place for trade shows.
In order to highlight what Cancun - primarily known for its corporate, meeting and incentive business - has to offer the exhibition market, MTO Signature Tours, a division of Tarsus Advon, recently arranged for a group of show organizers to visit the thriving city.
Show… more
Sep 06, 2011
Trade Show News Network, a division of Tarsus Advon, is pleased to announce the Top 40 Fastest-growing Trade Shows in Attendance and Net Square Footage Growth that will be honored during the 2nd Annual TSNN Event Excellence Awards Nov. 4-6 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
"These trade shows have been selected for grow and innovation by demonstrating an ability to excel beyond the standards of the marketplace,” said Stephen Nold, president of Tarsus Advon. “I am excited to celebrate with the winners as we recognize their achievements."
The winners in… more
Sep 04, 2011
UBM Asia named Wolfram Diener as senior vice president, effective Nov. 1, and Zhang Xue Qiang as managing director of Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co Ltd (UBM Sinoexpo), effective Sept. 9.
As part of his new appointment, Wolfram will join the company’s board of directors and be responsible for driving UBM Asia’s fast-growing business in Shanghai (UBM Sinoexpo and UBM China), Beijing and Hangzhou and will report to Jimé Essink, president and CEO of UBM Asia.
Wolfram also will lead the company’s jewelry portfolio that includes exhibitions in Hong… more
Sep 04, 2011
Germany-based Messe Duesseldorf’s Asia subsidiary plans to co-organize the Indoprint 2012 show, an event for the printing industry, with Indonesia-based show organizer PT Wahana Kemalaniaga (WAKENI).
The six-year-old show – on tap April 11-14 at the Jakarta International Expo - fits neatly into Messe Duesseldorf’s worldwide portfolio that includes drupa - the no. 1 international trade show for the global printing industry, according to Messe Duesseldorf officials.
The 2011 Indoprint show drew 173 exhibitors from 15 countries that showcased their products to 11,245… more
Sep 04, 2011
A record amount of hosted buyers, exhibitors and trade visitors were on hand at Reed Exhibitions’ CIBTM (China, Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition) Aug. 30-Sept 1 at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing, according to show officials.
The three-day event focused on the meetings business in China and attracted more than 4,400 hosted buyers and trade visitors who took part in more than 7,500 prescheduled meetings.
“The response from the local, regional and international meetings industry to CIBTM this year has driven this event to yet another… more
Sep 04, 2011
More people than ever before attended shows at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre during fiscal year 2010-2011, with 5,969,789 coming through the doors of the venue, a 25-percent increase, compared with the prior fiscal year.
The big uptick in attendance was attributed to an expanded portfolio of events, 1,235, that were also held during fiscal year 2010-2011, according to HKCEC officials.
Of those 1,235 events held at the venue, 116 were exhibitions that utilized an average gross exhibition area of 16,272 square meters. Of the 116 exhibitions, 18 utilized a gross area of 30… 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.