As trade shows start to trickle back into the city, the next couple of months should give us a much better idea where our economy is heading and whether or not our convention industry will be returning to normal anytime soon.
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, prior to COVID in 2019, spending by visitors attending conventions directly supported 43,500 jobs, $2.0 billion in wages and economic output of $6.6 billion. When including indirect and induced impacts, the totals increase to 67,600 jobs, $3.1 billion in wages and $11.4 billion of total economic output.
In 2019, over 15% of our tourist volume came directly from conventions. Business and convention visitors help boost occupancy and room rates during midweek periods, which is one of the major reasons we saw so many hotels shutdown their hotel operations during midweek dates in 2020 and early 2021. Even today, many of the restaurants and small businesses that depend on this traffic are still closed or have limited operating hours midweek.
Here are some of the large shows that are scheduled to make their return in July:
PCA Trade Show
On July 9th, the PCA tradeshow returns to the Sands Expo Center, as they host one of the largest premium cigar and pipe tobacco shows of the year. This will be one of the first major shows to return to the Sands Convention Center.
ISC International Security Conference
Now taking place July 19-21, 2021 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, the International Security Conference & Exposition – also known as ISC West – is the largest converged security industry trade show in the United States. This year in Vegas, ISC West attendees will have the chance to meet with technical reps from over 1,000 exhibitors and brands in the security industry. They will also be able to network with over 28,000 security professionals in a one-of-a-kind setting.
AWFS Fair Vegas
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers Fair (AWFS) brings together the entire home and commercial furnishings industry, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, plastics, lumber, construction materials and other suppliers to the furniture, cabinet manufacturers and custom woodworkers.
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers Fair brings in over 15,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from throughout the United States and abroad. The show runs from July 19th through July 22nd.
CHAMPS Trade Show
The CHAMPS show bills itself as one of the top counter-culture, business-to-business trade expos in the country. Hundreds of smoke shop industry exhibitors meet face-to-face with thousands of retail and wholesale buyers from all over the world at CHAMPS Trade Shows.
Black Hat USA
Black Hat USA is the world’s leading information security event, providing attendees with the very latest in research, development and trends. The six-day Black Hat event at Mandalay Bay begins on July 31st with four days of intense Training for security practitioners, followed by the two-day main event.
