Industry News
Curated headlines from the trade show and exhibition industry's top publications, associations, and expert blogs. Stay current with exhibitor announcements, show openings, industry trends, and market news from across the events world. Whether you follow technology, healthcare, food, or manufacturing events, our news feed surfaces the stories that matter to trade show professionals, exhibitors, and event marketers.
Orlando Briefs: IAAPA, AAU Volleyball, and Visitor Growth
Orlando briefs this month track strong convention activity, record visitor volume, venue sustainability work, major airport shifts, and continued theme park investment. Highlights include Premiere Orlando’s attendance growth, AAU Volleyball’s return to the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando’s…
ASAE Names 2027 Board Nominees for ASAE and Research Foundation
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the ASAE Research Foundation have announced nominees for their fiscal year 2027 boards of directors. The nominees’ terms begin Sept. 1, 2026. In addition, the new boards will be installed during the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, set for…
IAAPA Expo 2026 Registration Opens for Orlando Event
Registration has opened for IAAPA Expo 2026, which will take place Nov. 16-20 at Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida. IAAPA Expo 2026 will expand into OCCC’s West Building, giving the show its largest footprint to date. Organizers expect more than 1,100 exhibiting companies…
Chicago Briefs: ExSys Awards, Major Shows, and Summer Openings
Chicago briefs this month reflect a city entering its busiest stretch of the year, with major medical and design conventions drawing thousands to McCormick Place, high-profile attractions opening on the South Side, and infrastructure projects continuing to reshape the visitor experience. From…
ESTA Names Mark Wofford Manager of PERG
Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has named Mark Wofford manager of the Production Equipment Rental Group (PERG), the association’s film, television, and commercial production arm. Wofford brings 38 years of experience in production operations, financial management, and…
Miami Beach Convention Center Advances Upgrades and Hotel Project
Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) is moving through the first half of fiscal year 2026 with major venue upgrades, hotel construction, and a busy event calendar. The updates include 31 active capital projects totaling about $27 million. They also include venue-wide Wi-Fi 7, full LED lighting…
Babyface to Headline ASAE Opening Celebration in Indianapolis
Babyface will headline the Opening Celebration at the 2026 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Indianapolis. The 13-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, and producer will perform Aug. 15 at White River State Park. The event is open to…
Eagle Management Group Names Brett Hyams VP of Strategic Growth
Eagle Management Group has named Brett Hyams vice president of strategic growth. Hyams brings more than 36 years of experience in the tradeshow, events, and experiential marketing industry. His background includes 23 years with an exhibit house and 13 years in audiovisual (AV) and production…
SEMA Show Nears Sold-Out Floor for 2026
The 2026 SEMA Show is nearing a sold-out show floor months before it opens Nov. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Organizers say exhibitors have committed to much of the show’s 1.1 million square feet of indoor exhibit space and about 1 million square feet of outdoor space. The demand follows…
ColorCraft Promotes Jorge Nieves and Brad Dorr
ColorCraft has promoted Jorge Nieves to vice president of operations and Brad Dorr to director of engineering. The moves shift two longtime technical leaders into expanded roles as ColorCraft continues to support custom tradeshow exhibits, branded environments, and large-scale exhibit programs.…
Global Exhibitions Day 2026 Highlights Industry Opportunity
Global Exhibitions Day (GED) 2026 brought the exhibitions industry together June 3 under the theme “Exhibitions Drive Opportunities.” The 11th edition of the campaign highlighted the role exhibitions play in workforce development, face-to-face business, sustainability, market access, and customer…
ConferenceDirect Draws 927 to Annual Partner Meeting
ConferenceDirect held its 2026 Annual Partner Meeting May 17-20 at Hilton Americas-Houston in Houston. The event drew 927 attendees. It also included 3,846 tradeshow appointments, 61 education sessions, peer discussions, award recognition, sustainability efforts, and a community-service initiative.…
Las Vegas Briefs: May Numbers and June Updates
Las Vegas briefs this month track final May tradeshow numbers, upcoming July show activity, venue investment, major hospitality deals, and citywide event planning. Highlights include Sweets & Snacks Expo’s first Las Vegas edition, new meeting space at Green Valley Ranch, a planned hotel near the…
Willwork Supports FIFA World Cup Activations Across U.S. Host Cities
As millions of international soccer fans pour into stadiums across North America for FIFA World Cup 2026, they’ll be greeted by outdoor stages, activations, and exhibits installed by Willwork Global Event Services, one of the tradeshow industry’s leading providers of skilled labor. Few events…
Gilbert marks 40 years of experiential design growth
Gilbert is marking its 40th anniversary in experiential design, custom tradeshow exhibits, and branded environments. Founded in 1986 by Gil Ballen and Barry Ballen, the company began as Gilbert Displays with one custom-built exhibit and a 15,000-square-foot facility in Valley Stream, New York. Over…
ESCA Shares Details for 2026 Summer Educational Conference
Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) shared new program and travel details for its 2026 Summer Educational Conference during a recent “Know Before You Go” webinar. The conference will take place June 28-July 1 at Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Canada. ESCA leaders encouraged…
The Service Scope Creep That’s Quietly Killing Your Margins
Your largest client calls. They love working with you. Could you handle their asset storage? Their installation in three new markets? Their on-site event staffing? Six months later, you’re running three service lines you barely understand, losing money on each one, and your best project manager is…
The Eastside Rooms Names Chris Reynolds Business Development Director
The Eastside Rooms has named Chris Reynolds business development director. Reynolds will focus on new business opportunities for The Eastside Rooms and Aloft Birmingham Eastside. He will also build relationships across local, regional, and national markets. Reynolds joins Birmingham venue Reynolds…
Legends Global Names Caroline Wright EVP of North American Venues
Legends Global has appointed Caroline Wright executive vice president of North American venues. Wright brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in sports and entertainment venue operations. In the role, she will lead venue operations across Legends Global’s North American portfolio,…
Tradeshows Still Work, But Exhibiting Costs Are Rising
Let’s get something out of the way up front. Tradeshows work. Live events create the kind of connections, conversations, and pipeline moments that no algorithm, email sequence, or LinkedIn outreach campaign has ever reliably replicated. If you’ve been in this industry long enough, you’ve seen the…