(Members of the Exhibit Fair International Team walked away with the first-place trophies at the 2010 EDPA eighth annual Las Vegas Scholarship Golf Classic. Exhibit City News Archives.)
From venue expansions and industry research to association milestones and tradeshow traditions, Exhibit City News takes a look back at the headlines that shaped our industry each August.
Welcome back to “A Look Back at Tradeshow History.” This month, we’re revisiting August coverage from the past 25 years. Highlights include the rebranding of The Peabody Orlando into the Hyatt Regency, PCMA’s Best in Show honorees, MPI’s industry outlook, and the EACA’s annual recognition of top contributors. We also revisit Phoenix’s pre-completion booking surge and a packed showfloor at TS² 2000. Got your own memory to share? Email Mark at Markh@exhibitcitynews.com—we’d love to include your piece of history in a future edition.
Five Years Ago– August 2015
D.E.A.L. (Lodging): The Hyatt Regency Orlando History of Fowl Play
Before it became the Hyatt Regency Orlando, this 1,641-room convention hotel was known as The Peabody Orlando, famous for hosting the March of The Peabody Ducks. From 1986 to 2013, the ducks paraded daily from their penthouse to the lobby fountain, continuing a quirky Memphis-born tradition that started with a whiskey-fueled prank in the 1930s. A $450 million expansion in 2010 added a resort-style pool and a 32-story tower—making it one of Orlando’s tallest buildings. In 2013, the Peabody was rebranded as a Hyatt, and the ducks were retired to a farm. See the story here.
Ten Years Ago– August 2015
2015 Best in Show Winners Named by PCMA Convene
PCMA Convene honored standout achievements across the meetings industry in its fourth annual Best in Show issue. Top winners included CadmiumCD, SocialTables, and Attendee Interactive for Best Technology Tools; Hyatt’s Meet and Be Green and the American Chemical Society’s Greener Meeting Challenge for Best CSR Initiatives; and Gaylord Opryland, Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, and the Vancouver Convention Centre for Best Food & Beverage. Venue winners included Austin Convention Center, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, and Levi’s Stadium. Off-site favorites like Museum of Science and Industry Chicago and Tamber Bey Vineyards also made the list.
MPI Releases 2015 Meetings Outlook Summer Edition
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) released its 2015 Summer Edition of Meetings Outlook, forecasting continued industry growth and increased focus on attendee experience. Seventy-two percent of planners anticipated improved business conditions, while 62 percent expected live attendance to rise. Respondents also cited growing interest in high-impact elements like big-name speakers and entertainment. The report, created with VISIT DENVER and the IMEX Group, also highlighted generational communication gaps, with only 40 percent tailoring event planning accordingly.
Fifteen Year Ago– August 2005
George Fern Thrives for Over a Century
Founded in 1909 in Cincinnati, the George Fern Company grew into one of the industry’s top service contractors, with operations in 17 cities and over 750 expositions served annually. By 2005, the company ranked among the top three nationally in number of shows, locations, and square footage handled. COO Aaron Bludworth credited its long-standing client loyalty and consistent service model for its continued success, which included partnerships with major clients like Ford and General Electric.
EDPA Golf Classic Tops Last Year’s Totals
The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) raised more than $20,000 at its 2000 EDPA Golf Classic, held June 19 at Rhodes Ranch Golf Course in Las Vegas. Proceeds supported the Exhibit Industry Education Scholarship Fund. A record 46 golfers and 63 dinner guests participated, with the Exhibit Fair International team taking home the first-place trophies. The scholarship recipient was set to be selected from that year’s pool of applicants, continuing the association’s commitment to industry education.
Columbia Pavilion Offers Hands-On Experience
At Expo 2010 in Shanghai, Columbia’s national pavilion drew attention for its interactive design and high visitor engagement. Developed by Halogen Interactive Technologies, the exhibit featured touch-based media, youth-focused storytelling, and immersive digital displays. A standout was the 55-inch LCD touch table installed in the virtual hall, allowing guests to explore personal, cultural, and business content. With as many as 10,000 daily visitors, the Columbia Pavilion provided a highly customized and memorable experience.
Twenty Year Ago– August 2005
Bookings Increase for New Phoenix Convention Facility
Demand surged ahead of the Phoenix Convention Center’s $600 million expansion, with bookings increasing 57 percent even before construction was complete. The project’s final phase, set to open in 2008, added 300,000 square feet of underground exhibit space—roughly the size of 10 football fields. With key events like the Association of Professional Piercers’ 2007 Scientific Assembly already locked in, Phoenix positioned itself as a major player in the West’s competitive convention market.
Association Honors Individuals, I&D Teams
At its annual conference in Washington, D.C., the Exhibit and Event Marketers Association (EACA) recognized standout contributions to the industry. Thomas Mobley of SDV/IKTTS received the 2005 Intrepid Award, while Elwood “Woody” Hasemann was inducted into the EACA Hall of Fame for his decades of dedication as a showfloor manager. Freeman took top honors in the Show Floor Olympics for the I&D (installation and dismantle) division, earning gold medals in multiple events. The awards celebrated both frontline crew excellence and executive leadership within the exhibit services community.
nParallel Moves to New, Larger Site
nParallel, a global brand and display agency, relocated to a new, expanded facility in Plymouth, Minnesota. The consolidated space brings together sales, creative services, program management, prototyping, production, and shipping under one roof. President and chief brand strategist Tom Van Hercke said the move supports the agency’s rapid growth and enhances team collaboration to better serve retail and tradeshow clients.
Twenty-Five Years Ago – August 2000
Welcome Aboard!!
At TS² 2000, Exhibit City News hosted a sold-out evening cruise aboard the Spirit of Washington with 300 guests. After a full day on the showfloor, attendees relaxed on the Potomac River with dinner, drinks, dancing, and entertainment, including a high-energy stage show featuring the industry’s best attempt at the electric slide. The event was made possible thanks to sponsors Coastal International, Exhibit Dynamics, Exhibit Services Contractors Association (ESCA), Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA), EACA, and Willwork. Smiles, networking, and new memories filled the decks well into the evening.
Exhibit Builder Witnesses JFK Hijacking Attempt
John “JP” Pegan, an exhibit builder and former employee of Freeman and ExhibitGroup, found himself in the middle of a tense standoff at New York’s JFK Airport on July 27, 2000. Pegan was awaiting his flight when a hijacking attempt unfolded nearby. He recounted the scene as heavily armed security forces swarmed the area. “I was praying out loud. I didn’t care who heard me,” Pegan said. Though shaken, he emphasized how grateful he was to be safe and back on the showfloor, where he shared his harrowing experience with industry friends at TS².
TS² 2000 Showfloor Sold Out
The Trade Show Exhibitors Association’s annual TS² event filled every square foot of the Washington Convention Center’s exhibit hall in July 2000. With 273 exhibitors—including 87 new to TS²—the show offered 60,100 net square feet of space dedicated to new products, services, and relationship-building. TSEA President Michael J. Bandy emphasized the show’s value to the industry, calling it “exhibitor-friendly” and rich in marketing, training, and networking benefits. The Grand Opening Reception, sponsored by the Washington Convention Center Authority, set the tone for three days of packed aisles and energized connections.
