Venetian Macao Books 26 Shows
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 9/4/2006
The Las Vegas Sands has already signed contracts for 26 tradeshows at the $1.8 billion Venetian Macao set to open in October 2007.
The Assn. of Surplus Dealers (ASD)/ Assn. of Merchandise Dealers (AMD) Trade Show, a variety and general merchandise show produced by VNU Expositions, will be one of the first to try out the 1.2 million square foot convention and meeting facility on Macau's Cotai Strip.
"We picked it because we liked the destination," said Julie Ichiba, VNU Expositions group show director for ASD/AMD. "It's similar to Las Vegas, and there's gambling and entertainment."
Ichiba said the show dates would be finalized within the next month.
The semiannual Las Vegas ASD/AMD Trade Show regularly draws 3,500 exhibitors and 55,000 buyers to more than 750,000 net sq. ft. Ichiba expected a much smaller version for Macau, closer to 350 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees, but added that those would be good numbers for a show launch.
Other tradeshows also signed on for the Venetian Macao include Automobile Sports Asia Show, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers Exhibition and Global Gaming Expo Asia.
"The elite names in the tradeshow business — folks like Reed, VNU Expositions, Messe Frankfurt, CMP Asia and WT Glasgow — have clearly recognized the opportunity to organize presentations to Chinese buyers and sellers in the context of the Cotai Strip," said William Weidner, president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands.
Besides the convention facility, the Venetian Macao will feature 3,000 hotel rooms. Officials held a topping—off ceremony at the facility Aug. 28.
Las Vegas Sands opened the $265 million Sands Macao in 2005.
