Talk about an exhibitor feast. Next month, Emerald and Questex will launch Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week, an inaugural collaboration of four major trade shows in the $1.5 trillion food and beverage industry, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).
Running from March 21-24, the blockbuster lineup includes three regulars and one notable newcomer. Regulars include the 38th annual Emerald’s International Pizza Expo, the 20th anniversary of Questex’s World Tea Conference + Expo, and the 36th annual Nightclub & Bar Show, the latter now the Bar & Restaurant Expo, also hosted by Questex.
The quartet is completed by the first SIAL America. Produced by Comexposium, SIAL is the world’s largest network of food and beverage trade shows. In June 2021, Comexposium partnered with Emerald to organize SIAL (Salon International de l’Alimentation) in the United States
Approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to the brand’s global reputation as a host of industry events, the premier show provides a cross-category magnet for importers, food service companies, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and restaurateurs.
“We are excited to partner with Emerald and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to bring together leading food and beverage buyers in one central location to deliver a new, high-value experience that combines key education, product activations and guest interaction,” said Tim McLucas, Vice President, Bar & Restaurant Group, Questex.
Described by McLucas as “a new customer engagement experience,” this innovative thematic grouping of industry-related events is gaining popularity in Las Vegas.
Notable collaborations include Cowboy Christmas and Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo. Launched in 1986, the former is the official gift show of the National Finals Rodeo. Partnering with the latter since 2014, the 10-day, free-admission festival that utilizes more than 500,000 square feet of LVCC exhibit space and features more than 350 exhibitors attracted more than 241,000 visitors in 2021.
In November 2021, the automotive industry headed to Vegas for Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, featuring the concurrent Specialty Equipment Market Association and Automotive Aftermarket Product Exposition shows.
In early 2023, the National Hardware Show (NHS), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS), and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) will converge in Las Vegas from January 31 to February 2 for Design and Construction Week.
“NHS creates synergy with the International Builders Show and NKBA’s Kitchen and Bath Show,” NAHB CEO Jerry Howard said in a statement. “NHS’s co-location with IBS and KBIS will allow attendees to explore additional products and opportunities to grow their businesses and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”
John Schreiber, LVCVA’s vice president of commercial sales, sees growth potential in this emerging model.
“In recent years, organizers have been challenged to become more creative and open to opportunities that foster collaboration and synergy, such as Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week,” he said. “Hosting shows with similar themes together not only increases attendance by bringing together like-minded audiences, but also allows an industry to better showcase its breadth and depth.”
He added that “the convenience, increased access to products and services, and additional cross-promotional and sales opportunities make these co-located shows very attractive to attendees and exhibitors. If they see value in aligning dates, we can see these types of themed events gaining popularity.”
Contact John Schreiber at 702-892-0711