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Must-Attend Industry Events for Exhibit Managers & Event Marketers in 2023
March 15, 2023
Are you searching for U.S. trade shows and events for industry professionals? Where do you need to be in 2023 to meet the industry’s movers and shakers, gain insight into the latest trade show trends and source products and services for your business? Look no further.
We’ve got the skinny on some of the most inspiring industry events for exhibit managers and event marketers in 2023. There are dozens of industry events across the country to choose from each year, so this is not a comprehensive list of all that’s available.
We’ve put together a curated list with the vital details to help you select the events that best fit your professional and business needs in 2023. Here’s our list in chronological order.
APRIL
When: April 11-13
Where: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
Producer: Tarsus/Informa
Who attends: The event includes tracks for associations, business travel, citywide, corporate, diversity, eTourism, incentive, receptive tour operators (RTOs) and sports. The organizer is expecting 800 hosted buyers and 2,000 attendees.
Featured speakers/topics: The program features 35 speakers, including Sony’s Jordy Freed, who will present 1+1=3: How Partnerships and Sponsorships are Not Mutually Exclusive, and Airlines Reporting Corporation’s Dan Swain, who will share the 2023 Air Travel Outlook. The full agenda can be found here.
Know before you go: The experience-heavy event will feature Connect's signature one-on-one appointments, top-of-the-line educational content, exciting networking opportunities and a vibrant trade show floor overflowing with new business opportunities. This year’s opening night reception will be held at Drai’s (pictured).
Why it matters: The trade show will feature 190 exhibitors, including destinations, convention centers, hotels, venues, event tech companies, event experience companies and other suppliers.
“Connect is a must-attend for anyone in the event or hospitality industry. The opportunities and continued success stories are endless,” said Athletx Sports Group Director of Events and Operations Chelsea Ancona.
Flashback: Watch a video recap from the 2022 Spring Connect Marketplace in Puerto Rico here.
Dates: 4-7 p.m. ET on Sun., April 23
Location: Copper & Kings Distillery in Louisville, Ky.
Producer: Experiential Designers and Producers Association (EDPA)
Who attends: Leaders in the customer experience industry. EDPA members combine marketing, design and production leadership to help organizations create effective face-to-face customer experiences and environments for trade shows, events, corporate environments, museums, retailers, education and entertainment.
Featured speakers/topics: The event will feature a welcome address by Dan Serebin, president of EDPA and chief financial officer of Derse. This event is all about networking, connecting and having fun with other EDPA members. There will not be any programming.
Know before you go: The event includes transportation to and from the Marriott. Attendees can participate in educational distillery tours that begin every 20 minutes. The networking reception includes drinks and appetizers.
Why it matters: EDPA’s annual mid-year event, ENGAGE2023, takes place prior to the opening of EXHIBITORLIVE.
Flashback: Watch a video recap from last year’s event here.
When: April 23-26
Where: Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) in Louisville, Ky.
Producer: Exhibitor Group
Who attends: Exhibit and event managers, as well as marketing and communications experts. Organizers are expecting 5,000 total attendees.
Featured speakers/topics: The program includes 100 professional development sessions from 75 practitioners and four days of interactive learning and networking. View all 100 sessions at ExhibitorLIVE.com/2023/conferencesessions.asp.
Know before you go: EXHIBITORLIVE is moving from Las Vegas to Louisvillefor the first time in the event’s 30-year history. EXHIBITORLIVE will take place the week prior to the Kentucky Derby, which runs on May 6. The Thunder Over Louisville air show and fireworks show will be held on April 22, the day before the show opens.
Why it matters: 100-plus exhibiting companies will display state-of-the-art innovation, emerging technology, customer engagement, creative solutions and experiential exhibits, according to the show website. A current exhibitor list is available here.
Flashback: Last year, the show, which covered 220,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, drew about 130 companies and 6,000 attendees to Las Vegas.
EACA 25th Anniversary Celebration
When: 3:30-5 p.m. ET on Tues., April 25
Where: Room L013 at KICC
Producer: Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Association (EACA)
Who attends: The EACA represents and supports the interests of exhibitor appointed contractors (EACs) and all other organizations that provide exhibit services. All EACA members are invited to attend.
