The Biggest And Baddest Expo Party EVER FEATURE | Best of Expo It isn’t all business in Las Vegas, of course. The PPAI Expo is where the promo industry cuts loose. In a first for the show, on Jan. 12, PPAI and SAGE hosted Promopalooza at Allegiant Stadium, a short trip from Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The event was billed as “the biggest and baddest Expo Party ever,” and hardly any attendee would argue that it didn’t live up to the hype. A sellout crowd of more than 1,000 professionals attended the event, which almost doubled the attendance from previous years. “We did a full reevaluation of The PPAI Expo from top to bottom this year—everything from education to networking events to the show floor and registration,” says Alan Peterson, PPAI vice president, business development. “Given the opportunity to host an event at Allegiant Stadium, both in terms of proximity and its ability to bring a unique and one-ofa-kind experience to our audience, we thought there was no better way and time to celebrate coming back together and the resiliency of the promotional products industry.” Partygoers enjoyed networking, drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres at the stadium, which opened its doors for pro football and major events in 2020. Attendees got access to the playing field and home locker room and enjoyed entertainment from musician and DJ Marquise Jones. Attendees were also able to take home souvenirs in the form of logoed cigars rolled by hand on site. Ellen Tucker, PPAI director of business development and exhibitions, says that given the success of Promopalooza, attendees can continue to look forward to elevated Wednesday night experiences at The PPAI Expo in the future. “From the moment we began marketing the event it became the hottest ticket in the industry,” Tucker says. “The event provided a unique experience people will talk about for years and exceeded all of our goals and expectations.” 42 | MARCH 2022 |
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