The PPAI Expo 2019: Best Attended, Exceeds Expectations

Last week, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Irving, Texas, presented The PPAI Expo, the world’s largest and longest running promotion products industry trade show, with more than 13,000 promotional consultants from nearly 4,000 distributor companies and 30 countries in attendance. Promotional products industry professionals from around the world converged in Las Vegas to experience the industry’s best-attended show. The PPAI Expo 2019 attendance was among the top five for PPAI and the highest in the past 10 years, with attendee satisfaction at an all-time high. In addition to visiting the more than 1,220 exhibitors occupying 1 million square feet of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the 21,000-plus industry professionals attended over 130 educational sessions and networking events. Next year, the show runs from January 12-16, 2020, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“The PPAI Expo showcases the world’s very best in the promotional products industry and the true power of the medium,” said Paul Bellantone, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. “From what I heard onsite and since returning to the office, this year will be remembered as one of the very best events we’ve ever presented—the most engaging, the best attended, and the highest satisfaction among suppliers, decorators and distributors.”

The 2019 trade show featured several elevated experiences to drive excitement and engagement on the show floor. The EXPO Live Get In Touch! interactive stage returned to provide streaming live product demonstrations and interviews with notable Expo speakers, exhibitors and industry leaders. Pop-up experiences were also strategically timed and located throughout the event to drive attendee traffic to new areas of the show floor, including foodie favorites, gourmet bacon, meatballs and rolled ice cream; caricature artists; an illusionist; and puppies (lots and lots of puppies). Finally, a beer garden provided a fun environment on the trade show floor that welcomed more networking opportunities among industry professionals.

The PPAI Expo also hosted a variety of new options for exhibitors and attendees including the 1st-Time Exhibitor Pavilion housing the newest entries of products, suppliers and partners; an additional day of education sessions to provide next-level professional development opportunities; and hands-on learning labs with experience-oriented education.

During the PPAI Association Update, Bellantone reported on PPAI’s continued organizational growth, noting an increase of members from 15,000 in January 2018 to 15,725 in January 2019, including an additional 500 members from the new relationship between PPAI, SAGE and Promotional Products Professionals of Canada.

The 61st PPAI Pyramid Awards Celebration recognized the best promotions and products in the promotional products industry. Including 65 Gold, 79 Silver, 11 Supplier Star and 8 Supplier Award of Merit winners. During the Chairman’s Leadership dinner, the industry’s luminaries, dignitaries and leaders celebrated the achievements of two industry legends, Gene Geiger, MAS+, of Geiger; and Chuck Pecher of Skinner and Kennedy Co., as they were inducted into the PPAI Hall of Fame. Tribute was also paid to this year's winner of the Distinguished Service Award, Michele Jennrich, MAS; and the H. Ted Olson Humanitarian Award winner Daryll Griffin, MAS.

For more information on PPAI, visit www.ppai.org.