Exhibit City News - September/October 2021

EXHIBITORLIVE PREVIEW ISSUE

September/October 2021 • VOL. 27 • ISSUE 5

CAESARS FORUM MAKES SPECTACULAR DEBUT

GIVEAWAYS & INCENTIVE GIFTS BLUE NANO SOLUTIONS ON AIR QUALITY DATA FOCUS CITY: LAS VEGAS

DAILY UPDATES AT EXHIBITCITYNEWS.COM

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As the event industry pieces itself back together, I would like to thank the self-less team at Momentum for holding our great company together.

The resilience of Momentum and the industry will stand strong in the face of adversity.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the many families and companies who suffered great losses.

May the peace of God be with us all, Randy Bott CEO

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TABLE OF CONTENTS On our cover: CAESARS FORUM’s biophilic design and state-of-the-art technology raises the bar for Las Vegas convention centers in its spectacular debut hosting MPI WEC and Cvent this summer.

EXHIBITORLIVE PREVIEW ISSUE

18

September/October 2021 • VOL. 27 • ISSUE 5

CAESARS FORUM MAKES SPECTACULAR DEBUT

28

EXHIBITORLIVE Reboots in October

Exhibitors and attendees are looking forward to the industry’s “Super Bowl”

32-35

Put Some Swagger in Your Swag with Custom Gift Boxes

Virtual, hybrid and in-person attendees all need some swag

GIVEAWAYS & INCENTIVE GIFTS BLUE NANO SOLUTIONS ON AIR QUALITY DATA FOCUS CITY: LAS VEGAS

37

DAILY UPDATES AT EXHIBITCITYNEWS.COM

Shop to Showfloor Section

Feature Story

I&D and Event Labor

38-39

30-31

Blue Nano Tests Air Quality in Real Time

CAESARS FORUM Makes a Spectacular Debut

Blue Nano Solutions’ Sam Stanton on how data can provide attendees confidence in their health and wellness

Columns

40-41

10-13

Q&A Spotlight with IATSE 835’s Kim Keables

Convention Center Snapshot and Las Vegas’ Newest CCs

Las Vegas CC, CAESARS FORUM, Wynn CC, The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, The Venetian Expo & the Venetian CC & MSG Sphere

42

Edlen Electrical Partners with GWCC Authority

14

Edlen is now GWCC’s exclusive provider of electrical, plumbing, compressed air and cable services

As the Saws Turn

We All Bleed Red (for The Randy)

44

16 The Tradeshow Times Is it Time to Panic?

18 Ask an Expert

32

Las Vegas Is Coming Back Strong!

20 International Focus: AIPC A Pledge for Sustainability

22

Outdoor Space Becomes King

46

National Tradeshow Alliance Seeks to Help Industry Recover Up Next is their Dec. 2-31 Virtual Tradeshow Job Fair

48

Industry Advocacy Groups Consolidate & Seek Help

The Global View

GoLive Together’s Final Letter and EDPA’s Call to Action

24

Get Informed Concierge Event Service Hosts VIP Launch Party

United We Stand

The Don & Mike Show

The Don & Mike Show Is Keeping Listeners Up-to-Date

26 Airport Snapshot

Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport

Departments 8 44 54 58 65 73

Convention Center Spotlight

Editor’s Corner Eat, Sleep & Play The D.E.A.L. Regional Show Calendar Industry Service Guide Advertiser Index

6 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

49

Sponsors Booth-o-Rama and the Stirling Club Help Celebrate Launch

50

People on the Move

51-52

In Memoriam Jim Nicoll, Sho-Air International Newport Beach, CA Charlie Musick, Carpenters Local #551 Houston, TX Matthew Harlow, Specialty Freight Mover, Hudson, FL

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EDITOR'S CORNER

Greetings to our readers!

T

hese are certainly the "times that try men's souls." Just when we thought we saw light at the end of the tunnel, it looks like it might end up being a freight train coming at us.

Seriously, it's been so disheartening to see shows being canceled, especially just a few weeks out when everything has been designed, built and sometimes even shipped. These financial hits on everyone are especially dire after the last 18 months.

It's definitely a choice to remain optimistic, and everyone at ECN remains hopeful that these challenging and trying times will end soon.

To that end, we continue to support in any way that we can, members and leaders in the tradeshow, meetings and live events industries—especially the associations like EDPA, EAC, ESCA, AIPC, SISO, etc.; the ECA coalition; the National Tradeshow Alliance; Chris Griffin, Rob Cohen, Kevin Carty, Tommy Goodwin, Laura Palker and so many more. You'll find the latest call to action from EDPA on page 48, and we hope that everyone takes the time to send letters and emails to our legislators. It's time for our industry to no longer be invisible!

On a more pleasant note, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend both MPI's and Cvent's conferences at the new CAESARS FORUM and experience firsthand how a facility reflects the excellence of all those who work there. Be sure to read how the biophilic design that incorporates nature and the outdoors (p. 30) and using Blue Nano Solutions' air quality monitors (p. 38) that give real-time data to building

CSAL

CONVENTION SERVICES ASSOCIATION

AS VEGAS

8 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

PUBLISHER Donald V. Svehla Jr. (702) 309-8023 ext. 102 DonS@exhibitcitynews.com

engineers can elevate and enhance every attendee's experience.

Our EXHIBITORLIVE preview story is on p. 28 as we prepare for our industry's "Super Bowl." As more and more meetings go hybrid or virtual, swag and giveaways (p. 32) become even more important as a way to help attendees feel connected even if they're on their sofa at home.

ECN News Editor Emily Olson interviewed Kim Keables who is not only with IATSE in Florida, she's also a nurse (p. 40). Don and Lisa attended Get Informed's launch party (p. 49) and Christy joined him in Atlantic City for NTSA/ Together Again's Job Fair (p. 46).

Our columnists have their ears to the ground as Jim Obermeyer is hoping to see everyone at the Randy in Atlanta this month, Bob McGlincy takes a rational look at CDC data, Calanit Atia discovers that pool parties are the rage as people prefer the outdoors, Paco Collazo discusses the importance of association membership, and Mike Morrison talks to the experts weekly to keep the industry informed.

ECN sends our deepest condolences to the families of Sho-Air's Jim Nicoll, Carpenters Local #551's Charlie Musick and Specialty Trucker Matthew Harlow (p. 51).

And with Las Vegas as our focus city, we hope you enjoy all the brand-new experiences our home city has to offer.

As Jim Obermeyer always says, “See you on the show floor!” Stay healthy and hope to see you at the Randy and EXHIBITORLIVE!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jeanne Brei (702) 309-8023 ext. 103 JeanneB@exhibitcitynews.com MANAGING EDITOR / GAL FRIDAY Lisa Abrams (702) 309-8023 LisaA@exhibitcitynews.com ART DIRECTOR Thomas Speak Tom@Speak-Design.com NEWS EDITOR Emily Olson EmilyO@exhibitcitynews.com COLUMNISTS / WRITERS Calanit Atia Sven Bossu Paco Collazo Bob McGlincy Mike Morrison Jim Obermeyer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Vince Battaglia Julie Pazina Tammy Severino H.K. Wilson PROOFREADER Emily Olson NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Christy Giambattista ChristyD@exhibitcitynews.com CIRCULATION Manny Chico Mike Morrison

Editor-in-chief Vol. 27, issue 5, copyright 2021 by EXHIBIT CITY NEWS, published six times a year by Mr. Tradeshow Communications, LLC, 1675 E. Desert Inn Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169. Editorial views presented within this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher and no liability is inherent. To subscribe, go to ExhibitCityNews.com or call (702) 309-8023. Reproduction/reuse of this material may only be permitted with expressed permission of Exhibit City News. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to location listed above.

CONVENTION CENTER SNAPSHOT

The Las Vegas Convention Center Location: 3150 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas Year Opened: April 1959 as a 90,000 sq.ft. exhibition hall with a 6,300-seat, silver-domed rotunda Renovations & Expansions: Completed its 14th renovation in Dec. 2000, adding 1.4 million sq.ft. with the new West Hall and an underground tunnel. In 1971, $7 million went to rebuild, remodel and expand; 1998’s expansion increased the center to 1,900,000 sq.ft. and they imploded the closed Landmark Hotel and Casino to add parking; in 2002 they built South Hall, adding 1,300,000 sq.ft., and four bridges to cross over Desert Inn Road; in 2010 they added a Metropolitan Police Substation and a Clark County Fire Station (becoming the only facility in the country at the time with these on-site amenities) and in 2015 they spent $182.5 million to buy and implode the Rivieria.

Ranking: Third largest convention center in the U.S. (after Chicago and Orlando)

PLUS!

Sq. Footage: 4.6 million sq.ft. with approximately 2.5 million sq.ft. of exhibit space, 225 meeting rooms (390,000+ sq.ft.) handling seating capacities from 20 to 2,500. Two grand lobby and registration areas, one in West Hall, and one in Central Hall (260,000+ sq.ft.) with parking for 10,000+ cars. West Hall has a third-floor outdoor reception space.

Where to eat, sleep and play near LVCC p. 44

Fun Fact: The LVCC Loop, the underground tunnel developed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, was designed to shuttle convention attendees throughout the 200-acre campus in all-electric Tesla vehicles and launched in June 2021.

Website: www.lvcva.com ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 11

CONVENTION CENTER SNAPSHOTS

LV’s Newest Convention Centers

By Jeanne Brei Our Las Vegas Convention Center spotlight just wouldn’t be complete without highlighting a few more convention spaces in the city. After all, the Venetian Expo & Venetian CC (formerly Sands Expo & Venetian Congress) is the fifth largest convention center in the U.S. (after Chicago, Orlando, LVCC, and the Georgia World Congress Center) and is a little more than a mile from the LVCC, while Mandalay Bay’s CC is the 10th largest in the country (at 2+ million sq.ft.). MGM Resorts invested $350 million from 2014-18 to expand its meeting and convention space on the Strip by a quarter to more than 4 million square feet. They finished a 350,000-sq.ft. expansion of the Mandalay Bay CC in 2017 and opened a 200,000-sq.ft. expansion of the Aria in 2018.

But this year we’ll feature the brand new venues that had the misfortune to open during a nationwide lockdown: the new CAESARS FORUM and the Wynn Conference Center were both scheduled to open in March 2020, the Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas in downtown was scheduled to open in the summer of 2020; the newly renamed Venetian Expo & CC and its new Stella Studio; and MSG’s Sphere, which was to open this year but has been delayed until 2023. seasons-inspired ballroom carpets and design, and nature-inspired art and photography make CAESARS FORUM an inviting oasis in Las Vegas. You can feel the feng shui in action!

CAESARS FORUM

CAESARS FORUM (adjacent to The Linq, Harrah’s and Flamingo) Address: 3911 Koval Lane (behind The Linq and the High Roller) Sq.Ft.: 550,000-sq. ft. of total space; with two 110,000-sq.ft. pillarless grand ballrooms (world’s largest) and two 40,000-sq. ft. junior ballrooms, and a 100,000-sq.ft. dedicated outdoor Forum Plaza on 29 acres.

Date Opened: The $375 million facility was scheduled to open March 2020; it opened Oct. 25, hosting the 2020 ConferenceDirect Annual Partner Meeting Management: Caesars Entertainment Fun Fact: A covered (and air conditioned) sky bridge lets conventioneers quickly walk directly to Harrah’s, the Linq Hotel and Monorail.

An abundance of natural light, live plants, the four

12 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

Wynn Las Vegas / Encore Convention Center Address: 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd. (site of the old Desert Inn Hotel & Casino) Sq.Ft.: The $423 million addition, which includes an 83,000-sq.ft. pillarless ballroom and a two-story 430,000-sq.ft. meeting

space at Wynn Las Vegas, has more than doubled the property’s rentable meeting area, by 300,000 sq.ft. to 560,000, across 57 flexible meeting rooms.

Date Opened: They opened three weeks ahead of schedule (in February 2020), followed by the lockdown in March.

Management: Wynn Resorts (CEO Matt Maddox) Fun Fact: Floor-to-ceiling windows on both the top and bottom floors of the building offer views of the 17th and 18th holes, including a 100-foot-wide waterfall that is 10 feet tall.

The indoor-outdoor area—a 20,000-sq.ft. pavilion and 20,000-sq.ft. lawn—is breathtakingly beautiful.

Meeting rooms face the golf course and the patio while the views inside include African and Indonesian art, Venetian glass mirrors and 19th and 20th century furniture. Hand-woven, colorful tapestries hang on the walls and “Smiling King Bear,” a pop-surreal sculpture created

by Spanish contemporary artist Okuda San Miguel, is on the patio.

Wynn Las Vegas / Encore Convention Center

The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas

The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas Address: 435 S. Grand Central Pkwy., downtown across from The Smith Center Sq.Ft.: 415,000 sq.ft. (The Pavilions are three interconnected, ground level, column-free exhibit halls totaling 345,000 gross sq.ft. with 195,000 sq.ft. of exhibit space, divisible by two halls, which can accommodate up to 1,000 booths; expansive lobby and registration areas, shuttle bus depot, attached parking garage and food service options.)

Date Opened: Was scheduled to open in the summer of 2020; official ribbon-cutting was held in April of this year.

Management: International Market Centers, L.P. Fun Facts: The $103.5 million investment includes WorldView, a 10,000 sq.ft. banquet room on the 16th floor with wrap-around windows and an adjacent outdoor terrace (SkyView is a 7,000 square-foot rooftop terrace that can be combined with WorldView). There’s also the Grand Plaza, an openair 50,000-sq.ft. venue and 190,000+ sq.ft. of surface lots for staging, event parking or an open-air event. The World Forum and Atrium rooms are also available. @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

The Venetian Expo & the Venetian Convention Center (formerly Sands Expo CC & Venetian Congress Center) Address: 201 Sands Ave. Sq.Ft.: 2.25 million sq.ft. (the largest CC in the U.S. not municipally owned) Date Opened: 1990; at the time it was the second largest convention center in the U.S.—it’s now fifth—and was the only privately owned/ operated CC in the U.S. Management: After Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson passed away on Jan. 11, Vici Properties and Apollo Global Management bought the properties for $6.25 billion in early March, changing the venues’ names as of Sept. 2.

Fun Fact: The Las Vegas Sands Corporation was one of the few companies in this industry with no layoffs or furloughs during the long lockdown as Adelson said he would personally pay his employees if the corporation didn’t. They debuted a new meeting space this year: The Stella Studio—a multi-functional, 8,000+-sq.ft. venue located in The Palazzo tower with a modern minimalist style, natural light and a neutral palette.

MSG Sphere

MSG Sphere at the Venetian Address: 255 Sands Ave., Las Vegas (behind the Venetian Expo & CC) Sq.Ft.: At 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide, it will be the largest spherical structure in the world with approximately 875,000-sq. ft. of interior space. Developers say its fully programmable 580,000-sq.ft. LED exterior will be the largest LED screen in the world. It will have a scalable capacity of approximately 17,500 seated to 20,000 with a mix of seated and standing Opening Date: Opening has been pushed back to 2023

The Venetian Expo & the Venetian Convention Center

Management: Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., which was leasing the land for the arena from the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Fun Facts: The main venue bowl will feature the highest resolution LED screen on Earth–a 160,000 sq.ft. immersive display plane that will wrap up, over and behind the audience at a resolution more than 100 times that of a high-def television. The venue’s advanced acoustics system will deliver crystal clear audio to every guest, utilizing a variety of technologies including “beamforming,” enabling audio to be directed to specific locations in the bowl at a volume that remains constant–from point of origin to destination. An infrasound haptic system will use deep vibrations so that guests can “feel” the experience. It’s expected to host attractions, concert residencies, corporate events, award shows, product launches, esports and select sporting events such as boxing, mixed martial arts and wrestling.

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 13

COLUMN As the Saws Turn

We All Bleed Red

L

ately, I’ve been feeling a bit at it, still part of the core team that worn out. And it’s not from puts this event on every year. Still being overworked. I think spending hours and hours and it’s from overexposure. Overdays and days of their own time exposure to the negativity and creating this event. There are divisiveness that has become our some deeply passionate folks on

By Jim Obermeyer nation’s culture. Whether it’s this team. politics or the pandemic—the two bigI joined this team a number of years gest topics in our world for the last two ago because I felt like it was time for me years—there seems to be no end to the to quit bouncing around the outskirts division being created among what used of this thing and get more involved. to be good friends and coworkers.

Little did I know how quickly I would be Everything now seems to be based on drawn into it. what side of the argument you are on.

If you have not heard of The Randy, And I’m just getting tired of it. Is there or what it represents in our industry, I not something else we can focus on that could go into all the details of the history, has a more positive outcome? Is there who the volunteer board is and all the not somewhere we can all come together past recipients, but you can see all of that for a common cause? on The Randy’s website: www.rsmgc.org.

I do believe there is one event every I encourage you to check it out. year where all of us can come together What I really want to do here is enand share the same space and the same courage you—especially right now—to passion for the same great cause—supconsider joining this year’s event. It is porting our industry’s people in need.

Monday, Sept. 27, at the Berkeley Hills The Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic Golf Club in Duluth, Ga., just outside (“The Randy”) is our industry’s way of of Atlanta. helping our people get through some of Over the past 26 years, the Randy Smith the absolute toughest times of their lives.

Memorial Golf Classic has helped more It is amazing to me that the same guys than 170 industry families with financial who started this thing in 1995 to support and emotional support, raising nearly $2 the family of a coworker killed in a car million in the process. It is the exhibition accident after a long shift during setup at industry’s largest charitable event, and it the Sporting Goods SuperShow are still is sponsored by the Experiential Designers 14 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

and Producers Association Foundation.

If you have never experienced this event, let me just say this: You don’t have to be a golfer to be a part of a group of people from all over our industry who gather once a year to show support for our own folks who are in dire need of our help.

