The Motivation Show, the nation’s largest trade show for rewards and incentives — including incentive travel and motivational events — has cancelled its 2014 show, scheduled for May 6-8, 2014, in Chicago,
Successful Meetings’ sister publication,
Incentive, reported this week.
Although it typically takes place every fall in Chicago, last summer it was announced that The Motivation Show would skip its 2013 show and instead hold two annual events beginning in 2014: The Motivation Show Chicago in May and a new, second show — The Motivation Show Las Vegas — in January, co-located with the Promotional Products Association International’s (PPAI) annual convention.
According to Pete Erickson, managing director of The Motivation Show and president of Hall-Erickson, the show’s producer, the Chicago show has been cancelled due to a “disappointing” response from exhibitors. The Las Vegas show likewise has been cancelled, although it will maintain a presence at the PPAI Expo through buyer education sessions and the event’s incentive-merchandise pavilion.
“It is clear at this time that there is not enough support from the supplier community to produce a traditional trade show in a venue like McCormick Place in Chicago,” explains Erickson, who says Hall-Erickson is continuing to explore other potential event models and venues for 2014, although it has nothing to announce at this time. “While we are certainly disappointed with the current reality affecting our plans for 2014, we believe in this marketplace and will continue to work towards a solution that provides corporate America with an event to learn how best to engage, align and motivate employees, business partners and customers to yield measurable corporate results.”