by H. K. Wilson
Back in 1986, a band called Timbuk 3 released a hit song called, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.” It’s beginning to feel like 1986 again, as convention centers are reopening, live events are being scheduled and the wheels of commerce are beginning to turn.
Las Vegas is Back, Baby!
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently announced that conventions could begin planning their return on March 15 by submitting safety plans to host up to 1,000 convention guests.
Plans will be reviewed and approved by one of two entities: Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations or the Gaming Control Board. Beginning on May 1, the approval process for conventions will be turned over to local/county officials. Capacity limits and restrictions on gatherings could be altered at the discretion of those entities.
Many big shows are already on the LVCC calendar, beginning with the Tobacco Plus 
Expo, scheduled May 12-14. The Expo’s safety plan has been approved, and the show floor is nearly sold out. Organizers are anticipating at least 3,000 guests.
The World of Concrete convention is scheduled to take place at LVCC from June 8-10. In the past, the event has attracted 60,000 guests.
LVCC has 3.2 million total square feet of event space, 2 million square feet of exhibit space, 144 meeting rooms and is within walking distance of 100,000 hotel rooms. In 2018, the convention industry created $6.6 billion and supported nearly 45,000 jobs in Las Vegas. The lights are on, and the city is eager to welcome conventions back in 2021! For more info, visit www.lvcva.com.
SISO Hosts CEO Summit in Florida, April 12-15
The Society of Independent Show Organizers is hosting the SISO CEO Summit at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida, April 12-15. The venue is a perfect location for the Summit this year, as it offers a well-spaced, safe environment for the event, with substantial outdoor options and great weather for meals and social functions. The event will be the only one on the property, and the hotel is providing complete and exclusive use of the entire meeting space. The hotel is conveniently located less than 30 minutes from the Jacksonville airport, with a wide range of flight destinations and many connections to Miami and Atlanta hub airports.
The program will include:
The Return of the Economist, Tuesday, April 13: Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., will provide insight and analysis on global, national and regional economic performance using the most current data available. He will examine the performance of the financial, labor, real estate and construction markets.
The Value of Diversity, Tuesday, April 13: Diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) is not just “the right thing to do,” it is also good for business. What does it take to initiate and execute an effective DEI strategy and plan? During this session, moderated by Ron Walden, a diverse group of vendors will share their personal experiences in and out of the tradeshow industry. Audience members will take away a fresh perspective on DEI and how to accelerate efforts toward their DEI agendas.
The Future of Innovation, Wednesday, April 14: What does it take to transform a company from a status quo market contender to a forward-thinking and dynamic player of the future? Industry leader and expert George Blankenship will look to the future and explore this question during an engaging and thought-provoking closing keynote. Widely recognized as the architect of Apple’s brand-building retail strategy, Blankenship formulated and executed one of the most successful retail growth strategies in history by turning the classic engagement model on its head. Most recently, he revolutionized the auto industry by redefining the car-buying experience in his executive role at Tesla Motors. Bringing 30 years of industry experience and invigorating insight, Blankenship will explain how to build a brand based on the unique value that your company provides and how to market and attract new customers. SISO members will take away fresh, fascinating ideas and innovative tools for rethinking their role in a competitive environment.
View the full program and register for the event at: https://www.siso.org/Ceo/the-ceo-summit/conference-program#/. Also, check out the recent SISO/UFI White Papers that tell how SISO members have successfully produced events during the pandemic. Since October, SISO has published four case studies for members to use as a playbook for forging ahead during these uncertain times. For more info, visit https://www.siso.org/case-studies/white-papers.
Take Your Show on the Road with Adler Display
Adler Display has been making businesses look amazing for 80 years, with recognition displays, lobby and corporate interiors, custom exhibits, tradeshow displays and more.
Now, you don’t need an event to introduce your brand to the world. Take your show on the road with Adler Display’s mobile trailer displays! Mobile trailers allow you to take your mission, educational classroom and interactive experiences directly to your audience, wherever they are.
Here are highlights from two successful projects:
The Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation Mobile Classroom, which was designed and built inside of a 20-foot trailer, is an immersive underground experience that educates and develops leadership in natural resource conservation for students. It features local plants and burrows of native animals, along with infographic panels and an interactive touchscreen station.
Chesapeake Conservancy launched the “Roving Ranger,” a new mobile visitor center for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail). The vehicle is the size of a delivery truck and features large, beautiful scenes of the Chesapeake Bay on all sides. Adler Displays installed a side window, custom cabinets, a speaker system and a solar panel to power the mobile visitor center.
Gatherings may be limited, but your imagination doesn’t have to be!
Adler Display can help you plan fabricate and install everything for your next road trip. Explore this and other COVID-19 solutions at: www.adlerdisplay.com.
On the Road to Recovery is a series about celebrating the innovators, the imagineers and the glass-half-full types who keep finding new opportunities in our topsy-turvy world. If your company has created new products or found a way to pivot and keep working during these difficult and challenging times, please email us at newsdesk@exhibitcitynews.com for inclusion in future stories in this new weekly series.
