Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Justice finally served
News of the death of Osama bin Laden was a huge victory for the United States and should change the course of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
it is a mess over there and I am glad to be an American living in Las Vegas.
Yet, it is hard to hear of news from this past weekend and not think back to that awful morning in New York. I was working for a tradeshow publication here in Las Vegas. I was still new to the industry and trying to get my head around pop-up modules and double-deck booths.
The events that transpired that early Tuesday morning will always be fresh in my memory. Everyone remembers where he or she was when the World Trade Center towers came crashing down.
Now everyone will remember where they were when they heard the news about the Navy Seals who stormed a compound in Abbottabad and killed the most hated man in America.
It was justice served.
When the planes hit the Towers in New York all planes were grounded and McCarran Airport and the Las Vegas Convention Center were placed on high alert.
Tradeshows, conventions and tourism came to a halt that day and Las Vegas’ economy was crippled.
Comdex was expected to give its usual boost to the Las Vegas economy but after the attacks there was talk of canceling Comdex all together.
Comdex was expected to draw upwards of 200,00 attendees to its November Show. Comdex picked up some attendees in the days leading up to the show but final numbers came in at 110,000 attendees. The tech boom head reached its peak and in June 2004, Comdex cancelled the 2004 exhibition in Las Vegas.
According to news accounts, McCarran was averaging more than 3 million passengers a month until the number dropped to 2.1 million in September 2001 and remained below 3 million until March 2002.
Gaming revenue for Clark County fell from $650 million in August 2001 to $595 million in September and stayed below year-ago levels until February 2002.Hotels were discounting rates like car dealers to maintain occupancy levels, which had fallen from 90 percent to about 70 percent.
One evil man can be blamed for the dismal economic figures for that year. Now he is gone and while New York continues to rebuild at Ground Zero, Las Vegas continues to rebuild its tradeshow and tourism economy.
It is hard to believe that one man could create such world-wide terror but now that he is gone, it is my hope that we can work to solve other issues that directly effect us as Americans living in Las Vegas or anytown, U.S.A.
As a I watch President Barack Obama lay a wreath at Ground Zero I look ahead with hope for a peaceful future and a prosperous trade show business. I do know there is much more work to do and peace will not come easy but catching Osama is something President Obama can mark off his bucket list.
See you on the floor!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
It takes a village to rebuild a resort
One of my favorite places to visit is Lake Las Vegas located about 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
It is a nice, quite and secluded place to walk around and do a little window-shopping.
Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer windows for window-shopping these days at MonteLago Village Resort at Lake Las Vegas.
Not long ago it seems there was a lot of talk about Lake Las Vegas and all the million-dollar homes surrounding the lake including one owned by singer Céline Dion.
With two luxury hotels, a casino and a boutique shopping area, the resort seemed like the ideal spot for locals and tourist to gather for concerts, events, golf or meetings. My wife and I had a chance to spend a Fourth July weekend there and enjoy a concert and fireworks.
Then the resort was hit with an assortment of financial problems and in March 2010 the MonteLago Resort and Casino shut down and 177 casino employees lost their jobs.
Recently we revisited the MonteLago Village and took a stroll to see how the economy has affected the man-made lake experience.
It was, in a word — sad — but there is hope for the small shopping, dining, and events site but it may take some time for the village to gain the popularity it was building upon a few short years ago.
Intrepid Gaming LLC was recently granted a temporary business license by the Henderson City Council to operate the Casino MonteLago.
Las Vegas-based Intrepid Gaming applied for a non-restricted gaming license and a liquor license in February. According to reports, the Nevada Gaming Commission has not approved the gaming application so far.
The doors are shut and a fence is around the perimeter of the property keeps people away from the closed building. Reopening the casino would be a huge boost for the resort village that has been on a continual rebound since the 3,600-acre Lake Las Vegas development went through bankruptcy proceedings more than two years ago.
A year ago, Pacific Capital Management, acting on behalf of Signal Butte Investors LLC., acquired the condominium lodging operations of Lake Las Vegas’ MonteLago Village Resort from Intrawest Hospitality Management.
Aston Hotels & Resorts was brought in to manage the 210 condominiums that are available as rentals in the three-acre waterfront parcel. Signal Butte Investors has owned MonteLago Village’s retail and restaurant operations since June 2007. MonteLago Village has a total of 347 condominiums.
Shortly after the casino closed the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, a five-diamond hotel, closed its property adjacent to the casino and hope dimmed further for the troubled resort community as another 340 employees lost their jobs on May 2, 2010.
There is some good news for the village.
Last September Dolce Hotels and Resorts breathed new life into the property when it announced that it would be taking over the property and unveiled plans to reopen the 349-room nongaming hotel.
