Nith Sisombath

World Market Center Flatters HD2008 Expo & Conference
June 25, 2008

Walking through this year’s Hospitality & Design Expo & Conference, HD 2008 Expo & Conference, brought flash backs of another show… I kept on thinking this all looks very familiar. It didn’t hit me until I picked up the show guide that it looked very much like the World Market Center show, WMC. 

The similarity in look and color schemes between the two shows was very obvious. The show directory could be interchangeable. The color scheme and design seen on the show floor are very similar they even share some of the same exhibitors. But there are also a lot of things that set them apart.

The first difference I would mention is the difference in the feeling and vibe that you get from walking the two shows. WMC has the feel of a up and growing show that hasn’t seem to stabilized itself yet and still a bit uncertain of its future.   WMC’s show is broken up into two different types of exhibitors. The first categories of exhibitors are what WMC call permanent exhibitors which lease the showroom space. The other exhibitors they call temporary exhibitors. 

These are the more traditional exhibitors with booths. These are also the exhibitors that don’t have a home, these exhibitors are constantly being moved around Las Vegas from one venue to another the last one being MGM’s Grand Garden Center and MGM’s Grand Garden Arena. It’s a good thing that most of these exhibitors have been loyal to WMC through the run around the town. The next WMC event should be a good step forward since all of the temporary exhibitors will be housed on the World Market Center Campus. 

Whether this was done by design or due to economic factors, leaving enough showrooms unrented to house over 350,000 sq. ft. of exhibitors I think the temporary exhibitors will be happy to be in the same building as some of the permanent exhibitors. Perhaps they will even get to hold on to their space for future shows bringing an end to the frustration of being shuffled from one venue to another.   Their next show in July will be a definite turning point for them and the show should have a more cohesive feel if it will or not however still remains to be seen next month.

HD 2008 Expo & Conference only has temporary exhibitors by WMC, definition. But the feel and atmosphere during the show was very solid, stable and secure. Solid in the fact that the show has a proven history of business, stable because many exhibitors know where they will be for the next show and that they will see buyers that have been buying from them from the past with potential of picking up new buyers at the show. Secure in know that this show will generate results for them and this is the show to be exhibiting in for their industry.

In my experience a tradeshow that has a successful trade publication or association seem to always do better than one without.

WMC does not have a successful trade publication or a strong association partnering with it but it does have a lot of capital at its disposal to help offset what it’s missing and it has managed to stay somewhat on course with the opening of its new buildings but will it stay in course with filling its showrooms? That only time will tell. 

Some of the things they can do to improve their odds are focusing on ways to create better relationships with all of their clients whether it is permanent tenants or temporary exhibitors. Also since it seems that the project is stabilizing a bit they should be able to make decision and plan further into the future especially with dates and venues. 

WMC still has a ways to go before they can establish a solid, stable and secure foundation like the Hospitality & Design show but the twice a year show cycle will be help to speed them to that point.   

If imitation is the highest form of flattery then World Market Center is doing a very good job at flattering the Hospitality & Design show. Hopefully it will be able to imitate the other successful attributes of Hospitality & Design in the future.

Posted by Nith Sisombath on June 25, 2008 | Comments (0)