Just come for the evening banquet and presentation. You will not leave the same.

It has been said that we really are a small industry, and we really are more like a large family. At an event like this it is also very apparent that there are a lot of people out there who care deeply for this family, and are willing to commit the time, effort and funds to show how much they care.

For me, for the last 16 years I’ve been there, it is the one time when everything else in the world—the competition, the politics and the divisiveness—all takes a back seat to being with friends and coworkers for what is most important: caring for those in our industry who need it. After all … we all bleed red.

Come see this just once. I dare you.

See you on the show floor … and see you at the Randy.

Jim Obermeyer has been in the exhibits and events industry for 39 years, both as a corporate tradeshow manager and exhibit house owner. He can be reached at jobermeyer903@gmail.com.

The Most Rewarding 18 Holes You Will Ever Play Each year for the past 26 years, exhibit professionals have laid down their swords for a day and come together into a mighty force, supported by dedicated volunteers, to do something that wouldn’t be possible on their own.

In the past quarter century more than 5000 golfers and volunteers have raised more than 2 million dollars to provide both monetary and emotional support to more than 200 trade show industry families in need. This year’s 27th anniversary Randy gives you the opportunity to spend a great day and experience the unbelievable feeling of giving back while witnessing something truly special.

Once You Go,Then You Know.

- Michael Boone.

Randy Smith Golf Classic September 27, 2021 Berkeley Hills Country Club, Duluth, GA

www.rsmgc.org Together, We Are Making a Difference.

Together we have helped more than 200 industry families in need. @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 15

COLUMN The Tradeshow Times

is significantly lower than in previous surges.

Is it Time to Panic?

R

What does an analysis of the COVID data show?

The per capita COVID death rate in 2020 was approximately one person for every 1,000 individuals in the U.S. In the U.S., an individual is much more likely to die from heart disease or cancer than from COVID. The total number of COVID deaths in the U.S. in 2020 was 345,323. The ratio of deaths compared to the number of positive tests is very low, and has steadily decreased. A positive test is not a death sentence.

Covid Deaths, Highest Seven Day Average, United States 4000

3,352

3500 3000 2500

2,228

2000 1500

1,229

1000

809

500 0 April 16 2020

reversed course and recommended everyone in high-risk areas wear a mask. A final review of Provincetown cases showed that of the more than 1,000 documented positive tests, there were seven hospitalizations and zero deaths.

That’s the good news. But during this time, the virus was spreading rapidly in states with a larger percentage of unvaccinated people.

During the first surge, New York averaged almost 1,000 deaths a day. California experienced almost 4,000 deaths in one week last January. This August, Florida had 1,127 deaths over a seven-day period; the numbers peaked on August 12, and have started

ecently, a number of tradeshows canceled, citing COVID What about the concerns due to the Delta Delta variant? variant. Is this the time The first reported to panic? No, it’s Delta cases in the not. COVID-19 is U.S. were in Texas serious, contagious in May, and by July and potentially 1, the variant had fatal, but it is not infected people in the end of the world. every state in the U.S. Some say the Delta

By Bob McGlincy Over the July 4 holivariant is “as conday, Delta hit Provincetown, tagious as chicken pox” …

Mass.; the CDC believed the but there have been fewer number of breakthrough COVID deaths this summer. cases there were so numerous And while some shows have and unexpected that they canceled during the past few weeks, many, many more shows have opened, and Comparing Number of Covid Deaths more than 1,000 shows and Highest Seven Day Average, Five States, Four Surges events have not canceled.

1200 The summer 2021 COVID 978 1000 surge has not been as deadly as the previous ones. The 800 Delta variant is more conta600 gious than previous COVID strains, and is currently 400 producing a record number 170 200 108 of positive tests and hospital55 23 0 izations in some states. HowFL LA TX NY ever, at this time, the total 2020 April 2020 July 2021 January 2021 August number of deaths nationwide 16 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

August 1 2020

561

52 CA As of 8/18/21.

January 12 2021

August 18 2021

to come down (although that could change). The number of COVID hospitalizations in Florida decreased on August 15, after steadily climbing and setting new records on each of the previous 14 days.

Safe tradeshows have been happening during the pandemic for more than a year, although most didn’t start occurring until this past spring. Lollapalooza, which closed August 1, attracted a crowd of 385,000, and according to an August 12 Chicago Sun-Times article, there were “203 positive tests, zero hospitalizations, and zero deaths.”

There are more than 800 shows planned between August and the end of the year, and this number does not include myriad hotel shows and regional events. It is critical to live and enjoy our lives, and not live in constant fear of what might happen.

Bob McGlincy is director, business management at Willwork Global Event Services. Willwork creates engaging, energized and exceptional event experiences. He can be contacted at Bob.McGlincy@ willwork.com.

Champion Logistics Group has a transportation divison specializing in the coordination of trade shows and special events. Champion provides the most reliable and flexible trade show transportation in the industry.

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www.BusinessWise365.com ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 17

COLUMN Ask an Expert

Vegas Is Coming Back Strong!

P

ool parties were the goof 10 well-appointed premium to solutions as the first poolside cabanas provides large-scale conferover-the-top amenities, ences looked for outsome of which feature door venues for their private plunge pools, closing night soirees. reflecting the needs MPI’s World Educaof the resort’s most tion Congress hosted discerning guests. The their closing reception pristine waters of The

By Calanit Atia at the new pool deck Venetian pools evoke at The Venetian Resort, and the charm and irresistible Cvent CONNECT chose Drai’s allure of their seaside Italian Beachclub & Nightclub on the influences. The addition of dayrooftop of The Cromwell Hotel beds and chaise lounges within (formerly the Barbary Coast, the pool areas put guests even across the street from Caesars closer to the refreshing water.

Palace). Happy to be back The Venetian pool deck offers enjoying in-person events, the several group buy-out options guests were laughing, eating for events and receptions. delicious bites, dancing the night away and cooling their At the MPI event: feet in the refreshing pool » The night’s theme was a “night water—and were treated to a on the Italian Riviera.” As it was surprise flash mob of splashthe closing night celebration ing swimmers at MPI’s event. and a special fundraising event, The Venetian Resort recently more than 1,200 attendees were unveiled a dramatic redesign treated like VIPs and offered a of its pool deck, setting a new firsthand glimpse of the newly standard in luxury and extraorrenovated resort pool. dinary experiences in Las Ve» Attendees enjoyed curated cuisine gas. Conveniently located withand refreshing cocktails at food in The Venetian hotel tower, stations and pop-up bars that the new pool deck takes design featured a menu inspired by the cues from the Italian Riviera, Amalfi coast. including sculptural art pieces » There were unique musical and quaint gardens, to provide experiences featuring roaming the worldly look and feel of a instrumentalists, a DJ and a busy European escape. The addition dance floor.

18 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

» Guests were treated to a surprise

»

splash mob experience as organizers found a way to utilize the pools during the party.

Throughout the duration of WEC, the MPI Foundation raised more than $130,000 from both virtual and in-person attendees.

Rendezvous brought in the largest amount of funds coming in at more than $90,000.

Cvent CONNECT 2021 brought together meeting, event and hospitality professionals in a hybrid event format of virtual and in-person attendees. Approximately 1,600 in-person attendees and more than 10,000 virtual attendees tuned in for the conference. It showcased the best of both worlds, creating unparalleled experiences for both in-person and virtual attendees. To pull it all off, they put Cvent event technology solutions to work. Cvent believes that there are six foundational pillars to think through when planning a successful hybrid event: Event Marketing, Venue, Content, Community, Sponsors & Exhibitors, and Data & Insights. They used this strategic framework to demonstrate the solutions they’re using and to give their

users/attendees a template to create hybrid events.

For Cvent’s closing night party, they chose one of the premier homes of live nightlife entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip—Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub on the rooftop of The Cromwell Hotel. It has unparalleled views and offers an experience unlike any other Las Vegas nightclub. The 70,000-sq.ft. club features 15 luxury cabanas, 15 VIP booths, premiere bungalows, 40 plush daybeds, stunning pools, four bars and more than 7,000 sq.ft. of state-of-theart digital LED screens. The venue’s 360-degree multi-level, indoor/outdoor experience is reinventing the way guests enjoy Las Vegas nightlife.

Both MPI and Cvent held their conferences at the new CAESARS FORUM, a 550,000sq.ft. conference center, located at the center of the Strip behind the Linq. The Forum has a total of 320,000 sq.ft. of meeting space, featuring the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world, each measuring 110,000 sq.ft. CAESARS FORUM has direct access to 8,500 rooms at Linq, Harrah’s and Flamingo hotels, and the Forum Plaza has 100,000 sq.ft. of multi-purpose outdoor space. For more info, visit CaesarsMeansBusiness. com or CaesarsForum.com These pool parties will be remembered and talked about for years. The events and convention industry is coming back!

Calanit Atia is an award-winning event planner and entrepreneur. Air Force Veteran, founder and president of A to Z Events, Las Vegas DMC and Entertainment Agency, 2021 MPI Advisory Board Member and speaker. She can be contacted at (702) 212-2500 or Info@AtoZevents.com.

&

EXCLUSIVE PRINT PARTNER

Representing buyers and sellers in the trade show and event markets Contact Dan Greene at (708) 650-3343 | dgreene@nolanadvisory.com

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 19

COLUMN International Focus: AIPC

A Pledge for Sustainability

Sven Bossu

By Sven Bossu

I

am writing this column in Waimes, in the south of Belgium, while enjoying some time off with the family.

More than a month ago, floods destroyed several villages only 20 kilometers from where we are. Thousands of people lost their homes, and the material damage is immense. Just as an illustration: 50,000 cars were damaged or destroyed and 155,000 tons of debris have already been collected. It brings climate change and the impact it has awfully close. At the same time there is hope: A sense of urgency has emerged at all levels of the society to address this challenge, including the events industry.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report published mid-August was very clear: Global warming is speeding up AND it is still not too late, if we decide to act now. The COP26, taking place in early November at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow is the moment where the world can say, “It stops here.”

The event industry needs to pick up this challenge. During the AIPC annual conference mid-July, sustainability was high on the agenda. We had several panel discussions with representatives of both the industry and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the conversation continued during coffee and lunch breaks. The message was

Venues which do not have a net zero plan will not attract event organizers nor investors in the nearby future...

20 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

clear: Sustainability is not an option anymore. Venues that do not have a net zero plan will not attract event organizers nor investors in the nearby future. At the same time, we need to acknowledge the efforts already done by convention centers worldwide and ensure that all parties involved in defining sustainability policies are fully aware of these efforts.

Achieving net zero in the event industry is, however, an objective that can only be met if all the stakeholders in the value chain commit to achieving it, hence the need for an industry-wide initiative.

The UNFCCC has already begun such initiatives in other sectors, like sports and fashion, resulting in detailed roadmaps toward net zero with key milestones and measurable objectives to report upon. In their view, the events industry could be the next chapter and the conversation was started with UFI, ICCA and AIPC—three global associations representing a substantial part of the events value chain. Together with the UNFCCC, the three associations created a steering group, composed of nine CEOs from organizations representing organizers, venues and exhibitors.

This steering group was complemented with an operations group, which took on the endeavor of defining a pledge that was inclusive—an element of very high importance to the UNFCCC and a key success factor—and will indeed lead to the net zero objective. By mid-August, the pledge was drafted and ready to be shared with the full event industry for further input.

A lot was learned in the process. The draft pledge evolved from an eight-bullet action list to a four pillar, process-driven commitment. The pledge also takes into account different realities across the globe, when it comes to—for example—switching to reusable energy. And the pledge has the ambition to lead by ambition and statistics, demonstrating progress made in a clear and tangible

way. In a nutshell, the proposed pledge comes down to the following:

» Develop a plan to achieve net zero by 2050 » Collaborate with the other stakeholders in the value chain to drive change

» Measure and track scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions

» Report on progress made

These are very ambitious and much needed commitments, reflecting the very nature of the event industry: driving excellence by collaboration.

We also realized that we needed an industry-wide platform to get an industry-wide commitment. Therefore, the Joint Industry Meeting Council will be used as the platform to collect your input and make the pledge a truly SMART one: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

As always, the success depends on the parties joining. But this time, there is no doubt about the cause, so there is no excuse not to join. Sustainability is the single biggest issue we face, and we can—if we act now—make a real difference. So go to the JMIC website (themeetingsindustry.org), sign up and make it happen. We can.

Sven Bossu was appointed as AIPC’s first CEO in May last year. Prior, he was the managing director for innovation at ESTRO, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and spent eight years at SWIFT, organizing the world-renowned SIBOS conference. Contact him at sven.bossu@aipc.org.

AIPC represents a global network of more than 190 leading centers in 64 countries with the active involvement of more than 1,000 management-level professionals worldwide. It is committed to encouraging and recognizing excellence in CC management, based on the diverse experience and expertise of its international representation, and maintains a variety of educational, research, networking and standards programs to achieve this. For more info, visit aipc.org.

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 21

COLUMN The Global View

United We STAND

Why Belonging to Associations is Key in this Globality

L

ast-minute changes, you get to hang with similar time pressures and achumans who understand and cess snafus aren’t only share the same issues and faced at home—we experience lifestyle. Yes, this live events the same problems everyjob is a lifestyle … don’t where we get to work in you agree? this crazy world.

At my company, One thing I have 95 percent of our discovered in 18 work is now internayears of building tional, and insight is exhibition stands and essential to working

By Paco Collazo taking our clients overseas. Knowing through the exhibition prothe local and cultural landcess everywhere, is that while scape as much as how the local customs and cultures industry works means we are are strong all over the world, able to deliver the same level event professionals experiof service in North and Latin ence a very similar reality America, and now increasingwherever they go. ly in Europe and Asia, too.

It doesn’t matter where we One thing that is clear from are in the world—I think we our travels and work worldall can agree that this place wide is that sustainability has feels pretty familiar, no? to be a primary consideration Like many booth buildfor every project, which is ers, we do much more than why we are investing strongly simply build stands for our in custom modular systems, customers and partners. We and reducing the amount of walk them through the whole wood used in construction exhibiting process, and they (besides it’s fewer headaches are able to take advantage of and less money, so basically our experience working on it’s a win-win-win). exhibitions all over the globe.

It’s reassuring to see this As members of the Experibelief mirrored in other ential Designers and Produccountries, too, and I am lookers Association, ESSA UK ing forward to being able to and IFES, we already know exchange our knowledge and the importance of having an experience with like-mindassociation behind you, and ed exhibition friends from that is why we have chosen to around the world in the next join and be active members in industry events we meet at. three of them. If you haven´t Technology and digital joined, I urge to join an information are changing association—the amount of the exhibition industry very support, new business opporquickly, but the skills and tunities, education, inspiraexpertise required to build tion and most importantly, successful exhibition stands 22 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

that deliver on our customers’ requirements haven’t changed that much. It is simply that we now have new and exciting tools at our disposal. So even after 18 years in the business, and while much remains the same both here and in Europe, we are always learning new ways of bringing about total customer satisfaction.

Our greatest asset is the trust and belief our clients put in us, and that is something that cannot be bought or hired in when needed—it must be built, piece by piece, year by year. We understand that choosing a new exhibition stand builder is difficult, and we believe that by joining any association and

this community of trusted businesses, we can bring the same service enjoyed by our clients anywhere.

So please look for me at the next industry event and let’s share war stories with a drink.

Paco Collazo is the owner & CEO of Atlanta-based Happy Projects, where their passion is “to collaborate with the planet’s top standbuilders, event production companies, agencies and brands to solve all your face-to-face marketing needs from concept to seamless execution.” He worked 13 years in the family business, ending as a sales and project director at SISTEXPO (Sistemas de Exposicion), a full-exhibit/event house based in Mexico. Contact him at paco@ happyprojects.us.

SCAN ME!

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ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 23

INDUSTRY PODCAST

The Don & Mike Show Is Keeping Listeners Up-to-Date

by Mike Morrison

I

f there was a phrase that could be stamped on the tradeshow, live event and experiential marketing industries in today’s world, in today’s time frame and for the immediate future, that phrase would be, “Don’t know!” Just when things appeared to be in a turnaround mode and shows, businesses and activity in general was appearing to be on the mend from a very disappointing 2020, a new Delta variant of COVID -19 emerged, lockdowns are on the rise along with show and event cancellations, and with each passing day, the number rises.

August rolled into existence with announcements of tradeshow and conference cancellations across the U.S. as uncertainty hovered over the

rise in COVID cases, and as the month rolled on, the count grew exponentially.

As if we were in a déjà vu mind warp, states started mandating mask wearing, requesting social distancing, talking of COVID vaccine requirements and more. A number of states, mainly in the southeast and south, held on tight to their refusal to require any changes, and, as we roll into the third and final quarters of 2021, our industry’s success or failure may be determined by a roll of the dice—with shows moving forward in many cases, while some major cities are requiring their citizens to show vaccine proof in order to enter many businesses. The future is questionable for sure.

That being said, The Don and Mike Show has continued to bring to our listeners up-to-date activity from around the nation with guests who speak on the issues at hand, like Circle’s (Omnichannel Guest Experience Agency in Las Vegas and sponsor of the show) interview on ESG (Environmental, Governance and Social) and how it is expected to play out for the future for businesses; Fusion Staffing’s Jane Gentry on how companies should change their ways in staffing protocols; Employco’s Rob Wilson’s views on how HR will change for the future and the all-important discussions on advocacy for our industry with Chris Griffin and Tommy Goodwin from ECA, among other topics and interviews that aired.

Don & Mike interviewing Rich Johnson

As one looks at ECN’s Tradeshow Calendar (ExhibitCityNews.com/Tradeshow-Calendar), the majority of the anticipated and projected revamp was to take place starting in September through the remainder of the year. While some shows have been canceled, a large number still remain intact as hybrid events, expecting fewer in-person attendees but still opting for both in person as well as a digital presence.

