Welcome back to “A Look Back at ECN Tradeshow History.” This month, the archive tracks how the industry kept adapting as events returned and expectations changed. From a post-COVID playbook built around contactless tools and hybrid access to the recognition, products, and parties that defined EXHIBITOR week, these clips capture what the business prioritized in the moment. You will also see how the market measured itself, from convention center investment and sold-out show floors to hotel rates and meeting city rankings that planners used to make the numbers work. Got your own memory to share? Email Mark at Markh@exhibitcitynews.com. We would love to include it in a future edition.
How Technology Will Pave the Way for Special Events in a Post-COVID World
The feature laid out a playbook for how events could restart safely and still deliver value. It pointed to contact tracing, contactless check-in, and queue management tools to reduce crowding at entrances and high-traffic areas. It proposed wearable technology and event bots to support wayfinding, scheduling, and attendee questions, while also limiting face-to-face touchpoints. On the exhibitor side, it highlighted lead retrieval apps, digital brochures, and virtual booth elements as ways to capture data and keep conversations moving. The core prediction was that hybrid access and stronger analytics would become standard, not temporary.
5 YEARS AGO
Q2 2021
Trail Magic: A Lifetime Journey
In March/April 2021, Exhibit City News profiled industry veteran Larry Kulchawik in “Trail Magic: A Lifetime Journey,” reflecting on more than five decades in tradeshow marketing. From early exhibit fabrication in Chicago to leadership roles shaping experiential design, Kulchawik’s career traced the evolution of the exhibit industry itself. The cover story highlighted his entrepreneurial spirit, storytelling approach to brand environments, and enduring influence as an author, consultant and advocate for face-to-face marketing—marking both a personal milestone and a broader moment of industry transition.
10 YEARS AGO
Q2 2016
Best New Products at EXHIBITORLIVE 2016
In its Q2 2016 EXHIBITORLIVE preview, ECN spotlighted top contenders for the Buyers’ Choice Awards. Among the featured innovations: the CurvTouch Kiosk by Exhibit People, the VMFC Fabric Light Box by Britten Display Inc., the Prism Multi-Purpose Lighting System by Prism Tradeshow Lighting, the Brandstand Info Counter, the Show Monitor Kit by SGS Solutions Inc., and the Snap! Mobile Cashwrap Counter by OPTI International Inc.
The curated roundup reflected the industry’s continued focus on modular design, LED integration, portable counters, and plug-and-play tech solutions—products engineered to streamline installation while elevating exhibit presence on the show floor.
Game Changers
At the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) annual meeting in Las Vegas, the gala dinner recognized chapter leaders and presented several association awards. Pat Friedlander received the Hazel Hays Award, EDPA’s highest honor. Tony Erpelding of Group Delphi was named Michael R. Westcott Designer of the Year, and Dan Greene of Nolan Advisory received the Ambassador Award. The Eddie Awards, recognizing exhibit suppliers, went to Hill & Partners for Printed Matter, ASTOUND for Online Program, Deckel & Moneypenny for Small Tradeshow Exhibit, and Derse for Large Tradeshow Exhibit. Chapter awards went to the Midwest Chapter and the Las Vegas Chapter.
15 YEARS AGO
March 2011
MOD’11 celebrates the best in modular exhibit design
MOD’11 brought exhibit and event professionals to Las Vegas for the MOD Awards, recognizing portable modular exhibit design across multiple categories, including Best 10×10, Best 10×20, Best 20×20+, and Best Green Exhibit. Finalists were pre-selected by editors and judges, with winners chosen live by attendees. ECN and Willwork co-hosted the show’s “Legendary AFTER-PARTY” at the Crown Theater and Nightclub inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The event started at 9 p.m., with an open bar for the first two hours, and was promoted as a networking hub during EXHIBITOR week.
Attendees flock to tradeshows in 2011
Early in the year, attendance numbers signaled a rebound across major shows. The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) reported a 5.4 percent increase in fourth-quarter attendance, following a 6.6 percent gain in the third quarter. The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Las Vegas Convention Center drew about 140,000 attendees and 2,700 exhibitors, up from 126,641 attendees and 2,500 exhibitors the previous year. Other events posted records, including the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) annual meeting with 3,743 attendees and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show with 90,114 participants, pointing to broad recovery across sectors.
