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This Just In

World of Concrete Gets the Green Light

Andrea Doyle, Executive Editor
The World of Concrete trade show filled the Central Halls at the ULas Vegas Convention Center in January 2019. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau)

Updated March 18, 2021:

Informa Markets is busy putting preparations in place for World of Concrete (WOC), the first large show to return to Las Vegas June 8-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The industry is celebrating this positive news as WOC is the first large-scale trade show to return to the U.S. market since the pandemic brought in-person gatherings to a halt.

On the heels of Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak increasing large gatherings capacity to 50 percent, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Informa Markets are partnering to bring trade shows back to Las Vegas.

Nevada’s new directive requires meetings, trade show and entertainment venues to certify through the state’s Department of Business and Industry that they will follow the state’s health and safety requirements and protocols and adhere to the prevention principles that have remained consistent: maintain safe social distancing, wear face coverings and practice good hygiene and cleaning measures.

“Las Vegas has been the top convention and meetings destination for many years. We pride ourselves on providing the best facilities, the best service and now, the safest,” said Gov. Sisolak. “We’ve been cautious but very focused on reopening Las Vegas in the safest way possible for you, our treasured customers, our valued employees, and our entire community. With great confidence in the efforts made by our resorts, convention centers and meeting hosts, I say… welcome back! The greatest place to do business in the world is even better.”

In addition to WOC, Informa Markets will also host the following trade shows in Las Vegas, with plans to return other keystone events throughout the rest of the year.

  • Vegas Cosmetic Surgery (June 2021)
  • The International Surface Event (June 2021)
  • WasteExpo (June 2021)
  • The Aesthetic Show (July 2021)
  • Inside Self Storage World Expo (July 2021)
  • MAGIC Fall (August 2021)
  • International Roofing Expo (August 2021)
  • Licensing Expo (August 2021)
  • SupplySide West & Food Ingredients North America(October 2021)
  • International Sanitary Supply Association Expo Show North America (November 2021)

Core to Informa Markets’ return to the show floor is its commitment to safety. This is not conceptual for the global platform organizer—it has successfully and safely hosted several events in Asia under an industry-wide, medically-vetted approach to health and safety known as the All Secure Guidelines, and in February 2021, they hosted their first stateside micro event, ‘MAGIC Pop Up Orlando’, which also used the All Secure as a guide. The pop-up exceeded attendance expectations, which prioritized safety measures like mask wearing, temperature checking, widened aisles, and hand sanitizing stations to preserve the health and safety of all guests.

The LVCC has a similarly safety-focused approach, having been awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation by ISSA, the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry and considered the gold standard for safe facilities. In addition to their accreditation and the convention industry’s All Secure measures, Las Vegas resort partners also continue to meet and exceed guidelines mandated by state and county leaders and health officials with a comprehensive approach to implementing stringent “Vegas Smart” health and wellness protocols throughout the destination.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming World of Concrete exhibitors and attendees back to Las Vegas as our first major convention to return to our destination,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the LVCVA. “We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Informa Markets and their shared commitment to health and safety protocols to ensure a safe, trusted and “Only Vegas” experience for their attendees.”

“We are deeply appreciative to Governor Sisolak, the State of Nevada’s Department of Business and Industry, Clark County and the Southern Nevada Health District for their leadership, oversight and hard work needed to allow conventions such as World of Concrete to safely reconvene,” Hill concluded.

“As we return to the in-person experiences our customers crave, it’s critical for us to collaborate with industry partners to ensure that our communities can re-connect in meaningful and secure ways. We have a clear and vetted industry-wide set of health and safety measures known as the All Secure Guidelines to guide us as we return those experiences to Las Vegas, ensuring the same rigorous approach to health and safety at all our events,” said Kevin Thornton, VP, Operations at Informa Markets. “The LVCC is a state-of-the-art facility that prioritizes safety and success with the same enthusiasm we do. Through our collective efforts, live events will be able to run safely, signaling a real economic restart for the many communities we serve, as well as the Las Vegas economy.”

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Original article from March 12, 2021

Every day seems to bring a new reason for optimism as the world slowly rebounds from its COVID-19 slumber. Today, the trade show industry got its own shot of hope. World of Concrete (WOC), an annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, has received the green light to have an in-person event June 8-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

WOC has been ranked in TSE’s Gold 100 a whopping 13 times and has made the Fastest 50 three times.

World of Concrete 2019 attracted more than 60,000 attendees to nearly 2.4 million square feet of indoor/outdoor exhibit space at the LVCC, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). The show usually occurs every January or February at the LVCC.

“We have a commitment to our exhibitors and attendees to provide a valuable and productive face-to-face experience at WOC each year,” World of Concrete Group Director Jackie James said in October, when the date change was announced. “This is the first time in our 46-year history we have been faced with circumstances that have caused us to reschedule the event. We feel the new June dates will provide everyone with the necessary time to plan effectively and allows us to reimagine WOC for a different time of the year. Moving the event from winter to late spring in 2021 will allow for additional outdoor activities everyone can enjoy in the great city of Las Vegas, including top-notch exhibits, new product demos and exciting spectator events.”

The LVCC was awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation last August by ISSA: The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. Considered the gold standard for safe facilities, it demonstrates the LVCC’s commitment to health and safety. An expanded LVCC awaits WOC that includes an additional 1.4 million square feet, including 600,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 14,000-square-foot outdoor terrace, and a grand atrium.

WOC will not only adhere to local guidance, but will have Informa AllSecure health and safety standards in place as well. Informa AllSecure employs the highest standards of safety, hygiene, cleanliness and quality for operating events.

World of Concrete was a TSE Grand Award Winner three times. Its 2018 show won the Gold 100 Grand Award for “Most Innovative Practices,”  its 2015 show won Fastest 50 Grand Award for “Rock Star Award” and its 2015 Show won Fastest 50 Grand Award for “Fastest-Growing Annual Show in Sheer Numbers.”

Reach Jackie James at Jackie.James@informa.com.

 

 

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