As the tradeshow and events industry moved through 2025, Exhibit City News covered a wide range of developments shaping the year. This Year in Review highlights a selection of the most-read stories from the first half of 2025, capturing key themes in sustainability, workforce development, economic pressure, technology, and venue investment as the industry continued to evolve.
Quarter 1
January
Next Generation Views on Decarbonizing the Events Industry
Emerging industry leaders are reshaping how the tradeshow sector approaches sustainability. Expectations around emissions reduction, waste management, and long-term planning continue to grow. Younger professionals increasingly view decarbonization as a shared, operational responsibility across venues, organizers, and service providers.
CES 2025: Innovation Highlights and Booth Trends
CES 2025 highlighted how exhibitors used space, technology, and design to shape attendee experience. Enclosed booths dominated the show floor, while brands emphasized immersive environments, content creation zones, and rest areas. Together, these trends showed how booth design continues to evolve alongside technology and audience expectations.
People on the Move January 2025 Recap
January opened with notable leadership changes across destinations and service providers. Dana Young announced her departure as president and CEO of Visit Florida following six years in the role. Circle promoted David Fekete to chief experience officer, while The Taylor Group named Bobbi Jo Panetta vice president of sales. Additional hires and promotions rounded out the month’s workforce activity.
Leading the Way in Building a Modern Workforce
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters continues to invest in workforce development across the tradeshow sector. Hands-on training, leadership programs, and safety education at the union’s Las Vegas training center are preparing skilled labor for evolving exhibit construction and show-site demands.
Bridging the Labor Gap in Boston’s Tradeshow Industry
Labor shortages continue to affect Boston’s tradeshow market. Contractors and unions face aging workforces, rising costs, and inconsistent schedules. Industry leaders pointed to improved training access, reduced recruitment barriers, and stronger collaboration as key steps to stabilize labor supply and support future event demand.
February
Tariffs and Tradeshows: The Industry’s Uncertain Road Ahead
Tariffs and trade policies continue to affect tradeshows across U.S. markets. Rising costs, material surcharges, and pricing uncertainty challenged exhibitors and suppliers. Industry leaders emphasized clearer contract disclosures and sustained advocacy as businesses prepared for potential tariff expansions ahead of peak event season.
People on the Move January 2025 Second Recap
The second January People on the Move update highlighted several account-level and management promotions. Momentum Management named Walt McCreary senior account executive and added Thomas Barcelona to its Northern California account team. Other moves included promotions at Poretta & Orr, BTWN Exhibits, Orbus Visual Communications Group, and CDI World, reflecting continued hiring across exhibit services firms.
People on the Move February 2025 Recap
February featured several high-profile leadership changes across destinations and advisory firms. Visit Baltimore announced that President and CEO Al Hutchinson will not renew his contract, concluding an eight-year tenure. The San Diego Tourism Authority named Daniel Kuperschmid president and CEO, while SoolNua appointed Aoife McCrum and Gráinne Ní Ghiollagáin as managing partners. Additional promotions and hires rounded out the month.
March
ECN Announces the Release of Its 30th Anniversary Edition
Exhibit City News marked its thirtieth anniversary with the release of a limited-edition commemorative book. The publication documents three decades of tradeshow history, industry voices, and institutional knowledge, positioning the anniversary edition as both a historical record and a resource for current and future industry professionals.
EDPA ACCESS: Pioneering Sustainability in Events
EDPA measured the carbon impact of its annual ACCESS event for the first time, establishing a baseline for future sustainability efforts. The initiative tracked attendee emissions and introduced practical measures such as digital collateral, reusable materials, sustainable food sourcing, and venue certification to reduce environmental impact across event operations.
CEIR Releases Q4 2024 Index Results
New CEIR data showed continued recovery for the U.S. B2B exhibition industry. Strong exhibitor participation and real revenues drove gains in the fourth quarter, while attendance trailed pre-pandemic levels. Low cancellation rates and improving performance signaled resilience despite economic uncertainty and evolving trade policy risks.
The Rising Cost of Exhibiting: What to Expect in 2025
Rising exhibitor costs continue across major U.S. markets. Labor, material handling, and utilities remain key cost drivers. Survey data showed companies downsizing booths, limiting travel, and reassessing show participation as they plan more strategically and adjust budgets for the year ahead.
Then & Now: The Tech Revolution
Then & Now series traced how technology has reshaped the tradeshow floor over three decades. The story followed the shift from basic digital displays to interactive screens, mobile apps, data analytics, and immersive tools, showing how technology continues to change exhibitor and attendee engagement.
Austin Convention Center Redevelopment to Begin April 2025 with $1.6 Billion Expansion
Austin confirmed plans to redevelop its convention center with a $1.6 billion expansion. The project will deliver 620,000 square feet of event space, prioritize walkability, and target Zero Carbon certification, positioning the facility as a sustainability and urban design benchmark.
Quarter 2
April
Smash Booth Debuts HoloGlam, a Take-Home Hologram Built for Tradeshows
Smash Booth introduced HoloGlam, a take-home hologram experience unveiled at the Experiential Marketing Summit in Las Vegas. The activation combines short-form video capture with a phone-based prism display, giving attendees a portable, branded keepsake without apps or headsets.
Professional exhibit photography extends a booth’s impact beyond the show floor. Photographers use composition, lighting, and post-production to preserve brand storytelling. The work supports marketing efforts, award submissions, and long-term content needs, allowing exhibits to deliver value well after an event concludes.
Experiential activations continue to reshape the tradeshow floor. Interactive experiences, social media-ready moments, and gamification are replacing static displays. Designers and activation partners emphasized early planning and customization to increase engagement, dwell time, and measurable return on investment.
People on the Move April 2025 Recap
Notable leadership changes included Fiona Bruder named global CEO of George P. Johnson Experience Marketing, Brad Nuccio joining NewGen Business Solutions as vice president of sales for ConventionSuite, and Tony Hodgins promoted to regional general manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Additional appointments and promotions reflected continued movement across exhibits, venues, and event services.
May
Sustainable practices do not always increase costs. Industry leaders pointed to material advances, scale, and process improvements that have made many options cost-neutral or less expensive. Waste reduction, durability, and lifecycle planning now play a larger role in shaping accurate cost comparisons.
June
Convention Centers Worldwide Announce Growth and Milestones
Global convention center activity continued to reflect infrastructure investment, major bookings, and industry rankings. Venue expansions, sustainability initiatives, and new partnerships advanced across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, underscoring continued competition and growth in the international meetings and events market.
