The Special Event, an annual exhibition focused on professionals on the special events side of the meetings industry—galas, fundraisers, company anniversaries, wedding, and so on—has just gotten a whole lot more valuable. Starting in 2020, the event will be co-located with Catersource, an annual conference and tradeshow focused on the art and business of catering.
The two events (both owned by MeetingsNet’s parent company Informa) will be held separately in 2019—The Special Event is January 8 to 10 in San Diego, and Catersource is February 24 to 27 in New Orleans—and then move to Las Vegas together in 2020.
The new event will be held at Mandalay Bay from March 9 to 12, with a 100,000-square-foot show floor. By co-locating, the two events will “bring a combined audience of over 8,500 professionals and 500 suppliers together in one unmatched, sensory-stimulating environment,” said Tara Melingonis, show director for The Special Event. She notes that the expanded event will feature a broader array of suppliers and brand activations on the show floor as well as “an expanded conference program for event professionals, venue managers, chefs, caterers, restaurateurs, and business owners.”
