Louisville Trade Shows: A Guide

Are you thinking about exhibiting at Louisville trade shows in Kentucky? This is a great city to exhibit in, as it’s home to some of the biggest trade show events, several large convention centers, and tons of attractions to use for networking purposes. If you need help creating a knockout booth for a show in Louisville, we can propel your brand further! We are an award-winning exhibit firm that designs and fabricates custom trade show booths for expositions around the country and world, including Louisville trade shows.  Some of our favorite events are held in Louisville, including the Mid-America Truck Show and the ICUEE (Construction Equipment) Show. 

Benefits of Exhibiting at a Louisville Trade Show 

Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and the 27th most populous city in the U.S. It’s also known for being home of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, the University of Louisville and the Louisville Cardinals athletic teams. The city is brimming with culture, food, art, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. This is why it continues to be a top spot for trade shows. It’s also not far from large cities like Chicago, Indianapolis and Nashville.  Here are some reasons why our own clients enjoy exhibiting in Louisville.

Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC)

The Kentucky Exposition Center is a premier conference center and happens to be one of the largest expos in the country. It features over 1.3 million square feet of space, with 54 meeting rooms, 2 arenas and 300 acres of outdoor exhibit and demonstration space. Because everything is so flexible and accommodating, hosting events big and small is a no-brainer. 

Not only is the exposition center strategically organized, but it is also centrally located next to the airport. Imagine how much time and money can be saved by not having to travel to and from the airport! The convention center is also located within minutes from downtown Louisville and is accessible from multiple interstates. 

Shows held at the KEC include The Mid-America Truck Show, the ICUEE Expo and the GIE+Expo. These are all trade shows that IGE has built exhibits for. 

Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC)

The Kentucky International Convention Center underwent a major renovation and expansion last year for $207 million. It now boasts over 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, including 52 meeting rooms, a 175-seat theater and a 40,000 square foot ballroom. The convention center accommodates events of all sizes. As a bonus, the KICC is located in the center of downtown Louisville, near hotels, restaurants, distilleries, museums, gift shops and other attractions. Many of these locations are within walking distance – no need to hail a taxi or ride public transportation. Some of the biggest events held at the KICC are the Creation Garden Food Show, the Louisville Supercon and even America’s Got Talent auditions. 

Ramada Plaza Louisville Hotel and Conference Center 

Another option for exhibitors is the Ramada Plaza Louisville Hotel and Conference Center. Though not as big as the KEC or KICC, the Ramada Plaza Louisville features 45,000 square feet of meeting space and 11 meeting rooms. The conference center was also renovated this year, so you can expect a more upscale image from years past. Of course, the benefit to attending an event at a hotel is that guests can stay directly in the building. The Ramada Plaza Louisville has 110 guest rooms with single and double beds. This is a major perk for businesses and attendees who want to participate in trade shows at an economical rate. 

Vibrant Trade Show Economy 

Louisville may not get the same hype as cities like Las Vegas and Chicago, but it certainly doesn’t lag when it comes to trade shows, expos and other events. Louisville attracts over 16 million visitors each year, generating $3.5 million for the city. 

Events that had the biggest impact in 2018 include:

• Kentucky Derby & Oaks ($354,931,061)
• Breeders’ Cup World Championship ($70,078,602)
• Mid-America Trucking Show ($25,610,761) 
• Green Industry Equipment + Expo ($18,763,107)

2018 finished well, despite the fact that the Kentucky International Convention Center was closed for 7 months for renovations. It will be interesting to see what 2019 ends with now that the KICC is up and running, along with the Ramada Plaza Louisville that has been remodeled and re-branded. 

Entertainment and Attractions 

Want to go out for lunch with a client? Planning a team building exercise with your trade show booth staff? Or maybe you just want to relax after a long few days of exhibiting. Either way, Louisville has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment. 

Spend the afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field, which is one of the nicest minor league parks in the country. Tickets are affordable, making this is a great place for business outings. You can also visit popular attractions like Churchill Downs, Fourth Street Live and the Louisville Slugger Museum. On the first Friday of every month, the city offers free trolley rides that will take you around town. 

Working with IGE for a Louisville Trade Show 

If you want to exhibit at a Louisville trade show, IGE can design and fabricate an outstanding exhibit for your brand. We follow a 6-step process that includes everything you need to design, build and launch your exhibit. Not only are we leaders in technology and innovation, but we are also masters of clean compositions, creative structures, cutting-edge materials and interactive applications that bring our clients’ exhibits to life. With numerous fulfillment and storage facilities, we’re able to accommodate our clients as they exhibit at different shows in various cities. Contact IGE today to set up a consultation and learn about our turnkey solutions. We’ll be there every step of the way and ensure nothing short of excellence at your next event.