It’s our legacy.
It’s easy enough to trace the history of trade shows back to the turn of the century, where farmers’ markets, state fairs, and vast national expositions gave people a chance to come together, conduct commerce, hear the latest news, and even observe mechanical marvels in action. But our legacy traces back much further, at least to the 6th Century BCE and the Greek agoras.
The Ancient Agora of Athens was THE place to get the latest news, shop in the marketplace, and learn from eminent scholars. It was widely known as a destination for travelers seeking vital connections. Likewise, the marketplaces dotting the ancient Silk Road served much the same purpose. But these caravanserai connected even more diverse communities along trade routes stretching across Asia to East Africa and Southern Europe, each providing an exchange of merchandise, language, and ideas.
I am incredibly proud to have spent my career in an industry that carries this legacy forward. And I hope to champion this kind of human connection for years to come. Enabling people to connect is some of the most important work there is. For all the disruption caused by the pandemic, the lasting impression many of us have is the longing to connect and the joy in finding ways to do it.
We have all witnessed the power of human connection to achieve amazing things. And I am confident in the continued success of the events industry because of its unique ability to act as a conduit—a modern agora or Silk Road—to bring people together. Whether for commercial or social exchange, nothing quite feels as satisfying as meeting face-to-face.
I’m not sure what our future will bring. But you can bet that people will connect—in ways we can only imagine today.