Las Vegas is geared up to welcome thousands of trade show attendees for Fall 2016, with meetings and conventions expected to bring in more than $300 million in direct visitor spending.

“Las Vegas has been the No. 1 trade show destination in North America for 22 consecutive years. We host nearly 22,000 meetings and conventions annually, proving that Las Vegas is a versatile destination for serious business,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

He added, “The fall conventions maintain Las Vegas’ place on the forefront of business and product innovation.”

Oven-baked goodness kicked off fall trade shows in the Las Vegas Convention Center Oct. 8-11 with the International Baking Industry Expo 2016 (IBIE).

IBIE is the biggest and most comprehensive event in the United States for the grain-based food industry. This year’s show is expected to have drawn more than 20,000 baking professionals from 100 different countries for an estimated $18.7 million in direct visitor spending.

The “pulse of the meetings industry” gathered inside Oct. 18-20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center for IMEX America 2016.

IMEX America provides the invaluable opportunity to network, share ideas and conduct business with more than 10,000 meetings and conventions professionals in the best destination for the industry. Buyers and exhibitors had the chance to do up to a year’s worth of business while pumping $9.3 million in direct visitor spending into the destination.

The multi-billion-dollar baby and juvenile industry came to life inside LVCC Oct. 18-21 for ABC Kids Expo 2016.

The expo occupied nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit space, drawing an estimated 14,000 industry buyers resulting in an estimated economic impact of $13.1 million from direct visitor spending. Attendees viewed the newest, most innovative products and services from more than 3,200 exhibitors.

Things took a turn for the theatrical with the arrival Oct. 21-23 of Live Design International (LDI) 2016 in the LVCC.

LDI is expected to have generated $13.1 million in direct visitor spending for Las Vegas. As the leading global trade show for live design professionals, LDI’s more than 12,000 attendees had a first-hand look at the latest in everything from lighting and audio to special effects and staging.

Las Vegas will put the pedal to the metal with the return Nov. 1-4 of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW).

An estimated 160,000 auto industry professionals will make their way to the destination for two featured events.

The first of these is the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), which brings the fury of the industry’s top products and experts from around the world to the LVCC.

The second show is the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) inside the Sands Expo & Convention Center. AAPEX will feature more than 2,200 exhibitors showcasing the best and most innovative products in the industry to more than 44,000 targeted buyers. Together, SEMA and AAPEX are slated to bring $149.3 million in director visitor spending revenue to Las Vegas.

The largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event in North America, FABTECH International 2016, will be held Nov. 16-18 in the LVCC.

Expected to draw 28,000 convention delegates and 1,300 exhibiting companies to Las Vegas, FABTECH is the premier source for world-class suppliers and the latest innovations in the industry. The trade show is projected to result in $26.1 million from direct visitor spending.

Additional fall meetings and conventions attracting thousands of business delegates to Las Vegas this year include:

Rodan & Fields, LLC 2016 Convention – Oct. 4-8 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – 14,500 attendees

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP16) – Oct. 15-18 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – 11,000 attendees

Sweet Adelines International Annual Convention & Competition – Oct. 17-22 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – 15,000 attendees

Autodesk, Inc. University (AU Las Vegas) – Nov. 15-17 at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino – 10 attendees

Go Pro Recruiting Mastery – Dec. 1-4 at LVCC – 14,000 attendees

51st American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition 2016 – Dec. 4-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – 20,000 attendees

The meetings and convention industry continues to be crucial to Southern Nevada’s economy, supporting more than 66,500 jobs and contributing $9.3 billion to the local community.