Heidi Genoist

Never a Dull Moment
August 22, 2007

I love my job. And I’m not just saying that because I will have a new publisher soon (our current boss, Adam Schaffer, announced this week he’s moving on to the tradeshow biz).

As the head of Tradeshow Week’s Las Vegas bureau, it’s my job to scout out interesting event and exhibition stories in town, and I can tell you: There’s no shortage.

When the convention-industry unions aren’t plotting some sort of revolt against general contractors, show managers aren’t rumping each other, Sheldon Adelson isn’t in a metaphorical sword fight with Steve Wynn or Rossi Ralenkotter, or the Internet’s not going out during a major show – in short, even when everything’s going right, there’s still plenty of weirdness to cover.

A look at some of the items on Sin City’s convention calendar over the next few weeks will demonstrate what I mean.

The 150 Women Entrepreneurs of America meeting at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino clearly aren’t doing as well as the 2,000 Gentlemen’s Club Owners who’ll be meeting at the same time down the Strip at the much nicer Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Could Rainmaker Sports Enterprises (at the South Point, Casino, Hotel & Spa) be scouting potential spokes people at the Roller Skating Assn. (Riviera Hotel & Casino), or maybe the Showgirl Bowling Tournament (Gold Coast Hotel & Casino)?

And speaking of potential sponsorships, someone should alert the Tortilla Industry Assn. (Rio All-Suite Casino Hotel) that the Las Vegas Intl. Mariachi Festival is bringing 7,000 potential customers to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

I wonder if the Clandestine Laboratory Investigating Chemists (at the Flamingo Las Vegas) and the Intl. Assn. of Special Investigative Units (Caesars Palace) will be combining any special events. They could invite Slumber Parties Inc. (Riviera) and make it an all-nighter.

Here’s another rockin’ good time: the American Headache Society, at Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino. I’m sure all the paunchy 50-somethings with their top three shirt buttons undone from the Las Vegas Corvette Assn. will want to zoom right over from the Orleans for that one.

And if all that fails to produce a story, the 50 people expected at Palace Station for the Intl. Swizzle Stick Collectors Assn. are sure to stir up something. (Sorry … couldn’t resist.)

The point is: If the world’s got it, Vegas has a meeting for it. It may be my job to know when MAGIC Intl. has hired a new registration company (Experient) or an executive has left one DMC for another (still confirming), but in this environment, you never forget that behind the business, there are all the quirks society has to offer … and a little fun.

Posted by Heidi Genoist on August 22, 2007 | Comments (0)