Acquisition of Pro Show Builds Up GES Canada

Purchase will add to contractor capabilities in province of Alberta

By Margo McCall -- Tradeshow Week, 5/17/2004

GES Exposition Services is acquiring Canadian convention services contractor Pro Show Services, just in time to help handle the country's biggest biennial tradeshow.

The purchase of the Edmonton, Alberta-based Pro Show will allow GES to expand its operations in western Canada. Pro Show is the official general services contractor for a variety of Canadian hotels and venues.

The acquisition – GES' first in six years – took six months to put together. Specifics of the deal were not disclosed. "In terms of our future, both in long-term growth and short-term growth, there's a lot to be gained," said Mike Lecour, regional vice president for GES Canada. "They have great employees. They have good market share. Their equipment is good. All the pieces were there."

As in all such acquisitions, a key piece of the puzzle was warehouse space. Pro Show and GES both had warehouses in Calgary and Edmonton, western Canada's two main tradeshow cities. But Pro Show was nearing the end of its lease in Calgary while GES was nearing the end of its lease in Edmonton.

"We will end up with 30,000 square feet in each city. GES has a new facility in Calgary and they have a new facility in Edmonton," said Lecour.

He added that Pro Show's 80 employees welcomed the acquisition and will be staying on. Pro Show President Dennis Upright will serve as a consultant for three months before moving on to pursue other opportunities. Lecour said the additional employees will be helpful in servicing the upcoming dmg world media Global Petroleum Show at Calgary Stampede Park June 7-10. In 2002, the biennial show spanned 480,525 net sq. ft. and drew nearly 1,500 exhibitors and more than 50,000 attendees.

Lecour said clients are pleased that Pro Show will become part of a larger company. Pro Show is the official general services contractor for the Mayfield Inn & Trade Centre in Edmonton, TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary and the Delta Conference Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.

"They have a number of loyal clients that they have had for years," he said. "The reaction is very positive. People see it as an opportunity to get additional services."

Las Vegas-based GES' last acquisition was the May 1998 purchase of New York-based ESR Exposition Services, which serviced many of the region's largest shows. GES and ESR had been working together since the 1980s.

Prior to that, the last two acquisitions made by GES, a subsidiary of publicly traded Viad, were of Canadian companies. In February 1996, GES acquired Exposervice Standard, a 22-year-old Montreal firm with 110 employees and 60,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space. In January 1995, GES acquired Panex Show Services and Stampede Display and Convention Services.