Featured speakers/topics: The association will recognize its past presidents and all companies that have been members for 25 years.
Know before you go: Held in conjunction with EXHIBITORLIVE, EACA will be distributing its 25th Anniversary Directory to all in attendance to chronicle the initiatives and accomplishments of the past 25 years and to celebrate its members.
Why it matters: The EACA will be honoring 21 companies that have been members in good standing since the association launched in 1998. A list of the 21 companies can be found here.
Women in Exhibitions Breakfast
When: 8–9:30 a.m. ET, Tues., April 25
Where: EXHIBITORLIVE Connection Zone, located in the KICC Exhibit Hall
Producer: Women in Exhibitions
Who attends: Open to all women who work in the exhibition and event industry.
Featured speakers/topics: The guest speaker is Lisa Brown, author of Girl Talk, Money Talk II: Financially Fit and Fabulous in Your 40s and 50s. Enjoy a continental breakfast while networking with peers, as well as breakout sessions with opportunities to share.
Know before you go: Every registrant is entered to win an all-access pass to EXHIBITORLIVE 2024. The winner will be announced at breakfast.
Why it matters: Women in Exhibitions is back for its 5th Annual Breakfast Event at EXHIBITORLIVE.
“It was empowering to be sitting in a room full of women who were actively pursuing their careers in the exhibit industry,” said Jessica Diers, president of Diers Exhibit. “There’s nothing quite like being with a group of career-oriented women who want to see each other succeed.”
Flashback: Last year’s event (pictured) drew about 150 women. The breakfast featured a panel discussion, Five Key Skill Sets to Know and Hone Now.
When: April 26-27
Where: The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas
Event producer: Event Industry News
Who attends: Event Tech Live (ETL) Las Vegas is aimed at the North American events market but will also attract business from around the world and showcase the latest technology suppliers helping events to innovate and evolve.
Featured speakers/topics: The event will feature 60-plus sessions featuring speakers from companies like SXSW, Google, Bloomberg, Hard Rock International and more.
Know before you go: Touted as the only event dedicated to event technology that showcases digital, in-person and hybrid events, ETL started in London and is now heading into its 10th anniversary year with the launch of ETL Las Vegas. Organizers will be hosting a networking event, Event Tech Live After Hours, in Downtown Las Vegas on the evening of April 26. A current list of exhibitors can be found here.
Why it matters: "Event Tech Live Las Vegas will be the ultimate platform in the U.S. for exhibit managers and event marketers to discover the latest event technology and software, enabling them to enhance the attendee experience, increase revenue and improve profit margins,” said Adam Parry, co-founder of Event Industry News.“By leveraging the power of innovative technology solutions, they can embrace the future of events and remain ahead of the game."
Flashback: Watch a video recap from day one at last year’s ETL in London here.
MAY
Dates: May 9-11
Location: Caesars Forum in Las Vegas
Producer: Access Intelligence
Who attends: B-to-B and B-to-C brand-side marketers, executives from leading event agencies, meeting planners, trade show organizers, event strategists, experience designers, event technology gurus and more.
Featured speakers/topics: The speaker lineup includes a wide array of leading companies, including Workday, Activision, Google, AT&T, Southwest, Taco Bell and so many more. A current list of speakers can be found here.
Know before you go: From workshops offering deep dives, to provocative keynotes, to breakouts led by brand-side marketers, to peer-to-peer huddles, there are more than 50 opportunities to connect, learn and grow woven throughout this year’s event.
Why it matters: The Experiential Marketing Summit marks its 21st year with a three-day agenda designed to educate creators of the brand experience on what they can do now to prepare for what’s next.
A look back: Here’s a video recap from the 2022 event.
JUNE
When: June 1
Where: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Producer: Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA)
Who attends: Advocates and leaders from across the face-to-face business events industry.
Featured speakers/topics: Meet with members of Congress about the ECA’s federal policy priorities and the vital role that the industry plays in helping to spur economic growth, support job creation and empower small businesses across the U.S.
