The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) approved a $200,000 contract with the Ice Agency to design and build a tradeshow exhibit booth for Routes World 2026, taking place Oct. 21-23 in Frankfurt, Germany. Staff has 40 scheduled meetings with airline network planners to help attract new flights to Harry Reid International Airport.
As the aviation industry’s largest gathering of route decision-makers, with about 3,000 attendees, Routes World provides a critical platform for advancing air service strategy, Fletch Brunelle, vice president of marketing, told the LVCVA board at its Aug. 11 meeting. Las Vegas hosted the forum in 2021.
U.K.-based Ice Agency, which has built tradeshow booths for LVCVA in the past, specializes in sustainable exhibition design and has delivered custom stands for more than 200 tourism and government clients.
Ice Agency constructed a Las Vegas exhibit booth for an International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) event in Houston in 2025. The structure featured an illuminated overhead skyline, a double-sided LED screen wall, and an overhead lightbox designed to evoke a Las Vegas sunset.
Routes World was held in Hong Kong last year. Because the LVCVA exhibit booth must be constructed on location, moving the structure from one continent to another was not practical, Brunelle said.
Air Service Decline
The Routes World exhibit booth ties into a presentation by Ailevon Pacific Aviation Consulting that showed an 8.5 percent decline in passenger seat capacity as domestic and international airlines grapple with sharply higher jet fuel prices and global conflict.
The Canadian market saw the steepest decline. It accounted for 50 percent of international travelers to Las Vegas in 2024 and now accounts for 37 percent, barely ahead of Mexico.
Spirit Airlines, which once brought 5 million seats a year into Las Vegas, second only to Southwest Airlines, completely halted operations. “This was a significant hit to Las Vegas,” said Joel Van Over, senior director at Ailevon.
More than half of Spirit’s lost capacity has since been replaced, with new route announcements adding 1.1 million seats. That is why LVCVA’s presence at Routes World is significant, Van Over said.
“What can we do? Maintain connectivity,” he said.
Las Vegas remains connected to 170 markets. For CES 2027, the city will add nonstop flights from two new Asian markets, Hong Kong and Taipei. Air France launched nonstop flights from Paris during CES 2026, and Qantas announced flights from Sydney to Las Vegas starting in December. The route marks the airline’s first new U.S. destination in 15 years.
Van Over said those routes grew from discussions at previous Routes World forums.
IMEX America
The board approved $410,000 for exhibition floor space at IMEX America, a meetings, events, and incentive travel tradeshow scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The 2026 show marks IMEX America’s 15th year in Las Vegas.
IMEX America brings thousands of buyers together with tourism officials to generate business leads, showcase destinations, and meet with planners and decision-makers who influence future convention and group travel business.
LVCVA collaborates with 14 hotels and other tourism-related businesses exhibiting within the IMEX America booth. The 2025 show set a record with more than 17,500 attendees, including 6,145 buyers. It generated roughly $42 million in economic impact.
PCMA Membership
The board authorized $300,000 for Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) membership and event sponsorship fees. The total includes $110,000 for membership and sponsorships, $175,000 to host the 2028 PCMA Convening Leaders at MGM Grand, and $15,000 for an activation at the Corporate Event Marketing Association Summit.
PCMA connects business events and convention professionals through education, networking, and market intelligence. It also supports the industry through research, professional development, and community-building.
