Las Vegas Market Named to Tradeshow Week’s Top 200

Furniture World Magazine

Las Vegas Market was named to Tradeshow Week’s annual list of the Top 200 largest tradeshows of 2006—twice over. The January 2006 Las Vegas Market ranked number 41—the highest debut of any new show appearing on the Tradeshow Week 200 for the first time. The July 2006 edition of the Las Vegas Market ranked number 26 on this year’s list. These distinctions come on the heels of the July 2005 inaugural Las Vegas Market, which was the largest tradeshow launch in U.S. history. “We are truly pleased with the distinction of being named to the Top 200 list by Tradeshow Week,” said Harvey Dondero, Chief Executive Officer at World Market Center. “Receiving such an important distinction in just the year after our inaugural event is reflective of the unprecedented growth we have had as a company and our commitment to emerging as the dominant home furnishings event in the U.S. and making World Market Center the industry’s destination internationally.” Michael Hughes, associate publisher and director of research services for Tradeshow Week was also impressed. “Only a few dozen major business-to-business tradeshows are launched annually in the U.S. and they rarely make it into the Tradeshow Week 200 ranking of mega shows,” Hughes said. “The Las Vegas Market shows have been some of the most successful event launches in the history of the modern convention and tradeshow industry.” World Market Center, developed by World Market Center, LLC and The Related Companies, LP, is the largest new trade show complex in the country, connecting all categories of the home and hospitality furnishings industry, including furniture, home accent, lighting, rugs, floor coverings, wall décor, floral, outdoor, bedding, mattresses, home textiles, gift, table top and more. Together, the trade show at the convention centers in Las Vegas and the permanent showrooms at World Market Center comprise the Las Vegas Market, a semi-annual international home furnishings event. The January 2006 Las Vegas Market totaled 496,600 net square feet while the July 2006 temporary event comprised 626,000 net square feet, which does not include the more than 1 million square feet of permanent exhibition space. “First and foremost we owe our success to the tremendous support of exhibitors and buyers who attended our shows and gave their input and blessing to Las Vegas Market,” said Dondero, adding that the Top 200 distinction underscores the fact that Las Vegas Market has created the critical mass buyers and sellers desire and has generated new business opportunities for the industry. “We also have been privileged to have an amazing team executing the vision of our founders and partners,” he said. “Our goal is to continue to raise the bar by bringing greater value to the experience of both exhibitors and buyers and to set a new standard for trade show and market model for the home furnishings industry.” The next Las Vegas Market will take place July 30 – August 3, 2007 at World Market Center’s Buildings A and B, the Pavilions; the temporaries will be featured at Sands Expo & Convention Center opening on Tuesday, July 31.