We will stay on top of these developments as we roll further into 2021. Mask mandates and social distancing protocols are expected to play a part in the continuation of shows in 2021. Here is hoping the industry hangs on a little while longer and maybe things will get better. For the sake of the industry, I hope they don’t get worse!

In the meantime, be sure and join us at the Randy on Sept. 27 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club outside of Atlanta. The Don & Mike Show will be broadcasting live!

Mike Morrison is the national sales director for WS Displays as well as co-host and producer of “The Don & Mike Show” podcast, now closing in on 200,000 listens.

Contact him at thedonandmikeshow@gmail.com or mike@ wsdisplay.com. For more info, visit TheDonAndMikeShow.net.

The Don & Mike Show can be heard on Fridays at TheDonAndMikeShow. net; ExhibitCityNews.com; Facebook (www.facebook.com/DandMshow); LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/ groups/12096643/); Twitter (twitter.com/DonAndMikeShow1) and most all podcast platforms, including iTunes, Google, Spotify and more.

24 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

The Omnichannel Guest Experience Agency

THE DON & MÌKE SHOW

Hosted at Circle Las Vegas Broadcast Studio

E1

Maÿ 14

Omnichannel vs Hybrid

E2

June 18

Branding via broadcast

E3

Julÿ 16

Introducing ESG (Environmental and Social Governance) Measuring sustainability, societal impact and corporate governance

E4

August 13

How to grow revenue in the retail experiential sector

E5

September 10

How technology, engagement and measurement are redefining live events

E6

Octòber 15

Redefining the architecture of large scale events

The Don & Mike Show can be heard on Fridays at: TheDonAndMikeShow.net; ExhibitCityNews.com; and most podcast platforms including iTunes, Google, Spotify and many others.

E @DandMshow C groups/12096643 D @DonAndMikeShow1 MINNEAPOLIS, LAS VEGAS, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, BOSTON, NEW YORK

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

WEARECIRCLE.COM

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 25

AIRPORT SNAPSHOT

Photo by Ronda Churchill

McCarran International Airport Location: 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd., Las Vegas, NV Year Opened: Built in 1942, the airport opened to commercial flights in 1948 and was given its current name in 1968 (it was originally called Alamo Field).

Efforts are being made to rename it after Sen. Harry Reid.

Size: McCarran International Airport (LAS) covers 2,800 acres with four runways and two terminals (one and three).

In 2017, it served 48.5 million people making it the busiest year in the airport’s history. It is one of the top 10 busiest airports in the U.S. Transportation: Buses from the RTC service the airport along with taxis, shuttles and ride shares services. The trams only offer service between terminals.

Fun Fact #1: Gaming starts the minute you disembark. McCarran and Reno-Tahoe are the only two airports in the U.S. with slots.

Fun Fact #2: McCarran is home to the third longest commercial runway in the U.S. Only Denver and John F. Kennedy in New York have longer ones. The runway closed in 2014 for a $67 million overhaul.

Fun Fact #3: McCarran is one of the closest airports to the city it serves. Only a short block separates the runway from the Strip.

Fun Fact #4: There’s no terminal two.

It was demolished in 2014 when terminal three was built. The (mostly) international terminal three cost $2.4 billion—the costliest public works project in Nevada.

Website: www.mccarran.com ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 27

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Conference

Lisa Apolinski

EXHIBITORLIVE Reboots in October

BY H. K. WILSON

Perhaps more than any other promising statistic or jammed show calendar, the reboot of EXHIBITORLIVE, The National Conference and Exhibition for Trade Show and Corporate Event Marketing, is evidence that the industry is attempting to come back to life. Happening once again at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, the show will run Oct. 31-Nov. 3.

For more than 30 years, this event has been a show by the industry for the industry, a place where old friends reunite, 28 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

new connections are made and competitors become colleagues. This extravaganza of education and exhibition is an event the entire industry looks forward to each year, and its postponement in March 2020 was a clear sign that the pandemic was real.

This year promises a full lineup of top-notch speakers, fun networking events and a busy exhibition hall featuring companies from Access TCA to Zig Zibit, Inc.

The conference will feature more than 100 sessions and workshops that dive deep into all aspects of face-to-face marketing and management, taking into account the new business environment that is emerging post-COVID. Lisa Apolinski, CEO of 3 Dog Write, is a 20-plus-year industry veteran and a frequent speaker at EXHIBITORLIVE. This year, she will be presenting a lecture based on her latest book, Persuade with a Digital Content Story.

“Digital content is a key component to any digital strategy, but many companies take the power it brings for granted,” says Apolinski. “In my lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 3, we will be diving into the secrets of persuasive digital content, how to use my ‘Six Step Digital Content Story Formula’ to create powerful storytelling and discuss how companies can start today on the road to creating digital content that is a must-read.

This book was recently ranked as one of the top content marketing books in the world to read in 2021 by Book Authority, and I am excited to help attendees unlock the power of digital storytelling … This session is a MUST ATTEND if you are serious about driving accelerated digital growth in your organization.”

Apolinski says that for her, attending EXHIBITORLIVE each year feels like a family reunion. After the pause in 2020, she says she is most excited “to not only see everyone in person, but to see what innovations are being brought to the industry. This industry always brings amazing ways to engage with live audiences, and I am sure there will be new products to engage with as well as virtual ones."

The Exhibit Hall

So far, more than 200 exhibitors representing companies from every corner of the industry are on this year’s Exhibit Hall roster.

Kent Agramonte, marketing manager at beMatrix, talked about why his company values exhibiting at EXHIBITOR-

LIVE. “We view EXHIBITORLIVE as our Super Bowl. It’s the chance to showcase our new products, services and staff to the core of the exhibit and event industry. As our industry begins to return, we want to help our clients and prospects scale. We have implemented service improvements, added new products and new education opportunities that we need to showcase to our industry. We also want our industry members to know that beMatrix is here for them as we have always been.”

The Controversy

Some were disappointed that EXHIBITOR Media Group, the producer of EXHIBITORLIVE, chose to “postpone” rather than cancel the 2020 event, offering exhibiting companies a full credit toward the 2021 show instead of a refund.

Dissenters felt that an immediate refund was the only fair solution, due to an urgent need of cash to continue their business operations during the crisis. Some were uncertain whether they would even be in business long enough to participate in the next show.

The unprecedented nature of the pandemic raised

We view EXHIBITORLIVE as our Super Bowl.

It's the chance to showcase our new products, services and staff to the core of the exhibit and event industry... @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

questions industrywide about the proper handling of show postponements, cancellations and refunds, and exposed the inadequacies of industry contracts and cancellation insurance policies.

In a 2020 statement, Randall Acker, president of EXHIBITOR Media Group, defended his company’s stance and said that it had received messages commending its handling of 2020’s postponement.

“These exhibitors have emphasized how much they are looking forward to the event in 2021. In addition, we have proactively communicated dozens of times via multiple channels with exhibitors about the situation since we first announced the postponement. As we pointed out in our communications with our valued exhibitors, Dave the national shutdown took Mihalik place immediately before our event, after the vast majority of a year’s worth of production expenses had already been incurred and spent.”

ELITeXPO, a company with a 34-year legacy, has long exhibited at the conference annually and is on the schedule for 2021. CEO David Mihalik says of EXHIBITORLIVE, “It’s a great opportunity to meet up with a lot of old colleagues and friends in the business as well as companies we still do business with today.”

Although ELITeXPO has rolled over from 2020 to this year’s list of exhibitors, Mihalik is still uncertain if his company will actually participate. First, he stated that timing is problematic, since fall is historically a busy time of year for his company, and it is still scrambling to recover from pandemic losses.

And although ELITeXPO had plans

in 2020 to have two separate booths, Mihalik said, “We have zero budget now. … In the past, we’ve spent $30,000-$40,000 all in on this event. There is no way we will have the time, budget or even employees to be able to staff a booth. If we are busy at the office, then that’s our priority.”

Further, he feels the value of this year’s exhibition opportunity has been diminished. “The show hall we signed up for is NOT the hall we will exhibit at. The number of exhibitors we signed up for is less than when we signed up. The show floor will be smaller, although we are being told it’s because of the common space in the front of the hall. … We were moved without being consulted and put next to a competitor.” Mihalik would still prefer a refund of his 2020 expenditure or their deposit moved to the event that will be held sometime in 2022.

The Impact

EXHIBITORLIVE remains North America’s largest exhibition of tradeshow and event products and services. Hopefully, the 2021 event will provide space for the industry to come together once again for healing of past difficulties, celebration of collective triumphs and anticipation of opportunities ahead.

When asked what she believes makes EXHIBITORLIVE a must-attend event for the industry, Apolinski said, “EXHIBITORLIVE brings all of the industry together in one conference, with an educational line-up that is second to none and exhibitors that always bring their ‘A’ game. Whether you are new to the industry or have been part of it for a long time, EXHIBITORLIVE provides the networking and education you need to continue to serve your clients in this industry.”

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 29

INDUSTRY NEWS

BY JEANNE BREI

Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment and co-chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, is bullish on Las Vegas, Caesars Palace and the future of the live events, meetings and tradeshow industries.

Which is fortunate because Caesars Entertainment just spent $375 million building the breathtakingly beautiful new CAESARS FORUM conference center at the end of the Linq Promenade—with direct access (via air-conditioned skybridge and the Promenade) to 8,500 hotel rooms (Harrahs, the Linq, and the Flamingo)—and within easy walking distance of eight of Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties, which

provides accessibility to 20,000 rooms. It was originally slated to open last year in March, but was delayed by the lockdowns until Oct. 25 when it hosted the 2020 ConferenceDirect Annual Partner Meeting.

Massari says Caesars Palace has “always been in the tradeshow business”—even in the ‘60s they were prepared for groups up to 5,000. They’ve expanded frequently over the years and currently Caesars Palace has 300,000 sq.ft. of convention space in addition to the 500,000 sq.ft. at CAESARS FORUM. Massari says they usually have about 60 percent corporate usage, 20 percent associations and 20 percent trade and says that it would

30 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

be difficult to fill Harrahs, the Linq and the Flamingo hotels with just gaming and leisure travelers, so they built the FORUM to bring more business travelers to help fill those hotels. They are also positioned to take the overflow from shows such as CES, the Shot Show and HIMSS as those shows and others outgrow the Venetian (formerly) Sands Expo.

When asked why they chose to use the same name as the Forum Shops, Massari explains that in Rome, “forum” is the center of business and culture and democracy for the Empire. It’s where all commerce was done, so naturally that had to be the name for the conference center.

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

CAESARS FORUM Makes a Spectacular Debut

One of the advantages of being in the live meetings industry for so many years and having built conference areas before, is that Caesars knew just what they wanted and what pitfalls to avoid. They began by building the two largest pillarless ballrooms in the world—the 110,000-sq.ft., pillarless Forum and Summit ballrooms which can be reconfigured into more than 100 separate breakout rooms.

The FORUM also features the Academy and Alliance ballrooms, with 40,000 sq.ft. each and six boardrooms that are 1,250 sq.ft. each, with natural light and walls of succulents and rock displays. The building can hold groups up to 10,000 people.

You can tell that meeting planners were consulted in the design as the airwalls allow for countless configurations and flexibility, it was built all on one level with two loading docks, making it easy to set up and tear down meetings, and

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

CAESARS FORUM Prefunction Skybridge Entrance

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

it’s “connected” to the outside.

Massari explains, “People learn better in a natural environment, so we used a biophilic design with lots of natural light and natural elements.”

Biophilia, the concept that nature in design provides health benefits to building users, is evident throughout the beautiful FORUM. When walking into the building, an attendee immediately notices an abundance of nature-inspired art and photography— there are flocks of “birds” hanging from the ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows along the hallway and windowed garage walls that open up to the 100,000-sq.ft. outdoor plaza.

There are living walls, succulent displays in the boardrooms and plants everywhere.

The carpets in each of the large ballrooms represent a different season and the lighting fixtures are simply spectacular. The biophilic design is proven to boost attendee productivity and after achieving that goal, Caesars took it even further.

In addition to being LEED Silver certified and offering the latest in technology, a modern design, natural light and a neutral palette, Caesars also partnered with air quality specialists Blue Nano Solutions to install air quality monitors. Blue Nano showcased their technology at MPI WEC at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas and continuously monitored and then adjusted temperature, humidity levels as well as room ventilation and exchange.

Sam Stanton, founder and managing partner of Texas-based Blue Nano Solutions, explains, “We were there to @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

educate and inform people and give them a behind-thescenes view of the way a venue operates and how an event can deliver the highest duty of care possible.” He adds, “People go to tradeshows and conferences to interact, learn new things and be with others in their industry. Poor air quality affects all of that. Imagine a group of people entering a room for an education session or meeting.

When they enter, the CO2 levels are optimum, but quickly degrade as all of those people begin to exhale into an enclosed space. As CO2 levels rise you get sleepy, get headaches and lose focus—not a state tradeshow experts designed or desired. So, using our data, you open the doors, you turn on air exchangers, you refresh the air!” That causes the CO2, particulate matter and VOC levels to drop immediately so that event participants perk up, thanks to the building’s engineers making a few guided adjustments to the systems.

Caesars’ attention to details like these also extends to the Encore Event Technologies technical staff’s flawless execution of their duties— when they say the building is state-of-the-art technology, not only is the building wired for optimum performance but they also have the best production people running lights, sound and video. And this level of perfection also extended to the fine-dining-quality meals served by their catering department at both MPI’s WEC and Cvent’s conferences.

At The Forum, kitchens are right behind the ballroom, so things can be cooked like in a restaurant. Both the food and

Caesars Chief Sales Officer Michael Massari

presentation were fine-dining quality. Caesars staff are truly the best of the best.

Massari admits the last 18 months have been extremely difficult—Caesars had to furlough nearly all of its banquet and convention services employees (going from 1,500 down to 21 nationwide) but he looks at the silver lining as they’ve been able to recall nearly all of their highly valued employees as live meetings resume. But there’s no return to the “old normal.” Companies and staff had a crash course in Zoom as technology advanced several years in a matter of months in 2020. Going forward, most meetings will want the state-of-the-art technology that CAESARS FORUM provides as virtual meetings become hybrid meetings. As Massari says, “Hybrid expands the tent. It connects people to the meeting even if they can’t be there. They all want to go and hybrid fills that desire. It’s good for everybody.”

As Cvent’s CEO Rajeev Aggarwal said in his keynote at CAESARS FORUM, one association that always had 12,000 attendees at its annual meeting, found itself with 120,000 virtual attendees in 2020. A tenfold increase! While most people still want to be face to face and attend the meeting

in person, it’s leaving money on the table to not have future meetings be hybrid.

For those who can attend in person, however, CAESARS FORUM is a fantastic addition to the Las Vegas convention scene. From the breathtaking 104-by-26-ft. LG LED wraparound wall at the FORUM’s entrance that can be customized for each show to the enhanced feeling of wellness from being in a space where biophilic design, monitored air and high-quality healthy food are all about the guests’ comfort and optimal experience, CAESARS FORUM will make attendees want to leave home and experience such care as they network, learn and enjoy their meetings.

Caesars website says it best: “What began as a grand casino honoring the indulgent luxuries of ancient Rome has somehow evolved into something even more spectacular. Caesars Palace is renowned for impeccable service and attention to detail, and meeting planners can rightly expect the same.

In fact, the only thing that can ever surpass our commitment to provide an extraordinary experience for your guests is our commitment to make planning it simple and effortless for you.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Hail Caesars!

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 31

GIVEAWAYS / INCENTIVE GIFTS

Put Some Swagger in Your Swag with Custom Gift Boxes

BY H.K. WILSON

When live tradeshows were paused by the lockdowns, it seemed like the demand for promotional giveaways was also going on hiatus. I mean, how were you going to hand off swag when nobody was meeting face to face?

But those magicians of merch came up with a breakthrough solution to keep brands top-of-mind while enhancing the experience of virtual events: customized gift boxes. This ingenious innovation is being seen in numerous iterations throughout the industry, and all signs are that

this trend is here to stay.

You know the excitement of opening that Christmas gift you received in the mail or tearing into a recent Amazon order. It’s a thrill—anticipating the contents of a box, never quite knowing what might be waiting for you inside.

Now imagine creating a similar experience to generate excitement for your next event. Promotional companies can help you create a custom gift box with items you select from their inventory, or you can send them your own promotional products for packaging and delivery. All items are

32 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

assembled in a branded box and shipped to a participant in advance of the virtual (or even live) event you are targeting. Contents may include snacks, swag, items that support scheduled event activities or those that are themed to a particular experience.

In order to help you design your next client experience, we’ve curated a list of some of the finest swag purveyors in the business.

pc/nametag

pcnametag.com/curated-gift-boxes pc/nametag offers a wide range of gift boxes in various

sizes. You can opt for custom artwork on the inside cover of the box, as well as a branded label on the outside. Boxes and crinkle paper are available in a rainbow of colors to enhance your brand or theme.

A Tag team member will help you build a completely custom box with brandable swag and snack items of your choosing. Or you can send in your own merchandise, and pc/nametag’s fulfillment services will package and ship it for you.

Nicole Jacobson, pc/ nametag’s director of marketing, explains that sending a

customized package enhances the virtual meeting experience. “Custom gift boxes are a great way to connect with virtual attendees in a more meaningful way,” she says.

“By including gifts, snacks and activity items in a box, you can bring the fun and excitement of an in-person event to an attendee’s home or office.

You can also use customized gift boxes to build anticipation for your next virtual event.

Creating excitement for your online meeting can be as simple as surprising attendees with a box of event materials, branded promotional products or interactive activities like a trivia card or custom BINGO card.”

She adds, “Virtual attendees want to know that you have thought about their wellbeing every step of the way, just as if they were on site. Their experience at home should help remind them why this specific event is so important and should build excitement for next year’s event. The pc/ nametag team can work with you to help find the right tools to keep your online attendees engaged. Adding a theme or your organization’s branding @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

to a box can help set the mood and tone for successful virtual meeting activities.”

