ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) said that the NACS SHOW 2005, which was originally scheduled to be held in New Orleans at the end of October, will be held in Las Vegas, November 15-18.
NACS issued the following announcement:
As we have noted in previous updates, NACS and other organizations holding trade shows in New Orleans have been in regular communication with the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau regarding the city's ability and desire to host events this fall. Out of respect for the city and its convention bureau, NACS has honored their request to allow them adequate time to assess the situation. On September 1, they informed NACS and a number of other organizations that the city will not be able to host scheduled events for these organizations and will work with them, if needed, to secure alternate arrangements.
Because of strong member interest in having the NACS SHOW, over the past several days NACS has been actively engaged in researching viable options in the event that New Orleans were to inform us that it was not capable of hosting the NACS SHOW this year.
The size and scope of the NACS SHOW are immense; 25,000 attendees from the United States and over 40 foreign countries, gross exhibition space of almost 1 million square feet, and over 1,400 exhibitors. Only a few cities are capable of hosting an event of this size. NACS initiated detailed discussions with the cities that have such capabilities. On Thursday, after reviewing
all viable options, the NACS Executive Committee unanimously approved the relocation of the NACS SHOW 2005 to Las Vegas on November 15-18.
The decision to relocate the event was made after an intensive examination of resources to determine not only if a NACS SHOW could be held, but held with the same high standards that is expected of NACS. We are confident that this will be accomplished.
The relocation to Las Vegas will incorporate as many existing plans and commitments as possible. A headquarters hotel room block at the Las Vegas Hilton has been secured that exceeds that contracted for the NACS SHOW in New Orleans. The Las Vegas Convention Bureau has also committed to providing enough additional rooms for the full NACS SHOW contingent.
The tradeshow floor will be designed to resemble, as closely as possible, the New Orleans Show's layout. The expo will take place in a more centrally located area of the Las Vegas Convention Center than the area used last year. It will encompass the same one-level hall that was used for the NACS SHOW 2001.
For the schedule for the NACS Show 2005 in Las Vegas and answers to the most frequently asked questions that the association has received to date, NACS will continue to deliver updates via e-mail and on its websites, www.nacsonline.com and www.nacsshow.com, in the coming days.
