December 28, 2016 — The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association announces today that the dates for the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show will now be July 10 – 14 and that the new venue will be the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). This change from July 15 -19 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas was necessitated as the Sands cancelled IPCPR‘s dates.
Craig Cass, IPCPR President, said, “While this change has challenged IPCPR staff to relocate our show, we are very pleased to find a new home at the Las Vegas Convention Center so close to our original dates.”
Monday, July 10 will be Seminar Day for Retailers and Manufacturers with the trade show floor open Tuesday through Friday, July 11-14. IPCPR will stage the trade show in the North Halls of the LVCC. “Certainly, we had to scramble to relocate on such short notice. The good news is that we secured great dates and the Las Vegas Convention Center provides the show with all the square footage we need to include exhibits, the Lunchtime Learning Theater and the food court on the show floor. Additionally, the LVCC offers exhibitors a much easier and faster load-in and loud-out than the Sands.”, said Mark Pursell, IPCPR CEO.
IPCPR will shortly announce a new Headquarters Hotel and room block to house attendees and exhibitors. Scott Regina, Chair of the Membership & Trade Show Committee added, “Now that the hotel room block is de-coupled from the trade show floor, we think we can negotiate lower room rates for our members than we have been able to secure in the past in Las Vegas. We look forward to announcing these properties soon.”
President Cass noted, “Most of America’s great trade shows are hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center and we are happy to join them in a world class facility. We know this is a change of plans, but remain confident that our show will continue to improve, as it has done over the last few years. On total, I think we turned a problem into an opportunity.”
IPCPR will communicate directly with exhibitors with regards to booth locations and show logistics. The staff has made every effort to maintain the current layout of the show floor.