Las Vegas is set to host World of Concrete Jun. 8-10, which will be the first large-scale, in-person trade show to return to the U.S. market since the pandemic.
The commercial construction industry trade show will also be the first large-scale event to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s new West Hall Expansion, which has added 1.4 million sf to the facility, including 600,000 sf of new exhibit space.
The trade show was rescheduled last September from January to June due to concerns related to the pandemic, but was contingent on the city’s reopening. Following the announcement by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak in April, which set a goal for a full reopening to 100% capacity by Jun. 1, 2021, the event organizer Informa Markets worked with the Las Vegas Convention Center to submit a health and safety plan to the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
The health and safety plan is based on Informa Markets’ Informa AllSecure framework, a set of safety protocols to prioritize guest safety at trade events, including enhanced cleaning, personal hygiene stations, temperature checks, increased air filtration, physical distancing and more. Face masks are recommended but not required at the event, and will be available onsite if attendees do not have their own.
Conventions such as World of Concrete are critical to the Las Vegas economy, and during a normal year add more than $11 billion in economic impact, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Las Vegas Monorail Reopens
Ahead of the event, the Las Vegas Monorail resumed its operations on Thursday, May. 27, 2021, in time for Memorial Day weekend and upon completion of all systems safety inspections.
The 3.9-mile elevated system along the Las Vegas Strip enables passengers to travel the length of the resort corridor in less than 15 minutes, at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Trains arrive every 4-8 minutes at each of the seven stations along the Las Vegas Strip.
“The Las Vegas Monorail has provided an important and convenient transportation solution for both leisure visitors and convention attendees,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO, LVCVA, in a press release statement. “We are thrilled to resume normal operations in time for both Memorial Day weekend and World of Concrete, allowing us to provide a reliable and safe transportation solution for passengers looking for an efficient way to navigate to the Las Vegas Convention Center and throughout the resort corridor.”
The same health and safety requirements that exist throughout the destination will also apply on the Monorail, including face masks required at all times throughout the system, hand sanitizer available at every Monorail station, and recommended social distancing whenever possible.
The LVCVA acquired the Monorail in December 2020 to ensure the transportation option was preserved and to allow for additional transportation options on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd. The system is 100 percent electric and runs zero emission trains, therefore reducing both emissions by more than 27 tons and more than 2 million vehicle miles annually in Southern Nevada.
Coming Soon to Las Vegas
Following on the heels of World of Concrete, Las Vegas has a busy calendar of events ahead, including Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) WEC Vegas event taking place Jun. 15-17, 2021 at CAESARS FORUM. Other large-scale meetings include The International Surface Event, set to take place Jun. 16-18, 2021, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center; International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference taking place Jun. 20-21, 2021, at the Las Vegas Convention Center; and Waste Expo 2021, taking place Jun. 28-30, 2021, also at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Las Vegas events calendar is packed through summer and fall, and includes the return of IMEX America 2021, taking place Nov. 9-11, 2021, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The event will feature more than 3,500 exhibitors from 155 countries, and will operate under health and safety protocols including mandatory badging and face masks, exhibit hall density, electrostatic spray treatment each night in accordance with BCAC standards, hand sanitizer stations, as well as Perspex sneeze guards at counters where interaction is likely, such as food service areas, check-in counters and information booths. The Mandalay Bay resort is also equipped with a highly efficient ventilation system that provides 12 full air exchanges per hour and meets the current GBAC standards.
The full Las Vegas convention calendar for 2021 is available here.
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