April 2023 Newsletter: The Latest News from the Trade Show Industry

Staying up to date with all the latest happenings in the live events industry is vital for exhibitors and organizers as it helps them refine their event strategy. As 2023 is probably the year when the events industry will reclaim and even exceed its post-COVID glory, a lot is at stake for every business planning to exhibit at an event.

To help you out, here are some of the latest updates from the exhibition industry-

Trade Show News April 2023

1- The SHOT Show Achieved Pre-COVID Level Attendance

The 45^th edition of SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) was organized at the CAESARS Forum and The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas from 17-20 Jan 2023. Spread across 816,000 square feet of the exhibition space, over 52,000 people attended the massive event.

Over 2,500 companies exhibited at the event, and its Supplier Showcase had 539 OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). While many businesses are in two minds regarding the effectiveness of physical events in the post-pandemic world, SHOT and its blockbuster success demonstrates people's trust in such face-to-face events. 

2- OFFPRICE Show Launches New Regional Show in Florida

The OFFPRICE Show is a biannual event organized in February and August in Las Vegas. Owing to the unprecedented success of its latest event organized at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas from 11-14 February 2023, the organizers have launched a regional show in Florida to fulfill the needs of independent retailers and chain stores on the East Coast.

The new regional show OFFPRICE Orlando Market will be organized from 17-18 October 2023 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. It will feature wholesale brands, overproduced and closeouts distributors, cost-friendly, and in-season/immediate goods to boost the retailers' buying power further.

3- Cvent to be Acquired by Blackstone for $4.6 Billion

Cvent (NASDAQ: CVT) is one of the most popular event technology providers. It also offers dedicated trade show management solutions for pre-event appointments and communication, lead collection, and more. The company has recently announced it has finalized a definitive agreement for being acquired by a Blackstone-managed private equity funds affiliate for approximately $4.6 billion.

The stockholders of Cvent will receive $8.50 in cash for each share, which is around 50% higher than the volume-weighted average price of Cvent shares in over 90 days before 30^th January 2023. The impressive recovery of the events industry is one of the most critical factors for Blackstone to consider acquiring an entity with such an extensive presence in this sector.  

Top Trade Shows and Events in the US in April 2023

Here’s a list of some of the largest trade shows in the US scheduled in April 2023-

Attracting and Engaging Audience at Trade Shows

If you’re about to exhibit at a trade show and looking for ways to engage the audience, gamification can help. Audiencegage creates highly interactive and customized trade show trivia challenges to make your booth a success.

Apart from being fun and entertaining, our gaming solutions can help with event objectives, be it boosting brand awareness, product launches, or collecting engaged leads. Contact us for a free demo, or check out our Ultimate Trade Show Game Guide to learn more.

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