Top Stories from the Trade Show Industry
LONDON — In 2026, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ (IAAPA)® IAAPA Expo Europe hosted its largest show floor to date, which spanned more than 245,000 square feet. This is a 50% growth since the event, which rotates cities annually, was last held in London in 2022. IAAPA Expo Europe welcomed 16,530 verified […]
LONDON — Informa continues to dominate the global exhibitions industry with the acquisition of Clarion Events from asset manager Blackstone. The deal is expected to be completed in Q4 of 2026, subject to customary regulatory clearances. The £2.24 billion ($2.97 billion) acquisition is one of the industry’s biggest deals in history, topping the amount that Apollo […]
DALLAS — Freeman has released its Freeman Trends Report: Pre-Event Edition to gain insights about how attendees and exhibitors are discovering, evaluating and preparing for trade shows and conferences. Based on the data, it’s clear that event organizers still have the in-person advantage when it comes to being the external resource of choice for professionals, […]
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PANAMA CITY — The Panama Convention Center is hosting World of Coffee Panama 2026 Oct. 23-25, welcoming the global coffee industry and community to a coffee-producing country for the first time in the show’s history. Trade Show Executive was on the ground in Panama City for the opening of the show, thanks to the Panama Convention […]
ARLINGTON — Trifecta Collective acquired the Medical Spa Show (MSS) from the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa), entering into a long-term strategic partnership with AmSpa. This is the fifth transaction Corporate Solutions has closed with Trifecta Collective in the last four years. The prior transactions were the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) Trailer Show, International Mass Timber Conference & Expo, TRANSACT, […]
SAN ANTONIO — Premiere San Antonio 2026 saw a 30% increase in attendance this year. This dramatic surge, which far outpaces industry growth averages tracked by Trade Show Executive (TSE), is credited to a powerful new partnership between the Premiere brand and SalonCentric, and an acceleration in the show’s planning and sales cycle. The regional […]
CHICAGO — For organizers, the post-event survey is an important bridge that wraps up one event and provides a roadmap for the next one. Attendee feedback on the surveys is invaluable to organizers, who gather that information in different ways. Some encourage attendees to complete surveys in real time while the experience is still fresh. […]
PALOS VERDES, Calif. — Hosted meetings and appointment programs at B2B events are growing in popularity, but it’s not a trend organizers can jump into quickly. At the Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold 100 Awards & Summit, three industry leaders debunked myths about meetings programs, explored the holistic approach necessary to make them successful and […]
CINCINNATI — Ohio is ranked ninth among the 10 states projected to experience the fastest growth in franchise establishments, joining Michigan and Utah as newcomers to the top 10, according to the International Franchise Association’s 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook. The study found that Ohio has approximately 30,000 franchise establishments and more than 300,000 employees, and […]
My son got me into fencing. He had been competing for years and kept encouraging me to join him at tournaments, usually with the words: “Well, at least I know I’ll never come last.” He had a point. Whenever we fenced, he destroyed me. Eventually, however, my competitive drive kicked in, and I discovered how […]
ROSEMONT, Ill. — A toilet paper toss. A mop relay. A rapid vacuum race. If you think this describes a sporting event of sorts, you would be right. Trade show competitions are held on show floors across the world to engage attendees, celebrate industry professionalism and standards, and celebrate the best of the best in […]
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