Ravella at Lake Las Vegas opened its doors in February and has been busy booking guest and hosting meetings.
During our walk around the village there were a few people from the Society for Human Ecology was holding its conference. It was good to see a few people with conference badges walking about during our walk throughout the village.
There are not many shops open and there is no market at the village. A kite shop and breakfast café are gone and many storefronts are empty. Sections of the walkway and landscape looked a unkept and the lake itself had lost some of its appeal.
Although the casino has been closed, MonteLago Village continues to host special events such as the Village Easter Celebration this past weekend. Jazz on the Lake returns on May 7 and is free to the public. Other events are listed on the MonteLago Village website www.montelagovillage.com.
The Website describes the resort as “the perfect place to spend your weekend or a midweek getaway. … The Mediterranean-styled resort is ideal for family getaways, weddings, business conferences and much more.”
It may be one of the best-kept secrets for meeting planners. I just hope more people discover the old world charm of the village and that better days are ahead.
See you on the floor!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Speakers offer film industry insight
It is not always a product or a particular show that draws my attendee attention. A celebrity, special guest or specific keynote speaker are also considerations when I attend a tradeshow.
NAB2011 did not disappoint with keynote speakers James Cameron and Kevin Smith making appearances at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I may not be a huge fan of Smith’s but I was really interested in what he had to say and I did enjoy Clerks. As for Cameron, well, this was my first chance to be in the same room as an Oscar-winning director.
Working alongside cinematographer Vince Pace, with whom Cameron created the Fusion camera system that shot Avatar, the Oscar-winner now plans to “make 3-D ubiquitous over the next five to 10 years on all platforms.”
It was great to hear his thoughts on this technology and I have never been at a keynote where a Hollywood director needed to remind attendees “Glasses on. This is in 3-D,” as he introduced a highlight real of coming 3D films including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.Smith has a much different approach to films and drew a packed crowed to the South Hall on Wednesday morning for his keynote address.
Dropping F-bombs throughout his talk was not surprising but his dry humor and insights combined for a very entertaining keynote.
“I don’t like doing films as a job,” Smith said. “You don’t have to be good at something as long as you are passionate. I am proof of that.”
Smith showed a lengthy clip of his upcoming film Red State. It was loud with repeated gunfire and had no shortage of blood splatter. When the lights come back on he was laughing as he tells the audience that it is his wife who gets shot and dies in this clip and he likes watching it over and over.
Smith may have an odd sense of black humor but his humor has been his trademark. Smith has no desire to create a 3-D film and indicted that Red State would be his last film for a while as he delves into other digital media interest.
I am addicted to trade shows because I never know who I am going to meet, see or listen at the next show.
There was just too much to see and too many people to meet at NAB2011 and this is a must-attend for any aspiring filmmaker and broadcaster.
Also on Wednesday, the NAB Education Foundation in partnership with the Broadcast Education Association and Pinkslipmixers.com hosted its annual spring Career Day.
I was able to meet local Channel-8 KLAS-TV newscaster Dave Courvoisier who was a panelist for one of the Career Day sessions.
Career Day was an opportunity for media companies to network with experienced professionals, college students and entry-level job seekers interested in a career in the broadcast industry.
I had have my resume critiqued by PBS Director George Molnar and KLAS-TV News Director Ron Comings. Both directors offered great advice and insight for a better resume.
It was my first time at NAB and early figures show an attendance increase of 5 percent with an total registration at 92,708. I was glad to be one among the thousands.
Friday, April 08, 2011
Too many booths, not enough time
I am addicted to trade shows. I have said this before and I will say it again and again.
It does not seem to matter whether I am browsing hardware, tractors, gadgets, appliances, spas or pools. or pet products. I just enjoy being a part of the face-to-face industry that is such a huge part the economic structure of Las Vegas. One week I am looking at construction machinery and the next it's popcorn and movie snacks. It is just amazing to see the many shows that move in and out of the convention centers.
Exhibitor offers a special insight into the trade show industry and I enjoyed my time on the floor as well as the time spent in conferences and roundtable discussions. I learn a lot from the people who have been in the industry long enough to remember the days before Face book, Twitter or cell phones. I did have a bit of a withdrawal after the show was over and I did have to reach for a Champion Exposition Services squishy boxing glove, which I found in the bottom of my show bag.
Yet, there is just never enough time to visit ever booth and say hello to every exhibitor. I do try to say hello to as many exhibitors that I can, especially those who may not have the best location on the trade show floor. When I do spend time in an exhibit, however, it is hard to appreciate the time spent creating the experience.
Take for instance the MG Design's Mansion of Mystery exhibit. I can't imagine how much time must have gone into creating this one-of-a-kind experience, which combined emerging technology with a funhouse atmosphere where behind every window a specific top was being addressed. I would have liked to have heard from every one of the "mystery-style" characters that were part of the experience.
