Industry News
Curated headlines from the trade show and exhibition industry's top publications, associations, and expert blogs.
Newly Rebranded World of Coffee San Diego a Success
SAN DIEGO — After three decades, North America’s former Specialty Coffee Expo has aligned its name with the other Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) trade shows by rebranding as World of Coffee. Under the SCA, the show has gone from hosting a few hundred attendees to more than 15,000. It was…
The Rise of the Ecosystem Event Model
CHICAGO — Reflecting on industry events and conversations with leaders in the events space, there’s a new phrase popping up: the ecosystem event. But what is an ecosystem event? And what makes it different from any other industry event? Trade Show Executive connected with some of the leaders who…
Freeman’s Learning Trends Report Reveals What Attendees Value at In-Person Educational Experiences
DALLAS — Freeman released part one of its Learning Trends Report, which focuses on how attendees learn within conference room sessions and general sessions, and the value they receive from different traditional formats. The idea of quality over quantity, which the industry has leaned into in a…
Events Venture Group Announces Investment in The Nest Campus
NEW YORK CITY — Events Venture Group (EVG) announced an investment in The Nest Campus, a growing climate and resilience platform. EVG co-invested alongside SilverCircle. The Nest Campus operates across a multi-vertical resilience landscape — including energy, industrial transformation and…
Career Advice from the 2026 TSE Trailblazers
CHICAGO — Next week in Baltimore, the 2026 Trade Show Executive (TSE) Trailblazers will be recognized for their achievements at the TSE Fastest 50 Awards & Summit. We connected with these distinguished up-and-comers to get their advice for young professionals. Rebecca Burns, Conference Content…
Commercial Space Week 2026 Boosts Engagement and Business Intelligence with NoteAffect
ORLANDO — As a gathering that caters to leaders from government agencies, the military and the commercial sector, security is a must at Commercial Space Week (CSW). In fact, safety is such a concern that many attendees of the event — which is made up of SpaceCom® | Space Congress, the Space…
International Mass Timber Conference Celebrates 10th Anniversary in 2026
PORTLAND, Oregon — The International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a landmark edition at the Oregon Convention Center. From March 31-April 2, professionals from across the industry’s supply chain gathered in “The City of Roses” for information-sharing,…
The Show That Saw AI Coming: How OFC Became Part of a $2.5-Trillion Boom
LOS ANGELES — By the time its doors opened in March 2026, the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC) already felt less like a trade show and more like a quiet coronation. Not of a company or a product, but of an idea whose time had arrived years earlier — one seeded in…
Inside the Building of a Community: Cybersecurity Marketing Society Co-Founder Gianna Whitver Shares Insights
CHICAGO — Have you ever wondered what it would take to build a membership-organization from the ground up and launch events to connect a community in-person? Gianna Whitver can tell you how to get it done. She is the Co-Founder of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society, which she and her Co-Founder,…
IFAT Munich Celebrates 60 Years of Circularity with Expanded Formats
MUNICH, Germany — For the last 60 years, IFAT Munich has built a strong reputation as a global meeting place where environmental technology innovation meets sustainability implementation. The event has become the leading trade show for environmental technologies in the entire value chain —…
Event Industry Veteran Kelly Helfman Launches Girls Day LA
LOS ANGELES — Kelly Helfman, a 20-year events industry veteran and former president of MAGIC, COTERIE, PROJECT and SOURCING at Informa Markets, is launching a new one-day event focused on women’s wellness and wellbeing. Girls Day LA will debut on May 2, and aims to provide a place for women to…
TSE Magazine Preview: Trade Show F&B Trends
CHICAGO — A stellar food and beverage (F&B) strategy can help your event stand out in today’s competitive landscape. The best trade show F&B offerings fuel up attendees and foster powerful, exciting environments for networking and business. To keep you on the cutting edge, Trade Show Executive…
Exploring Successful Internship Programs that Address Critical Industry Challenges
CHICAGO — The Invisible Industry. The Largest Industry You’ve Never Heard Of. These taglines have made their way into the mainstream when it comes to defining the business events industry to highlight its often-unseen economic impact — their messages are accurate, but they also put on display a…
Visit Baltimore Names Kireem Swinton President and CEO
BALTIMORE — Visit Baltimore announced that Kireem Swinton will serve as the organization’s permanent President and CEO, following his brief stint as interim CEO from July 2025 to April 2026. Swinton is stepping into the role with a clear focus on fostering collaboration, building meaningful…
JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa Upgrades Event Space
TUCSON, Ariz. — JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa renovated its 115,000 square feet of meeting and event space, connecting modern comfort with the grounding presence of the surrounding terrain. The resort’s 575 guest rooms and suites are also undergoing a phased renovation, with full…
Sustainable Events Industry Players Highlight
CHICAGO — With Earth Day just around the corner, April is all about sustainability. From highlighting sustainability strategies to showcasing Earth Day celebrations to keeping the industry up to date with certifications, Trade Show Executive (TSE) is working to keep industry leaders in the know on…
International Franchise Expo Expects Strong Turnout for 2026 Despite Headwinds
NEW YORK CITY — The franchise industry has always been a counter-cyclical economic force, moving in the opposite direction of the overall economy. Accordingly, despite soaring prices, a weak job market and the conflict in Iran, organizers of this year’s International Franchise Expo at Javits…
CEIR Releases Exhibitor Spending Report
DALLAS — The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) unveiled a report exploring exhibitor spending. Titled How the Exhibit Dollar is Spent 2026, this resource outlines how exhibitors allocate their budgets across key expense categories and how these patterns are changing, answering key…
Javits Center Launches Brand Refresh
NEW YORK CITY — Today, the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which operates Javits Center, unveiled a new brand identity for the venue, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This effort also coincides with President and CEO Joyce Leveston, CMM, CVP’s, one-year anniversary at…
Thomas Kemp Receives 2026 Krakoff Award at SISO CEO Summit
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — At the 2026 Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) CEO Summit, Thomas Kemp received the Krakoff Industry Award of Excellence. Kemp is a decorated events professional whose career milestones include starting media brands and launching events at Miller Freeman, being…