The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is forging ahead with developing business relationships in Europe. The LVCVA’s most recent effort in this region includes a trade show trade mission June 4 through 6 in Madrid, Spain. The trade mission is an opportunity for Las Vegas to promote participation and attendance at Las Vegas-based tradeshows. For businesses and associations in Spain, the mission provides access to the global marketplace through the many international trade shows held in Las Vegas every year.

As part of the trade show trade mission, representatives from globally recognized associations and companies including Emerald Expositions, ExpoNation, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), met with local companies to explore advantages of participating in Las Vegas-based trade shows. In addition, a representative from the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) also traveled to Madrid to explore opportunities for those interested in bringing business opportunities to Southern Nevada.

The group represents a collection of industries including construction, mining, general merchandise, design, jewelry, sports and apparel, licensing, digital signage, interactive technology, commercial lighting, commercial real estate and more. They are responsible for attracting more than 384,000 international and domestic business travelers to Las Vegas each year and pumping more than $564 million into the local economy.

Las Vegas is a global destination for international commerce through its robust and varied trade show network. Las Vegas hosted more than 22,000 meetings, conventions and trade shows last year attracting a record breaking 6.7 million business delegates. It has been named the No. 1 trade show destination in North America for a record 24 consecutive years hosting 47 of the 250 largest shows according to Trade Show News Network. The largest of which was CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 with more than 2.67 million square feet of exhibit space, 128,000 attendees and 2,375 exhibitors.

The group represents a variety of high-profile Las Vegas-based trade shows including ASD Market Week, Couture, Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show, Digital Signage Expo, RECon, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG.

Participants included Chris Meyer, Vice President of Global Business Sales for the LVCVA; Heidi Hayes, Director of Communications for the LVCVA; Karalynn Sprouse, Executive Vice President for Emerald Exposition; Camille Candella, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Emerald Exposition; Angelo Varrone, CEO of Exponation; Tim McGuinness, Vice President for International Council of Shopping Centers; Jennifer Gallatin, International Marketing Coordinator of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Jared Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.

Since 2004, representatives from 25 companies representing 50-plus Las Vegas trade show events have participated in LVCVA-hosted trade show trade missions. On average, seven companies participated in each of the 16 trade show trade missions over the last 14 years. On average, clients at each trade show trade mission represent trade shows with a combined average of more than 400,000 annual Las Vegas convention attendees worth more than $700 million in annual economic impact.