LAS VEGAS, NV, USA - There’s something about a face to face meeting that helps communicate goals which may lead to a future business partnership. Simply put, forming relationships can help build business. That’s why the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), which owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center, a World Trade Center site, continues to host trade show trade missions in foreign countries providing representatives from key Las Vegas trade shows the opportunity to make international business connections.

In July, representatives of several of Las Vegas’ largest trade shows including the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), World of Concrete, Emerald Expositions and International Council of Shopping Centers traveled to Berlin and Warsaw to meet with German and Polish-based businesses in their respective industries. The LVCVA utilizes the expertise of the U.S. Commercial Services to help identify potentially helpful matches.

“Poland has an especially strong economy and there are some great opportunities there for our clients,” said Chris Meyer, vice president of global business sales for the LVCVA. “This is a long-term investment for Las Vegas and I’m excited about some of the strong leads we can now pursue.”

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 more than 5 million business delegates. It has been named the No. 1 trade show destination in North America for a record 21 consecutive years hosting 60 of the 250 largest shows. The largest of which is CES, which welcomed a record 176,000 attendees in 2015 with nearly 49,000 coming from outside of the United States.

Ultimately, the goal for the LVCVA and its clients is to increase international visitation to Las Vegas and their trade shows. This mission proved to be a valuable part of that effort.

PHOTO, Left to Right: Tim McGuinness, Staff VP ICSC; Christopher McCabe, EVP Emerald Exposition; Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval; Chris Meyer, VP of Global Business Sales LVCVA; Jackie James, Director of World of Concrete; John T. Kelley, International Marketing Manager CEA.