Know before you go: Legislative Action Day was last held in person in 2019, and the Capitol did not fully reopen for visitors until Jan. 3 after 973 days — nearly three years — of pandemic restrictions.
Why it matters: “After four long years, I can’t wait to finally welcome the industry back to Washington, D.C., for ECA Legislative Action Day,” said Vinnie Polito, co-president of ECA. “Nothing beats meeting face-to-face, and that goes for advocacy, too. That’s why it is so important for us to be in Washington, D.C., on June 1 to meet with our elected officials about the policy issues that matter.”
Flashback: In 2019, the in-person event (pictured) drew more than 120 industry professionals who took part in 100-plus meetings with congressional members and their legislative staff.
ESCA Summer Educational Conference
When: June 25-28
Where: Hotel Effie in Sandestin, Fla.
Producer: Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
Who attends: Service contractors and their partners in the exhibition industry. ESCA has 185 member companies throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Featured speakers/topics: The program is designed to give industry professionals the opportunity to learn the latest trends in the industry, network with peers, make new contacts and have an impact on the future of the exhibition industry.
Know before you go: Hotel Effie is located on the banks of the Choctawhatchee Bay, nestled inside the gates of the world-famous Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and adjacent to the Village at Baytowne Wharf (pictured). A coastline of pristine white sand beaches carved from quartz carried from the Appalachian mountains 20,000 years ago, the Emerald coast is a forest by the sea, flanked by towering oaks and pines.
Why it matters: Contractors will tell you ESCA is the “BESCA.” ESCA’s Summer Educational Conference offers industry-specific educational opportunities, interactive panels, exhibits and social events, nationally recognized speakers and networking opportunities in a relaxing environment.
Flashback: Watch a video recap of the 2022 event here.
AUGUST
When: Aug. 6-8
Where:Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
Producer: Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), powered by PCMA
Who attends: Corporate event marketers
Featured speakers/topics: Stay tuned. Registration to open in spring 2023.
Know before you go: One of the fastest-growing urban hubs in the country, Salt Lake City is surrounded by the beauty of the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains. Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, which opened in 2022 and is conveniently connected to the Salt Palace Convention Center, offers 700 rooms and suites, an array of dining options and a rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool and cabanas.
Why it matters: The event’s differentiator is its non-selling, peer-to-peer environment. Conversations among participants at CEMA Summit events focuses on best practices and knowledge sharing. Relationships are first and foremost. Professionals do business with other professionals they trust. CEMA facilitates those connections and lifelong industry friendships.
Connect Marketplace 2023
When: Aug. 22-24
Where:Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC)
Producer: Tarsus/Informa
Who attends: Meeting and event professionals in the association, corporate, specialty and sports sectors. The event is expected to draw 1,100 hosted buyers and 3,000 attendees.
Featured speakers/topics: The program will include 35 speakers. Stay tuned for details. Last year’s special guest was Gwyneth Paltrow.
Know before you go: The MCC is the largest meeting and convention facility in Minnesota, with more than 480,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 28,000-sq.-ft.ballroom, a 3,400-fixed-seat auditorium and 90 meeting rooms, all connected to the skyway system. The event schedule can be found here.
Why it matters: The event will feature valuable one-on-one networking appointments, immersive trade show booths, forward-thinking education sessions and keynote speakers.
Flashback: Read a recap and see photos from the 2022 event in Detroit here.
OCTOBER
When: Oct. 17-19
Where: Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
Producer: IMEX Group
Who attends: Suppliers and buyers from every sector of the meetings industry. It’s free to attend. In 2022, 4,339 total buyers (all hosted buyers and buyer attendees) came to the show from 69 countries. Hosted buyers receive a VIP experience with free flights and accommodations. Apply here.
Featured speakers/topics: The extensive education program includes four tracks: Respect for People and Planet (97 sessions), Future Self (73 sessions), Event Planner Toolkit (71 sessions) and Innovation and Creativity (53 sessions). For example, Google’s Megan Henshall and Storycraft LAB’s Naomi Clare Crellin will present AVoice4All: The Google Experience Institute (Xi), Why We Became Champions for Inclusion and Belonging. The full education program can be found here
Know before you go: The four-day program offers specialist education, networking and much more on and off the trade show floor, which featured 3,331 exhibitors from more than 180 countries in 2022. Last year, 12,068 total participants, including exhibitors, attended the event.