If you missed a chance to tour the mansion I have a video on YouTube that highlights the MG Design's use of RFiD and Augmented Reality. Click here to read about MG Design's manions and view the video. I will be posting other videos soon but feel free to check out my photos from EXHIBITOR2011.
It was an impressive exhibit but it was not the only one that caught my attention but it certainly made a lasting impression. I wonder what will be new next year?
I don't have to wait long for my next trade show dose. Next week I will be wondering around at NAB — the digital media show. It will be my first time to NAB and I am looking forward to collecting some movie tchotchkes.
See you on the floor!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tag — You're it
The booths were lively and the aisles were busy with people conducting face-to-face business. It was good to see so much activity on the showfloor at Mandalay Bay this week.I always look forward to walking the aisle during show hours of the annual face-to-face marketing event here in Las Vegas.
Traffic slowed down a bit on the third and final day of the show floor but it is hard to blame attendees from slowing down their pace after hours and hours of education sessions while checking out newest trends and products in the trade show industry. There are more sessions on Thurday but the show floor is closed for this year.
What caught my attention most was the use of scanable tags on graphics, post cards and T-shirts. I spent a good deal of time pointing my smartphone to view the marketing messages posted on YouTube and company websites. Technology has come a long way but I wonder how many actually take the time to point and scan.
SeQRets on your smart phone allows you to scan barcodes (QR/UPC/EAN) in real time and link to websites, photos and videos, contact cards, Geo locations, and product information such as descriptions and prices with links to online retailers.
It is a nifty and high-tech marketing device exhibitors and companies are making much more use of today. I can't read a magazine without coming across a few tags and yes, I pull out my iPHone and scan most of the then when I have the time.
If you don't want to take the time to scan the tag you can always take a photo of the tag and save it for later. I managed to save some of the images but I may have missed some of the tags. I like scanning the tags but I need to learn how to organize and bookmark all the tags I come across.
Overall, I walked away with lots of good information and I was able to meet many new people. Several exhibitors were recognized for their exhibit or product. See the link below to read more. I look forward to seeing everyone return to Las Vegas for the Exhibitor2012.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
CONEXPO-CON/AGG opens in Las Vegas
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| GOMACO's CONEXPO Exhibit |
According to the various magazines and industry people, the registration has been great and perhaps the best ever. I arrived to the sound of drums beating in the parking lot off of Paradise. The crowds were let in at 9 a.m. and it has been steady business.
I got a great tour of the booth by Gomaco and was impressed by the 1,500 square feet of space. The company has 37 staffer for its double-deck exhibit. There are two board rooms, a dining area and lots of storage for supplies and equipement. I was especially impress with the foot massage unit in one of the board rooms.
My thanks to Randy Bach, advertising manager, for taking the time to give me a tour of the booth. It was very impressive.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Coverings 2011 photos on flickr
Taken by Trade Show Expo at Coverings 2011. Lots of stone and great tile.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Change is challenging and necessary
The year is only two months old but it seems to have gone by so quickly.
It has also been a challenging New Year but after two months of planning and designing, we have created a new website for the trade show industry.
Trade Show ExPO has the same web address but we have a brand new look. Perhaps you have already seen it. If not, any one of the headlines below will take you to a new page on our site.
It is never easy to learn the ins and outs of new software for web design but this was a necessary
Our old site was too busy and too cluttered with information. Our new site is cleaner and better organized and much easier to browse.
By installing a content management system we can now offer a better user experience. Yes, there are still changes coming and I am working daily to post news content with more information that is important to the trade show, meeting and convention industry.
Our goal is to become the networking HUB for the trade show, convention and meeting industry with an emphasis on Las Vegas. We want to connect show managers and meeting planners with marketers and vendors who do business here in Las Vegas.
Please take a look at our site and let me know what you think. Send us your news, especially if it has a Las Vegas slant and we will make ever effort to publish and share the news. Look for more changes and join our network by visiting our connector page.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn — our links are at the bottom of this newsletter and on our home page.
This week is I will be spending some time at the Nightclub & Bar Show at the Las Vegas Convention. It is shaping up to be quite a show with plenty of excitement. I will be posting my share of Tweets and a few Facebook status updates from the showfloor.
Thanks for reading and don't forget to turn back your clocks on Sunday. Yes, Daylight Savings Time begin on March 13.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
I found this article in SuccessfulMeetings
I thought you would enjoy this article in SuccessfulMeetings December 2010: More Reforms at McCormick Place.Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
MAGIC Las Vegas 2011
I thought it was great to see a lot of odd and interesting art work throughout the showfloor at MAGIC. This squid was in the pressroom at Mandalay Bay.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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