Trade Show News

Marketplace Events has acquired the Travel & Adventure Shows from its founder, John Golicz, a deal finalized on May 1, 2026. This acquisition includes a portfolio of 10 consumer shows across the U.S., among them the Dallas Travel & Adventure Show. The acquisition significantly extends Marketplace Events' reach into the high-growth travel, adventure, and outdoor experiential category.

Dallas is facing a nearly $20 million budget shortfall, partly because the FIFA World Cup is not as profitable as expected, with hotel bookings below expectations. Council Member Chad West noted that the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is not fully occupied, serving primarily as the media headquarters for FIFA rather than hosting typical large conferences during its construction.

Hotel bookings for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Dallas and Houston are falling short of expectations, with a recent survey showing demand is not translating into strong bookings. FIFA canceled hotel block reservations in Dallas and Arlington earlier this year. This underwhelming demand is attributed to factors like expensive ticket prices, travel visa issues, and anti-American sentiment, impacting the anticipated economic boon for the region.

Marketplace Events announced its acquisition of the Travel & Adventure Shows, a transaction that closed on May 1, 2026, and represents the largest acquisition in the company's history. This acquisition includes the Dallas Travel & Adventure Show, expanding Marketplace Events' portfolio to over 125 shows across 50+ markets. The Travel & Adventure Shows will continue to operate as a distinct division within Marketplace Events.

A report from Oxford Economics indicates that North Texas will experience a 'moderate' economic boost from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, primarily from a temporary increase in the leisure and hospitality sector. Dallas will host the tournament's main broadcast hub at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and a fan festival at Fair Park. The region is forecast to see a 2.6% GDP increase in the leisure and hospitality sector and a 1.2% job growth rate for the sector.

The Destinations International Convention Sales & Services Summit, held in Dallas from April 27-29, 2026, saw a significant shift among Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) towards adopting AI, particularly Claude, for destination marketing. Published on May 4, 2026, the report indicates that sales leaders left the summit with concrete plans to implement AI, moving past a "wait and see" approach, and also highlighted the increasing recognition of destination services as a strategic function.

The DFW Business Council is hosting 'Doing Business Texas Style 2026' on May 11-12, 2026, at the Irving Convention Center, a free two-day event connecting businesses with Texas state agencies and universities. It features workshops and panels with construction leaders and state agencies, offering networking and contracting opportunities.

Omni Dallas Hotel is seeking a Senior Convention Services Manager to elevate the guest and meeting planner experience through proactive communication and seamless service delivery. This role is a key leader in the hotel's group success strategy, demonstrating reliability, composure, and professionalism.

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), based in Dallas, announced a partnership with CNTV to produce a new Workforce Development Video Series. This initiative, a collaborative effort by the Exhibitions Industry Collective, aims to highlight diverse career opportunities within the exhibitions and events industry.

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) announced that Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2025 achieved Gold Level Certification in the Events Industry Council's Sustainable Event Standards. This marks a steady progression in IAEE's commitment to sustainability, building momentum from previous bronze and silver certifications.

Dallas Market Center has opened attendee registration for the 2026 ArchLIGHT Summit, scheduled for September 15–16 in Dallas, Texas. This annual architectural lighting trade event serves lighting designers, architects, interior designers, and specification professionals, offering targeted education and networking opportunities.

The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) will hold its 2026 OoH Media Conference in Dallas from May 11-13. The conference, themed "The Human Medium," will focus on AI, retail media, sports marketing, and the growing role of out-of-home in omnichannel campaigns.

The Other Art Fair Dallas, presented by Saatchi Art, is taking place May 7-10, 2026, at Dallas Market Hall, featuring over 130 independent artists. The fair includes immersive installations, interactive experiences, and local performances, with this year's theme being "Main Character Energy."

"Harry Potter™: The Exhibition" is in its final weeks in Dallas, set to depart on May 25, 2026, after opening last fall. The interactive experience at Pepper Square celebrates iconic moments, characters, and creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, featuring original costumes and authentic props.

Lightovation, North America's largest residential lighting trade event, will take place from June 24–27, 2026, at the Dallas Market Center. This semiannual show provides a platform for participants to view and showcase best-selling and new products, with top retailers in the field also being recognized. Each edition introduces new and expanded exhibitors, including an International Pavilion for global lighting manufacturers.

An article in The Dallas Morning News discusses how decisions about Dallas City Hall's future will impact downtown's vibrancy, highlighting the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center expansion as a key example of strengthening Dallas's long-term economic future. The expansion is seen as a catalyst for connectivity across the urban core.

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas is undergoing a $3.7 billion rebuild, touted as the largest convention center project in American history. Upon completion, it will feature 750,000 square feet of exhibit space, 181,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 105,000-square-foot ballroom. The article discusses the broader trend of convention center expansions and the challenges they pose for attendee transit.

AIA Dallas is hosting an 'Architecture on Tap' event focusing on the future of Downtown Dallas, featuring Tom Reisenbichler, Principal in Charge for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas redevelopment. The project is one of the first ground-up convention center developments in a major U.S. city since the pandemic, designed to significantly expand Dallas' capacity for national and international events. The redesigned facility is projected to generate nearly $1 billion in economic impact starting in 2030.

Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert's "call for concepts" for the future of City Hall and 20-30 acres tied to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center expansion has garnered numerous proposals, with details expected to be released by May 14. This initiative is part of a broader debate on whether to renovate or relocate City Hall and redevelop the downtown stretch.

The demolition of Northwest Mall in Houston is paving the way for a proposed Dallas-to-Houston bullet train line. This high-speed rail project has previously been reported to potentially threaten to derail the Dallas Convention Center project.