A data-driven approach coupled with industry-wide commitment to safety have been instrumental in the return of large professional events to Las Vegas, facilitating innovation and growth and accelerating the nation’s economic recovery.

Between June and September, the city has welcomed back a number of large trade shows, including World of Concrete, Summer 2021 Las Vegas Market, MAGIC, OFFPRICE Show, Vision Expo West and PACK EXPO, among others. The Las Vegas Convention Center alone hosted 25 events, and 22 more events are planned through Jan. 2022, with over 515,000 attendees expected. Open without capacity restrictions, Las Vegas has been working closely with local health authorities on effective guidelines as well as with industry partners to ensure a safe return to business.

“Las Vegas is successfully back to business, and we couldn’t be happier,” commented Brian Yost, Chief Operating Officer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Last year the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation, and between June and September, welcomed more than 310,000 attendees to shows in our building.

Meanwhile, our partners throughout the destination have hosted meetings and groups of all sizes and brought back world-class entertainment and dining, giving our visitors an amazing experience both on and off the show floor. Feedback at the LVCC has been overwhelmingly positive – our business travelers are delighted to be meeting and making connections in-person, and they feel confident about wellness measures throughout the destination.”

The trade show industry has responded to the pandemic challenge with a powerful joint approach to make events safe. Earlier this year, several of the world’s largest organizers, including Tarsus, Informa Markets, Reed Exhibitions, Clarion Events and Emerald collaborated with the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and other global organizations, suppliers, venues and local authorities collaborated on the release of AllSecure, a rigorous set of industry guidelines trade show and events that was quickly adopted and has become an industry standard moving forward.

Along with the measures adopted by Las Vegas as a destination, they have already proved effective for hosting safe and productive events.

PACK EXPO and Healthcare Packaging EXPO welcomed over 23,000 attendees to Las Vegas this September and was a huge success, said Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “Exhibitors and attendees alike were energized by the number of people who attended and more importantly the business conducted from the moment we opened the doors.”

Tricia Barglof, executive director of OFFPRICE, part of the Las Vegas Fashion Week, commented that her show saw a resurgence in buyer traffic and exceeded expectations. She said: “We knew there was pent-up demand for face-to-face meetings due to supply-chain issues. Retailers are looking for in-stock inventory that can ship quickly, that’s what our vendors are known for. Our OFFPRICE Market held last February in Orlando and in Las Vegas in August proved we could align with the rest of Fashion Week to create an environment where health and safety was our top priority and all those involved felt comfortable.” 

An impressive lineup of large trade shows and events, including National Hardware Show, SEMA, IMEX at Mandalay Bay, Amazon Web Services re:Invent 2021 at The Venetian, Cowboy Christmas, and CES 2022 is scheduled through January, successfully kicking off a new year of major events in Las Vegas, with many more slated into 2022.