Jacobson also says that she sees the trend continuing well into the future to support satellite, hybrid and live events.

For instance, boxes may feature “health and safety items, like hand sanitizer, wipes and custom-printed masks to help attendees feel at-ease at hybrid events.” They also can be handed over at hotel check-in or delivered to an attendee’s room. “By giving hotel guests their event badges, lanyards and event materials early, you’ll help shorten conference check-in lines and get attendees in the door faster.”

How are pc/nametag’s clients responding? According to Rebecca Meekma, conference planner at JBS & Associates, “The client organization and its members were beyond excited to receive their boxes in the mail. The bingo games were the biggest hit, and really helped people relax and have fun.”

Amber Nolan, a representative from the American Society of Transplantation, says, “Our main goal with the gift boxes was to build rap-

port, show appreciation to our attendees and convince new people to join the society. We didn’t just meet these goals; we surpassed them.”

“Curated gift boxes are all about connecting with attendees and creating engagement, no matter the type of event,” Jacobson adds. “Planners are always seeking new ways to build attendee loyalty, surprise and delight guests, and connect with their audience on a whole new level. With endless customization options, we believe that curated gift boxes can be used in limitless ways.”

Swag.com

swag.com/in-a-box Swag.com helps clients build one-of-a-kind gift boxes filled with custom products ranging from tech to apparel to home goods and more.

Everything about the box can be customized, including the box itself.

According to Content Marketing Specialist Andrew McMaster, “We’ve seen people make everything from onboarding kits and

WFH [work from home] care packages to virtual event engagement boxes that help audiences get the most out of their digital experiences.”

McMaster shares the reasons that he believes receiving a customized package upgrades the virtual meeting experience. “Connecting over video conferencing is hard.

Sometimes audiences struggle to remain engaged when they don’t have a physical touchpoint to make their event feel meaningful. Creating custom gift sets can help generate excitement and engagement by offering a real-life tie-in to their event. Many of our customers design gift boxes that include items meant to be used during the course of the event, which is another way to help deepen the experience of the event itself.”

He also says there is a measurable difference in engagement when clients are able to create physical gifts and kits for the audiences of their virtual events. “These gifts help increase sign-ups, generate increased participation during events, and

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 33

GIVEAWAYS / INCENTIVE GIFTS even help our clients swell their contact lists after events are over. People are always amazed at how much positive response a simple gift can have on their audience.”

McMaster says he believes that virtual events are here to stay and that finding ways to make them “dynamic and engaging will be an evolving challenge for community managers in the years to come.” Physical activations like gift boxes and event kits make audiences feel more enveloped in the experience.

As for live events, the goals for swag remain the same: It should be fun, useful, recall the experience and spark future engagement with the brand.

“Our team at Swag.com specializes in finding new ways to get people excited about your brand,” McMaster says. “Gift boxes for virtual events are just the beginning—we can create gift giveaways to capture leads, build exciting landing pages that let your audience choose their own gift, and of course, handle all the distribution so you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics.”

SnackMagic

snackmagic.com SnackMagic offers two types of gift boxes: themed, pre-curated boxes or its signature “build-your-own” snack stash for which the recipient can choose from more

34 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

than 1,000 snacks, beverages and knickknacks.

For in-person and hybrid events, SnackMagic’s new offerings include goodie bags (that can all be shipped to one location) and Graband-Go trays (featuring 100 snacks). Event organizers also can select from customizable branded merchandise.

SnackMagic has all the logistics dialed in, so it can scale from single orders to batches of more than 1,000 without losing personalization.

SnackMagic is not just the wizard of snacking, it is also the sorcerer of swag. The company recently applied its snack gifting model to corporate swag with the launch of SwagMagic. SwagMagic’s customized packaging capabilities allow people to select the branded items they want. This boosts the virtual meeting experience by combining attendees’ power to choose with event organizers’ strategic use of swag to market while surprising and delighting recipients.

According to Shaunak Amin, founder and CEO of SnackMagic, “It’s crucial to find creative ways to bring people together. Personalization continues to be an increasing consumer need.

With the evolution of virtual and hybrid events throughout the pandemic, brands need to continue adapting to the shifting wants of their audience to uphold brand engagement.”

By way of example, Mozart Data used SnackMagic to engage its virtual audience with more than 50 boxes gifted to speakers and attendees in May. The company also surprised speakers with $100

It's crucial to find creative ways to bring people together.

Personalization continues to be an increasing consumer need... in snack credit and registered attendees with $35 to choose from more than 1,000 items on SnackMagic’s menu to receive the exact offerings they wanted ahead of the event.

The surprise and delight of SnackMagic’s personalized offerings impressed the crowd and, ultimately, boosted attendee engagement.

Thinking Beyond the Box

prinker.us As live events come back, there are more creative branding experiences to look forward to. How about tattooing your brand directly on event attendees? Branded tattoos are what all the cool kids are wearing these days. Prinker, the inventor of the world’s first all-inone temporary tattoo device, is enabling companies to enhance their experiential marketing events by letting attendees tattoo creative brand visuals

such as art, slogans and logos temporarily on their skin.

Marketers can upload or design their own art and logos on the Prinker Content Platform via the web or mobile app and immediately print on the water-resistant temporary tattoos by sliding the Prinker device directly across the skin.

Temporary Prinker tattoos can function as entrance stamps to events, showcase brand artwork, create excitement for new merchandise launches by making licensed artwork available to the Prinker user community, and even serve as scannable Snapchat codes that link to websites and connect to exclusive content. Compared to more traditional forms of temporary tattoos and entry stamps, Prinker tattoos can

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

feature complex designs in color and can be printed on in seconds. These temporary branded tattoos offer a unique way for consumers to interact with, remember and become ambassadors for the brands they love. Prinker has collaborated with more than 50 brands worldwide to print 500,000+ tattoos on consumers.

Prinker’s CEO and Co-founder Jimmy Lee says, “Prinker is excited to have developed a tool that’s not just for self-expression, but also to help marketers develop new ways to engage customers and fans. We’ve been thrilled to see the kinds of Prinker tattoos that companies have created for their consumers and can’t wait to see what they come up with next.”

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 35

Here. ready. stronger than ever.

(508) 230-3170 | INFO@WILLWORK.COM WWW.WILLWORK.COM

SHOP TO SHOWFLOOR An In-Depth Look into Today’s World of I&D and Event Labor

Blue Nano Solutions Air Quality Monitors in Action at CAESARS FORUM

#ProofNotPromises Blue Nano Tests Air Quality in Real Time Pg. 38-39

Q&A Spotlight with IATSE 835’s Kim Keables Pg. 40-41

Edlen Electrical Partners with GWCC Authority Pg. 42

This section is dedicated to all exhibit house professionals, as well as all exhibit managers and tradeshow coordinators worldwide.

For advertising information and rates, please call our offices at 702-309-8023 and ask for sales. @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 37

SHOP to SHOWFLOOR I&D and Event Labor

L-R: Robbie Sawyer and Sam Stanton

#ProofNotPromises BLUE NANO TESTS AIR QUALITY IN REAL TIME, PROVIDING ATTENDEES CONFIDENCE IN THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

by Emily Olson

A

s event spaces gear up to host tradeshows and conferences again, they’re taking their cleaning and air filtration protocols to the next level, and

even being web-verified by every acronymed authority you can imagine. How do we know that all that promoted effort is really working? Sam Stanton, founder and managing part-

38 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

ner of Texas-based Blue Nano Solutions, offers a simple challenge. “Prove it,” he says.

“Anyone can get a verification, we provide validation. It’s #ProofNotPromises”

“You see, as a society, everything we do is based on data.

However, today most of the world makes health and safety decisions by either a guess or going with their gut. So, you’ll either be lucky, or wrong.

Brands say, ‘We cleaned and sanitized everything and replaced all the air filters,’ but most people think, ‘Really, did you, and is it working?’ Blue Nano’s solution takes the guessing out and makes wellness and safety less a game of hope and more a matter of fact.”

Blue Nano operates under the premise that you can’t manage what you aren’t measuring, so their technology offers hospitality, businesses and governments live actionable data about the specific quality of their environments. That’s a boon for companies that want to get their employees, partners and customers back to face-to-face tradeshows safely for merely pennies a person. All this while providing tremendous peace of mind and confidence for attendees and their boardrooms.

Blue Nano’s air quality testing technology is simple. They place air quality monitors in event areas where people gather. The sensors monitor 11 air quality indices including: temperature, chemicals and particulates in the air, carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity.

In real time, those measurements are sent to their CLAIRITY servers where the data is processed and then broadcast to screens, websites and mobile devices that show event attendees the space’s air quality levels. This live display demonstrates the event and brand’s focus on people’s health and safety.

CLAIRITY also sends actionable information to the

building’s engineering department so they can proactively maintain the most optimum conditions possible.

Live air quality information goes a long way toward keeping people safe from COVID and other airborne viruses. If humidity is too low, viruses can thrive. Unseen nanoscopic particulate matter can transport viruses and contaminants that easily embed in the lungs and even your bloodstream if not removed. High levels of C02 indicate air is stagnant and is not being moved, filtered or refreshed.

As Stanton, a 30-year veteran of the event world explains, “People go to tradeshows and conferences to interact, learn new things, and be with others in their industry. Poor air quality affects all of that.

Imagine a group of people entering a room for an education session or meeting. When they enter, the CO2 levels are optimum, but quickly degrade as all of those people begin to exhale into an enclosed space.

As CO2 levels rise you get sleepy, get headaches and lose focus—not a state tradeshow experts designed or desired.”

So, if you now know conditions are not optimum, what can you do?

“You open the doors, you turn on air exchangers, you refresh the air!” says Stanton.

That causes the CO2, particulate matter and VOC levels to drop immediately so that event participants perk up, thanks to the building’s engineers making a few guided adjustments to the existing systems. It’s really simple, but before Blue Nano it was just a hope or a guess.

“People today are more aware of their surroundings @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

yet more uncertain,” Stanton says. “You go to an event and you don’t know if you should be wearing a mask or not; is it okay to shake hands or do you bump elbows; should you touch the elevator button?

When you’re focused on your well-being, you’re not getting the most from the experience.

But when [show attendees] see one of our CLAIRITY screens, they know tradeshow organizers are focused on their health. And that confidence allows them to focus on the moment and get engaged in the experience.”

Blue Nano recently showcased their technology at MPI WEC at CAESARS FORUM in Las Vegas and received a tremendous response. “We set up a fun, engaging learning space with huge displays, live monitoring, wellness tips and techy, nerdy whizbang that pulled people in with questions and maybe some hope of direction,” Stanton says. And he had answers.

At WEC, Blue Nano worked hand in hand with MPI and CAESARS FORUM and continuously monitored and then adjusted temperature and humidity levels as well as room ventilation and exchange. Not only did they get to show off their state-of-the-art technology, they had a very real impact on the success of the event.

“We were there to educate and inform people and give them a behind-the-scenes view of

the way a venue operates and how an event can deliver the highest duty of care possible.”

When asked if it worked, Stanton shares that “69 percent of on-site attendees first checked the live CLAIRITY readings on the registration website before deciding to attend in person rather than online! Again, that’s not a guess but fact— real data.”

All of this talk about optimum conditions begs the question: Who decides what optimum is?

“The EPA,” says Stanton. “The

CDC, WHO, NASA—I mean who better than NASA to decide what the optimum conditions are to support life? Then we take all the experts’ guidance and set parameters in our platform to give our partners guidance and confidence.”

What’s next for Blue Nano Solutions? In addition to testing surface cleanliness and air quality, their solution and ethos has endless opportunities from operational efficiencies, carbon footprint and sustainability validation, to general wellness enhancement that actively affects daily lives.

“Data gives you power,” says Stanton. “It’s proof—not a guess—that will enable better decisions, more efficient operations, budget savings and a new level of indisputable confidence!”

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 39

SHOP to SHOWFLOOR I&D and Event Labor

Kim Keables

Q&A Spotlight with IATSE 835’s Kim Keables

By Emily Olson

K

im Keables is the vice president of IATSE 835, an Orlando-based labor union that represents the dedicated men and women who move the freight, lay the carpets, hang the drapes, set the furnishings, fly the signs and install the exhibits for essentially every tradeshow in Orlando and throughout Central Florida.

Keables has an interesting mix of talents. Not only does she represent her union with pride, she’s a nurse who recently has been working with patients in hospice care and

their families. This combination gives her a unique insight into the pandemic’s effects on the tradeshow industry. ECN recently spoke with Keables about her union, her work in the healthcare field and how it all began.

ECN: How did you get into the tradeshow business?

Kim Keables: I started being a stagehand for Kentucky IATSE [the International Alliance of Theater Stage Employees] when I was 15. I had the height and maturity to pass for 18, so my grandmother, who got me into the business,

40 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

told me to fake my year of birth. I was 18 for three years!

I was doing wardrobe and making good money because it was a union gig. I did Broadway plays at night and matinees on the weekend, then I started doing carpet calls at night for conventions. Eventually, I heard that Orlando IATSE was expanding, so I moved here with my two kids.

ECN: And now you’re VP. What do you think is the most important part of your role?

KK: People just want someone who is going to represent them and make sure that what’s happening in our local is in the majority’s best interest.

ECN: In addition to preparing for tradeshows and serving your union, you’re a nurse. How did you get into healthcare?

KK: I went to nursing school, but I didn’t got my license because I was making better money at tradeshows.

But then my partner got pancreatic cancer and I was taking care of him and his 90-year-old mother, so I took a refresher course and got my license. I just felt like I didn’t know enough to take care of them. I wanted to know who the best doctors and hospitals were from the inside.

I came back to the union after he passed but couldn’t go back to the floor because we met there. It was too close.

So, I kept nursing for a while and then started stewarding tradeshow gigs again.

ECN: Are you in nursing now?

KK: I’m a hospice clinician.

I talk to families who have received a devastating diagnosis and tell them how we can help them until the patient passes.

ECN: You must have a unique view of the pandemic.

You’re seeing COVID patients in the hospital and have a front row seat to how the pandemic affects the tradeshow industry.

KK: Two weeks ago, I had a 22-year-old male and a 27-year-old female who both died of COVID. As I was leaving that, I walked through the COVID unit to get out of the hospital. There were eight full rooms, and seven of them had young people intubated and not vaccinated.

In order for the U.S. to function, people don’t have to get vaccinated, but if you don’t, you have to wear a mask.

Our industry is in flux. We need to open up, we need to get people back to work. But we’ve had 21 shows canceled so far because Florida is Delta [variant] heavy right now and people aren’t comfortable with the governor’s anti-mask policies. When things started to open up in the summer, we had several meetings saying the union will not defend you if you are not following the rules because this is what we need to do to get our industry back. Whatever they’re asking for is what they’re going to get. Florida is a tourist state, so it definitely needs these things opened up, even with restrictions, so people feel comfortable coming here.

ECN: As a nurse, what’s your view of how Florida has handled COVID? KK: This isn’t politics. This is life and death. I don’t want my business as a hospice nurse to be extremely busy.

I want to help elderly people at the end of their life. I want to do symptom management.

Now I’m looking at young

adults in the hospital when a simple mask or a shot would have helped them. Our industry needs these young people. I had a rigger say that it’s time for young people to come in and learn how to lead and continue this business.

But if we start losing our youth, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble.

ECN: Has the tradeshow industry weathered challenges like this before?

KK: I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and we didn’t have this much trouble after 9/11 or the 2008 [economic] crunch.

We used to be bulletproof. If the economy was in trouble, we’d do medical shows. When the economy was flush, we’d do boat shows and car shows.

The industry never shut down because there were always

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

products out there. This is the first time I’ve ever seen our industry shut down.

ECN: How is your union helping members who are struggling right now?

KK: Stagehands don’t necessarily have computer skills. We use our brawn and creativity to put a show on.

You have to be able to read a blueprint, but you don’t have to produce it.

Our local had a healthy bank account going into this pandemic, and rather than shut our doors, we expanded our office. We put in a training system and started teaching computing skills. Our business rep, Mark Hardter, said that if this pandemic keeps conventions down, we’re going to start teaching plumbing and electrics. Mark is amaz-

ing. Instead of locking himself down, he thought of new ways to help our members.

We also did wellness checks to see our how people were doing, and we started a food bank at the hall. Office staff would come out to people’s cars with gloves and masks and drop off spaghetti and sauce and tuna so people could make a week’s worth of meals.

You have to find what your community needs, and we really did help people.

We found COVID-positive homes and we helped. We did a Christmas drive to make sure kids under 18 received a Christmas gift.

ECN: What do you think the tradeshow industry should do going forward?

KK: We have to react

appropriately [to the Delta variant], and we’re encouraging people to be vaccinated or wear their masks. I’m disappointed that people won’t get vaccinated. I wish people would take the vaccine so they won’t be the reason why someone else gets sick.

This is my wish: I want everyone to be able to make a living. I want them to have insurance and a dwelling with food on the table with electric on and transportation. I just want people to have some quality in their life because that builds a better society. Everybody needs to quit picking a side to get us moving forward.

This should not be political.

It’s a medical thing. And we should focus on not only our own physical health, but on the health of our community.

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 41

SHOP to SHOWFLOOR I&D and Event Labor

Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services Partners with GWCC Authority

by Julie Pazina

E

dlen Electrical Exhibition Services, one of the nation’s largest independent electrical contractors to the convention and tradeshow industry, is proud to announce its exclusive utility partnership with the team at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.

Beginning July 1, Edlen has been working with the team

at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, show management, general service contractors, AV and IT professionals as the exclusive provider of electrical, plumbing, compressed air and cable services.

