The Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) has reached a major milestone in the construction of its extension project, also known as the Summit building. On June 11, 2021 construction crews hoisted the final beam onto the steel structure, officially "topping out" the building. "The past year has tested us, but the construction crews are innovators and problem solvers. They have kept going and kept safe while advancing this transformative project," said Frank Finneran, chair of the WSCC board of directors. Since breaking ground in 2018, crews have erected 21,000 tons of steel. Their construction efforts will double the existing capacity of the WSCC, adding approximately 255,000 square feet of exhibition space, 120,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 60,000 square feet of ballroom space. The first booking for the new building was placed just three months after groundbreaking. That event, scheduled for 2024, will use both the Arch (existing convention centre) and Summit buildings. Currently, there are 33 conventions confirmed for Summit through 2027. (kf)
wscc.com/node/3373

Venue management and hospitality provider Spectra has partnered with Venuetize, provider of mobile-first and advanced payment technology, to offer a universal mobile application across its 330+ properties that provides guests a contactless experience while attending live events. The OC Fair in Costa Mesa, California, will be the first venue to test-drive the Spectra Mobile Application. Guests will be able to mobile order and pay with ease by QR code scan and web deployment for their food and beverages. "As we continue to reopen venues in a post-COVID world, our clients and our guests are expecting a seamless, touchless experience. Spectra's partnership with Venuetize is about providing the best options available for mobile-first technology and contactless payments," Jim Pekala, Spectra's CFO and EVP of Strategy Planning, said. "We were looking for a partner that could handle the complexity that comes with integrating different technology ecosystems across hundreds of venues. Venuetize has risen to the challenge, and we are excited to launch our mobile app this summer." (kf)
www.spectraexperiences.com/spectra-offers-venues-universal-mobile-application-powered-by-venuetize

On 24 June 2021 at the National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin), the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings and the National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) announced the establishment of a new strategic alliance. According to the cooperation agreement, the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings and the National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) will become strategic partners and integrate resources to foster the development of Tianjin's national exhibition economic zone. The parties will also work together to establish a platform for exhibitions, conferences and events, and cooperate in terms of local and international marketing and promotion, exhibitor recruitment and training of exhibition personnel. Mr Jason Cao, assistant managing director, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, is optimistic about the cooperation, stating: "As a market leader in the trade fair sector, we are thrilled to contribute to the development of Tianjin's national exhibition economic zone using our global resources and expertise in the field." Messe Frankfurt also announced that its first international trade fair to be held at the National Convention & Exhibition Center (Tianjin) will be the Auto Maintenance and Repair Expo (AMR), one of 40 plus trade fairs under the Group's Mobility & Logistics cluster. Scheduled to take place from March 24 to 27, 2022, AMR is expected to attract more than 1,000 overseas and local exhibitors showcasing their products to domestic and global industry players in the 100,000 sqm of exhibition space. (kf)
www.hk.messefrankfurt.com/MF_Tianjin.html

The second half of 2021 has started – and Messe Frankfurt is waiting for the go-ahead from the politicians. "At present we are assuming that we can stage events in Frankfurt as planned", said trade fair boss Wolfgang Marzin at the corporate annual press conference on June 28, 2021. The company sees itself well prepared to get fully started again in all areas in 2022 and is aiming for sales of over 500 million euros – thus almost doubling group sales for the financial year. They amounted to approximately 257 million euros in 2020 (2019: approximately 736 million euros). And with a consolidated net loss of around 122 million euros, the result is far removed from the consolidated net profits of previous years (2019: approx. 50 million euros). The current financial year will also see a decline in all the group's financial performance indicators. The Frankfurt exhibition organisers do not see themselves reaching pre-corona pandemic sales levels until 2023. However, Peter Feldmann, chairman of the Messe Frankfurt supervisory board and mayor of Frankfurt, firmly believes "that once the pandemic has passed, Messe Frankfurt will be one of the top players in the international trade fair sector" – the pandemic situation and restrictions imposed by local authorities permitting. (ch)
www.messefrankfurt.com/messe-frankfurt-500-million-sales-2022

After a lengthy break, the industry platform Stone+tec will be held once again, and at its customary location at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg. With one change however: Stone+tec will no longer be organised by NürnbergMesse but by AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH. AFAG will release the exact dates for the trade fair in the near future. Stone+tec is the central meeting point for the stone industry in Central Europe, offering a comprehensive range of products and services for all aspects of natural stone used in construction, gravestones, monuments and design. This tradition-rich event has been held at the Nuremberg exhibition venue since 1979, and this continuity will be maintained. "The new organiser, AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH, is a long-standing and highly valued partner to NürnbergMesse," says Petra Wolf, member of the executive board of NürnbergMesse. "That means we are handing Stone+tec over to an experienced, professional trade fair organiser, and we are very pleased that the event can continue on familiar ground in Nuremberg, with its long association with trade fairs." (kf)
www.stone-tec.com/en

Expo 2020 Dubai has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, unveiling creative content and programming for the Women's Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier that will celebrate women change-makers around the globe. Taking place in Dubai from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 – the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region – Expo 2020 Dubai is the first World Expo since the 1900s to have a standalone pavilion dedicated to women. Expo 2020's focus on women's empowerment and gender equality builds on the example of the UAE, recognising the important roles women play and the contributions made from all members of society. Under the exhibition titled "New Perspectives", the Women's Pavilion will invite visitors to recognise the central role that women, known and unknown, have played throughout history, leading up to the present. Celebrating the significant – and often forgotten – contributions of women, the pavilion will demonstrate an important principle: when women thrive, all of humanity thrives. It will highlight important contributions women have made in advancing societies, as well as the challenges women still face, especially as the world navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic and works towards a more sustainable future. (wün)
www.expo2020dubai.com/en/news

The International Exhibition Logistics Association (IELA) has elected its leadership for the 2021-2022 term. The association welcomed new members to the IELA board of management (BOM) and IELA committee. This year, the newly formed IELA 2021-2022 BOM has welcomed three new faces for a two-year term: Sudhir Dhavan, (CEO, R.E. Rogers India Pvt. Ltd., India), David Palomo (project manager, Suomen Messulogistiikka Oy, Finland), and Bas Wiendels (director, Valverde B.V., Netherlands). They join Sandi Trotter (business development director TWI Canada, Canada) as re-elected board member and six remaining BOM members for one more year. (kf)
www.iela.org/2021_Elections.pdf