September 2024 » Exhibition City News

(Photo taken at the EDPA/EACA Midwest Charity Golf Fundraiser for the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic at Maple Meadows Golf Club in Wood Dale, Ill., from left to right: Bill Haney of Derse Exhibits in Milwaukee, Larry Kulchawik of Derse Exhibits in Chicago, Exhibit City News Publisher Don Svehla, Neil Curran of HB Stubbs in Waukegan and Jim Elser of Derse Exhibits in Waukegan. Exhibit City News archives.)

Exhibition City News looks back at the stories that have shaped our industry

By Mark Hebert, Exhibit City News

We are excited to bring back our Show History feature! If you would like to submit your own industry milestone or historical highlight, please send it to Mark at Markh@exhibitcitynews.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Twenty years ago this month:

Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City The 40 percent expansion, which cost $52 million and took 23 months to build, was announced on August 12 and was fast-tracked by pressure from the city’s largest convention customer, Outdoor Retailer, which had considered relocating. The expansion ensures the event will remain in Salt Lake City through at least 2009.

Bill Gates and Craig Barrett have agreed to deliver keynote addresses at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Gates, chairman of Microsoft, will speak on January 5, while Intel CEO Barrett will deliver the opening keynote on January 6. CES 2005, which runs January 6-9, will focus on new technologies and connected devices, attracting more than 2,400 exhibitors and many industry visionaries.

USS Ronald Reagan San Diego becomes the permanent home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum. Designed by Bowman Design Group and developed in partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the museum was unveiled July 23 at a relocation event attended by Michael Reagan, Tom Selleck and Nancy Reagan, who made her first public appearance since her husband’s funeral.

Twenty-two years ago this month:

Pennsylvania Convention Center, PhiladelphiaThe fairgrounds, now called the Greater Philadelphia Fairgrounds, worked with six unions to resolve labor issues large and small. A Wharton School study recommended turning all labor assignments over to a labor broker. The recommendations were based on reforms at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

People are talking about the luxurious facilities in the conference and banquet rooms in the $105 million expansion. Reno-Sparks Convention Centeropened on August 2. The renovation and expansion project was completed three months ahead of schedule and saved $17.5 million in budget.

Twenty-four years ago this month:

Salary Survey 2000 Trade Show Exhibitors Association, takeAccording to a survey by the International Business Journal, the gender pay gap narrowed by 11% last year. In 1999, female exhibitors earned 75% of what male exhibition managers earned, but in 2000, the proportion rose to 85%.

Spoon Exhibition Servicesa full-service trade show and marketing company headquartered in Rochester, New York, has opened a production and warehouse location in Las Vegas, Nevada to serve new and existing customers attending numerous shows in Las Vegas and other venues throughout the Western United States.

Twenty-five years ago this month:

A devastating tornado caused death Alan CrandallThe 38-year-old foreman at Renaissance Management was in the middle of set-up work for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Salt Lake City’s largest trade show, when the storm swept through downtown Salt Lake City.

Champion Transport ServicesThe Northlake, Ill.-based company launched satellite operations in Las Vegas.

Twenty-seven years ago this month:

this Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority A new website dedicated to gaming, entertainment, attractions and conference services and architecture has been launched. The website aims to attract visitors, trade show managers and exhibitors to the city and its venues.

Department of Earth Sciences The new “Linked Desks” program was launched at the MAGIC Show in Las Vegas. The new service uses a local area network (LAN) to connect all of the company’s service desks so that exhibitors can receive service at any desk rather than waiting in line at a designated desk.