The pandemic has led to many new partnerships and collaborations throughout the events industry, and in an industry first, Emerald and Questex teamed up for last week’s inaugural Food & Beverage Industry Week in Las Vegas, bringing four food shows under one roof for everyone’s mutual benefit.
The trade shows participating in this new industry event were Questex’s Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly Nightclub & Bar Show) and World Tea Expo, as well as Emerald’s International Pizza Expo and SIAL America, a collaboration between Emerald and Comexposium.
Initial reports indicate that the shows were all very successful, with attendees and exhibitors posting positive experiences on the shows’ various social media page and Bar & Restaurant Expo in particular reporting over 10,000 attendees.
“Our expansion into the Restaurant category has already significantly increased the number of restaurants participating, and enhanced the education program,” said Tim McLucas, Vice President of the Bar & Restaurant Group, in a statement. “It is clear from the rapid growth in our attendance numbers since 2021 that the industry is now back to business and eager to leverage this new growth opportunity”.
Also happening last week in Maryland was a similar initiative, Business Events Industry Week, presented by PCMA, Destinations International, and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). Several events hosted by the three organizations took place during the week, which allowed event professionals to connect and engage with a larger network with more industry players in the same place at the same time.
These strategic partnerships highlight what may be a growing post-pandemic trend, and in-person events aim to provide as much value to attendees and exhibitors as possible and make it worthwhile for people to travel. Co-locating three or four related events and allowing attendees to experience all of them in one trip makes in-person attendance much more enticing.
It remains to be seen whether Food & Beverage Industry Week will return to Vegas as a new annual staple, but given the success of this year’s shows and the added value and engagement such an arrangement provides to attendees, it’s likely a safe bet.