LIMA Endorses Industry Show Move to Las Vegas

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) was on hand today to support Advanstar’s announcement of its decision to move Licensing International Expo from its current home at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City to the conference center at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advanstar put to rest the recent speculation within the industry about the future home of the show and announced its relocation plans effective with the 2009 event, to be held June 2-4.

“The future location of Licensing International Expo has been reviewed and debated extensively for the past several months” stated Charles Riotto, President, LIMA. “In the end, our Board of Directors felt that relocating the show to Las Vegas is in the best interest of our industry and unanimously supported Advanstar’s decision. The move will ultimately provide greater growth opportunities for the show and enable us to expand in new directions to include more of the categories our industry represents.”

“I fully expect that the show’s strong performance over the past several years will continue in Las Vegas and that the industry as a whole will benefit as a result. I encourage all of our members to embrace the move as a positive step for the long-term health and growth of the licensing industry.”