Convention Business Slated to Keep Las Vegas Busy in Fall 2016 with $300 Million in Economic Impact

LAS VEGAS -- While the cold may be settling in around the country, the trade show industry will keep the heat in #lasvegas. The destination is geared up to welcome thousands of trade show attendees for Fall 2016, with meetings and conventions expected to bring in more than $300 million in direct visitor spending. “Las Vegas has been the number one trade show destination in North America for 22 consecutive years. We host nearly 22,000 meetings and conventions annually, proving that #lasvegas is a versatile destination for serious business,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the #lasvegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “The fall conventions maintain Las Vegas’ place on the forefront of business and product innovation.” Oven-baked goodness kicked off  fall trade shows in the #lasvegas Convention Center (LVCC) with the International Baking Industry Expo 2016 (IBIE) Oct. 8-11. IBIE is the biggest and most comprehensive #event in the United States for the grain-based #food industry. This year’s show is expected to have drawn more than 20,000 baking professionals from 100 different countries for an estimated $18.7 million in direct visitor spending. The “pulse of the meetings industry” gathered inside the Sands Expo & Convention Center for IMEX America 2016 Oct. 18-20. IMEX America provides the invaluable opportunity to network, share ideas and conduct business with more than 10,000 meetings and conventions professionals in the best destination for the industry. Buyers and exhibitors had the chance to do up to a year’s worth of business while pumping $9.3 million in direct visitor spending into the destination. The multi-billion-dollar baby and juvenile industry came to life inside LVCC for ABC Kids Expo 2016 Oct. 18-21. The expo occupied nearly one million square feet of exhibit space, drawing an estimated 14,000 industry buyers resulting in an estimated economic impact of $13.1 million from direct visitor spending. Attendees viewed the newest, most innovative products and services from more than 3,200 exhibitors. Things took a turn for the theatrical with the arrival of Live Design International (LDI) 2016 in the LVCC Oct. 21-23. LDI is expected to have generated $13.1 million in direct visitor spending for #lasvegas. As the leading global trade show for live design professionals, LDI’s more than 12,000 attendees had a first-hand look at the latest in everything from lighting and audio to special effects and staging. Las Vegas will put the pedal to the metal with the return of Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) Nov. 1-4. An estimated 160,000 auto industry professionals will make their way to the destination for two featured events. The first of these is the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) which brings the fury of the industry’s top products and experts from around the world to the LVCC. The second show is the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) inside the Sands Expo & Convention Center. AAPEX will feature more than 2,200 exhibitors showcasing the best and most innovative products in the industry to more than 44,000 targeted buyers. Together, SEMA and AAPEX are slated to bring $149.3 million in director visitor spending revenue to #lasvegas. The largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing #event in North America, FABTECH International 2016 will be in the LVCC Nov. 16-18. Expected to draw 28,000 convention delegates and 1,300 exhibiting companies to #lasvegas, FABTECH is the premier source for world-class suppliers and the latest innovations in the industry. The trade show is projected to result in $26.1 million from direct visitor spending.           Additional fall meetings and conventions attracting thousands of business delegates to #lasvegas this year include:

• Rodan & Fields, LLC 2016 Convention – Oct. 4-8 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – 14,500 attendees
• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP16) – Oct. 15-18 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – 11,000 attendees
• Sweet Adelines International Annual Convention & Competition – Oct. 17-22 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino – 15,000 attendees
• Autodesk, Inc. University (AU Las Vegas) – Nov. 15-17 at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino – 10 attendees
• Go Pro Recruiting Mastery – Dec. 1-4 at LVCC – 14,000 attendees
• 51st American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition 2016 – Dec. 4-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino – 20,000 attendees

The meetings and convention industry continues to be crucial to Southern Nevada’s economy, supporting more than 66,500 jobs and contributing $9.3 billion to the local community.  ABOUT THE LVCVAThe #lasvegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the #lasvegas Convention Center and Cashman Center.  With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms in #lasvegas alone and more than 11 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area. Download the virtual reality app, Vegas VR, to experience #lasvegas from your iPhone or Android by visiting http://www.vrtv.vegas/.   For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.lasvegas.com.