As the exhibitions industry continues to surge full speed ahead, more and more destinations are recognizing the need to upgrade, revamp and expand their convention centers in order to compete for major trade shows and events. 

These days, myriad facilities are celebrating ground breakings, undergoing new construction projects or anticipating grand openings, while others have put their plans on hold. 

Here are some of the major U.S. convention centers proposing, building and completing bigger, better, state-of-the-art spaces.

Caesars Forum

While a reopening of one hotel is always interesting, the reopening of two sister properties is doubly so. The adjacent Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa and Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa recently reopened after extensive renovations, offering new opportunities for corporate events.

Springfield, Mass. has a rich history of innovation. From Webster’s (now Merriam-Webster’s) dictionary to the first American gasoline-powered automobile to basketball, the city has spawned numerous inventions during its 375-year history — in fact, its nickname is “The City of Firsts.”

Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang, in East China’s Jiangsu province, opened in late July. The 318-room hotel is located atop the East Tower of Suning Plaza, the highest skyscraper in Zhenjiang.

“We are very excited to welcome guests and the local community to our new hotel,” said general manager Irwin Bao. “With a prime location, fantastic views, premier meeting facilities and intuitive service, we are confident that Hyatt Regency Zhenjiang will provide one-stop convenience to guests during their travels.”

Dual-branded hotels are becoming more and more prevalent. What can beat a dual-brand? A triple brand! Hilton has made new advances in the market, opening the world’s first tri-branded Hilton in Chicago.

The new property, which includes Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place, Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place and Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place, is connected to McCormick Place, adjacent to Wintrust Arena.

The 10,000-square-foot Madison Meeting Center at Park MGM is a new breed of Las Vegas event space: a self-contained executive meeting center designed for small groups.

MGM Resorts says that the majority of their convention business is groups with 100 or fewer guest rooms. But traditionally, Las Vegas meeting space is rented using a model designed for larger groups. MGM aims to change that with the Madison Meeting Center, which opened in late July. 

New York’s Emerson Resort & Spa has completed a $500,000 renovation of its 2,500-square-foot Catamount event space. The property, located just two hours from Manhattan, offers panoramic views of the surrounding Catskill Mountains — plus the world’s largest kaleidoscope. The space is available for events ranging from weddings to corporate retreats.

The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) opened its doors on Aug. 6 after a two-year renovation and expansion. The new build has increased KICC’s contiguous exhibit space by more than a third.

State and local government officials, along with KICC facility officials and staff, welcomed clients, local stakeholders and media to an open house that showcased the new facility and its capacity for events.

The program included comments from:

Hosting an event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a way to provide an unforgettable experience. Giving attendees the opportunity to see the exhibits after-hours or even dine in the midst of jellyfish, sharks or silvery sardines will ensure they remember your event for years afterwards.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been operating since 1984, and is host to 200 galleries and exhibits representing more than 550 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds and plants. In 2017, 1.9 million people visited the aquarium.

Napa Valley’s Clif Family Winery is on the main drag on Route 128 in St. Helena, Calif. — just a block away from the well-known Gott’s Roadside (known as Taylor’s Refresher for its first 50 years) drive-in eatery.

From the outside, the building looks like a family home, surrounded by a decent size parking lot and a few small businesses. It’s not ostentatious, like many of the area wineries, so is easy to miss as you are driving by.