What is the trade show industry going to look like in a post-pandemic “new normal?” That is the burning question the Predict Annual Exhibition Industry Outlook Conference will attempt to answer when it takes place Sept. 13-14 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Produced by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, the 10-year-old event brings together B2B exhibitions industry executives to learn about and discuss emerging trends likely to impact trade shows and trade fairs over the next three to five  years.

“For a decade now, Predict has been a consistent resource for upper-level executives interested in knowing what the future of the exhibition industry holds and strategizing around that knowledge,” said Cathy Breden, CEO of CEIR. “This year’s program will be unlike any other as our industry recovers from last year’s devastating turn of events and looks to how we can get where we need to be as quickly as possible.”

With the exhibition industry suffering its greatest losses and challenges in the past 13 months, the lens through which Predict will be viewing the short-term future of the industry will be unique. According to CEIR officials, this year’s program will take that into account while offering forward-looking information by economic and industry presenters from both within and outside of the trade show industry. 

“This combination of bringing the outside in has made Predict a must-attend event for senior executives over the past decade,” Breden said.

Last year, the conference was held virtually and focused on the economic, geopolitical and social issues and their likely impact into the future. The 2021 conference will once again serve as the only industry conference to present future-forward information to help exhibition executives make strategic business decisions.  

According to CEIR officials, choosing the MGM National Harbor for the conference’s live return was a no-brainer, as Predict was the first event held at the property upon its debut and has been an important partner ever since.

To keep attendees safe, the conference will follow CDC guidelines and any MGM National Harbor policies in place at the time of the conference, according to CEIR officials.

This year, Predict’s partners include:

Collaborator Partners:

International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)

Synchronicities

Associate Partners:

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

New Orleans & Company

Contributor Partners:

CORT Events

Fern

Conference registration will open in early June, with programming to be announced in the coming weeks.

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