In today’s events, audiences rarely remember a specific slide or a particular sentence from a presentation. What tends to remain is the experience surrounding that moment: the atmosphere in the room, the visual energy of the stage, the rhythm created by light and sound, and the way the environment supports the story being told.
In keeping with Texas’ expansion and redevelopment of convention centers (see our Dallas CC Spotlight) Austin is revamping the Austin Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez Street), but in a typically Texas big way: the old Austin Convention Center was demolished to make way for an entirely new venue due to open in September of 2029 (just in time for South By Southwest). The project’s named Unconventional ATX and plans to create a bigger, newer convention center with the latest in tech, amenities, and more.
Align Exhibits, a national leader in tradeshow exhibit solutions, is making waves with its recent growth, innovative services, and commitment to clients’ success. Founded in 2025 by six industry veterans, with a clear purpose of establishing partnerships, transparency, and costumer service through the simplification of exhibit building.
Laying in the heart of downtown Houston, George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) (1001 Avenida de las Americas) was named after Houston entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, George R. Brown. The Texas Eastern Transmission Company (of which Brown was an investor) donated over half the real estate needed to build the center, which opened in September of 1987. It replaced the old Albert Thomas Convention Center.
Michael R. Joncek October 7, 1968 – March 1, 2026 Michael Robert Joncek of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on March 1, 2026, at
Of the common questions asked in the tradeshow, exhibitions, and events industry the most asked is this: how do we let people know we exist? Furthermore, how do we inspire and help cultivate the community to help it grow? Education has often been the answer sought, whether that is in mentorship or training programs. Of these programs, one has stood out and in 2025 it celebrated a pivotal milestone.
William P. Hobby Airport
Airport Code: HOU
Location: 7800 Airport Blvd, Houston, Texas
ColorCraft is saddened to share the passing of Carlos Vives, a longtime Fabrication Technician whose craftsmanship and dedication helped shape countless projects produced by the company.
An old friend and colleague sent me a message after reading something I wrote recently on LinkedIn about the tradeshow industry. One line stuck with me. He said, “Our industry is so different now because you and Jack introduced the exit pathway for Nth Degree through private equity. It forced the industry to become more disciplined. Numbers matter.”
It’s a dangerous world out there. That would ring true at almost any point in history — but it feels especially relevant in March 2026. Natural disaster risks are driving up insurance costs. Criminals are targeting popular resort destinations. Armed conflict has shuttered major global travel hubs. And the events industry, by its very nature, puts groups of people together in places that can be every bit as vulnerable as they are beautiful.
Tradeshows are getting more expensive every year. Floor space, freight, drayage, labor, travel, hotels. The investment keeps climbing. Yet one thing hasn’t changed in decades: most exhibitors still don’t know how to produce measurable ROI from that investment.
Last fall, we ran an experiment inside Club Ichi that scared a lot of people (that was the point).
We called it Brains Behind the Bots, a live event built as part of an AI Hackathon. The premise was simple: what happens if we let AI help build an event from the ground up, in real time, with professionals watching every decision, mistake, and course correction?