Founded in 1975, Edlen is a national company based out of Las Vegas that services more than 5,000 events annually

42 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

providing exclusive, preferred or recommended services in more than 200 convention facilities nationwide.

Jim Wetterling, president and CEO, says, “Edlen is honored to partner with our friends at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. We look forward to a long and mutually successful relationship.”

Shawna Moore has moved to Atlanta to assist with the transition and lead the team.

She brings a wealth of knowl-

edge and experience from her tenure with Edlen. She served as the assistant general manager of Edlen’s Mandalay Bay office and has serviced some of the largest tradeshows in the country.

Julie Pazina, CEM-AP, is Edlen’s national director of sales and has served on boards for the Las Vegas Hospitality Association, IAEE, and IAVM. She was appointed to Nevada’s Commission on Tourism in Sept. 2019 and can be contacted at julie@edlen.com.

CONVENTION CENTER SPOTLIGHT

EAT

Outdoor Space Becomes King

By Jeanne Brei

I

f you haven’t been to Las Vegas lately, it’s been hard at work reinventing itself again. And this time, thanks to indoor mask mandates, outdoor space is all the rage. Choices range from a 7,000 sq.ft. rooftop terrace at the new Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas to the 14,000 sq.ft. outdoor terrace on the LVCC third floor to the expansive 107,000-sq.ft. outdoor Forum Plaza on 29 acres at CAESARS FORUM in the shadow of the Linq Observation Wheel to the 20,000-sq.ft. pavilion and 20,000-sq.ft. lawn at the new Wynn Conference Center with meeting rooms facing the 17th and 18th holes of the golf course and patio—including a view of a 100-ft.-wide,10-ft.-tall waterfall.

The new LVCC West Hall’s outdoor terrace is completely covered from the hot Las Vegas sun and is able to accommodate receptions with up to 2,000 attendees in the Grand Atrium with a terrific view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Next door, the new Bagelmania also has outdoor patio seating for 44.

The SkyView rooftop terrace downtown at the World Market Center Expo has glassed-in walls and festoon lighting for al fresco lunching, cocktails or dining for up to 750 theater-style. They also have a 50,000 sq.ft. outdoor Grand Plaza that’s part of a total of 190,000 sq.ft. of combined surface lots/space for 44 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

transportation staging, event parking or as an open-air event venue.

The newly renamed Venetian Expo (formerly the Sands Expo) has prime outdoor space as well—in the form of 16 different pool areas. A recently remodeled pool area at the Venetian was used

by MPI for their closing night function while Cvent used the Drai’s Beach Club rooftop pools and nightclubs at the Cromwell for their closing night function.

Speaking of gorgeous new outdoor spaces, Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, is equipped with more than 10 different event spaces and can host groups from 25 people to a 65,000-person venue buy-out. Cvent threw an outdoor party on the 95,000 sq.ft. field—which has a capacity of 3,500. And in downtown Summerlin, the Las Vegas Ballpark is the home field for the Triple-A West league Las Vegas Aviators. In 2019, they had 47 sellouts and 23 crowds of 10,000+. It has a wide range of seating options including 22 suites, club seats, berm seating, party zones and decks, picnic tables, kids’ zone, bars and a pool beyond the outfield wall.

And Area15’s outdoor spaces are as stunning as its indoor spaces. “The Grounds” spans more than four acres and will host festivals, carnivals, conventions, concerts and other large-scale events for up to 20,000 people. It’s located next to Area15’s A-Lot, a 32,000sq.ft. outdoor space featuring largescale art installations with a Burning Man-style vibe. Last year, their outdoor “Winter Wonderland” installation even had a visit from Santa.

Spiegel’s Bagelmania—known for its New York-style bagels since 1989— moved from Twain/Swenson to be next door to the West Hall in May. The 10,000-square-foot facility features 200 seats, a retro-modern exterior design, bakery, private dining room, 44seat outdoor patio area, deli counter and a full bar with slot machines. And just a short walk down the block is Las Vegas’ beloved Peppermill’s and the brand new Resort World with its extraordinary Famous Foods Street Eats, a 24,000-square-foot food hall from Singapore’s Zouk Group. The “Asian hawker-inspired food hall concept” has 16 food options, a center bar, a speakeasy and a 10-foot-tall Lucky Cat made of gold coins by the dessert area.

SLEEP Closing in on 160,000 hotel rooms (more than any other U.S. city), there’s been a rush of ownership changes as the Rio is being transformed into a multi-Hyatt brand hotel, the Hard Rock became a Virgin Hotel, the Palms was bought by California’s San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, CityCenter’s Mandarin Oriental became Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria LV, and NoMad opened inside the Park MGM (formerly the Monte Carlo). For the new: Circa Hotel opened downtown last October and Resorts World added 3,500 rooms this June.

PLAY The new Area15 with anchor tenant Meow Wolf is 200,000 sq.ft. of an interactive, psychedelic, immersive playground with unique art, retail, bars, eateries and more. From axe-throwing to ziplining, from the Van Gogh experience to Omega Mart, it’s an extraordinary adventure. Other only-in-Vegas options: Neon Boneyard, Mob Museum, Springs Preserves, Lion Habitat Ranch, Pinball or Burlesque Halls of Fame, Marvel Avengers Station, Gold & Silver Pawn Stars, Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, Strat’s Big Shot (4Gs at 1,149 ft.), Dig This Vegas, Fremont Street Experience and so much more!

A new story is being written about Detroit and the meeting industry we all care deeply about. As we dedicate ourselves to the new realities of meetings, our customers’ safety has become The Center of it All. Now, we look to what is important beyond our 723,000 square feet of exhibit space and being the 17th largest convention center in the country. The new story being written is one about the character of our community and the places we gather.

We look forward to meeting again.

tcfcenterdetroit.com | 313.877.8214

CONCERTS CONVENTIONS DINING ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SHOPPING SPORTING EVENTS

Our Industry May Be Battered, But Our Foundation Is Strong.

Thanks to the stewardship and hard work of our 51 Founding Grantors and Grantor companies, individuals, and charitable events the EDPA Foundation Endowment is solid, well managed, and our policy that 95% of money raised goes to recipients and causes allows us to continue to: Support two college design programs to help nurture talent for the future.

Continue to fund our industry scholarship program, needed now more than ever.

Make a generous donation to the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic to allow them to continue their good works.

When the storm passes, and things improve for our industry, we will have a strong foundation to rebuild on.

ROSEMONT’S IMPACT FIELD

Together, We Are Making a Difference.

Be Part of the Story. Visit www.edpa.com/edpafoundation to see how.

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 45

ASSOCIATION NEWS

National Tradeshow Alliance Seeks to Help Industry Recover

By Tammy Severino

T

he purpose of the recently launched non-profit National Tradeshow Alliance is to help tradeshow industry workers recover, re-connect and get back to doing the work they love. They have combined forces with the Together Again Expo, with a common goal of engaging and educating the millions of professionals looking to restart their careers in the industry and draw in new talent interested in joining their ranks.

The NTSA launch event was held Aug. 5 in Atlantic City and featured speakers, training and a job expo. Next up, will be their virtual Together Again Job Fair & Expo beginning Dec. 2, that will run on-demand throughout the month of December. Then it’s back to in-person events as the Together Again Job Fair & Expo continues its Live Hometown Series in Arlington, Texas, next year on March 17-18 and in Denver, June 9-10.

On Sept. 1, the Education Call for Presentations will open for the Virtual Together Again Job Fair & Expo. The educational program will be comprised of leaders and artisans in our industry. Training sessions will consist of three 10-minute segments and 15 minutes for Q&A. There will be three tracks: Strategic Planning, Production, Project Management and Logistics.

They will accept presentations from any individual in

the industry who demonstrates core competencies, 10 plus years of experience specific to the subject matter and the ability to present the materials via video presentation in a virtual environment.

Speaker Applications can be downloaded on the NTSA website. The deadline for speaker applications is Sept. 30.

Do you have questions about what a virtual event looks like?

This is a great opportunity for anyone who would to like to experience a virtual event, to become familiar with the planning process, the creation of content and the expanded capability virtual events offer the exhibitors, show organizers and attendees for education, brand awareness, lead generation and conversions.

Anyone interested in working on the Virtual Together Again Job Fair & Expo to get a behind the scenes look, can send an email to Laura Palker at laura@ nationaltradeshowalliance.org.

The morning keynote will be Odie Parkins, Carpenter Contractor Trust. Palker says, “If you missed his live presentation at the Aug. 5 Together Again Job Fair & Expo, you won’t want to miss this inspiring, timely and impactful presentation on the opportunities we have before us and the impact we have on the communities we work with,” adding, “The afternoon keynote will be Paisley Demby, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small

46 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

sionate about this cause. I know that, with our combined efforts, we have the best chance to succeed in bringing our workforce back and better than ever.”

Sponsors, exhibitors and affiliate members who supported the event Laura Businesses include Ahern Rentals, AlPalker initiative, liance Nationwide Exposilearn how tion, Carpenters Contractor you can apply Trust, Classic Exhibits, Eastfor this program offered free ern Atlantic States, Regional of charge. Do you want to cre- Council of Carpenters, Exhibit ate jobs, gain confidence in a City News, Experiential Dewell laid out five-year growth signers and Producers Associplan? You won’t want to miss ation, Goldman Sachs 10,000 this presentation.”

Small Businesses, Grapevine Visual Concepts, Hard Rock NTSA Launch Event at Casino and Hotel, Internathe Atlantic CC Aug. 5 tional Association of ExhibiPalker describes the launch tions and Events, Meet AC, event as “the seed from which Polaris Brand Promotions, our industry will regrow. I am Poretta & Orr Exhibits and so grateful to all of our partners Events, Profit Trust, Spectra, who came together to create the Stockton University, Trade National Trade Show Alliance Show Solutions Center and and the Together Again Job Vista Convention Services.

Fair & Expo. There is so much to be done in support of the The purpose of the National millions of people who work to Tradeshow Alliance is to address make tradeshows and other live the needs (financial, education, events operate so seamlessly.” social services, wellness programs) She adds, “We’ve put together of the people in the tradeshow a board of directors made up industry created by the suspension of people who have spent their of tradeshows, conventions and professional lives in this field. conferences. For more info, visit They are both talented and pas- nationaltradeshowalliance.org.

Marybeth Longona and Mike Hogan at the Together Again Job Expo & Fair in Atlantic City

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JOIN TODAY MEMBERSHIP IS

FREE

WHO WE ARE • JOB BOARDS • SKILLS REFRESH & DEVELOPMENT • MENTORING • WORKFORCE WELLNESS • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • COMMUNITY SUPPORT

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Upload your photo and resume on your Welcome Member Form. We will post your information on our Ready to Work Page. Member Only Access, Password Protected, update at any time.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

We Have Openings on Our Steering Committee, and Can Always Use an Extra Set of Hands for our Job Fairs, Conferences and Expos.

JOB OPENINGS?

Exhibit at our Virtual Job Fair & Expo, December 2, 2021 The Exhibit Hall and all content will be available on demand for the entire month of December.

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE | Contact Laura Palker: laura@nationaltradeshowalliance.org

www.nationaltradeshowalliance.org P: 1-888-713-2083 | F: 1-888-268-4025

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Industry Advocacy Groups Consolidate & Encourage Everyone to Get Involved

By Bob Priest-Heck “Our voice is louder when we are sharing a united message, and if only a fraction of the 6.6 million people in the events industry work together, we will be a mighty force.”

– Bob Priest-Heck, BizBash, May 20, 2020

Hello Supporters, When I gave this quote in the early months of the pandemic, I could not have imagined what we would go on to accomplish together. When I first called Sue at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday, with an idea that would become Go LIVE Together, none of us could have predicted that, within two weeks, we’d launch a website with 80 founding partners—and once it went live, members would come in faster than we could keep up. And we definitely didn’t plan on Go LIVE Together becoming the largest coalition advocating on behalf of live business events in the U.S., with thousands of supporters across the country.

Clearly, there was a need that Go LIVE Together filled, but it wasn’t about being another voice—it was about focusing and amplifying the voices we already had.

Your voices.

Go LIVE Together is a coalition, and that word was chosen by design. It’s defined as, “an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.” The key word here is “temporary.” And the time to end Go LIVE Together has come.

This will be our last regular newsletter and the website will become inactive by the end of July. As you all know, earlier this year, we made the decision to move Go LIVE Together’s legislative efforts under 48 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

the new Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, our industry’s platform for advocacy.

While we’ve made tremendous strides, our experience over the past year has taught us that we need a sustained (and loud!) voice on Capitol Hill. ECA provides exactly that.

But the work of Go LIVE Together isn’t done. While we are thankful that markets are opening up and in-person events are happening once again, we need the provisions provided by the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act (HCJRA) to get smaller exhibitors and attendees back to events. Without the stimulus dollars provided by the HCJRA, our road to recovery will take much longer—which means fewer jobs, and fewer people back at work.

We encourage you to stay in the loop on the HCJRA or other ECA advocacy campaigns, by ensuring you’re on one of the following ECA partner email lists.

It has been our tremendous honor to be part of Go LIVE Together. We wouldn’t exist, nor could we have achieved all that we have, without each and every one of you. We hope to (finally) meet you faceto-face soon and thank you for your support during these many months. It truly has meant the world to us and everyone involved with Go LIVE Together.

Stay safe and stay strong, Bob Priest-Heck and Sue Sung | Go LIVE Together, an Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance campaign Encouraging Congress to Expand the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program The Experiential Designer & Producers Association is calling on its members for help in contacting congressional offices.

EDPA recently sent a joint letter to Con-

gress urging the expansion of Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program. They also got the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, the Exhibitor Appointed Contractors Association, the National Trade Show Alliance, the Painters Union and the Carpenters Union to sign on to the letter.

EDPA asks members to send emails to their senators with the text below and include a letter that EDPA has prepared.You can find the letter, along with your representative’s contact info, at their website.

Good afternoon, I am reaching out on behalf of the Experiential Designer & Producers Association representing small businesses across the country who are critical to managing live events but are not currently eligible for the Shuttered Venues Grant Program.

Our hundreds of small businesses across the country design exhibits, build booths, provide products and services and organize all of the logistics for 9,400 tradeshows and business events every year in the U.S. Although our companies have been shut down for more than a year along with the live events we support, we are not eligible for Shuttered Venues Grants.

In the attached letter, we are asking for an expansion of the Shuttered Venue Grant Program to include business events and their suppliers.

During normal times, our small businesses are a vital part of the economy:

» We employ 2.8 million people. » The tradeshows we manage support 6.6 million jobs.

» We contribute $101 billion to the economy.

I hope that you will support expanding the Shuttered Venues Grant Program to include us.

INDUSTRY EVENT

L-R Susan Medica, Lisa Hendrixson, Michelle Queen, Melanie Bash and Joe Kordecki Maria Ramirez, Helen Yu, Hugh Sinnock, Elaine Sinnock, Don Svehla and Melanie Bash

Get Informed Concierge Event Service Hosts VIP Launch Party

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nforma Markets—organizers of leading global tradeshows, including World of Concrete, MAGIC and Las Vegas Cosmetic Surgery, and Las Vegas’ largest meeting and conventions customer—have partnered with Melanie Bash and Molly Hoisington, Las Vegas industry veterans, to found a new premier concierge event service called Get Informed.

Celebrating the new partnership with a shortened guest list due to mandates, Get Informed co-founder Maria Ramirez, director of housing operations, Informa, joined Bash and Hoisington at the Stirling Club on July 30. The Stirling Club, an upscale private city club offering 73,000 sq.ft. of opulent amenities and luxury service across the street from the LVCC/Westgate Hotel, was a sponsor, as was Booth@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

o-Rama, providers of the next generation of immersive photo experiences. Booth-orama’s Chief Experience Officer Joanna Potts says their company motto is connecting people through innovative photo experiences, and that was achieved for both in-person guests who created branded custom photos on site and virtual attendees who used a link to create their photos.

Get Informed is a full-service concierge event service that provides everything from transportation and dining arrangements to large-scale corporate events and entertainment. In addition to their local offering in Las Vegas, the team has also developed virtual event experiences to support the ever-increasing number of digital trade events and conferences.

Melanie Bash and Joanna Potts

Melanie Bash and Maria Ramirez

James Hughes and Joe Kordecki

24/7 SNAPS, powered by Booth-oRama, is transforming the way you do business, build connections and make memories. With cutting-edge technology your smartphone becomes a personal, portable photo experience

in the palm of your hand, allowing you to engage members of your target audience from anywhere in the world. For more info, email joanna@boothorama. com, mbash@getinformedlv.com or visit www.getinformedlv.com.

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 49

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

People on the Move

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n I&D news, Momentum Management has hired 30-year industry veteran Mitch Simon (pictured right) as their new city manager in Atlanta and Nashville and promoted Doug Savini to be their new D.C./Baltimore city manager.

Lancaster Management Services has hired Cole Walker to serve as a national project manager for their national operations team in Atlanta.

Eagle Management added 32-year industry veteran Doug Higgins to their sales team. He previously worked at both I&D and Nth Degree.

GES has named Mike Haarvei as VP of client relations and Jeff Stelmach as their global president, brand experiences.

Team Worldwide, a Texas-based freight and logistics company, has named EDPA Northeast board member Lauren Wheeler, CEM, as its new national account executive.

Hill & Partners, Inc., a full-service team of branded environment specialists, welcomed Ed Jeffry (pictured right) as a sales manager after his move from Cleveland to Las Vegas.

Steelhead Productions has promoted Andrew Childers to director of new relationships after nearly three years as their market manager.

Astound Group, a world-leading design and fabrication agency, has named Lauren Lasswell Robinson as a senior account manager to their Portland facility.

Employco added Peggy Broede as an accounting associate to their growing team. Bourne, Mass.-based Convention Data Services named Ian Twentey as VP, Business Development and they’ve added Washington D.C.-based Alex Young to their Event Services team. He formerly worked for both Informa Markets and Experient.

