The status quo of holding a meeting the same old way just isn’t going to be good enough to truly capture and engage attendees in the future.

Change is on the horizon, with more of a focus on helping attendees find their ‘tribe’, create spaces and events for them to eat well and be well and make content more personalized and organic.

To address these imminent changes, Marriott International, as part of its Meetings Imagined initiative, partnered with the Professional Convention Management Association to review the implications on the future of meetings.

CES 2016 broke its own record from last year with 2.47 million net sq. ft. showfloor, up from 2.2 million last year, taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Venetian, as well as the Wynn, Aria, Vdara and Cosmopolitan.

Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (formerly the Consumer Electronics Association), the world’s largest technology show took place Jan. 6–9.

For the first time, attendance was capped at 176,000 to help with logistics and actual attendance exceeded 170,000.

As part of his 2016 agenda, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled a $1 billion plan to dramatically increase not only the meeting and exhibit space at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York, but also build a four-level marshaling yard and the largest ballroom in the Northeast.

“We are pleased to hear about the plan to expand the Javits Center on Manhattan’s Far West Side,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO, NYC & Company.

When 1,292 attendees came to the 10^th Technology Conference & Expo, held by the American Society of Association Executives Dec. 14-16 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Md., it was the highest attended conference in the event’s history. 

Participants took part in 42 high-level practical education sessions within five pathways (Disrupters; Leadership & Strategy; Learning & Technology; MarComm & Technology; and The Business of IT) and a sold-out trade show floor.

Penton adds to its ground transportation portfolio with the acquisition of TU-Automotive from FC Business Intelligence for an undisclosed sum. The buy includes 13 global conferences and exhibitions, such as the world’s largest connected car event – TU-Automotive Detroit.

“The acquisition is hugely exciting for the future of TU‐Automotive. Penton has both deep roots in the automotive industry and shares our vision of a connected world where the vehicle plays a central role,” said TU‐Automotive Division Director Gareth Ragg.

Next year will be an interesting one for SIA Snow Show, since SnowSports Industries America, the show’s owner, will hold two shows that year.

In 2017, the show will switch from a January to a December timeframe at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, meeting the needs of buyers and sellers, according to SIA officials.

“This decision was made with great care and consideration given to the evolving buy/sell cycle, and an eye on the future growth of the industry,” said Nick Sargent, SIA’s incoming president.

By Elizabeth Johnson

If your New Year’s Resolution is to “do it better” in 2016, you’re not alone. Whether it’s more attendees, a larger exhibit hall, a broader international reach or more sponsorship revenue, show planners have ambitious goals that mean marketing needs to be more effective.

But, with all the possibilities, how do planners market their events better than ever before? The industry’s leading marketing experts weighed in on how event marketing will evolve in the coming year and shared best practices for getting it right.

Deutsche Messe’s five industrial trade show collocated at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), on tap Sept. 12-17 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will occupy two times more space, compared with 2014. 

IMTS currently is up 10 percent in display area space and 16 percent in exhibitor participation. Hannover Fairs USA, Deutsche Messe’s U.S. subsidiary, is organizing the five shows and conferences.

The growth of Deutsche Messe’s portfolio at IMTS is a direct result of the resurgence of manufacturing in America.

The 2015 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, owned and operated by Informa Exhibitions and presented by the U.S. Green Building Council and held Nov. 18-20 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., saw a big attendance uptick at the recent show.

Data-driven engagement was a hot topic at last week’s International Association of Exhibitions’ Expo! Expo! Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2015 in Baltimore. 

The 2,500-plus attendees knew to be at this year’s show to learn the latest on this topic, as well as many others.  With record-breaking numbers, on both the attendee and exhibitor fronts, the right note was hit for this conference.