Why it matters: Business meetings form the bedrock of the show, and there were 62,000 appointments between buyers and suppliers over three days in 2022. These comprised individual and group appointments, and open-to-all booth presentations.
Flashback: Read the 2022 post-show release and view the 2022 photo gallery.
NOVEMBER
When and where: Stay tuned.
Producer: Tarsus/Informa
Who attends: Trade show organizers and suppliers
Featured speakers/topics: The event includes a day of education with top industry leaders as speakers. This year’s program will feature timely and relevant topics, and it’s still being finalized. Last year’s event featured a variety of sessions — from Creating a Marketing Program that Delivers Results to What Does It Take to Put Together an Impactful DEI Program?
Know before you go: In 2022, the event celebrated award winners (pictured) in the following categories: Comeback Shows, Innovation, Outstanding Show Pro, Industry Icon, Industry Support, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability. Nominations for the 2023 awards will open soon.
Why it matters: “Trade Show News Network will celebrate achievement, innovation and leadership in trade shows with the 13th Annual TSNN Awards and education conference,” said Rachel Wimberly, executive vice president of Tarsus.
Flashback: Watch the video recap of the 2022 event here.
EDPA ACCESS 2023
When: Nov. 28-30
Where:Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Fla.
Producer: EDPA
Who attends: Leaders in the customer experience industry. EDPA members combine marketing, design and production leadership to help organizations create effective face-to face customer experiences and environments for trade shows, events, corporate environments, museums, retailers, education and entertainment.
Featured speakers/topics: The program is still taking shape. Stay tuned.
Know before you go: In 2022, the event drew 273 EDPA members and non-members to La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. The event typically features two days of content and a gala with an awards presentation of the Eddies, Chapters of the Year, Future Leaders and individual awards for the Designer of the Year, EDPA Ambassador and the Hazel Hays award. The results of the EDPA Economic Survey were released.
Why it matters: “EDPA's ACCESS event is a must-attend event for leaders in the live event industry. The annual event is known for its critical industry-specific educational content, as well as its unmatched networking opportunities with design and production leaders who help organizations create effective face-to face customer experiences,” said Dasher Lowe, executive director of EDPA.
Flashback: Watch a video recap from last year’s event here.
DECEMBER
ESCA Winter Celebration & Awards (pic from 2022)
When: 6-10 p.m. CT, Dec. 4
Where: House of Blues in Dallas
Producer: ESCA
Who attends: Service contractors and their partners in the exhibition industry. ESCA has 185 member companies throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Featured speakers/topics: ESCA’s annual awards program recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding service and performance.
Know before you go: Celebrate industry pioneers and leaders at the reception, which is held the night before IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Expo!Expo!
Why it matters: Nominations are being accepted currently through Nov. 1. Links to the nomination forms can be found here. Winners will be recognized at the event.
Flashback: Watch a video recap from the 2022 event here.
AEE Annual Meeting & Expo!Expo! (image from the show floor 2022)
When: Dec. 5-7
Where: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas
Producer: International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE)
Who attends: Owners, executives and managers from companies and associations that organize a wide variety of events, including many of the largest in North America. The audience includes decision makers for the $101 billion B-to-B exhibitions industry, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)
Featured speakers/topics: The program is still being finalized, but attendees will learn lessons from fellow organizers and content provided from speakers both inside and outside the industry.
Know before you go: Learn about the latest industry trends and technology, as well as network with like-minded professionals.
Why it matters: In 2022, the event attracted 1,700-plus attendees and 230-plus exhibitors to Louisville.
“It’s the ideal place for any exhibitor to showcase new products, meet new customers and network with the leading experts in the exhibitions and events industry,” said David DuBois, president of IAEE.
Flashback: Watch a video recap from the 2022 event here.
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