Best of Expo | FEATURE “It’s a beginning,” Denham said in his remarks on opening day. “This year it’s more important than ever. Two years was too long not to be together and have those collisions—we just have creative ideas being together in person.” The PPAI Expo 2022 faced the Omicron variant head-on. The promotional products community had made it clear that it was ready to return to Las Vegas, and PPAI ensured it could, in as safe an environment as possible. Working closely with the Mandalay Bay, the Association put in place plans and policies that followed CDC recommendations and Clark County requirements to respect the realities of the ongoing pandemic, while allowing exhibitors and attendees to make the most of their time at the show and with their peers. The Mandalay Bay stepped up as well. Since The PPAI Expo 2020, it had installed a significantly updated and improved ventilation and filtration system in the building, and substantially enhanced its sanitation practices. Overwhelmingly, those who made the trip say they got what they came for. Nearly 10,000 supplier and distributor professionals attended The PPAI Expo 2022, a strong number considering the challenges, albeit down from near-record attendance of the event in January 2020, before pandemic swept the nation. Those attendees represented more than 50 states, the District of Columbia, four Canadian provinces, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Curacao and Belgium. The PPAI Expo also remains PPAI President and CEO Dale Denham, MAS+, kicked off The PPAI Expo by announcing the Association's new mission and vision, as well as two marketplace-shaping announcements they've initiated. Learn more on page 72. | MARCH 2022 | 33
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