The PPAI Expo has received a round of recognition and honors. The promotional products industry’s largest and longest-running trade show has earned the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Certified Exhibition designation, a select group of 27 trade shows representing a diverse array of industries. Expo was also recognized in the September issue of Trade Show Executive magazine as the 52nd largest trade show in North America in its Gold 100 for 2016. It has been ranked in the top tier of the Gold 100 every year since the list’s inception in 2007.

In January 2016, The PPAI Expo brought 11,762 promotional professionals from 4,365 companies together under one roof for the five-day event. Expo featured more than 1,324 promotional products exhibitors presenting more than 100,000 products occupying exhibition, meeting and event space in a million square feet at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. With a total of more than 19,429 participants from the U.S. and 38 countries, the overall non-gaming economic impact of The PPAI Expo 2016 was estimated at $19.5 million by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

“I am thrilled with this year’s recognition of The PPAI Expo from the Trade Show Executive and IAEE, and with the efforts of everyone who has helped to make this possible,” says Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. “It is an honor to work with our members, industry partners and volunteer leaders, as well as an incredibly talented staff and supportive board to present The PPAI Expo, a driving force for the industry. It truly is the glue that holds the industry together.”

Darel Cook, PPAI director of expositions, adds, “The partnership, support and trust of so many committed supplier exhibitors, business partners and distributors enable Expo to thrive by creating amazing experiences and opportunities for the promotional products industry to come together and conduct business every year at the right time in the right place. Earning the IAEE Certified Exhibition designation is an important accomplishment and a key part of taking The PPAI Expo from great to extraordinary.”

The shows held in 2016 that make up the 10th annual Trade Show Executive Gold 100 tallied a total of 40,550,072 net square feet (nsf), an increase from the 2015 events, which topped 39,677,074 nsf.

“There were many great shows held in 2016, and Trade Show Executive is honored to once again present the 100 events that literally covered the most ground on exhibit floors across the nation,” says Gabrielle Weiss, Trade Show Executive publisher and editor. “The presence of healthy B2B events means more growth for the economy. The organizers of the Gold 100 shows should be particularly proud of their achievements, and everyone at TSE wishes them even greater success in the years to come.”

Randy Bauler, CEM, IAEE Certified Event Task Force chairperson, says, “IAEE members who earn and display the Certified Exhibition symbol are telling their customers, exhibitors, members and the general public that they produce a quality exhibition that meets IAEE’s best practice standards. We look forward to the time when most of the shows produced by IAEE members meet the standards and proudly display the Certified Exhibition emblem.”

For more information about The PPAI Expo 2018, held January 14-18, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, visit expo.ppai.org.