December closed out a consequential year for Orlando’s meetings and tourism sector, marked by a major convention center expansion, new hotel investment tied to future demand, record tourism metrics, and heavy airport traffic heading into 2026.
Hamilton, a full-service experiential and event marketing agency, is ushering in its next chapter of growth with the appointment of Courtney Soice as President, effective January 1. Formerly Chief Marketing Officer, Soice steps into the role following years of impactful leadership that helped shape the company’s brand, strategy, and industry presence. Dan Cantor will continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton.
The Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA) Las Vegas Chapter will kick off the new year with its January New Year Connections Mixer, bringing together professionals from across the live events, exhibitions, and experiential design industry for an evening of networking and community building.
Lauren Gray has joined T3 Expo as their new Vice President of Client Experience. Gray brings more than a decade of strategic growth, experiential partnership leadership, and high-impact client management to T3 Expo. Her background is a rare blend of creative vision, operational excellence, and executive-level relationship building.
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) has hired Jessica Barnes as the new National Sales Manager. In this role, she focuses on attracting new organizations and businesses to the Convention Center and New Orleans.
Enter the expansive Central Hall grand lobby of the renovated Las Vegas Convention Center and you’ll be blinded by the light, a stark contrast to the dark and gloomy corridor that welcomed guests in the past.
It’s a focal point of the $600 million convention center renovation that was completed in time for CES, the enormous tradeshow that spotlights the latest and greatest inventions in consumer electronics.
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the unified public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, today announced its 2026 Public Policy Agenda, which outlines the organization’s federal and state policy priorities for the year ahead.
As the calendar resets and the glitter settles, so comes the time to face the annual reckoning of forecasts and financial goals. This critical window invites companies to retie their purse strings, rethink their priorities, and reset for a profitable new year.
Chicago closed 2025 with a steady flow of convention, consumer, and civic developments that point to a busy year ahead. New data ranks the city third nationally for scheduled business conferences in 2026, while flagship events including the Chicago Auto Show, Cubs Convention, and Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show set dates and unveiled new programming.
The Experiential Design Authority (EDA) is proud to unveil the esteemed final judging panel for the CES 2026 BOSS (Best of Show & Strategy) Awards. The BOSS Awards celebrate groundbreaking innovation, creativity, and excellence in experiential design, recognizing the most impactful projects showcased at CES each year.
As 2026 begins, the tradeshow and events industry is looking toward a year of careful planning and cautious optimism. Economic growth has slowed, costs remain high, and policy uncertainty continues to weigh on travel and investment decisions.