Dave Wilbur has joined IMS Technology Services, an award-winning pro50 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

by Exhibit City News

vider of event staging and systems integration solutions, as director of video.

Orlando-based tradeshow services agency ColorCraft welcomed Chicago-based Tim Roulette as a senior account executive.

Nadav Shifman joined BeyondLive, an industry leader in digital experience/virtual event platforms, as business development director located in Austin, Texas.

Twin Cities-based CenterPoint Marketing, a full-service brand experience agency, announced the addition of Bruce Powell as senior account manager.

Volume 11 Marketing Inc., a full-service corporate exhibit & environment design company based in Mass., welcomed Ben Walsh as an account manager.

Diversified Communications promoted Whit Mitchell from corporate VP of finance to chief financial officer.

In CC and venue news, the Atlanta, Las Vegas and High Point, N.C.-based International Market Centers has promoted Bob Schuler to senior VP, event sales and operations, Jennifer Muna to VP, event sales and operations and Joel Weston to manager, tradeshow operations.

Visit Salt Lake appointed Ryan Mack as its director of media & communications and the Atlanta CVB promoted Charlene Lopez (pictured right) to VP, sales. Spectra, providers of venue management to the Owensboro CC, welcomed two new sales managers: Jacob Whitfill and Megan Howard and promoted Michelle Pessia to executive chef for food services and hospitality.

ASM Global, a global leader in venue and event strategy and management, has promoted Mary Ann Torres to director of event management and business anal-

ysis, Dominique Bonds, a 23-year veteran of the Center, to director of engagement; Dwight Bazemore, previously the network administrator, to assistant information technology director; and Melvin Smith from senior accountant to accounting supervisor at the Pennsylvania CC in Philadelphia.

Nashville’s Music City Center appointed Robert Rice (pictured left) as the director of human resources and Heather Jensen as the director of communications.

John Sklencar has joined etc.venues USA as sales development manager to be based in their NYC office. PRA is pleased to welcome Heather Matusiak as regional VP, leading the Southern California and Las Vegas teams.

Kevin Ramsawack joined The Glasshouse as director of sales for the state-ofth-art event spaces in NYC. Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin has named Jennifer Sharpe as its new senior catering sales manager/wedding planner.

In association news, Greg O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for Washington, D.C., was elected president of the International Association of Convention Centers for the 2021-23 term.

Fairfax, Va.-based AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, has appointed Panasonic’s Frank Padikkala to serve as chairperson of the AVIXA Diversity Council.

Josh Carruth joined PRINTING United Alliance as managing director, apparel community, and will oversee the Apparel Zone, a working microfactory on PU Expo's show floor.

Events Industry Council has named Gus Chijioke director of certification, and the Assoc. of Equipment Manufacturers President Dennis Slater is retiring with Megan Tannel succeeding him.

IN MEMORIAM

James Cowan Nicoll SHO-AIR INTERNATIONAL FOUNDER

March 16, 1940 – June 15, 2021

J

ames Cowan Nicoll, 81, chairman of the board at Sho-Air International, passed away on June 15.

Known as the “Miracle Man” by the cardiologists at Hoag Hospital, he succumbed to his battle with cancer and his weakened heart. Jim was born on March 16, 1940, and spent his youth in Pomona, Calif.,

eventually settling in Newport Beach where he spent his adult life. Jim was the ultimate salesman, starting his career at the early age of 9 selling for the Fuller Brush Company. He later honed his skills and built a wonderful career in the moving and storage industry, winning top salesman awards in multiple years and topping industry

performance. As a visionary, Jim saw the opportunity to elevate the service he provided from the land to the air, which inspired his formation of SHOAIR International, one of the industry’s premier tradeshow transportation specialists.

Jim was a handsome man with a charismatic smile and a sparkle in his eyes, always a friendly hello and a willingness to be of service. Jim’s love of life was expressed through his corny humor and quick wit. He was a prankster and loved to get one up on others by pre-watching Jeopardy and then re-watching the episode remembering to miss a few questions so you wouldn’t catch on. When you did finally figure out that something was up, he would get so tickled, and thrilled with joy that he pulled one over on you that you couldn’t help but be tickled too. Jim

Charlie Musick

November 26, 1947 - July 3, 2021

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harles Edward Musick, 73, a well-loved carpenter who worked with the Carpenters Local #551 of Houston and other surrounding areas, including New Orleans, passed away on July 3 in Brookshire, Texas.

He absolutely loved being a carpenter and considered himself an artist in his own right. With countless hours invested into each project, he came to love his colleagues and as a result, he ended up forging a strong bond and brotherhood with many of @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

them throughout his years of service.

Known for being a perfectionist, some of his colleagues would often say that they knew if they worked with Charlie on a job, that they would

loved the game of golf and became an excellent golfer.

He had an exceptional ability to teach and improve your game. Jim had five holesin-one over his lifetime and brought the joy of the game to many.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Laurie Nicoll Nord, and his grandchildren Cayla Atha, Cole Gebhardt and adopted son and right-hand man Scott Tedro. Jim was one of five Nicoll boys, and is survived by brothers Bill, Gerry and Conrad and their wives and nieces and nephews. A private celebration of life was held on July 8.

To share a memory or condolences to his family, visit https://www.legacy. com/obituaries/losangelesregister/obituary.aspx?n=james-cowan-nicoll&pid=199275940. This obituary was originally published in the Orange County Register.

have to come correct or …

“Hit The Road, Jack!” If the job that he was working on was not up to par, he would simply finish it himself to ensure that it was properly carried out in a prompt and professional manner.

On Facebook, many of his colleagues mourned his loss.

Terry Spears wrote, “We lost another good carpenter. Our brother Charlie Musick has gone to be with the Lord. My deepest condolences to his family. May the Lord give them strength and comfort in this difficult time. You will be missed but not forgotten Charlie!”

David Cullins wrote, “I had the privilege of working with Charles several times. Not only a good carpenter but a GREAT individual as well—he was a great ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 51

IN MEMORIAM

man. It’s extremely upsetting to me how many members we’ve been losing lately. It really breaks my heart to think of all the ones that I know that didn’t live long enough to enjoy their retirement."

Tim Scanio wrote, “Oh no, I loved working with Charlie here and in Houston, such a good guy!”

Charlie’s last name was Musick and he really loved music of all sorts. His favorite singer was Tina Turner. Well, what’s ironic or divine is that his wife Van is a professional singer with a melodious voice. Her claim to fame is that she is a famous Tina Turner impersonator. Being the multi-talented gentleman that he was, Charlie would serve and assist as the sound engineer for many of her gigs and shows.

Charlie owned and rode Kawasaki motorcycles, too.

Other hobbies that he loved were making model airplanes and building classic cars like old Mustangs and old school Chevys and Pontiacs.

Charlie was a Christian who loved joining with his beautiful wife, Vantrese, to pray to The Lord each day. His wife would like to give a special thanks to the Carpenters of Houston and surrounding areas for their love and respect shown to Charlie.

Services were held on July 16 in Texas. If you’d like to share a memory or send condolences, please visit https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/21612353/ charles-edward-musick or https:// www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ name/charles-musickobituary?id=6170665

Matthew Harlow October 20, 1969 - July 22, 2021

M

atthew Lawrence Harlow, 51, passed peacefully on July 22 with his family at his side in Hudson, Fla. He was born in Falmouth, Mass., and was the son of Lawrence Lumbert Harlow and Charlotte (Bourne) Harlow.

Matt cut his teeth on the steering wheel of a Kenworth. He and his dad (Larry) were a team driving millions of miles across the U.S. Matt hauled specialty freight, which included parts for the Patriot Missile Launchers, top secret government cargo, Polaroid, Scitex and Smart Home tradeshows, to name a few.

Matt grew up in West Falmouth and would be seen rowing his skiff, "Matts Rat," delivering people to their boats, running trash and keeping a watchful eye on the harbor. When he wasn’t rowing around the harbor, he would be found swimming at Bowermans Beach Club or jumping off the Chapoquiot Bridge.

Upon moving to Hudson, Fla., at the age of 14 he continued his love of the sea, becoming Commodore of the Bayonet Point Yacht Club.

He would be seen leading a flotilla of boats to Anclote Island in the Gulf.

Matt’s interest and knowledge of his hometown, Falmouth, led him to write many Facebook entries on the “I grew up in Falmouth” page sharing the history and stories handed down through the generations. He was the administrator for “The New Port Richey Chat” and “The Florida Great Bites Restaurant and Review.”

He was ever present at his daughter’s band concerts and aquatic events, supporting her and her peers. Matt was an old soul and had

52 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

a passion for vintage cars and music. He was a voracious reader, historian, essayist and wordsmith. He was a man with a keen sense of humor, razor sharp wit, a great joke in his pocket at the ready, impeccable vocabulary, a sailor’s heart and a dapper gentleman of the open highway. To many of his nephews and nieces he was referred to as "Uncle Buck." The man in charge at the West Falmouth Boat Club heard of his passing and struck the flag at halfmast on the dock. A true honor to a man who loved the sea, his country, his friends and most of all, his family.

He leaves his wife Maria (DeSario) of 23 years and daughter Abigail of Hudson Fla., Michael Harlow of West Falmouth, Shelly Hamilton of Diamond Point, N.Y., Marti Harlow-Jeglinski of Falmouth, Maurie Harlow-Hawkes of West Falmouth and many nephews and nieces. Matt was always the family obituary writer and he deserted his post way too soon, so we hope this will suffice. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital can be made in his memory. A celebration of his life will be held in the fall.

To share a memory or leave condolences, please visit https://prevattfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1586/ Matthew-Harlow/obituary.html#content-start

Y

THE D.E.A.L.

Dining, Entertainment, Attractions & Lodging

Delilah Supper Club

DINING

Sin City Supper Clubs Range from Elegant to Irreverent

By Jeanne Brei The last year has taught Las Vegas that putting all your eggs in one basket is probably not the best strategy—especially when mandates are able to completely shut down all live events, conventions, tradeshows, meetings and parties, which along with the dining, drinking, dancing, shows and gambling that go with them, are the very lifeblood of Las Vegas.

As the mandates have eased, fortunately, people have returned to their partying ways, but conventions and their risk-management lawyers have continued to be wary. In response, ironically, speakeasies and supper clubs have become commonplace as Vegas is inspired by a bygone

Prohibition era when rebellion was the answer.

Supper clubs are all the rage in Las Vegas right now–you could head to the authentically vintage Italian American Club, which has been hosting the Smith Center performers while the downtown theater and cabaret has been closed, or the Vegas and Nevada Rooms, where the emphasis is on the show and the fabulous food is a bonus. Or you could go big, expensive and extravagant on the Strip at the Bellagio, Wynn or Cosmopolitan.

On New Year’s Eve 2020, No Ceilings Entertainment brought the gorgeous Mayfair Supper Club to the Bellagio with “elevated food and cocktail presentations” combined with singers, dancers, aerial artists and more—or, as their website says, “where design, dining and entertainment collide to make the show … with the world-famous Bellagio fountains as a backdrop for a fully immersive experience.”

The Supper Club was built in the old Hyde nightclub space

and converts to Mayfair After Dark at 11 p.m., a fully immersive late-night production featuring a 360-degree light show, singing waiters and audience participation. And the food!

Beginning with caviar and ending with a dessert known as the Cigar—an edible chocolate cigar that arrives tableside encased in a smoking glass dome.

The most recent entrant in the glamorous Roaring ‘20s to the sophisticated ‘50s supper club scene is the extraordinary Delilah Supper Club, which opened at the Wynn Hotel in mid-July and immediately dazzled with its opulent Art Deco-inspired décor and sumptuous food. Acclaimed global hospitality partner h.wood Group built the original Delilah Supper Club and celebrity hotspot in L.A. and teamed with Todd Avery Lenahan, president and chief creative officer of Wynn Design & Development to create this original design. They kept their no photography rule so that celebrities could feel comfortable. The Little Bubble Bar, a 34-seat intimate lounge

54 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

Capos

with plush sofas and vintage-inspired tables, overlooks the main dining room two floors below. Two sets of staircases with bronze sculptures lead to the Anchor Bar with Delilah’s signature brass palm trees and stage. On either side of the main dining room are outdoor courtyards with lanterns and 75-year-old magnolia trees. For an ultra-VIP experience, Delilah has a private dining room (complete with an eight-piece table, couch, its own bar and a chandelier) and an even more exclusive chef’s table that’s in between the kitchen and the private dining room. The late-night dining menu starts at 10:30 p.m. and the live music is kept at a comfortable volume for small talk. A unique experience in Sin City!

For those who prefer less elegance and more irreverence, the next supper club to open is Spiegelworld's Superfrico at the Cosmopolitan to pair with their Opium show. The restaurant is being built in the former space of Rose.Rabbit.Lie and plans to open on Sept. 24, the same night that the show reopens.

Performers will be coming and going from their dressing rooms to the Opium theater through Superfrico’s kitchen and dining rooms as the rooms’ interconnected bars, lounges and dining rooms will create a “clusterflourish,” according to Spiegelworld CEO Ross Mollison, who adds that the inspiration for Superfrico came from the sensory overload of Tokyo’s Robot restaurant.

The “Italian-American-Psychedelic” cuisine will be an “all-senses-overloaded take on grandma’s favorites, including pizza, pasta, steaks, seafood, small plates and photo-worthy desserts, all night long.”

The Underground at the Mob Museum

ENTERTAINMENT

Las Vegas Speakeasies are Leading the Way Out of Lockdown

by Jeanne Brei Las Vegas entertainment took quite a hit from more than a year of lockdowns and mandated occupancy limitations.

In early 2020, there were about 150 ticketed shows to choose from every night and a year later, it was fewer than 40. Most producers waited until the 12-foot distancing moat from the stage and occupancy limits were lifted to reopen their shows. But some shows will not be returning, including Le Reve and Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. In addition, Caesars Entertainment decided to close six smaller theaters that hosted a dozen shows that are now scrambling to find new homes, including Chippendales at the Rio, Crazy Girls & Tenors of Rock at Planet Hollywood, X Rocks at Bally’s Back Room, the Anthony Cools Theatre at Paris, the Bronx Wanderers at Harrah’s, and Wayne Newton & Dionne Warwick at Cleopatra’s Barge.

For more than a year, the governor decided that only “ambient music” would be allowed—which seemed to be defined by not allowing the performers’ names to be advertised and the audience’s chairs weren’t allowed to face the stage or the musicians (or the venue would be fined). For months it was similar to Prohibition when you had to furtively share where your favorite entertainers were performing. @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

This seemed to lead to speakeasies becoming popular, several requiring passwords to get in. My favorites include the Underground at the Mob Museum downtown (their daily password can be found on their Instagram account) and Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, a hidden room behind a barbershop at the Cosmopolitan. When you are let in the door, it feels like you’re walking into a movie set of the 1930s with a small stage, live musicians and a beautiful bar. The Cosmopolitan has a second speakeasy—a hidden, secret tequila bar called Ghost Donkey that has no signage or storefront and can be found in the Block 16 food court, across from Holsteins. The vibe immediately changes as you enter the intimate space, which has only 10 bar stools and seating for another 10-15.

Opened daily from 4-midnight (2 a.m. on Fri. & Sat.) for those who know to look for a door with a donkey on it.

Also on the Strip, 1923 Prohibition Bar is a bourbon speakeasy that features the culture, music and style of the Roaring ‘20s inside Mandalay Bay. The door is right next to the minus5 bar, and easy to miss. Inside there’s dark leather with fireplaces and comfy chairs. And just off the Strip, at the Virgin Hotel (formerly the Hard Rock Hotel) is the psychedelic ‘60s-themed Shag Room—which features a secret entrance, velvet-draped seating areas, and, of course, shag carpet. Sitting behind the resort’s lobby bar through an entrance that’s a photo booth you’ll find a room filled with red and purple decor and purple shag carpet with a series of semi-private rooms with velvet curtains.

The center of the room features a sunken conversation pit and there’s frequently live entertainment—if you’re lucky, it’ll be the amazing Skye Dee Miles.

Not all speakeasies require passwords and not all speakeasies are hidden. There’s quite a few in the downtown music scene, including the Downtown Cocktail Room, the Commonwealth, the Velveteen Rabbit and the Millennium Fandom Bar. Millennium Fandom is a cosplay haven for those who enjoy nerd culture, pop culture and any unique fandom. Complimentary board games are available every night of the week, and they offer karaoke, trivia and their famous themed cosplay nights. It has a very welcoming vibe and it’s lots of fun—it truly feels like a home away from home for nerdy and geeky enthusiasts who enjoy cosplay attire.

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 55

THE D.E.A.L.

Area 15

ATTRACTIONS

Area15 is an Outof-this-World Experience!

By Jeanne Brei As one of the top tourist and meetings destinations in the world, Las Vegas is blessed with an abundance of attractions. There’s literally something for every taste and many can only be found in Las Vegas—including the Neon Boneyard (of restored neon signs from the early days of Las Vegas), the Mob Museum, the Fremont Street Experience, the Springs Preserves, and so many more!

But our readers come to Las Vegas so often for shows that they’re practically natives or, at least, “insiders.” So, let’s talk about some new attractions that have just opened in the last year. First is the extraordinary Area15 and anchor tenant Meow Wolf. It opened on Sept. 17 last year and is constantly reinventing

itself, adding new experiences and rotating out others. How to describe it? Well, it’s an experiential, futuristic, artistic retail and adventure extravaganza. Their website describes themselves as “an immersive entertainment & events complex ... that is a home for the bold, the makers, the agents of change … a mind-bending, explorable art experience for people of all ages.”

While the building looks like a massive bland warehouse from the outside surrounded by 32,000-sq.ft. of amazing art installations with a Burning Man vibe, the interior is a wonderland filled with experiential activations that all are priced separately. After a spaceship portal entry, you enter the “SPINE,” an ever-changing corridor filled with one-of-a-kind art installations and unique experiences.

