SMG Tapped to Manage, Run North American Sales for New Massive Shenzhen, China-based Venue

October 14, 2017

Convention and entertainment venue management SMG unveiled at a press conference during IMEX America this week in Las Vegas that they will launch North American sales for the Shenzhen (China) World Exhibition & Convention Center.

The company was selected to manage the new venue, which will become one of the largest exhibition and convention centers in the world.

Besides announcing the sales and management news, SMG also is celebrating its 4oth Anniversary this year.

“I couldn’t be more excited about celebrating with Shenzhen,” said Gregg Caren, SMG’s executive vice president of convention and exhibition centers.

Shenzhen World joins SMG’s network of landmark venues, including Moscone Center in San Francisco, McCormick Place in Chicago and Enercare Centre in Toronto.

The expansion into China is a significant achievement in SMG’s 40-year history.

“This new venture in Shenzhen is a great way to celebrate our 40th anniversary,” Caren said. “We look forward to further international growth and success that reflects the unique combination of resources, relationships and expertise we have developed throughout our history.”

With Shenzhen World, SMG plants a major flag in China’s growing trade show market. The design of the venue calls for 4.3 million square feet of exhibition space and another 500,000 square feet of flexible convention and meeting space in Phase 1.

An additional 1 million square feet of exhibition space will be built in Phase 2. Shenzhen World will be about twice the size of McCormick Place, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America.

Located in China’s “Silicon Valley” with easy access to Hong Kong and Macao, the fast-track project is under construction with 30,000 workers on-site.

The first phase is targeted for completion in 2019.

“We are excited to work with SMG to build Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center into a global venue benchmark,” said Sun Chengming, chairman of China Merchants Shekou Holdings (CMSK), the project’s co-developer along with OCT Group. Shenzhen World joins SMG’s global network of more than 75 convention, exhibition and conference centers that each year host more than 30 million people.

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.