IPCPR Convention & Trade Show 2016, July 24-28 in Las Vegas

While New Orleans will play host to the largest premium cigar trade show this year, it’s only a temporary thing.

A representative of the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) informed halfwheel that the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show & Convention will take place July 24-28, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev. at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, located in between the Venetian and Palazzo hotels.

It means that seminars will take place on Sunday the 24th, while Monday, July 25 is the first day of the actual trade show. This year, seminars will begin on Friday, July 17; whereas the 2014 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show began on a Saturday.

The IPCPR also confirmed that there is a three-year contract in place with Sands, meaning the trade show will stay in Las Vegas through 2018. By that time, Vegas will have hosted the mid-summer trade show six out of the last eight times.

• 2011 — Las Vegas, Nev.
• 2012 — Orlando, Fla.
• 2013 — Las Vegas, Nev.
• 2014 — Las Vegas, Nev.
• 2015 — New Orleans, La.
• 2016 — Las Vegas, Nev.
• 2017 — Las Vegas, Nev.
• 2018 — Las Vegas, Nev.

This marks the first time in recent memory that the IPCPR has had long-term plans for the trade show set in place, something that could benefit exhibitors particularly when it comes to storing booths.

Returning the trade show to Las Vegas—particularly for multiple years—is a big win for the IPCPR and its new head, Mark Pursell, who began his tenure as ceo in July last year. Pursell joined the organization after overseeing the International Builders’ Show, a 75,000-person trade show. His experience running a successful trade show was seen as one of hist strongest attributes for his hiring.

(Featured image via Wikipedia, used with permission: CC-BY-SA-3.0)