Area15 has two indoor event spaces: The Portal, which features 360-degree projection mapped walls, and the Sanctuary, a circular bamboo volcano structure, which are open unless being used by a

56 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

private event. Fortunately, you can enter for free and see everything—it’s the doing that costs money.

On one level, Meow Wolf is like a McDonald’s playground for adults if the designers had been given an unlimited budget and lots of psychedelic drugs.

There’s artwork from more than 300 artists and if you take an Omega World tour, you’ll discover there’s several levels to experience it on—including one where you can decide if you want to fight the corporate tyrants who are ruining the world.

It has several hidden entrances and “portals to other dimensions.” And Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart is just the first 52,000 sq.ft. of Area15’s 200,000 sq.ft.

After a couple of hours at OmegaMart, you could visit Wink World (Blue Man Group’s Chief Creative Officer Chris Wink created this psychedelic art house with infinity mirror rooms that integrate sound, light, color and motion); Museum Fiasco, which is currently showing “Cluster” by Playmodes Studio on rotation (a fully immersive

installation that uses light and sound to explore the relationship between space, time and perception) or the Vincent Van Gogh Experience that is touring the world.

You could play indoor golf at Five Iron Golf, throw axes at Dueling Axes, play arcade games at the Emporium, hang glide or free fall on the first indoor, electric dual-track suspension ride in the U.S. at Haley’s Comet, do some VR and AR experiences like Birdly (where you can soar like a bird), venture into space in an interactive AR experience from Particle Quest, do a seated or an immersive VR experience at the OZ Experience, go shopping at Wild Muse Boutique or get a drink from Rocket Fizz (a modern-day, old-fashioned soda and candy shop) or the bar under Oddwood’s 23-ft.-high Japanese maple tree covered in 5,000+ twinkling and color changing LED lights. The Beast by Todd English offers food and a Lost Spirits Distillery is coming soon offering an immersive tour featuring whisky and rum tastings, boat rides, underwater train rides and holograms. Also coming soon is “RISE–An Elevated Bar Experience,” a 16-seat gondola that rotates 360-degrees in a seven-minute ride that lifts guests 131 feet with their feet dangling in the air, to enjoy a panoramic view of Las Vegas, along with their drink.

There’s so much to see and do at Area15, I didn’t even get to recommend heading to Circa’s Stadium Swim, Park MGM’s Eataly or Resorts World’s Famous Foods Street Eats. Be sure to check out what’s new in Vegas!

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Dining, Entertainment, Attractions & Lodging

LODGING

A Backlot Tour of Las Vegas Hotels in Feature Films

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

By Jeanne Brei I usually write about historical hotels in each featured city, but Las Vegas is so young that the first Strip hotel (the El Dorado) wasn’t built until 1941 and Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo, which redefined the Las Vegas vibe, didn’t open until 1946.

And, sadly, Las Vegas usually implodes any hotel that gets to 20 years old.

Bugsy’s efforts to take Las Vegas from a RR stop to a glamorous gambling destination brought Hollywood to Las Vegas—and we’ve been the backdrop for more than 100 feature films since. So, let’s do a “backlot” tour—since I’ve worked as an extra on nearly every movie that’s shot here since 1995 (too late for Casino, which filmed in 1994 at the Riviera, with the Landmark Hotel’s entrance replicating the fictional Tangiers). Both of those hotels had their implosions used in other movies. We were shooting Mars Attacks at the Stardust in 1995, which used the Landmark implosion as part of the Martians attack, and we were shooting Jason Bourne at the Aria when they used the Riviera’s implosion in 2016. While shooting Con Air, they built the plane crash into the Sands Hotel’s implosion in November 1996.

Interestingly, we were shooting Ocean’s Eleven in the spring of 2001, and in one scene we @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

Oceans Eleven

were standing on the rooftop of the Monte Carlo Hotel (now the Park MGM) and George Clooney, Matt Damon and the cast were “blowing up” the New York-New York Hotel next door. Tragically, 9/11 happened later that year and the producers deleted the entire subplot out of respect for the city of New York. Most of Ocean’s Eleven was filmed at the Bellagio, as was Ocean’s 13.

Caesars Palace has been the site of several movies, including The Hangover, with scenes in the (currently being renovated) lobby, the pool, roof and guest rooms. Rain Man (the Emperors Suite has been nicknamed the Rain Man Suite), Dreamgirls, Intolerable Cruelty and Iron Man were partly shot there, too. In Think Like a Man Too, actor Kevin Hart dances in his underwear and socks, sliding across the marble floor of the opulent Constantine villa at Caesars Palace. And for several years, nearly every television magic special (one of my favorites

filmed in a high-roller suite that was amazing) and ABC’s Viva Las Vegas night (where members of the casts of Coach, Drew Carey, Ellen and Grace Under Fire did crossover spots in each other’s shows as they all visited Las Vegas) filmed at Caesars Palace in 1997.

The Venetian is featured in the 2001 comedy Rat Race and I’m in several scenes— standing in the hotel registration line, watching Mr. Bean careen through the lobby and watching Gloria Allred offer her services at an escalator.

One of the hotel’s suites is also used in the Sandra Bullock film Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.

Circus Circus is mentioned in Hunter S. Thompson’s book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but when it came to making the movie version the casino owners refused permission. So, the producers built their own merry-goround bar (the real one’s sadly no longer there). But Circus Circus is seen on screen

in Diamonds are Forever (which also shot at the Hilton before my time) and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

We also shot scenes for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel downtown, the now-imploded Stardust and the dry lake bed in Jean, Nev. Vegas Vacation filmed at The Mirage (I’m sitting with Beverly D’Angelo as Siegfried & Roy turn Chevy Chase into a tiger) and the Golden Nugget with scenes at the Hoover Dam, Casa de Shenandoah, Neon Museum and the MGM Grand. Fools Rush In also filmed all over town, including Red Rock, Hoover Dam and more—you can see me dancing in Matthew Perry’s Las Vegas nightclub opening.

Before my time, The Tropicana was featured as Michael Corleone’s casino in the first Godfather film (renamed the Tropigala). And Viva Las Vegas was filmed downtown at the Golden Nugget and the Sahara parking lot.

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 57

*Disclaimer: All shows are subject to cancellation, check the official event website on the ECN Tradeshow Calendar for the latest information.

Tradeshow Calendar

Att = Attendance | CC=Convention Center | Exh = Exhibitors | Nsf = Net Square Feet

CANADA

All Information Is Subject to Change*

Show The National Franchise & Business Opportunities Show Western Manufacturing Technology Show - WMTS Grow West Coast - Horticulture Trade Show Oil Sands Trade Show & Conference Global Energy Show SIIQ - Immigration & Integration Conference The National Franchise & Business Opportunities Show The Convenience U CARWACS Show Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show - CMTS National Trailer Dealers Association - NTDA

IEEE Energy Conversion Congress & Expo - ECCE The National Franchise & Business Opportunities Show

Start 09/11 09/14 09/15 09/15 09/21 09/21 09/25 09/28 10/04 10/06 10/10 10/16

End 09/12 09/16 09/16 09/16 09/23 09/22 09/26 09/29 10/07 10/08 10/14 10/17

Venue The International Centre Edmonton Expo Centre Surrey City Hall Civic Plaza Suncor Comm. Leisure Centre BMO Centre at Stampede Park Palais des Congress Edmonton CC Toronto Congress Centre The International Centre Fairmont Chateau Vancouver Convention Centre Vancouver Convention Centre

City Toronto Edmonton Surrey Ft. McMurray Calgary Montreal Edmonton Toronto Toronto Whistler Vancouver Vancouver

St ON AB BC AB AB QC AB ON ON BC BC BC

Att 5000 2828 4000 5700 51K

Exh 150 100 265 400 1K

Nsf Industry 35000 Business Manufacturing 45000 Home Furn. & Int. Design 85000 Energy[Oil & Gas] 568K Energy[Oil & Gas]

1500 75

24000 Business

Start 09/01 09/03 09/09 09/10 09/12 09/14 09/18 09/22 09/22 09/23 09/24 09/26

End 09/02 09/05 09/12 09/12 09/17 09/16 09/21 09/24 09/25 09/26 09/26 10/01

Venue Ft. Worh CC Postponed to 2022 Colorado CC Ft. Worh CC Kansas City Marriott Downtown America’s Center Conv. Complex JW Marriott SA Hill Country Bartle Hall CC Austin CC Henry B. Gonzalez CC Kay Bailey Hutchison CC Colorado CC

City Ft. Worth Houston Denver Ft. Worth Kansas City St. Louis San Antonio Kansas City Austin San Antonio Dallas Denver

St TX TX CO TX MO MO TX MO TX TX TX CO

Att

Nsf

1600 50 20000 Business 5500 300 42500 Stores & Store Fittings 6120 500 130K Manufacturing

U.S. CENTRAL Show ISE Expo - The Broadband Development Marketplace National Rifle Association - NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits Craft Brewers & BrewExpo America Impressions Expo - The Imprinted Sportswear Show Fort Worth Law Enforcement Operations Conference & Trade Show - NTOA Motion + Power Technology Expo American Fire Sprinkler Association - AFSA Petfood Forum FinCon - Financial Content Expo Southwest Veterinary Symposium - SWVS Texas Association of School Boards - TASA/TASB Convention Society of Exploration Geophysicists - SEG Image Event

!

58 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

81K 13K 5300 1200 3000 1300 3000 2500 2675 8000 6488

Exh 250 860 800 240 207 200 125 150 100 225 400 370

286K 49100 38000 42000 12500 18000 20001 42600 60000 123K

Industry Communications Sporting Goods & Rec. Food & Beverage Apparel Police Manufacturing Fire & Fire Protection

Pets Financial & Legal Healthcare[Veterinary] Education Energy[Oil & Gas]

!

*Disclaimer: All shows are subject to cancellation, check the official event website on the ECN Tradeshow Calendar for the latest information.

Tradeshow Calendar Att = Attendance | CC=Convention Center | Exh = Exhibitors | Nsf = Net Square Feet

MIDWEST

All Information Is Subject to Change*

Show CEDIA - Custom Electronic Design & Installation Assoc.

M-PACT - Midwest Petroleum and Convenience Trade Show America’s Beauty Show RAPID +TCT National Rural Water Association - NRWA - WaterPro FABTECH International/AWS Welding Show/Metalform Firehouse Expo HIDA Steamlining Healthcare Conference N. American International Auto Show - NAIAS Motor Bella Farm Science Review Wisconsin Construction Municiple & Landscape Expo - WCMLE Illinois Municipal League World Dairy Expo Ohio Dental Association - ODA

NACS Show Nat’l Assoc of Convenience Stores

Start 09/01 09/08 09/11 09/13 09/13 09/13 09/14 09/21 09/21 09/21 09/22 09/23 09/28 09/30 10/05

End 09/03 09/10 09/13 09/15 09/16 09/16 09/18 09/23 09/26 09/23 09/23 09/25 10/02 08/25 10/08

Venue Indiana CC Indiana CC Donald E. Stephens CC McCormick Place Wisconsin Center McCormick Place Greater Columbus CC Virtual Only M1 Concourse Wisconsin State Fair Park Hilton Chicago Alliant Energy Center

City Indianapolis Indianapolis Rosemont Chicago Milwaukee Chicago Columbus Chicago Pontiac London West Allis Chicago Madison

St IN IN IL IL WI IL OH IL MI OH WI IL WI

Hyatt Regency Chicago McCormick Place

Chicago Chicago

IL IL

Molly Caren Agr Ctr

Att 20K 3500 70K 1800 2200 48K 13K 3500 809K 130K 1600 3500 72K 1000 25K

Exh 500 361 414 100 130 1.7K 347 300 157 600 175 160 863 200 1.2K

Nsf 376K 53000 181K 16000 28000 650K 90400 40000 649K

Industry Electrical & Electronics Stores & Store Fittings Beauty & Healthcare Manufacturing Water Welding Fire & Fire Protection Healthcare Automotive & Trucking Agriculture & Farming 83000 Building & Construction 16000 Government 561K Food & Beverage 31700 Health - Dental 431K Stores & Store Fittings

Visit Our Website DAILY UPDATES COVID-19, Tradeshow Calendar, People on the Move, News, International News, Features From the Print Magazine & Historical Features too!

Check ExhibitCityNews.com for the latest, breaking news in the industry! @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 59

*Disclaimer: All shows are subject to cancellation, check the official event website on the ECN Tradeshow Calendar for the latest information.

Tradeshow Calendar

Att = Attendance | CC=Convention Center | Exh = Exhibitors | Nsf = Net Square Feet

U.S. NORTHEAST Show New England Water Works Assoc. - NEWWA Annual Conf.

Satellite American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association - AOPA Construction Management Assoc. of America - CMAA Nat. Conf. & Trade Show The Virginia Meeting - Virginia Dental Association BIOMEDevice Boston Modern Day Marine North American Menopause Society New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association - NJSFDA Natural Products Expo East Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition International Franchise Expo - IFE

All Information Is Subject to Change*

Start 09/07 09/08 09/09 09/12 09/16 09/21 09/21 09/22 09/22 09/23 09/24 09/24

End 09/10 09/10 09/11 09/14 09/19 09/22 09/23 09/25 09/23 09/25 09/25 09/25

Venue Omni Mt. Washington Resort Gaylord National Hynes CC & Sheraton Boston Marriott Downtown Williamsburg Lodge Boston Conv. & Exhibition Center Quantico-Lejeune Field Washington Hilton Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Pennsylvania CC Cross Insurance Center Javits Center

City Bretton Woods Washington Boston Philadelphia Williamsburg Boston Quantico Washington Atlantic City Philadelphia Bangor New York

St NH DC MA PA VA MA VA DC NJ PA ME NY

Att 371 15K 2400 1300 1500 4462 2470 1500 1300 22K 7159 13K

Exh

Start 09/01 09/05 09/09 09/09 09/14 09/15 09/21 09/21 09/22 09/23 10/02 10/03

End 09/02 09/08 09/09 09/12 09/15 09/19 09/23 09/23 09/24 09/25 10/05 10/06

Venue Oregon CC Peppermill Resort South SF Conf. Center DoubleTree by Hilton Greater Tacoma CC

Nsf

Industry

1.1K 154K 172 271K 300

Food & Beverage Agriculture & Farming Business

City Portland Reno San Francisco Portland Tacoma Reno Stead Field San Jose McEnery CC San Jose Spokane Convention Center Spokane SAFE Credit Union CC Sacramento Washington State CC Seattle Reno Peppermill Resort Oregon CC Portland

St OR NV CA OR WA NV CA WA CA WA NV OR

Att

Exh

Industry

340 90000 Communications 160 40000 Healthcare Building & Construction Healthcare[Dental] 337 38880 Healthcare 336 69716 Military 35 30000 Healthcare

U.S. NORTHWEST Show Northwest Facilities & Machine Tool Show Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals - ASCIP Small Business Expo International Transplant Nurses Society - ITNS American Contract Manufacturers Association - AmCon National Championship Air Races and Air Show Sensors Converge HydroVision International - Clean Energy League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo Nat. Assoc. for College Admission Counseling - NACAC American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association International City/County Mmgt Assoc. - ICMA

60 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

Nsf

Healthcare Business Healthcare[Nursing] Manufacturing 7000 300 21640 Manufacturing 2639 358 52400 Energy[Renewables] 1900 Government 5000 200 50000 Education Healthcare 2819 200 27500 Government

*Disclaimer: All shows are subject to cancellation, check the official event website on the ECN Tradeshow Calendar for the latest information.

Tradeshow Calendar Att = Attendance | CC=Convention Center | Exh = Exhibitors | Nsf = Net Square Feet

U.S. SOUTHEAST

All Information Is Subject to Change*

Show FIME Show - Federation of Int. Medical Equip. Suppliers Surf Expo International Association of Chiefs of Police - IACP Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society - IVEECS Glassbuild America SPIRE - North American Christian Convention - NACC International Floricluture Expo Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show - FRA - PMQ’s Pizza Show Solar Power International - SPI 21st Century Building Expo - NCHBA National Recreation & Park Association - NRPA Emergency Nurses Association Annual Meeting - ENA ABC Kids Expo - All Baby & Child Clinical Lab Expo - AACC - American Assoc. for Clinical Chemistry Enterprise Connect GSX - Global Security Exchange International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference - IBEX SeatradeCruiseGlobal The Utility Expo - formerly ICUEE American Assoc. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons - AAOMS

Start 09/01 09/09 09/11 09/11 09/13 09/14 09/16 09/19 09/20 09/21 09/21 09/22 09/26 09/26 09/27 09/27 09/28 09/28 09/28 09/29

End 09/03 09/11 09/14 09/15 09/15 09/16 09/18 09/20 09/23 09/23 09/23 09/25 09/28 09/30 09/29 09/29 09/30 09/30 09/30 10/02

Venue Miami Beach CC Orange County CC Morial CC Gaylord Opryland Georgia World Congress Ctr. Gaylord Opryland Miami Beach CC Orange County CC Morial CC Charlotte CC Music City Center Orange County CC Postponed until 2022 Georgia World Congress Ctr. Gaylord Palms Orange County CC Tampa CC Miami Beach CC Kentucky Expo Center Music City Center

City Miami Orlando New Orleans Nashville Atlanta Nashville Miami Orlando New Orleans Charlotte Nashville Orlando Orlando Atlanta Orlando Orlando Tampa Miami Louisville Nashville

St FL FL LA TN GA TN FL FL LA NC TN FL FL GA FL FL FL FL KY TN

Att 14K 27K 14K 4000 7634 8000 1752 15K 20K 2500 8000 3500 6000 21K 5000 18K 2122 10K 17K 5000

Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses Annual Conf - AMSN Specialty Coffee Conference & Exhibition Home Care & Hospice Conference & Expo - NAHC American Gas Association Operations Conf. & Exhibition Metalcon International PRINTING United - Specialty Graphic Imaging Association - SGIA International Jewelry Fair/General Merchandise Show JIS October - Jewelers International Showcase

09/30 09/30 10/03 10/04 10/06 10/06 10/07 10/08

10/03 10/03 10/05 10/08 10/08 10/08 10/10 10/11

Omni Orlando Resort Champ. Orlando Morial CC New Orleans New Orleans Gaylord Palms Orlando Tampa CC Tampa Orange County CC Orlando Morial CC New Orleans Miami Beach CC Miami

FL LA LA FL FL FL LA FL

1100 8025 2500

@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

Exh 1.2K 1K 783

Nsf 150K 250K 172K

364 250 192 600 850 170 385 245 700 750 200 708 700 983 801 200

112K

100 425 300 250 5525 300 21K 654 19K 442 5000 400

60250 90000 285K 15300 200K 33900 200K 207K 33100 228K 106K 152K 1.1M 54200

Industry Healthcare Sporting Goods & Rec. Fire & Fire Protection Healthcare[Veterinary] Ceramics & Glass Religious Landscape & Garden Hotels & Resorts Energy[Renewables] Building & Construction Sporting Goods & Rec. Healthcare[Nursing] Apparel Healthcare[Pharma.]