20 YEARS AGO
March 2006
LVCC approves $737 million enhancement plan
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a $737 million master plan to upgrade and expand the Las Vegas Convention Center. The multi-year project called for improvements to existing halls, infrastructure upgrades, and enhancements designed to strengthen the facility’s competitive position. At the time, Las Vegas hosted more than 22,000 conventions and meetings annually and remained the top U.S. tradeshow destination. Officials said the investment would modernize the aging facility, improve attendee flow between halls, and support continued growth in convention business amid increased competition from other major markets.
Exhibitor2006 New Product Showcase
Alongside mainstream portable systems, the New Product Showcase included several more unusual entries aimed at grabbing attention on the show floor. One product, “SpokesMannequin,” used character-based, three-dimensional video effects from PeopleVisionFX to create a talking, animated face. Other introductions leaned into niche utility, including an “Outdoor billboards” kit marketed for year-round use and a “Marketing kiosk” designed to conceal power cords and wiring. The showcase also featured specialty items like stage chairs with slipcovers and compact truss and fabric components built for quick assembly, reflecting how wide the definition of “new product” could be at the time.
25 YEARS AGO
March 2001
Sold-out exhibit hall at Exhibitor Show 2001
Exhibitor Show 2001 reported a sold-out exhibit hall for its 13th annual event at The Venetian in Las Vegas. The show floor featured more than 61,000 net square feet of exhibit space and included more than 250 suppliers. Organizers highlighted a large New Product Showcase as one of the event’s key attractions. The show also introduced an International Partners Program to help attendees connect with global exhibiting resources. With 5,000 exhibit managers expected, the event positioned itself as a comprehensive sourcing and education opportunity for corporate exhibiting and marketing professionals.
Average Hotel Rates
Data from the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau compared average daily hotel rates in March 2001 at major convention cities. New York topped the list at approximately $340 per night. San Jose followed at about $300, with San Francisco and Whistler near $275 to $290. Boston and Washington, D.C., were in the $250 range. San Diego and Houston averaged roughly $210 to $225, while Providence and Hartford were closer to $190 to $200 per night. The chart offered planners a clear snapshot of lodging costs at the time, highlighting how hotel pricing varied widely across primary convention markets.
2025 Update: Recent Average Daily Rate (ADR) data shows how convention market pricing compares today. New York City remains the highest-cost market at $333.71 (full-year 2025). Boston and Cambridge report $292.31 (year-to-date through June 2025). San Francisco averages $225.82 (full-year 2025), while San Diego reports $213 (2025 ADR) and Washington, D.C., approximately $202 (first quarter 2025). Houston stands at $188 (full-year 2025), and San Jose reports $175.30 (September 2025 snapshot).
Providence most recently reported $202.93 (August 2024), the latest available public figure. Connecticut statewide ADR was $152.22 for 2025, though a Hartford-specific figure was not publicly available. Whistler short-term rental ADR was CA$332 for the November 2024 to October 2025 window.
All figures reflect publicly available 2025 or most recent market data and represent varying reporting windows.
GetThere names ten best cities for corporate meetings
GetThere, a Menlo Park, California–based Sabre company and provider of Internet-based business travel procurement systems, released survey results ranking the top ten U.S. cities for corporate meetings based on overall cost. Using its GetThere DirectMeetings platform, the company evaluated hotel room rates, estimated food and beverage expenses, meeting room rental rates, and more than 250,000 potential airfares across the 25 most populated U.S. cities. Las Vegas ranked as the most economical destination, followed by Louisville and Nashville. Rounding out the top ten were Indianapolis, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Raleigh, Omaha, Greensboro, and Birmingham, reflecting a cost-driven approach to meeting site selection.
Image: The March/April 2021 cover of Exhibit City News featured industry titans Shelby Peeples and Larry Crumlish under the headline “The End of an Era,” marking a pivotal leadership transition and reflecting on decades of influence within the tradeshow and events industry.
