Exhibit City News recalls stories that shaped our industry
Complied by Mark Hebert, Exhibit City News
We’re excited to bring back our “A Look Back at Tradeshow History” feature! If you’d like to submit your own industry milestones or historical highlights, please send them to Mark at Markh@exhibitcitynews.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Twenty-three years ago
Bill Nixon Sr. of Willwork, Inc. was inducted into the Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor recognized Nixon’s significant contributions to the exhibit and tradeshow industry over his career. Nixon had been a vital part of Willwork, where he played a key role in the company’s growth and success. His induction into the Hall of Fame highlighted his dedication, leadership, and the lasting impact he made in the industry. Nixon’s recognition was celebrated by his colleagues, family, and the wider tradeshow community.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority prepared for the grand opening of the South Hall expansion at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The two-story, 1.3 million-square-foot addition offered 51 new meeting rooms with seating capacities ranging from 20 to 7,500. The $150-million facility included advanced structural features such as 40-story-high aluminum racks and state-of-the-art rigging points. This expansion increased the total size of the Las Vegas Convention Center to 3.2 million square feet, further solidifying Las Vegas as a premier destination for large-scale conventions and events. The South Hall was set to host its first major event, the Consumer Electronics Show, in January 2002.
Exhibit City News presented its top eleven individuals in the design and build industry.
The Expo Group, headquartered in Irving, Texas, held their first Show Manager of the Year awards.
It was official: COMDEX hit a record, taking up more than one million square feet of space and drawing more than 200,000 attendees.
Twenty-five years ago
The Freeman Companies launched Freeman Transportation, a full-service freight-handling division.
Sue Renner, CEO of the TERM Group, was the outgoing EDPA president.
The Exhibition Operations Society was started by Stephen Schuldenfrei.
Twenty-six years ago
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research moved into Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex.
Exhibitgroup/Giltspur purchased Dimension Works, a full-service exhibit design and fabrication company.
The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau split the top job between current President Paul Astleford and James Reilly, then head of Chicago’s Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Twenty-seven years ago
GES Exposition Services won two American Graphic Design Awards for corporate marketing collaterals.