Communications Security Sporting Goods & Rec. Travel Industry Building & Construction Healthcare

10000 Healthcare[Nursing] 100K Food & Beverage Healthcare 50000 Energy[Oil & Gas] 70200 Metalworking 346K Printing 101K Jewelry 95000 Jewelry

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 61

*Disclaimer: All shows are subject to cancellation, check the official event website on the ECN Tradeshow Calendar for the latest information.

Tradeshow Calendar

Att = Attendance | CC=Convention Center | Exh = Exhibitors | Nsf = Net Square Feet

U.S. SOUTHWEST Show JOGS Tucson Gem & Jewelry Show Western Veterinary Conference - WVC PACIFIC FUELS + CONVENIENCE SUMMIT (PFCS) THE EXPERIENCE Conference & Trade Show Society for Human Resource Management - SHRM MINExpo International IPW - U.S. Travel Association International Fastener Expo Greenbuild International Conference & Expo Vision Expo West Regional Airline Association - RAA RFID Journal Live! (Radio Frequency Identification) National Parking Association - NPA Pack Expo Las Vegas Reverse Logistics Association - RLA Conference & Expo TechDay Los Angeles International Wireless Communications Expo - IWCE Southern California Furniture & Accessory Market American Academy of Otolaryngology - OTO Expo Pacific Coast Builders Conference - PCBC Global Gaming Expo - G2E GSE Expo Worldwide Anesthesiology - American Society of Anesthesiologists - ASA National Association of Broadcasters - NAB Show American Dental Association - SMILECON iMAPS - International Symposium on Microelectronics

National Business Aviation Conv.& Exhibition-NBAA National Hardware Show

All Information Is Subject to Change*

Start 09/03 09/06 09/07 09/08 09/09 09/13 09/18 09/21 09/21 09/22 09/25 09/26 09/27 09/27 09/27 09/29 09/29 09/30 10/03 10/04 10/04 10/05 10/08 10/09 10/11 10/12 10/12 10/21

End 09/06 09/09 09/09 09/10 09/12 09/15 09/22 09/23 09/23 09/25 09/28 09/28 09/29 09/29 09/30 09/29 09/30 10/01 10/06 10/07 10/07 10/07 10/12 10/13 10/13 10/13 10/14 10/23

Venue Tucson Expo Center

City Tucson Las Vegas Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas Las Vegas CC Las Vegas Las Vegas CC Las Vegas Las Vegas CC Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Las Vegas San Diego CC San Diego Venetian Expo Las Vegas Phoenix CC Phoenix Phoenix CC Phoenix Caesars Forum Las Vegas Las Vegas CC Las Vegas The Mirage Las Vegas The REEF Los Angeles Las Vegas CC Las Vegas Long Beach CC Long Beach Los Angeles LACC Omni La Costa Resort and Spa San Diego Venetian Expo Las Vegas

Caesars Forum San Diego CC Las Vegas CC

Las Vegas

San Diego Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Las Vegas Town & Country Resort & CC San Diego Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas Las Vegas CC Las Vegas

St AZ NV CA NV NV

NV NV NV CA NV AZ AZ NV NV NV CA NV CA CA CA NV NV CA NV NV CA NV NV

Att 37K 15K 1500 3300 12.5K 52K 6423 2044 19K 12K 1400 2500 1000 31K 25K 7000 7387 10K 5500 20K 24K 2500 9902 89K 31K 2500 25K 19K

Exh 400 550 140 190 800 1.9k 881 634 548 460 175 200 100 2K 1K 200 369 200 300 690 408 200 297 1.6K 576 200 1K 2.6K

Nsf

30000 29600 863K 145K 82900 144K 174K 32000

Industry Jewelry Healthcare[Veterinary] Energy[Oil & Gas] Building & Construction Business Mining Travel Industry Building & Construction Building & Construction Healthcare[Vision] Aerospace & Aviation Stores & Store Fittings Building & Construction

25000 890K Mat. Handl., Pkg & Logistics Logistics 20000 Computers & Apps 91700 Communications 150K Furniture 71000 Healthcare 195K Building & Construction 260K Gaming & Entertainment 65000 Aerospace & Aviation 73200 Healthcare 808K Communications 122K Healthcare[Dental] 25000 Electrical & Electronics 1036K Aerospace & Aviation 559K Building & Construction

• Delivery in Las Vegas, FedEx/UPS to all cities • Be a HERO use Horizon Print Solutions and make it EZ • Everything for your show or event from a top quality 25 year supplier!

Color Printing • Rack cards • Brochures • Booklets • Everything else 62 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

Meeting & Event Supplies • Lanyards & Credentials • Binders, Tabs and inserts • Tote Bags & Inserts • Tickets & Programs

Promotional Products • Giveaways • Table Drapes & Signage • Branded Apparel • Gifts & Awards

IN THE EVENTS INDUSTRY, ALMOST ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG. WE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT.

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Secure Your Placement In These Future Editions

PM

Special/Corporate Events / New Product Showcase / Corporate Social Responsibility (November/December) Focus City: Detroit, MI

The Transportation Issue / Year in Review / Best Places to Work January / February) Focus City: Philadelphia, PA

The EXHIBITORLive Issue / New Product Showcase / Furnishings (March /April) Focus City: Spokane, WA

CALL SALES TODAY! 702-309-8023 or at newsdesk@exhibitcitynews.com

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE Where to Find Professional Services, Products and Supplies—a Companion Directory to Our Online Guide: www.ExhibitCityNews.com/Service-Guide

Aadvantaged Displays 69 A Harmony Nail Spa 69 AllSpace Group 67 BWC Visual Technologies 66 CDS (Corporate Display Specialties) 70 CEP (Chicago Exhibit Productions, Inc.) 68 Champion Logistics 69 Character Talent 67 Clementine Creative Services 66 Condit 68

CorpCom CorpEvents Equip, Inc. Exhibitrac Direct Marketing Horizon Print Solutions LaborSource Las Vegas Power Professionals Lip Smacking Foodie Tours My 50 Years in the Tradeshow Industry OnPoint Presenters

67 68 71 71 70 70 69 69 67 71

Preferred Network Providers Prism Lighting Quality EFX Massage SISTEXPO (in Mexico) SmartSource TWI Group We Are Conventions YOR Design YOR Swag Your Event Audio

68 70 67 68 66 70 68 66 71 66

For Service Guide information and rates, call sales at (702) 309-8023. Inclusive categories are available for all your company advertising needs. @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 65

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

SmartSource As one of the largest technology solutions providers in North America, SmartSource® has been an industry leader for more than 35 years. Offering a full range of AV, IT and business technology solutions through our large national footprint, we are an extension of our clients’ teams. Our experienced solutions architects, project managers and certified technicians provide the highest level of customer service to exceed expectations for every event or project, whether in-person, hybrid or virtual. With a deep inventory of rental equipment and the most attentive team, SmartSource can help you create flawless events, meetings, trainings, product launches & more. www.TheSmartSource.com

Audio Visual Technology

Audio Visual Technology

Creative Design Services

Creative Design Services

66 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

AllSpace Group / Synapse Exhibits AllSpace Group specializes in consulting, design and production of booths for tradeshow, events and retail environments. With more than 15 years’ experience in the event and retail industry we believe the best, long-lasting business happens together with the human touch. Our work can be summarized with “Built for Business.” With offices and in-house production in Las Vegas, Canada and Europe, we study your brand, values and goals to design, create and build a custom tradeshow exhibit that enables your business partnership. AllSpace Group offers in-house design, production and installation of booths, events and retail environments. For more info, visit allspacegroup.com.

Creative Entertainment Services

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Advanced massage services that engage the highest level of convention services.

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Call or Text (702) 336-9362

Exhibitor Education / Book

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@EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 67

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

Preferred Network Provider / We Are Conventions Preferred Network Provider offers a more cost effective and reliable internet service for conventions and events. Ask about the monthly service plan. Setup the plug-and-play Multi-Carrier Hotspot Routers when and where you need it. We offer coverage for large indoor/ outdoor events nationwide. Tell us what you need—we provide commercial multi-carrier hotspots, access points, network switches, prepaid SIM cards, pay-as-you-go SIM cards and onsite or remote support . For more info, visit www.preferrednetworkprovider.com or call (702) 945-7776. For any other of your booth or event needs, visit www.WeAreConventions.com or (702) 680-9087.

Exhibit Production

Exhibits

Upstate NY

Montpelier, VT

Concord, NH

Boston, MA Worcester, MA

6 30.378.4 8 4 8 w w w.cepexhibits.com

Springfield, MA

(508) 366-8594 info@corp-eventsne.com Providence, RI Hartford, CT

Exhibits

68 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

Exhibits

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

Champion Logistics Group has a transportation division specializing in the coordination of trade shows and special events. Champion provides the most reliable and flexible trade show transportation in the industry.

Champion Logistics Unique in the industry, Champion has a transportation division specializing in the coordination of tradeshows and special events. Founded in 1980, with the commitment to exceptional service, Champion Logistics Group has grown to become a logistics leader. By using the Champion fleet and network of specialized trade show carriers, we provide the most reliable trade show transportation services in the industry. For more info, visit www.champlog.com.

Chicago | Atlanta | Boston | Dallas | Las Vegas | Los Angeles | New Jersey

800.323.5401 | info@champlog.com | www.champlog.com

Exhibit Services

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941-758-8444 866-239-8056

Visit us online for more of our products & services

AadvantageDisplays.com @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 69

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

Horizon Print Solutions Horizon Print Solutions brings decades of experience in all types of printed products with forms, tags, labels, promotional products and corporate attire. They work together with extraordinary manufacturing and decorating partners, mostly from the wholesale only marketplace, to bring the very best solutions to clients—every project and every transaction! For more info, visit https://printefficiency.com.

r e v l i S Color Printing • Rack cards • Brochures • Booklets • Everything else

• Delivery in Las Vegas, FedEx/UPS to all cities • Be a HERO use Horizon Print Solutions and make it EZ • Everything for your show or event from a top quality 25 year supplier!

Meeting & Event Supplies • Lanyards & Credentials • Binders, Tabs and inserts • Tote Bags & Inserts • Tickets & Programs

Labor

Promotional Products • Giveaways • Table Drapes & Signage • Branded Apparel • Gifts & Awards

Lighting

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630.914.5281

www.laborsourcegroup.com

WWW.PRISMLIGHTINGGROUP.COM | 1.866.620.1380 | SALESUSA@PRISMLIGHTINGGROUP.COM

Logistics

Printing

Attention Exhibit and Event Companies Local Service for Trade Shows and Events In: Washington D.C. - Baltimore - Atlantic City Philly - NYC - Hartford - Boston All in same-day driving distance from us.

WHOLESALE Warehousing, Storage, Prep, Delivery Graphics, Supervision, & Rentals 800-367-2531

CDSpartner.com

We Can Provide You A Local Presence 70 September/October 2021 Exhibit City News

INDUSTRY SERVICE GUIDE

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Tradeshow Lists

ADVERTISE IN THE SERVICE GUIDE •Added value with your ad in print and on our website.

•Engage a captive audience with 38,000 readers every month!

•Increase revenue and gain marketshare!

Print and Digital Distribution (Ads in print issues will run concurrently online.)

1 Issue: $500 per month 3 Issues: $400 per month 6 Issues: $300 per month 12 Issues: $200 per month Contact sales for details: 702-309-8023 or sales@exhibitcitynews.com @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 71

2021 EDITORIAL CALENDAR* *Content is subject to change

JANUARY-FEBRUARY

MARCH-APRIL

January (print & digital)

March (print & digital):

February (digital only)

April (digital only):

• America Starts with Tradeshows Rallies • Year in Review • Building Your Virtual Team Regional Focus: Southeast U.S. (Focus City: Savannah, GA) • Technology Show/Products • AV/Lighting/Graphics/Photography • Corporate Social Responsibility International Focus: Germany

MAY-JUNE

• The End of an Era • How Technology Will Pave the Way Back • Road to Recovery: Pivoting to Survive Regional Focus: Midwest U.S. (Focus City: St. Louis, MO) • Exhibit Building & Design • Show Management/Kits • Vendors International Focus: Mexico

JULY-AUGUST

May (print & digital):

July (print & digital):

June (digital only):

August (digital only):

• Feature: The Power of Advocacy • Exhibitor Advocacy Group White Paper • On the Return to the Showfloor Regional Focus: Southeast U.S. (Focus City: Chattanooga, TN) • Mobile Exhibits • Warehousing/Material Handling • Extrusions International Focus: Hong Kong

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER

• Survivor-themed issue • Women in the Industry • Industry Salespeople Regional Focus: U.S. (Focus City: Houston, TX)

• Insurance/Legal/Contracts • Floor Coverings/Flooring • Tension Fabric International Focus: U.K.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

September (print & digital):

November (print & digital):

October (digital only):

December (digital only):

• EXHIBITORLive Preview • Giveaways/Incentives • General Contractors Regional Focus: Southwest U.S. (Focus City: Las Vegas, NV)

• Lead Retrieval v. Data Matching/CRM • Tradeshow Marketing/Traffic • Social Media International Focus: Canada

Content covered digitally and in print Jan., March, May, July, Sept. and Nov. Other months, digital coverage only.

• Special/Corporate Events • New Product Showcase • Corporate Social Sustainability Regional Focus: (Focus City: )

• Healthcare • Industry Salespeople • Security / Safety International Focus: China

Deadline / Space reservation: 8th day, or closest business day, of month prior to print issue.

We would love to hear from you! Share the coverage you would like to see in future issues at newsdesk@exhibitcitynews.com

Advertiser Index 4 Productions

5

4Productions.com

7

Connect.beMatrix.com/pop

23

BreatheSummit.com

35

Brumark.com

17

BusinessWise365.com

17

ChampLog.com

2, 25

WeAreCircle.com

61

ClementineCS.com

74 9

Meet AC

Back Cover

Momentum Management

3

National TradeShow Alliance/Together Again Job Fair & Expo 47 Nolan Advisory Services (NAS)

19

Rosemont – RES

45

Rosemont.com

23,60

Corp-eventsid.com

SEG Warehouse / Design to Print

19

WhySEG.com, DesignToPrint.com & Pillows4Show.com

75

CORTevents.com

Sho-Link Inc.

41

Sho-link.com

15

DSLgroup.com

SMT Expo

25

SmtExpo.com

45

EDPA.com/edpafoundation

Superior Logistics

21

ShipSuperior.com

15

RSMGC.org

TCF Center (formerly Cobo)

45

TCFCenterDetroit.com

4

Employco.com

Total Show Technology (TST)

63

TotalShowTech.com

58

ExposuresLtd.com

Full Circle Events

19

NolanAdvisory.com

Corpcom-Events.com

Exposures Ltd. Photography

Las Vegas Mannequins/Las Vegas Store Supply

NationalTradeShowAlliance.org

CRVegas.com

Employco USA

43

MomentumMgt.com

Clementine Creative Services

EDPA’s “The Randy”

Labor Inc.

MeetAC.com

Circle

EDPA Foundation

53

LVMannequins.com & LVStoreSupply.com

ChampionLogistics

Display Supply & Lighting

iLuminate

LaborInc.ca

BusinessWise 365

CORT Events

62

iLuminate.com

Brumark

CorpEvents - New England

Horizon Print Solution PrintEfficiency.com

Breathe Health & Wellness Summit

CorpCom

21

HillPartners.com

beMatrix

Color Reflections

Hill & Partners

Willwork

36

Willwork.com

39

FCELV.com

FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Contact sales: 702-309-8023 ext. 105, sales@exhibitcitynews.com @EXHIBITCITYNEWS

ExhibitCityNews.com September/October 2021 73

THIS IS MORE THAN A BOOTH. © 2021 CORT. A Berkshire Hathaway Company.

It’s your space to inspire, connect and educate.

We know you and your clients are anxious to get back on the trade show floor, and we’ll be there with you whenever you’re ready. At CORT Events, we know it’s never “just” an exhibit, it’s your opportunity to create meaningful connections. We’re here to make sure you leave a lasting impression.

Visit us at cortevents.com or contact us to learn more.

Style & Service Delivered.

Incentives

E X PE R I EN CE AT L A N T I C C I T Y’ S

2021-2025 New Group or Convention Bookings

Highly-competitive Room and Meeting Cost Incentives Special Midweek Bonus Incentive Programs

Meet AC Booking & Professional Planning Support

Contact us to learn more about Meet AC’s attractive Convention Center & city-wide incentive plans! Call 1-844-855-6338 or visit meetac.com today!