Welcome back to “A Look Back at Tradeshow History.” This month, we turn to January issues from the past 25 years, a snapshot of how the industry has responded to disruption, growth, and change. From nationwide rallies calling for the return of live events to hard lessons on controlling exhibit costs, major Las Vegas expansion projects, and record-setting shows at the turn of the century, these stories capture the resilience and scale of the tradeshow world. They also highlight the people and companies shaping it along the way.
Five Years ago: January 2021
America Starts with Tradeshows Rallies Across the U.S.
Industry leaders, workers, and advocates gathered in multiple cities to rally behind the America Starts with Tradeshows campaign, calling attention to the economic impact of live events and conventions. Demonstrations took place outside convention centers and public venues, with participants urging federal, state, and local officials to support the safe return of in-person tradeshows. Organizers emphasized that the shutdown of live events had affected millions of jobs and thousands of businesses tied to exhibitions, meetings, and conventions. The rallies positioned tradeshows as essential to economic recovery and highlighted the industry’s readiness to operate responsibly under evolving health and safety guidelines.
Ten years ago: January 2016
5 Budget Busting Habits Exhibitors Should Avoid
The article outlined common planning and execution mistakes that drive unnecessary exhibiting costs. It focused on inventory oversights, last-minute ordering, and unclear communication with vendors and labor crews as frequent sources of budget overruns. The piece warned that failing to inspect properties before shipping, delaying service orders, and arriving on-site without clear instructions can quickly escalate labor, drayage, and rework expenses. It also addressed the cost impact of poor graphic planning, missed deadlines, and inadequate on-site representation. Each example tied avoidable habits to real-world financial consequences that exhibitors routinely face on the show floor.
Aria Doubles Down on Convention Space in Las Vegas
Aria Resort & Casino moved forward with a major expansion of its convention center, adding roughly 200,000 square feet of new space and bringing total meeting and exhibit space to about 500,000 square feet. The project included a new ballroom, additional breakout rooms, and enhanced prefunction areas designed to improve traffic flow and flexibility. Aria executives said the expansion responded to growing demand for large-scale meetings and corporate events on the Strip. New design features also incorporated media walls and upgraded technology to support meetings, signage, and sponsorship opportunities, strengthening Aria’s position in the competitive Las Vegas convention market.
Fifteen years ago: January 2011
Freeman tops list of Heart Walk fundraising companies
Freeman Co. led all corporate fundraisers at the American Heart Association Las Vegas Heart Walk, raising more than $16,000, the largest total by a company team. The event drew more than 6,000 participants, boosted by the debut of a timed five-kilometer Heart Run that attracted over 250 runners. In addition to employee fundraising efforts, Freeman supported the event by donating services and equipment, including staging, sound, and start-line infrastructure. Company-led activities throughout the year, including a golf tournament, jeans days, and bake sales, added thousands more in contributions benefiting heart disease and stroke research.
Moss names new VP and GM
Moss, Inc. appointed Jim Lundberg as vice president of client services and estimating, expanding his responsibilities after serving as director of customer service since 2008. Lundberg brought experience in exhibit construction, plant management, and sales operations, including senior roles at Exhibitgroup/Giltspur.
Q&A: Freeman CEO shares his views of the industry
Freeman Chief Executive Officer Joe Popolo shared his perspective on industry conditions, recovery trends, and company strategy during the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Meeting. Popolo said the downturn prompted Freeman to reassess operations, focus more closely on customer value, and pursue efficiency, sustainability, and new revenue streams. He cited deeper investment in creative services, technology, global work, and selective acquisitions that fit company culture. Popolo said corporate meetings were recovering faster than tradeshows and projected moderate growth overall. He also said virtual platforms would complement live events by extending content beyond face-to-face meetings.
NOTE: In January 2025, Joe Popolo was named U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. Read more here: Former Freeman CEO Nominated as U.S. Ambassador.
Twenty Year ago: January 2006
All in the family
Renz Display traced its roots as a family-owned business built on craftsmanship, adaptation, and longevity in the Omaha market. The company began as a parade float and sign operation and evolved into a full-service exhibit and display firm serving tradeshows, events, and branded environments. Ownership passed through multiple generations of the Buchanan family, with leadership emphasizing hands-on production, woodworking, graphics, and fabrication under one roof. The company operated from a large Omaha headquarters and balanced traditional skills with new technology as the industry changed. Management described long-term survival as a result of steady reinvestment, employee loyalty, and a willingness to evolve without abandoning core values.
SmartCity comes to the rescue again and again
Smart City Networks restored voice and data services after major disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, often within 24 hours. Teams redeployed from multiple offices to support convention centers and emergency operations in affected regions. Company leaders pointed to advance planning, trained staff, and a national support network as essential to maintaining communications under extreme conditions.
Twenty five years ago: January 2001
EDPA Annual Convention shows growth
The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) Annual Convention posted gains in attendance and exhibitor participation during its late-fall meeting at the San Diego Marriott in San Diego, California. Organizers said attendance surpassed the previous year, signaling continued momentum for the association. Education sessions were built around the theme “Powering Up for the 21st Century,” with speakers including Donald S. Freeman Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of the Freeman Companies, and Douglas L. Ducate, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. Growth was also visible on the show floor, where the EDPA Supplier Showcase doubled in size from 25 to about 50 participating companies and adopted a more formal exhibit format.
EDPA releases economic survey results
The EDPA released results from a comprehensive economic survey of member exhibit designers, offering a detailed look at industry finances and operations. The annual survey, organized by independent accounting firm OLIVE LLP, tracked data including compensation, pricing, balance sheets, sales practices, and transportation activity. Participation increased, with 52 surveys completed in full and 48 respondents submitting transportation data, representing $525 million in combined revenue. Respondents reported average sales growth of 15 percent, while profitability declined slightly to a pre-tax margin of 3.3 percent. The survey also showed measurable gains in productivity and efficiency across multiple performance categories.
COMDEX 2000 breaks records in Las Vegas
COMDEX/Fall set multiple operational and scale records at the Las Vegas Convention Center, reinforcing its status as the largest tradeshow of the year in Las Vegas. The event surpassed one million square feet of exhibit space and attracted more than 200,000 buyers. Freight activity reached unprecedented levels, with more than 11,000 individual pieces received during the seven-day move-in, totaling about 900,000 pounds. Planning efforts involved more than 1,600 union workers, along with dozens of supervisors, designers, and equipment operators. Freeman Companies managed the official service contractor role, implementing expanded freight-handling systems to keep traffic moving and reduce congestion during setup.
Making progress in Las Vegas
Construction of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) South Hall expansion continued on schedule, with completion targeted less than a year away. Once finished, the project was expected to push total meeting and exhibit space at the facility past 3.2 million square feet. The South Hall alone would add about 918,000 square feet of exhibit space and 91,000 square feet of meeting space, along with 51 meeting rooms and extensive food service facilities. Plans also included a new lobby and meeting room bridge spanning Desert Inn Road, physically linking the expansion to the existing complex and increasing overall capacity for large-scale events.
