News

U.S. B2B trade show and conference producer Emerald posted a 9.1% increase in revenues in the first quarter (Q1) 2024, compared with the same period last year, according to its 2024 Q1 financial results released on May 7. Emerald generated Q1 revenues of $133.4 million, an increase of $11.1 million compared with Q1 2023 revenues of $122.3 million. Company officials attributed the growth to increased exhibitor and attendee metrics for events in its strongest categories, such as The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show KBIS, Prosper and the International Pizza Expo, as well as the acquisition of… more

Nationwide general service contractor and event production company HERITAGE opened its latest full-service production facility in Chula Vista, Calif., which is located minutes from San Diego area meeting and convention venues like the San Diego Convention Center, Gaylord Pacific, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Manchester Grand Hyatt, Hotel del Coronado, Town and Country San Diego, Sheraton San Diego Hotel and more. Offering a comprehensive range of exposition services, including event design, print production, carpet, furnishings, logistics and technology… more

What’s the state of the exhibition industry in the Middle East and Africa (MEA)? In an exclusive interview, we caught up with Naji El Haddad, regional director of MEA for UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, to get the scoop on the annual in-person Regional Conference, held April 15-17 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. Serving in his role for more than five years, El Haddad shared his insider’s view on what’s trending in the region for exhibitions.  Here are excerpts from our conversation. Watch or listen to the full interview here. 1. Key markets for… more

Who’s moving up at event-related organizations and companies throughout the global trade show industry? Take a look at our latest roundup of people news to help you stay in the know.  The Opus Group Global experiential agency network The Opus Group has named Kim Kopetz as its new president and CEO. Bringing more than 25 years of experience to her role, Kopetz will lead all The Opus Group’s brands — Opus Agency, MAS, TENCUE and Verve. She succeeds Mitch Barns, who has been CEO since April 2021 and will remain a board member.  A long-time leader in the corporate events and experiential brand… more

Viad Corp., a global provider of exhibition management and experiential marketing services, reported first quarter (Q1) 2024 revenues of $273.5 million, an increase of $12.7 million or 4.9% from Q1 2023. For Q1, GES, which includes Spiro, reported revenues of $236.3 million, compared with $228.1 million in the same period last year. GES reported an increase of $8.1 million or 3.6% year-over-year, which the company attributed to continued underlying growth that more than offset a $4 million decline due to the timing of major non-annual shows. Context: GES is a global exhibition management… more

After 20 years in business producing trade show booths, corporate events, retail interiors, pop-up activations and road shows with clients ranging from aspiring startups to Fortune 500 companies, Maple Grove, Minn.-based Exhibit Partners LLC rebranded as Storylink Creative, effective May 1.  Driven by business growth and expanded offerings, the evolution marks a milestone in the company’s repositioning as a full-service creative agency, according to Founder and CEO Matt Williams. “When I launched Exhibit Partners in 2004, it was an exhibit house with a mission of changing the way business… more

Throughout the U.S. and across the pond, event technology companies are unveiling new solutions, enhancing existing offerings and teaming up with other providers to deliver more compelling features for event organizers and exhibitors alike.   EventsPass and FFAIR Forge Transatlantic Partnership Adam Jones, CEO of FFAIR  Ticketing registration platform EventsPass and U.K.-based event management platform FFAIR have formed a strategic partnership designed to further empower show organizers, as well as elevate the exhibitor experience. Marking FFAIR’s debut in North America, the venture… more

The Events Industry Council (EIC) has formed a strategic sustainability partnership with venue development, hospitality services and solutions provider Oak View Group (OVG) to certify its entire convention portfolio of more than 60 venues in cities like Chicago, Dallas and Miami. OVG’s convention center portfolio will be certified in accordance with the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, a collection of eight specific standards that assess events and industry suppliers on a wide range of sustainability criteria that support environmental and social responsibility.  The partnership — the… more

After a six-year hiatus due to COVID, NPE2024: The Plastics Show will return May 6-10 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando. When the triennial trade show and conference was last held in 2018, NPE2018: The Plastic Show attracted more than 55,000 attendees and 2,182 exhibitors covering 1.1 million net square feet of exhibit space at OCCC. Related: NPE WRAPS UP ITS LARGEST SHOW IN HISTORY Owned by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), the trade show supports the entire plastics supply chain, including equipment suppliers, material suppliers, processors and recyclers… more

From new show launches and business ventures to strategic partnerships and acquisitions, the trade show landscape has been buzzing with event companies announcing new business moves and agreements this spring.   Taffy Event Strategies to Launch High Performance Expo (HPX) Next Year Full-service trade show and management company Taffy Event Strategies is gearing up to launch a new show for the automotive racing and performance industry, High Performance Expo (HPX). Set for June 3-5, 2025, at the Charlotte Convention Center, the inaugural business and consumer show will be the exclusive… more